|
|
|
Name_and_Class_Yr: Tommy Thomas CommentsMy father is 93 years old and still active and living near me in the Pickwick area. He served in the Army Air Corps in China/Burma/India as a crew chief servicing the planes of Chenault's Flying Tigers... He has a medal presented to him by the Chinese Military for his service. I remember the stories and the pictures and how proud I was to have such a courageous man as a father. I left WHS and went to UT in Knoxville, and joined the Air Force ROTC. My dreams were to be a fighter pilot. After a motorcycle accident, I failed by physical and was released from that obligation. Dodging the draft (I think I had a lottery number of 6!!!) I stayed at UT until the draft board had had enough. Teresa (Pentecost) and I moved to Memphis and awaited my fate... On Dec. 2, 1971 I was cordially invited to join the Army of the United States. For those who may not know... there is RA - the Regular Army (folks who WANT to be soldiers); NG - National Guard; AR - Army Reserve, and then there is AUS - the Army of the United States (draftees!!!) So everyone knows form the outset that you are a draftee, and you are treated accordingly! Well, I had been married to Teresa for 2 years, I was 24 years old, and had a college degree, and now I was a private in the Army and Vietnam was the happening place... After basic training in the art of killing my fellow human beings (we called them "GOOKS" in those days) the Army in all its wisdom gave me the most powerful position in all of Armydom... I was trained as a Military Police Officer in Fort gordon, GA. I was issued a weapon (known to civilians as a gun!) and all the authority that government can bestow upon an individual soldier. Officers quaked in their boots at the sight of my blue lights!!!! No salute coming (it removed my gun-hand from its preferred position - on my gun, OOOPS weapon.) With years of education behind me (do the math - I hung around UT till 1971) i read their book the - UCMJ - Uniform Code of Military Justice. Armed with the knowledge of how the "lifers" think, I was empowered and could now use their precious rules in MY favor. 3 "Article 15" charges (sort of a military misdemeanor) later, that knowledge paid off, and I beat them all - since I was innocent, it was only fair, right? At any rate, I served my country with pride... I lost friends, as we all did... I know for certain that no one with any brains at all is "PRO-war" but that sometimes you have to defend what you don't understand. I would trade places today with any young man or women serving in harm's way, and I imagine most of our generation who place any value on God, Duty and Country would do the same. I hope any of you that have family in uniform will give them my LOVE next time you talk to them. Tell them my family and I appreciate their sacrifice AND the sacrifice of THEIR families so that we may sleep each night in peace and comfort. May God bless them, AND the USA. Name_and_Class_Yr: Charles Gary Smith CommentsMy father flew with the Flying Tiger squadron flying C-47's over the Hump at the end of WW II, B-26's in Korea(shot down twice), a Command post during the Cuban Missal Crisis, and a desk in Vietnam. He passed away playing golf. He loved all of the preceding. Name_and_Class_Yr: Jeanette Owens Pressgrove CommentsMy father, Clyde Owens, attended Whitehaven High School and graduated in approximately 1937. He entered the Army Air Forces in Oct., 1940, was stationed in England, and was a waist gunner on a Flying Fortress. He went into combat early in April when the pre-invasion in Europe was at its height. He flew two missions on D-Day and flew in support of the ground forces afterward. He received The Distinguished Flying Cross and also wore the Air Medal with four Oak Leaf clusters. I have heard some of his stories and know there were many challenging moments. My brother, Rick Owens, told me that on one of his missions, the bomb was stuck in the bomb bay, and he had to dislodge it with his foot. I am thankful he was never injured and did return home. I am very proud of the legacy he left to my family. Name_and_Class_Yr: nihelkrre CommentsTj7ffA <a href="http://awwgduwnucuj.com/">awwgduwnucuj</a>, [url=http://jjazmltndkyf.com/]jjazmltndkyf[/url [link=http://cvqcbvjmmdce.com/]cvqcbvjmmdce[/link http://tfhalguynria.com/ Name_and_Class_Yr: Trish CommentsYou've hit the ball out the park! Incrdeible! |
|
Home
Our Building
Classmates
In Memorium
Request Your own Page
Comments
Your
Web Team |
Whitehaven
High School - Class of 1964