Mom was too sick today to walk up the hill to see dad in the "Garden of Time" section at Forest Lawn

[Omaha Steve]

I did take her up there two weeks ago to get dad ready for "his day of remembrance". She will be 86 on July 11th. We lost dad in May of 94 just a short time before Memorial Day. PFC John P Dawes was drafted before Pearl Harbor. He was in the 35th infantry regiment, 25th infantry Div. He was in the fighting on Guadalcanal, the Marshall Islands, Luzon, and a few other places. He refused rank. He never wanted to make a who lives or dies decision. He got the Combat Infantry Badge.

He rotated home on points before Hiroshima. He met my mom through letters she sent to a soldier that a friend said knew Johny doesn't get much mail. They married on Aug. 31, 1945.

He never really got over the horrors of war, just like a lot of other Veteran's. He suffered with a short term disability from malaria a couple years after being discharged. He had bad dreams. We always knew when he was back "in country". He wouldn't talk about the war. When he tried a few times, all he could do was cry.

Back in Oct. of 2000, I made a mock up of dad's uniform from an old photo. It was a gathering of fans of an old 60's TV show "COMBAT!" I met several of the shows stars. Two years later, and again in 2004 I met several of the guest stars at the first two official Twilight Zone conventions. It always reminded me how smart dad was when I watched my show. He knew all the weapons, tactics, etc. That was really the only happy times I remember of dad talking about the "war to end all wars II".

Friday Marta and I visited the memorial site of a Navy man lost at sea in W.W.II. The small private cemetery hasn't been mowed this year. My 14 inch electric is to small for the tall grass. I hope someone remembers to mow Wall Cemetery sometime this year. It is just a few miles south of Council Bluffs, Ia.

If you don't have time to visit a Veteran's Memorial service today, just click this link: http://www.steveandmarta.com/graveyards/submarine/submarine_1.htm At least a few of us remembered MM1C Vernon Palmer Wall.



My thanks to those that answered the call of duty.

OS

[monmouth]

1. It only takes a moment to say a Hail Mary...Lovely pic, thanks Steve....n/t

[Liberal_in_LA]

2. K&R - my dad served during WWII, he's still living

[Omaha Steve]

3. A few people have asked about my mom

Fibromyalgia is her biggest problem.

[Morning Dew]

4. Nice pic, Omaha Steve.

I thought of you last week as I drove the 680 heading back from my nephew's graduation out near Grand Island.

[salin]

5. My mother and I visited my father's resting place on Sunday, in honor of Memorial Day

He was a navigator in the Pacific arena in WWII. We also paid honor to my Norwegian grandfather (who emigrated to the US later) who served in Norway in WWI.

My father, too, rarely spoke about his experiences in the war. The only long conversation I (or my Mom) had with him - was for an oral history assignment I had for a history course in college. Only a college assignment for his daughter, got him to speak about it at all with his family.

RIP, Dad.

Thanks to those who have served.

[roguevalley]

6. hug your mama for me. that generation, my parent's generation

was indeed the greatest.

[Omaha Steve]

7. I forgot to mention there are 2 Vets in Wall Cemetery

[Omaha Steve]

8. The Omaha World Herald may be running a story on the cemetery

I called them Friday when Marta and I visited. The hope is that someone with a mower capable of cutting the tall grass will will volunteer to help. My 14 inch electric model can't handle it. Here is to hope.

OS