My Father Died Tuesday Morning. An old soldier passes on...

4.16.03 | mlmr

[mlmr]

My father died yesterday and I had the privilige of standing next to him and saying goodbye as he took his last breaths. He is having a military funeral for the most important event in his life was the 18 months he spent with the 101. He joined them at age 16 as they crossed the Mediterranian to Italy. He was young and ski patroled the Alps for a while then was spun off to the new MPs to help keep the peace in occupied Italy. He had many funny stories including the time he was involved with arresting the general who headed the Italian forces and engineered the surrender to the Allies. He even married an Italian woman. God rest his soul.

[Scothia]

Your dad was one of the good ones, and we all owe him. God's blessings to you and your family. May the name of this honorable soldier be remembered.

[mlmr]

As we sat with my father Monday night my brother and I were looking through his war picture albums. What a time and the young men were so young and carefree and brave.

[Toespi]

Thank you for sharing your loss as well as sharing the short story of an American hero. God bless you at this time.

[ru4liberty]

My heartfelt sympathies to you and your family at the passing of such a fine man. I, too, was privileged to be with my father at his passing, so I understand how special an event that is. God bless and comfort you.

[AZamericonnie]

I am sending you my sincerest condolences on the passing of your father. I can tell you are so proud of him. I laid to rest my Grandfather last Thursday who was also a WWII Navy vet. I too was at his side when he took his last breath. God bless you & your family and help you through this time.

[manna]

Sympathy and prayers ...

[Samwise]

I am so sorry for your loss. Unfortunately, I understand how much it hurts. We just received our Presidential Memorial Certificate and hung it up last night. I am so glad it is from Dubya. Don't forget to order yours.

Click the Tribute on my homepage to see the Gaffer. Perhaps they are trading stories.

[alameda]

Thank you letting us hear about your wonderful Father.
My thoughts are with you and your family.

[mlmr]

My Dad's first job in Italy was to be a driver for a brave, field promoted colonel who had been with the division since the begining.
They were traveling in a jeep and a big black sedan passed them and nearly drove them off the road. The colonel insisted that my father pull the car over. So my father sped up and there was a chase. At one point, the colonel, a true cowboy had his revolver out and was aiming at the car. My father convinced him to holster his gun.

He cut the car off and pulled it over. It was filled with men in suits. They arrested the men and took them to the nearest polizia station. As they entered with the unhappy prisoners, everybody in the station came to attention. With broken Italian my father and the colonel discovered that they had just arresed the high command of the Italian military. The Italians took their names to report them to the American commander. Fortunately, the colonel had lots of friends and the commander's assistant was a friend who stonewalled the calls....

[Coroner]

The clouds are now his moguls!!

[mlmr]

How do I get an memorial certificate, Samwise?

[glocker]

I know that feeling. My favorite picture of my Dad shows him sitting in a fancy chair on the front porch of some house in Italy with his Thompson handy, tired but game, grinning at the camera.

[AmericanMade1776]

He was young. My Father in law is still living at 87 years of age. He talks with soliders who are in their 90s. My Dad was in the Air Force,toward the end of the war headed for Japan, but the big bomb dropped, he is only 76 now.

I have heard that Italy is a beautiful Country.

[AmericanMade1776]

Great Story! :-)

[lonestar]

It's a blessing to be able to mourn the loss of a parent. I'm thankful to have had two good ones, too.

My prayers to you and yours.

[Focault's Pendulum]

May all that was in him, live on through you and yours. Condolences and Godspeed.

[mlmr]

Dad was 75. They were so young and full of promise...and so many did not come home...

[Diver Dave]

Salute!

[TomServo]

Hand Salute.

[The Duke]

Your dad lived a lot more and a lot better than most. This old world is just a little bit poorer with the passing of such a man.