Monday, May 26, 2008

Memorial Day...

Grampa's WWII jacket... A very special thing to me and my family and we were honored to be given it when he passed away...

 

See the rosary he carried in the jacket when he flew?

Grampa was a torpedo bomber on an air craft carrier in the Pacific... He bombed Iwo Jima... I once heard him talking to Artie about that day [Artie was a Marine on Iwo Jima -One of the first group of Marines to put up that flag on Mt. Suribachi Then a second group came along for the famous re-enactment flag photo] Anyway... Grampa said "We sure bombed the Hell out of that island! I really thought you guys would have no problem taking it" 

[I believe it took months... 20,000 Japanese were dug in and waiting for them]

 The number of American casualties was greater than the total Allied casualties at Battle of Normandy on D-Day.

Crazy huh!

Did I ever tell you guys Grampa's father was in the Calvary? Yup he was...

I have NEVER met a more patriotic man in my life than Grampa...

I miss you Dad... Your gone but never forgotten...

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hey i think you know more then me when it comes to this family!!  Im ok with that though, we all have something to learn about this crazy military family of ours!!  No i didn't know that grandpa Silva was in the calvary!!  Thats great to know.....and yes im soooo glad that Sam and you got the Bomber jacket, that was so deserving too!! Kendra im just so grateful to have you in "our" family and so blessed too!

Love you so much,

Pam

Anonymous said...

Awww, I like Pam (below) she is so sweet!  I love the jacket....what a tribute to a wonderful man!!  There is such history in that jacket....what are you going to do with it?

((hugs))
Jeanne

Anonymous said...

A nice tribute to a veteran of our country.  My step father who died this past year was a World War II Vet as well fighting in Europe and Occupying Japan.  Have a good day.

Phil

Anonymous said...

Amazing history in that jacket. Treasure it always. May Grampa be resting in peace, or be the life of the party up in heaven tell war stories to God!
Be well,
Ellen

Anonymous said...

You have me missing his as well, but I savor the stories even more now.
~Mary

Anonymous said...

God bless him.  I gotta show this to my hubby.  He'll love this.  Big hugs!! Shelly

Anonymous said...

He is and was a HERO, in every sense of the word. Thank you for sharing this.
XO

Anonymous said...

That's so cool you got his jacket. Maybe there's a way to preserve it? My Dad was a Marine in the Pacific during WWII. He used to tell stories that would take my breath away! Those guys were heros!
Love ya, Pam xoxox