Veterans Day - 2011

Another year has rolled around ... I am in my 80th year. I will explain that, it was explained to me recently. I just had, in September, my 79th birthday ...... but, I am presently in my 80th year .... because, you live for one whole year before you are 1 ......... so, from birth to your first birthday, you are in your first year .... so, I am in my 80th year.

I can get two years worth of uhs and ahs, this year and next year. "How old are you, Joe?"

"I am in my 80th year."

And, "How old are you Joe."

"Turned 80 last September."

Veterans Day.

My Grandfather, Caleb Dooley, was in the Civil War. My Father, Ralph Dean Dooley, M.D., was in World War One. My Brother, Dean Shannon Dooley was in World War Two.

I was in the Navy during the Korean War, Son Dean was in during Viet Nam, and Son Brad served during Desert Storm. A long family line of veterans.

My Veteran story, which I have told here before, but will repeat, as I often do.

OSU-Navy football game a few years ago. I wore a hat my son Brad had given me. Navy hat BMU-2 STINGERS ...... Dooley on the back. I wore it to that game. At the Varsity Club a Navy Captain approached me, looked at my hat, extended his hand, and said, "Thanks for your service."

That happened a lot that day, first day I really felt like a Veteran.

I had a good four years in the Navy. Spent two years in San Diego working in the Discipline Office for the Eleventh Naval District, discharged the "Bad Boys," and there were quite a few of them, did a couple of months on Shore Patrol in Tijuana, and spent two years on the USS William Mitchell, hauling troops and dependents to Japan and other points East. So, I had a good four years.

I remember WWII well, had a Victory Garden, collected cans and grease, we had ration cards, and a sticker on Dad's car for gasoline purchases. I remember sugar being scarce, neighbors coming to our house to say hello when they were home on leave. Bob Shook spent time in the water when his aircraft carrier sank, and came to tell us about it. We had a Stromberg-Carlson radio, which you could record on little white records. We used it a lot, neighbors and friends would stop by and make a record to send overseas, and often, people would bring records they had received for us to play for them.

I remember spending many hours in front of the radio listening to war news. I did get to see FDR In a parade in Dayton, riding with Charles Kettering and Orville Wright.

I will never forget, and it is as vivid in my memory now, as it was that morning, when the Navy Recruiter drove his gray Navy vehicle, up Montgomery Road, to pick up our Son, Brad, and take him away, to serve in the Navy. A sadness and emptiness that is hard to explain, and so many people have gone through similar experiences.

My Dad often told the story about looking back at his Father, Caleb, the Civil War Veteran, as he left on a train  in Marion, Indiana, to go to his basic training in World War I. Caleb had lived through the horrors of war, and knew what his son was heading towards.

Just think what this country could be like, if it were not for veterans, and those who gave their lives.

Veteran's Day

Another year, not sure how many "service men" have lost their lives during that year, but I am sure it is  too many. I guess that "terrorism" is the reason for the loss of life. Terrorism really isn't "war," terrorism makes me think of an Alfred Hitchcock saying, “There is no terror in a bang, only in the anticipation of it.' Terrorists thrive on our concern over the anticipation of what they are going to do next.

A Veteran is an individual, who, for one reason or another, has interrupted his or her life, to serve, to insure that those that he/she left behind can live their lives, without fear.

Just think what it takes to leave your way of life, to follow a way of life, that could result in your life changing drastically, the losing of a limb, or even losing your life. I was in the service during the Korean Conflict, it never entered my mind, during that time, that my life in any way, could be altered, by the time my commitment ended. But just think of all of those who have given their lives, lost limbs, lost their ability to live a normal life.

It is impossible to comprehend combat, being shot at by bullets, bombs, shells, by people whose purpose is to kill you. That is war, noise, smells, hunger, rain, snow, and shooting, so much shooting.

Not all Veterans experience that but they all experience being away from home, families and loved ones and loneliness. That is part of Serving your Country.

My Grandfather, Caleb, served in the Civil War. My Dad, served in World War I, and he told of Caleb taking him to the train station in Marion, Indiana as he was leaving on the train to take him to the ship that would take him to Europe. Caleb knew the horrors of war, and all that could be facing his Son. Dad said as he looked back, there was his elderly Father, leaning on his cane, weighted down with the knowledge of what was facing his son.

My Dad took me to the train in Dayton, Ohio when I left to head to Boot Camp, and the possibility of facing the unknown in the Korean Conflict.

I remember when my Brother, Dean Shannon Dooley, was taken down to the train station in Dayton, Ohio, on his way to Chicago, and into the Navy in a V-12 Program at Great Lakes in Illinois, and then later on to Submarine School in New London, Connecticut.

