Veterans Day.

Hello Everyone

from Military.com
"Veterans Day is a time for us to pay our respects to those who have served. For one day, we stand united in respect for you, our veterans.
This holiday started as a day to reflect upon the heroism of those who died in our country's service and was originally called Armistice Day. It fell on Nov. 11 because that is the anniversary of the signing of the Armistice that ended World War I. However, in 1954, the holiday was changed to "Veterans Day" in order to account for all veterans in all wars."

So in that spirit .....

I recently restored a US ARMY MESSAGE CENTER M1 clock for my dad. But I did not get it completed till after he passed .
So here is the clock and my dad back in 1944.
I am missing him more everyday.
Peace
Bill

My father’s wings and his flight compass. Among my most prized possessions of his. He served as a bombadier during WWII.

My dad (on the right) in North Germany 1945-1946

I don’t know the make of watch but it had a black dial and lume numerals

I'll pm you

Here is a watch I got my Dad who was a WW2, Korea, Vietnam veteran. I ask what watch he was issued in WW2 he said a Waltham. He was a ball turret gunner and flight engineer on avenger torpedo aircraft in the US Navy but in PBYs in the beginning of the war in Alaska. He lied about his age to join was 16 years old to join something a young person today would not do the military today having a hard time getting anyone to join. Our whole family followed the family tradition of joining the Navy me the last. My Brother was 17 when he went in I did it late in life at 22. The watch below he wore it at veteran functions until he passed away some years back. If any older people want to join the US Navy, they lowered the age to 41 that how bad they are hurting getting people.



My Dads shadow box

My Grandfather also served in WW2 kind of different were father and both sons served in WW2 my dad's brother also served in the Navy in WW2. My grandfather was what's called a mustang were an enlisted becomes an officer. He also served in WW1. My Moms brother also lied about his age to join the Army Nat. guard the story goes my grandma grabbed him off the train saying he was underage when his unit was getting sent to reinforce the Philippines before WW2 started lucky for him, he might have been on the Battan death march.

The writing suggests maybe 'Leyte'?

Here is my US Army message center clock

And the smaller size with nob on side to change time. They had to types the M-1 and M-2.

I looked up some more photos of my dad.

My Dad with his brother Bob after the war barbers point 1948

This is why we should remember our veteran's 27th Div Cemetary Sapan

After the war the Navy was given some B-29 bombers they used as weather planes.

Sapan after the war.
When my dad got trained as a ball turret gunner if anyone lives in the bay area around Castro Valley at Lake Chabot the US Navy had a base there were they trained ball turret gunners for Avenger torpedo aircraft. Out of a newspaper my dad cut it out when he was there getting trained.



Anyone remember that TV show the untouchables with Robert Stack he was an Olympic skit shooter he teached gunnery at the school. A little bay area history.

Fathers father, Army WW1, uncle (fathers older brother), Sergeant, Marines, uncle, (fathers sisters husband), Marines, my older brother Captain, Marines. Cousin on my mothers side, Lieutenant Colonel, Marines, Korea and Vietnam.

Flyover here in LA this morning. Nothing sounds quite like a radial engine, times 4 even better.

Thank you to all of you who have served!

I found this interesting. These coins saved a soldier during WW1

Thankfully I didn’t have to serve in WWI or II but did spend 21 1/2 years from 1990 in the British Royal Navy, mostly fun times but sometimes medals were issued even with a bar on occasion. I also spent 6 months in the Falklands back in 2006 as a senior so I had a Land Rover for work and had the opportunity to explore the island. Those guys were made of stern stuff, just as the boys and girls who did there duty earlier in WWI and II. I’ve marched and I’ve saluted at this time of year to those that have gone before and despite not being in uniform anymore I still salute and thank them for what they gave. War and conflict is awful and mostly a last resort decreed by governments and the people sent sometimes don’t come home but always go with a duty and dedication. God bless all those fallen who served and those who have served and survived.

Thank god he didn’t buy the last round in the bar the night before,. Bullet marking look small on the bottom coin, certainly not 7.62 or .5 but who knows. Just an amazing story.
Looking again 9mm?