MEMORIAL DAY - List your service & thank-you's!

[Duke Maddog]

First and foremost, thank you to all who have served and are serving. I owe you a debt I can never repay.

I could not serve, being 4-F with Tourette's. However, my father served .

George Deliduka, Lt. Col USAF Ret. Served from 1961 to 1981, including 115 combat missions over Laos in AC-130 gunships.

My sister, Marie Kick. Started out in the Navy as a Corpsman, before doing an inter-service transfer to the USAF as a medic. Recently retired. She was enlisted (sorry, I haven't all her info) her husband was an Officer: he retired as a Major, USAF a couple years ago too.

I had a great uncle Tom on my mother's side who served in the OSS in WWII. In 1944, he had just returned from a mission behind enemy lines when he was killed by a buzz bomb in London. It crashed into his building just after he had arrived home. That's all I know about him. I think some of his missions are still classified today.


My father's father was not allowed to serve in WWII since he owned a lumber mill. It was considered a vital industry and he was required to stay with it and keep it going to supply the US Government for the war effort.

I had another friend and spiritual mentor who served in the USAF. His name was Walter Richardson. He was the first African-American to achieve the highest enlisted rank in the USAF. General "Chappie" James credits him with being one of the most influential airmen in helping reduce racism in the USAF. He was also one of the original Tuskegee Airmen. One of the greatest men I ever knew. he passed away two years ago.

Another great man I know, Bishop Rene Henry Gracida, the bishop who confirmed me in the Catholic Church, served in the USAAF as a Flight engineer on B-17 bombers with the Eighth Air Force. One of the missions he was on was the mission to Dresden, one that still affects him to this day.

I only mention these two because these men were very influential in my life and in many ways were like second fathers to me. In my own way, I consider them to be family.


That's all I know of my family's military history so far. Once again, thank you to all who have served.

 

[Hawkwrench]

Wow, that's unbelievable that over 70 years later, those missions would still be classified. Of course, the OSS was the precursor to the Army's Special Forces.
I wonder if they'll ever be de-classified and released?

Tim

 

[centaur567]

This is the person I remember most. Sgt Daniel Wilson, KIA in Cambodia 1970. He was a UH-1H crew chief that I flew with as a part time door gunner. He was killed while I was home on leave after I extended my tour of duty.
My wife has relatives that fought in the Revolutionary war, and WWII. My Great grand father's fought in the Civil War one on each side and my Dad was in WWII in the Pacific with the 37th Inf. Div. Also had an uncle by marriage who was a fighter pilot in the Pacific also.

 

[helios]

Day late, but I suppose I'll chime in as well.

Grandfather served w/ the US Army in WWII. He passed away after a bout of cancer 15 years ago or so. My father was in the USN for 12 years (1968-80). He served aboard the CDG-7 USS Springfield & the SSN-675 USS Bluefish. I was in the USN myself for 5 years (1993-98) before I got tired of the politics of the time. As you may guess I served w/ VAQ-135, based out of NAS Whidbey Island and deployed on the CVN-72 USS Abe Lincoln, CV-63 USS Kitty Hawk, & CVN-70 USS Carl Vinson. 2 deployments to the Persian Gulf in support of Operation Southern Watch.


I know there is usually a lot of support for veterans on Memorial Day, but never forget the reason for the holiday...those that never made it home. Godspeed for the fallen. :salute


BTW, lovely artwork there Chuk!