Memorial Day - To Me

Another Memorial Day is approaching. Does not seem like it was that long ago that I wrote  my annual blog. My Grandfather, Caleb Dooley, was in the Civil War. He was in an Indiana Regiment, and was mustered out of the Army somewhere in Texas.

Ralph Dean Dooley, my Father was in WWI. He was involved in may campaigns in Germany. He was  too young to enlist, but somehow manged to do it. He tells of looking back, as the train pulls out, of seeing his aging father, gazing at him, Caleb, knowing of the horrors of war,going off to serve his country. My Dad  tells of getting a break from his duties in a bunker, and going "topside" for a smoke. Some of his friends were playing poker on an ammunition box, and invited him to sit in. Instead, he walked off a way to spend some time in thought. A German shell dropped in the center off the box, killing all of those who were playing. His guardian angel was again looking out for him.

My Brother, Dean Shannon Dooley was in WWII, in the Submarine Service. After he graduated from DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana, he went through a V-12 Program at Great Lakes and received his commission. He went through submarine training, and was assigned to the S-11. On one occasion, he was coming home on leave. We were anxiously awaiting the time to go pick him up, and we received a telegram. LOST ISWAS STOP BE HOME SATURDAY NIGHT STOP DEAN STOP  We were concerned that he had lost his mind. Turned out an ISWAS was some sort of a device used on subs. IS here, WAS there.

I was in the Korean War, two years in San Diego in the Discipline Office, discharging the "bad boys" in the Eleventh Naval District. Did that for two years and then spent two years about the USS William Mitchell TAP114.

My Son Dean served during Viet Nam and my youngest Son Brad, was in Desert Storm, both in the Navy. Brad was in a Stinger Missile detachment aboard the USS Elrod.

We have done our share. I hope that my Grandchildren and their children never have to go through another war.

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.

This Doesn't Often Happen .............

Got an Email this afternoon, from Satan ..................

He said he wants his weather back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

MEMORIAL DAY TRIBUTES

CALEB DOOLEY - My Grandfather

Caleb W. Dooley, my Grandfather, his headstone in Indiana.

Caleb served in the Civil War, I don't have much if his history recorded, but I do know he was mustered out in Texas.

He entered the army September 23, 1861, was a member of 34th Indiana Infantry and served four years and six months. He was fortunate to receive only one slight wound. His regiment fought the last battle of the Civil War.

I never knew my Grandfather, he passed away seven years before I was born.

He married Lucy Bradford, my Grandmother, and they had five children, one of which, Ralph Dean Dooley, was my Father, and served in the First World War.

Ralph Dean Dooley, my Father,  enlisted April 12, 1917, in the 150th Field Artillery, Rainbow Division. He arrived in France November 1, 1917, and saw active service from February 11, 1918, until the end of the war. He took part in the battles of Champagne, Chateau-Thierry, Mt. Faucon, Arragon, and St. Mihil.

Time Change and Caleb

How do you explain the time change to your dog, and why do you try?

I wake up at 8 each morning, almost to the minute. I wake up, look at the clock radio, 8, maybe 1 or 2 minutes, one way or the other.

Shortly after that, I have a nose in my ear, or my face is getting licked, by Caleb, our dog. I get up, put some clothes on, make it to the front door, hook up his leash, and let him out.

I set my clock radio back one hour before going to bed last night, so, this morning, I woke up, looked at the clock, 7, and there was Caleb, looking me right in the eye.

I told him it was only 7, he just looked at me. Again, I told him it was only 7, and then I actually started trying to explain the time thing to him, like he understood, or cared. Then I thought to myself, "Why am I trying to explain this to Caleb," so I got up and let him out, fixed coffee and went on with the day.

I wonder how long this will go on?

Which one?

One of the miners in Chile has a wife and a girlfriend. Apparently they are saying the wife is giving way to the girlfriend. Does that mean the wife is going to be up there waving "Good Bye" to him.

Reminds me of a friend I had in Nevada, at Lake Tahoe. Name of Jack, forget his last name.

Jack had a heart attack, while working, and was taken by ambulance to the hospital. Not sure if he went to the one on the South side of Lake Tahoe, or to Carson City.

Story goes that when Jack first woke up, on one side of his bed, his girlfriend, on the other side, his wife. All that tension, and a heart attack too.

Reportedly, he kept his eyes closed and waited for one of them to leave. Never heard how it ended.

My Grandfather, Caleb Dooley, is buried in Marion, Indiana, with his first wife on one side, and his second wife on the other.  IF ..... anyway, can you imagine how he is spending eternity, with his wives discussing him, or worse, arguing?

Purgatory, either way.