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Going home

7:39 am November 11, 2009, by jgalloway

Dad, now 85, left high school early for the U.S. Army, five months before Pearl Harbor.

Though none of them were born in this country, four of the seven Galloway brothers would scatter themselves across the globe during World War II. Dad, an Air Corps mechanic, was the only one to carry a sketchbook.

The cartoonist Bill Mauldin was something of a hero. Lined notebook paper would do in a pinch. Above is a rescued drawing from Dad’s return trip in ‘45. That mountainous lump in the background is the Rock of Gibraltar.

In the upper right hand corner are traces of a laundry list written on the other side — a brief catalog of one young warrior’s requirements for conquering the world: Four undershirts, four shorts, two handkerchiefs, two dress shirts, four pairs of socks, and two coveralls.

Have a thoughtful Veterans Day.

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8 comments Add your comment

Road Scholar

November 11th, 2009
8:32 am

To all vets,past and present, thank you for your service.

BPJ

November 11th, 2009
8:56 am

Amen

Will Jones - Atlanta Jeffersonian Exegesis

November 11th, 2009
9:00 am

May all Veterans, present and future, take this holy day to reflect on the Constitution we are sworn to protect and defend with our lives from “all enemies, foreign and domestic” (in light of Bush’s and Cheney’s yet punished treason of 9/11 and Bush’s father’s assassination, with Richard Nixon and the Roman Catholic CIA, of John Kennedy to add 58,000 of us to the then 120 dead of Vietnam before Dealey Plaza), and to resolve to better understand and obey Our Creed: “Of Many, One;”"The New Secular Order;” and, above all, “Divine Providence blesses our endeavors.”

There is but One G-d. May America be blessed once more, and may Barack Obama’s efforts serve well in that regard. None of us gets out of here alive.

Righteousness exalteth a nation; but sin is a reproach to any people.

Will Jones - Atlanta Jeffersonian Exegesis

November 11th, 2009
9:06 am

“yet unpunished treason”

lovelyliz

November 11th, 2009
9:08 am

I’m a veteran as are my sister and her ex-husband yet the only one staying home today is my 13 year old neice who promised us that when she becomes president of the United States, all veterans will get Veterans Day off with pay. Such a sweet sentiment from a grateful child.

BigJake

November 11th, 2009
10:03 am

On this day of recognition, let us concentrate on the service provided by those who serve and have served the finest country on this great planet. All hail the USA! Using this forum to air one’s grievances, real or imagined, in agreement or in opposition, is a right that we fight for every day of the year. Freedom of speech, freedom of religion and our pursuit of happiness are privileges guaranteed to each and every US citizen, so let us celebrate these rights, and thank those who fight here and abroad to make sure we will always have these rights. Happy Veteran’s Day!

scottwell

November 11th, 2009
10:26 am

Enjoy your dad’s sketches. A fine tribute to him and his brothers-in-arms . . . including my dad who crossed the North Atlantic 31 times, in the engine room below the water line, escorting convoys and dodging torpedos. (No, they didn’t leave him over there. One trip went around the world and came back to the west coast.)

Vern

November 11th, 2009
10:58 am

I am a Viet Nam Era Veteran and am proud to have served my country. I come from a long line of soldiers and sailors. My father was a Marine is WWII (South Pacific), and his father was in WWI (France). Without the service of my brothers and sisters in arms the United States of America their sacrifice from military from 1775 thru today the Constitution and our Democracy would/could not exist.
I do not agree with the politicians on many issues and do not want to see our veterans and active duty personnel forgotten and swept under the rug for “political expediency”. The wellbeing and care of veterans and active duty is the least we can to for those who have served or are serving our country. I know firsthand what it is like trying to get assistance from the VA and other agencies for medical and other assistance, you are ignored and swept aside (while Illegal aliens have no problem getting assistance).

When you meet a Vet or Active Duty person today thank them for their service and remember what they have or are sacrificing to serve and protect the Constitution and the United States of America.