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 Author  Topic: A Veteran Died Today
  Michael

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of Michael   Send Email To Michael Posted on: Apr 1, 2009 - 9:29pm
Id just like to pass on this ode that i recieved in a newsletter from the Manicani Island Association,
It touched me and i think all of the younger generation should heed its message.
Cheers Michael

A Veteran Died Today.

He was getting old & paunchy and his hair was falling fast.He sat around the legion,telling stories of the past.
Of a war that he had fought in and the deeds that he had done,in his exploits with his buddies they were hero's everyone.
And tho sometimes to his neighbours his tales became a joke,all his buddies listened,for they know whereof he spoke.
But we will hear his tales no longer,for ol' Bob has passed away,and the worlds a little poorer,for a VETERAN died today.

No he wont be mourned by many,just his children and his wife,for he lived an ordinary,very quiet sort of life.
He held a job and raised a family,quietly going on his way and the world wont note his passing,tho a VETERAN died today.

When dignitaries leave this earth,their bodies lie in state,while thousands note their passing and proclaim that they were great.
Papers tell of their life stories from the time that they were young,but the passing of a VETERAN goes unnoticed and unsung.

The dignitaries stipend and the style in which he lives,are sometimes disproportionate,to the service that he gives,while the ordinary VETERAN who offered up his all,is paid off with a medal and perhaps a pension,small.

It is so easy to forget them,for it is so long ago,that our Bob's,Jim's and Johnny's,went to battle but we know it was not the dignitaries,with their compromise and ploys,who won for us the freedom that our country now enjoys.

Should you find yourself in danger,with your enemies at hand,would you really want a dignitary with their ever waffling stand? Or would you want a VETERAN who has sworn to defend,his home,his kin,and country and would fight until the end?

He was just a common VETERAN and his ranks are growing thin,but his presence should remind us,we may need his like again.
For when countries are in conflict,then we find the Military's part,is to clean up all the mess,that politicians start.

If we cannot do him honor,while he is here to hear the praise,then at least lets give him homage,at the ending of his days.
Perhaps just a simple headline,in the paper that might say,

OUR COUNTRY IS IN MOURNING,FOR A VETERAN DIED TODAY



Michael

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Dick

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of Dick   Send Email To Dick Posted on: Apr 1, 2009 - 10:35pm

Very nice, need more be said? I think not.


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Frank J Andruss Sr

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Thanks for sharing such wonderful words of wisdom. Maybe the younger generations wil heed these words and show the respect our Veterans so richly deserve.


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area51

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message   Posted on: Apr 2, 2009 - 9:59am
Michael -

Great! Is it under copywrite? Can I have it published
in a local groups paper?

Gus RM3/C
PT 497


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  Jerry Gilmartin

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of Jerry Gilmartin   Send Email To Jerry Gilmartin Posted on: Apr 2, 2009 - 10:08am
Hello ALL,
I have very sad news from the crew on PT 658, Save the PT Boat, in Portland OR. Our groups president CAPT Harry Weidmaier, USN(ret) has taken his last patrol. He was one of the founding members of our group, and has been instrumental in our being able to obtain much of the needs material, parts and other assistance from the US Navy and other groups as well. Being a CAPT (O-6) he was able to get ta lot of things done that we may not normally have been able to obtain. Harry started off as an enlisted man in WW2, and was stationed at Manicani Island. He was a mustang officer and volunteered to be on submarines, where he eventually was the CO of 2 different diesel submarines in the 1950's and 1960's. He will be greatly missed as part of our group, and we all mourn his untimely demise. I just wanted to let all of you PT Boaters and interested parties know of the news.

Jerry Gilmartin
PT 658
Portlland, OR

Harry on board PT 658 during a Retirement Ceremony


Jerry Gilmartin

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Will Day

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of Will Day   Send Email To Will Day Posted on: Apr 2, 2009 - 10:31am
FAIR WINDS AND FOLLOWING SEAS, CAPT. WEIDMAIER...

Will

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Frank J Andruss Sr

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of Frank J Andruss Sr   Send Email To Frank J Andruss Sr Posted on: Apr 2, 2009 - 11:17am
Jerry

Such sad News indeed. Here was a man that took the reins of a massive project and follwed it through to the end. One of the great things is he got to see the boat being finished, running, and shown to the public. Men like this only come around once in a life-time, and we are losing them much too quickly. I am sure he is looking down on you guys, proud to have been such an important part of a wonderful group. I know Jerry, that you younger guys will continue moving forward, throttles pushed to the brink, bow high and heading into the wind..............


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Michael

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of Michael   Send Email To Michael Posted on: Apr 2, 2009 - 7:28pm
Jerry,
Please pass on my condolences to all affected by the passing, of this fine man.

Michael

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Michael

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of Michael   Send Email To Michael Posted on: Apr 2, 2009 - 7:32pm
Gus,
If you email me ill put you in touch with the person who puts the newsletter together,and he might be able to shed some light on the Author
Cheers

Michael

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Russell Pullano

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of Russell Pullano   Send Email To Russell Pullano Posted on: Apr 5, 2009 - 10:37am
Jerry, Thanks for the post. I'm sure Cap't..Weidmair will be sorely missed by you and all of us. May his soul be in heaven where he can join and reminiss with his other fallen PT Boaters.



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