My Dad & Uncles All Served

Summary

The website content recounts the military service and post-war lives of the author's father and uncles, all of whom served in different conflicts and made significant contributions, with each returning home despite their visible and invisible scars.

Abstract

The author pays tribute to the military service of his father and uncles, who all served in major 20th-century conflicts: Uncle Robert in Korea, Kenny (the father) in WWII, Uncle Ed also in WWII, and Uncle Charlie in Vietnam. Each experienced combat and sustained both physical and emotional scars, yet they all managed to return home safely. The author's father, Kenny, served on the USS Concord and was involved in the last shot fired in the Pacific theater of WWII. He was also decorated for his bravery in saving fellow sailors after a torpedo attack. The uncles applied their military experiences to their civilian lives, with Uncle Ed becoming a paramedic and Uncle Charlie a mechanic for Delta. The author expresses gratitude for their service, the toughness they instilled in him through their humor in the face of his childhood injuries, and acknowledges the legacy they have left for future generations.

Opinions

The author holds his family members in high regard for their military service and the sacrifices they made.
There is a deep sense of respect and admiration for the physical and emotional resilience shown by his father and uncles.
The author believes that the humor and tough love shown by his relatives in response to his childhood accidents contributed positively to his own resilience.
The legacy of their service is seen as something that continues to support the author and his descendants, emphasizing the intergenerational impact of their experiences.
The author is grateful for the example set by his father and uncles, which he sees as an enduring legacy of service and strength.

All saw action, all made it home…

Family Photo

From left to right:

Uncle Robert: Korea — Never saw him go swimming or wear shorts even on the hottest Florida days, due to the scars on his legs from the grenades…

Kenny (my Dad): WWII — served on the USS Concord, and was in the aft turret that fired the last shot of WWII in the Pacific. Received medals for the men he went below deck to save after a torpedo hit, only spoke of it around me once, and it still gives me chills…

Uncle Ed: WWII — took what he learned and became a paramedic, saving lives in Miami.

Uncle Charlie: Viet Nam — took what he learned and became an in demand mechanic for Delta in Miami and Orlando…

All 4 saw action and amazingly all 4 made it home, some with scars you could see and all with scars you couldn’t see…

Thank you gentlemen for your service, example, and legacy, and for making me tough by how you made me laugh when I got hurt as a kid, which was often:

“Kid, did you get blood on my floor AGAIN?”

I figured if they were laughing, then I must be OK.

My sons Jon Herring, Caleb Herring, and my grandson (player to be named later) and I stand on some mighty big shoulders…

Thank you gentlemen. Veteran’s Day 2020

Standing on some mighty big shoulders:

My Dad & Uncles All Served

All saw action, all made it home…