Today.................................

[GearDrivenSteam]

Today, September 27, 2008, the greatest man I ever knew would have been 84 years old. I can remember all of his life he always talked about seeing the year 2000. He didn't make it. He died December 30, 1998 from matastisized lung cancer. He served his country aboard the U.S.S. Hilbert, D.E. 742 in the U.S. Navy, from 1944 to 1946, and actually saw a good bit of action. That ship was actually more decorated then the U.S.S. Missouri. http://www.usshilbert.org/ He worked for 36 years as a mailman. He started with the local Post Office in Macon, Georgia in 1946 when all they had was 3 Model T trucks. He was a conservative political activist, writing President Nixon urging him to mandate more mailmen to walk their routes instead of drive their mail Jeeps literally everywhere, in order to conserve fuel. He was a giant of a man in every sense of the word. He retired two years early in 1982 to be my mother's care giver because she was slowly dying from cancer in almost every part of her body. He did everything for her, never wanting for himself. She passed away in 1984, having been his wife for 33 years. Probably the highlight of my memories with him was seeing Haley's Comet together in 1986. We looked at it through a huge telescope at a local museum. A very astute man, he looked at the professor and said "I sure am glad you pointed it out, cause it don't look like much to me." I know he enjoyed it though, because he spoke fondly of it later on. That's just how he was. It took a lot to impress him. He was close to his Lord having been invloved with our church all his life. He sang tenor in the same church choir that I sing bass in today, and my son sings tenor in that choir as well. So tonight I will raise a cold bottle of beer that he loved so much and toast to you, Daddy. I love you.

[tangerine-jack]

May the light of the Lord shine upon him forever....

Well said and well missed.

[two tone]

Hi, I`m sure he is singing in gods chior now, you were very lucky to have known him memers of such people are great.  Enjoy the memory

[Anonymous]

He would have been one of the Men I wish I would have known.

Myself GDS, I am having another death in the family. Not sure when he will go.

Peace & Light

Toad

[Bucksco]

Tin Can Sailors were a breed apart.

 

[GearDrivenSteam]

Nice Jack. Did you serve aboard the Fleming?

[Rene Schweitzer]

What a wonderful tribute.

[Bucksco]

Thanks. My Father served aboard the U.S.S. Tisdale DE31 and the U.S.S. Fleming DE32 from 1943-45. He was involved in a lot of action in the Pacific as well- most notably Saipan, the Marianas and Okinawa. He's 87 now and I know exactly how you feel and I'm not sure how well I will deal with what your going through when the time comes.

My heart goes out to you and yours!

[Great Western]

A lovely tribute to what was obviously a great Dad.

 

[grandpopswalt]

My dad passed away 30 years ago. But very few days go by, even now, that I don't think about him or something he said or something we did together. Those are great memories and I treasure them.  Weather we know it or not, we all try to live our lives to be the kind of person we think our dads want us to be.  Not to become the president, every father wants that for his kids .... I mean to become the kind of person your dad could respect. By the way Geardriven, I think your dad would probably have great respect for the guy who wrote that tribute to him.

So, let's all raise a glass to the memory of our dads.  And those of you who are lucky enough to still have your dads with you, tell him, right now, how much he means to you.... I wish I had done it more often while I still had the chance. 

Walt

[hoofe116]

Gear,

I understand. My dad died in 1963, when I was nineteen. Hardly a day goes by (if any) that I don't think of him. He was a Great Depression survivor. Went in the CCCs to eat. Grew up shuttling between relatives either on the streets of Chicago or the Ozarks. Served a year in the field artillery before the War ended. He was as strong as a horse, tough and cold as an anvil. Inside he was a kind man and would help anyone he thought needed it, particularly children. This part he kept out of sight. Paid his bills on time. Made a point of it. Went to church and filtered out the religion and clung to the faith. We weren't touchy-feely toward each other but there was, on my part, a desire to be like him. Some ways I am, some not. He was an excellent self-taught machinist. So was I. His grandson worked his way up from cutoff saw to head of the milling department and got laid off just last week.

I think he'd be very proud of his grandson. I am. And looking both ways across the generations, I now, finally, understand that we don't 'pass on'. Our children, grandchildren etc see to that.

But I do understand the sense of loss.

Les