I will never forget that early morning, when a Naval vehicle came down Montgomery Road and stopped at our house, and our Son Brad walked out of the house, across our yard, and into that vehicle. I have tears in my eyes as I write this, that was an emotional event in my life. My little Son, leaving home, and going into the Navy, so abruptly, one moment he is home, the next, he is gone. Agony for a few days in the Dooley household. We did get to the airport in Columbus, and get to see him off, didn't help much.

My other Son Dean served in the Navy during the Viet Nam War, but he was living with his Mother then, and I escaped the emotions involved in his leaving.

Veterans Day, 2010. Something to think about. I have heard that the ACLU wants all of the CROSSES removed from the graves of Veterans.

Memorial Day

Memorial Day is fast approaching, the day we pay tribute to Americans who left home, either because they volunteered or were drafted, many died, many were wounded, but all are Veterans.

I am a Veteran. My Grandfather served in the Civil War, my Dad was in WWI, my Brother in WWII, I was in during the Korean Conflict, one son served during Viet Nam and another son during Desert Storm. Grandfather, Father and Brother, are gone, so they will be uppermost in my mind, and I will be thinking of them.

I have a problem. I don't know what the word is, there are many, but none seem to say it right.

I have a problem with obama, paying his respects, saying he is Commander in Chief, saluting, just even being affiliated with any ceremony paying respects, to American Servicemen and Women.

I see no difference in Bin Laden or obama, paying their respects to Veterans. It is somewhat like an Atheist going to church. I know he is not sincere, and one has to wonder why he is in church. No, I take that back. Once the Atheist is in church there is at least a chance, if the right program is successful, he might change his mind, be saved, and believe in God.

There is no chance that obama can change his birthright or his religion. In my opinion he is in no way an American, probably is not, in fact, a citizen, and  his interest in America is a smokescreen..

I cringed when I heard him address the Cadets at West Point. I had to wonder what was actually in the back of his mind.

His appearance at the University of Michigan I could understand. The same people who hired their football coach, probably had a lot to do with asking obama to give the graduation address.

I must admit I do admire one quality he possesses. He can lie with a straight face. I kid a lot, but when my kidding reaches a certain height, I have to smile or laugh, he can just go on and on.

This Memorial Day will be even more eventful, my youngest Son, Brad, is getting married, and we will be attending that ceremony in New York, on the 30th.

I hope no one invited obama.

Veterans Day Reflections

My Grandfather, Caleb Dooley, served in the Civil War. Not too many people around who can say that.

My Father served in WWI. He was too young to enlist, but somehow was taken in to the Army. 42nd Rainbow Division from Indianapolis, Indiana.

My Brother was in WWII, Submarine Service, served on the S-11. He was a Lt.J.G in the US Navy. He went through a V-12 Program. I remember going to Great Lakes in Chicago to visit him during his training. Going to a Sunday Morning Church Service at that large Chapel they had, stands out in my mind. I have never forgotten the sermon the Chaplain gave that morning, it revolved around a poem about the Bridge Builder. It is worth repeating here.

THE BRIDGE BUILDER

An old man, going a lone highway,
Came at the evening cold and gray,
To a chasm, vast and deep and wide,
Through which was flowing a sullen tide.
The old man crossed in the twilight dim-
That sullen stream had no fears for him;
But he turned, when he reached the other side,
And built a bridge to span the tide.

"Old man," said a fellow pilgrim near,
"You are wasting strength in building here.
Your journey will end with the ending day;
You never again must pass this way.
You have crossed the chasm, deep and wide,
Why build you the bridge at the eventide?"

The builder lifted his old gray head.
"Good friend, in the path I have come," he said,
"There followeth after me today
A youth whose feet must pass this way.
This chasm that has been naught to me
To that fair-haired youth may a pitfall be.
He, too, must cross in the twilight dim;
Good friend, I am building the bridge for him."

I have never forgotten that Chapel Service, had a lasting impression on me.

I was in the Korean War, 1952 to 1956. Stationed at the Receiving Station in San Diego, California and also did a two year tour on the U.S.S. William T. Mitchell, TAP 114. She was a transport ship, home port, Seattle Washington, and we primarily took troops and passengers to Japan and Korea, and also brought them home on the return trip.

I had one son who served in the Navy during the Viet Nam conflict and another who served during Desert Storm.

It's rather sad that WAR and CONFLICT HAVE become such a big part of our lives. Peacetime has become short lived. I suppose there are some who don't know the meaning of that word, it has never been used during their lifetime.

Veterans Day, 2009.