Jim Scanlon (deceased)
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Post by Jim Scanlon (deceased) on May 22, 2009 13:04:39 GMT 9
Quote of the Week from the Patriot Post :patriotic-flagwaver :salute :us_flag
"Once each May, amid the quiet hills and rolling lanes and breeze-brushed trees of Arlington National Cemetery, far above the majestic Potomac and the monuments and memorials of our Nation's Capital just beyond, the graves of America's military dead are decorated with the beautiful flag that in life these brave souls followed and loved. This scene is repeated across our land and around the world, wherever our defenders rest. Let us hold it our sacred duty and our inestimable privilege on this day to decorate these graves ourselves -- with a fervent prayer and a pledge of true allegiance to the cause of liberty, peace, and country for which America's own have ever served and sacrificed. ... Our pledge and our prayer this day are those of free men and free women who know that all we hold dear must constantly be built up, fostered, revered and guarded vigilantly from those in every age who seek its destruction. We know, as have our Nation's defenders down through the years, that there can never be peace without its essential elements of liberty, justice and independence. Those true and only building blocks of peace were the lone and lasting cause and hope and prayer that lighted the way of those whom we honor and remember this Memorial Day. To keep faith with our hallowed dead, let us be sure, and very sure, today and every day of our lives, that we keep their cause, their hope, their prayer, forever our country's own." --Ronald Reagan
:god_bless_usa
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Post by jimpadgett on May 22, 2009 20:14:32 GMT 9
Amen
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az09
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Post by az09 on May 23, 2009 2:27:59 GMT 9
My ADC assignment enabled me to do what few men get to do. For 90 days I was assigned the extra duty of working the Area's funeral detail. We had our own firing party and Pall bearers. Being one of the larger = stronger men on the detail, I got to be a pall bearer at the top end of the casket. This heavy end of the job required that casket be held level and go feet first up and down the many stairs into and out of the Churches. Our biggest fear was letting one of these honored men to get away from us and go sliding down the stair cases at any of the big funeral ceremonies.
Our first assignment as a burial detail quelled this fear from the jump.
The MSgt we were to carry to carry to his last resting place must have weighed 300 pounds. Plus the Catholic Church had about 50 steps leading up to the top of a hill that the church was built on. We grabbed those handles and hung on for dear life. We started the ascending movement and breathed a labored sigh of relief when we got to the level ground of the church entrance. The casket cart was a welcome sight to behold. We loaded the casket onto the cart and proceeded with the procession to the head of the alter.
We never saw the family but we could hear them crying softly behind us in the pews. The ceremony was over and the burial party rose as one and proceeded to line up with the casket and start our move to the door way and those 50 steps down to the Funeral cars.
Where as when we had went up the stairs, holding the casket at shoulder height. We now had to hold the casket at belt height so the feet end was held at shoulder height. Taking the heavy end down was tougher than going up, which was still a large chore. When we got down to the hurst and loaded the casket into the turn table and the burial / funeral people took over securing the casket for travel to the grave yard we filed away and onto the bus. We didn't say a word until we got way down the street, away from the funeral proper. Then all the conversation of how heavy the casket was and the fears of us dropping the casket came to light. We gained a lot of confidence in our party and the procedures we had to do to give the proper military honors to a fallen airman.
The grave yard was a level, tradition setting. While the casket was still heavy there was not the added problem of rough terrain or loose rocks to hamper the smooth movements required of a funeral party.
After the firing party did their execution of the firing the 3 vollies, we then did the Flag folding and presentation to widow and family. The playing of Taps, bringing a tear to many of our eyes.
Our trip back to Hamilton was like a real party, unlike the subdued ride to the Funeral. We did 3 more funerals in this time and were glad to be finished with the extra duty, but was the better for doing it.
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az09
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Post by az09 on May 23, 2009 6:08:08 GMT 9
I thought what with Memorial Day coming up and my getting ready to hit my 100th post on here that I would share this obituary with you all.
San Antonio Express-News.......May 19, 2009 By Edmund Tijerina etijerina@express-news.net
Wendell Burke Rivers Born July 6, 1928, Seward, Neb. -------Died May 9, 2009, San Antonio, Tx Service - Navy...1946 to 1976
Wendell Rivers was talking with a neighbor one day, explaining that he drove a truck for a living.
"How long have you doing that?" asked the neighbor, Dr. Rick Hecker.
"Since I got out of jail." Rivers said.
"Vietnam?" Hecker asked.
Rivers answered: "Yeah."
