My name is Alfred R. Jenkins, and I was born in Elizabethtown, Kentucky. Dad was a farmer and Mom a homemaker. I have an older sister and two brothers. I have uncles and cousins who all served in the military. Prior to becoming drafted, I was a truck mechanic. Basic training in Fort Polk, LA was rough. I hated it. They jammed people through the training with limited contact with family except for a phone call here and there. They…..
It is said, that the good die young, and David Livingston Tharp most definitely left us all too soon by passing away on July 14, 2009. David was my brother. He made us all proud by serving, not one, but two tours of duty for this country. He matured in to a fine man, of which our Family can be proud, offering affection, sensitivity, respect and friendship to all. Like our father, he was a man of honor and integrity…..
My name is Rodney John Harris, and I served with the USN, FFG-36 USS Underwood and Iowa Army National Guard, Det 1, HHC, 1-133 IN, 2-34 BCT. I enlisted for several reasons, first was family tradition, second to serve my country, and 3rd to be part of something bigger than myself. I lived around the military since I was 2. My mother married a sailor when I was 4, so I lived up and down the west coast until high…..
My name is Jack McCabe. I joined the U.S. Army 2 days after I turned 18 in December 1969. I went active in January 1970 and was discharged 3 years later on 15 January 1973. I was trained as a 35L20, Avionics Communications Repair. But I really only did that for about 3 months. Then I served as a fill in door gunner, truck driver and in supply. I served in Avel Central, Phu Loi from 1970 to 1972 and…..
My name is Montgomery J. Granger. I joined the California National Guard to serve my country, learn a valuable skill and earn a little extra to help repay my college loans. I served for twenty-two years with the U.S. Army National Guard and Reserves in California and New York, retiring as a Major. My deployments took me to Guantanamo Bay in 2002 and various locations in Iraq between 2004 to 2005. I was trained as a Combat Medic for five…..
As a Vietnam ERA Veteran, I was never in country or at least according to the government. I served in the Navy and was on a SH-3G Helicopter Photo Recon, Combat Camera Group 2 and was stationed aboard a small carrier. We would fly over and do our thing. I had my camera in hand and a 1911 always on my hip. I was one of the fortunate ones and never was never physically hurt, but the photos I took…..
My son, Petty Officer First Class Michael J. Strange was born on June 6, 1986 in Philadelphia. He attended St. Bartholomew Catholic School in the Wissinoming section of the city. He enjoyed the life of a typical Philadelphia kid surrounded by a loving family and great friends who he stayed close to all of his life. Michael had a great sense of humor and a kind and generous heart. As a little boy he loved spending summers with his dad,…..
As a former military spouse I always appreciated the close bond of us all, especially during the Vietnam war. This is a picture of my then husband, Gerald Pennington, from Vietnam. Gerald was a U.S. Army staff sergeant and courier with supply in 1967 with evacuation hospital in Vietnam. Some of his letter heads were labeled, Red beach 1970. I wrote 3 letters a day because I know the importance of mail to an deployed soldier. I was the post…..
My name is John Bachor, and I am a Vietnam Veteran. My Father served during WW2 as a flight Engineer and mechanic on a C47 Troop carrier, in the 435th Troop Carrier Group. He released Gliders over Normandy and a few other places. He did a lot. My Mother and Father moved to California from Little Neck New York when I six years old and divorced shortly after. I didn’t see or hear from my father until I was 23…..
My name is Nicholas Sawka, and I am with the United States Coast Guard. Both of my grandfathers were in the Army during wartime. My Grandfather Sawka fought in Italy during WWII and received a Purple Heart for combat injuries sustained during battle liberating Italy. He died when I was young. My Grandfather Miske was in the Korean War and stationed near Seoul and did not see combat while in Korea. I have served 14 years active duty and counting…..