Capt. Rivers, a prisoner of war in North Vietnam for nearly 7 1/2 years who later came to San Antonio and lived here for 20 years, died May 9 of cancer. He was 80.
A funeral is taking place today in his hometown of Seward, Neb. where three Navy jets are scheduled to make a flyover, said River's stepson, David Pettijohn.
A naval fighter pilot who had served in Korea, Rivers made his final bombing run of the Vietnam War in September 1965 from the USS Coral Sea. He ejected from his Skyhawk A-4E after a bomb exploded prematurely and blew off a wing.
Rivers was captured and held at the infamous "Hanoi Hilton." He was released in February 1973, and three years later he retired from the Navy.
He came to San Antonio, where he began a 20 -year career as a long haul truck driver.
Rivers and his wife, Betty, married in 1981.
His military career had built on achievements from earlier in life. According to his hometown paper, the Lincoln Journal Star, Rivers was senior class president, an all-conference football and basketball player, and an 880-yard track specialist at Seward High School.
He enlisted in the Navy in 1946 and recieved an appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy in 1948. He graduated from Annapolis in 1952 and was commissioned as an ensign.
After serving briefly on a destroyer near Korea, he began flight training in 1953 and earned his wings the next year.
While he was a prisoner in Hanoi, the North Vietnamese brought in another captured Navy pilot, an admiral's son by the name of John McCain, and a commanding officer, James Stockdale, who later became an admiral and vice presidential canidate.
One of Stockdale's books, "In Love and War," includes a picture of him being released to a waiting Air Force plane walking with Rivers.
Rivers wasn't one to go over war stories, his step son said.
"If you asked him a question, he would answer it, he wouldn't volunteer it," Pettijohn recalled. "He was a very tough and courageous man."
May we always have heroes.....may their stories of valor and sacrifice be told around our council fires, just as our past warriors did time after time before us for the warriors to come.
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Post by Jeff Shannon on May 24, 2009 2:29:49 GMT 9
Memorial Day
I would like to ask everybody to take a moment during the BBQ's, Picnic's etc to take a minute to remember those who went before us and those who have answer the call to duty and are serving today :salute
I for one have a new meaning of Memorial Day this year. As most of you know I lost my Father and my Father in-law last year to cancer. They both answered their country's call to duty during WWII and served her well for over 20 years. Dad in the Army Air Corps / Air Force and my Father In-law in the Army :us_flag :us_flag
Reading the posts here in the forum they weren't the only Fathers, Uncles, Brothers, Father in-laws to do us and I salute each and everyone of them too :salute :salute :salute
I also want to say THANKS to each and everyone of you for your service to AMERICA! :patriotic-flagwaver and THANKS to all who are serving today!!! :salute :us_flag :thanks
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Bullhunter
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Post by Bullhunter on May 24, 2009 7:50:32 GMT 9
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Jim Scanlon (deceased)
Senior Staff
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Commander South Texas outpost of the County Sligo Squadron
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Posts: 5,075
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Retired: USAF NBA: Spurs NFL: Niners MLB: Giants NHL: Penguins
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Post by Jim Scanlon (deceased) on May 24, 2009 13:19:15 GMT 9
:salute :us_flag
The Loneliest Prayer As I squat here in the lonely place, A man, maybe you even forgot, I wonder, am I in living hell? Am I alive or not? I think it's been more than ten years now, Since my last friend left this place. I guess he's back home- Wherever that is-Among the human race.
Forgive me Lord, if I seem untrue To the values that my parents taught, To thoughts of you, of family and of country- These things for which I fought.
But, as I've endured the endless days That dragged on into years, I've battled with my very being To hold back the bitter tears.
My children, By now they're no longer small, By now they've nearly grown. My poor wife, she's had that too; She's raised them all alone.
I've wept to hold my darlings, To watch my children grow, To feel your presence, Lord, My faith in you to show.
Bless me, Father, and take this life, Please let it end today. I wonder how they listed me POW or MIA Author: Hardy B. Abbott
Just a reminder that there are still those who are listed as Missing In Action and possibly still alive after all these years. Please pray for them and their families. The families would rather know they are dead, than not know what happened to them.
:god_bless_usa
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Jim Scanlon (deceased)
Senior Staff
FORUM CHAPLAIN
Commander South Texas outpost of the County Sligo Squadron
Currently: Offline
Posts: 5,075
Location:
Joined: July 2007
Retired: USAF NBA: Spurs NFL: Niners MLB: Giants NHL: Penguins
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Post by Jim Scanlon (deceased) on May 24, 2009 13:27:36 GMT 9
A memorial to those who fought in World War One is still a touching poem, composed by one who was there.
Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, MD (1872-1918)
In Flanders Fields
In Flanders fields, the poppies blow Between the crosses, row on row, That mark our place; and in the sky The larks, still bravely singing, fly Scarce heard amid the guns below...
We are the Dead. Short days ago We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, Loved, and were loved, and now we lie In Flanders fields...
Take up our quarrel with the foe: To you from failing hands, we throw The torch; be yours to hold it high. If ye break faith with us who die We shall not sleep, though poppies grow In Flanders fields...
Col. McCrae died of pneumonia, in 1918, while commanding a hospital in France.
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az09
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Post by az09 on May 26, 2009 0:52:49 GMT 9
A Day of Remembering Others.
I worked for a WW-1 Vet at the local VFW. I met other living vets from that war that slowly passed on over the years. I knew all of my Dad's friends at the VFW. They were WW-2 and Korean War vets. Most of them are gone too. Those that are still with us are in their 70's, 80's or 90's.
Our war in SEA touched all of us in that time.
The High School hero was our friend that was a killed in that war. He had been the most popular guy in school, all the way from grade school to high school. He Captained the Football and Basketball teams. He was picked as the grad most likely to succeed, most popular guy and who most represented the Spirit of the High School.
Like most of us after graduation we faced the money problems of college or being drafted. The last time I talked with him was after the American Legion Baseball season. We had been team mates in that league and were now ready to move on to the real grown up world.
I asked him what he was going to do for college? He said he was going into the Army and get the GI bill to pay his way through college. We soon parted ways, going to our branches of service.
A couple of years later, I found out that he had become a helicopter Crew Chief and door gunner.
A little time after that we found out that he was out on a mission and was shot while manning his machine gun. He fell out of the chopper and was killed. When they recovered his body 2 days later, they said it looked like his had survived for some time on the ground before he died of his wounds.
I salute him and his valor as like all of us, he was on his way to doing something else when we were pulled in to defending our nation.
Salute to Sgt Kenneth B. Berry, U.S. Army. Still the hometown hero to the end.
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Bullhunter
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Post by Bullhunter on May 26, 2009 2:09:39 GMT 9
The Vietnam War is still killing people. It's a shame. My cousin was a U.S. Marine and served in Vietnam. He was in the Jungle a lot. He never talked about the war. One day when he was on military leave I questioned him as I was seeing the war on TV nightly. I was in Jr High then. My cousin was a great shot. On the farm I saw him shook groundhogs with a 308 two hundred yards away. He was a marksman with the M-16. I asked him back then (about 1968) if he had ever shot any enemy. He said that he did not know. I pressured him asking, Did any enemy troops fall when you shot at them?. He replied yes, and also added that when he got shot at he fell down also. I also asked about enemy prisoners and if he questioned any. He said yes but the never talked so we would give 4 or 5 to the South Koreans and they would take them up in a huey to about 1,500 and asked the same questions. After the south koreans threw two out the rest talked like turkeys. Thats about all he ever said about the war. He died last year from Agent Orange exposure. The war caused him many physical and emotional problems. His soul now rest with the LORD as do all our fallen military. God Bless and keep them all. :god_bless_usa :us_flag :patriotic-flagwaver :salute
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Post by lindel on May 26, 2009 3:45:07 GMT 9
I want to take a special moment to thank those that have gone before, those that served when I did, those that came after and those that will serve in times to come.
This Memorial day has been a particularly hard one for me. I think it's mainly due to the damage done to our country in the name of politics. We have a President that, at best, has questionable credentials, no experience and goes to great lengths to show it and a legislative branch who's no. 1 goal, it seems, is the financial ruin of this country. I fear our country is beginning it's darkest days, right now. It amazes me that ordinary citizens don't even seem to be aware of how bad it is, and worse, how bad it could get!
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Post by jimpadgett on May 26, 2009 4:34:48 GMT 9
I am proud to say I knew and worked with CMSgt Hardy Abbott. He was one of the finer human beings ever to grace this earth. Jim
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Bullhunter
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Post by Bullhunter on May 26, 2009 6:17:52 GMT 9
Very well put lindel, a :salute to you! I feel pretty much the same.
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Post by daoleguy A.J. Hoehn (deceased) on May 26, 2009 7:54:23 GMT 9
This year as in the past two I missed Rolling Thunder. Never missed before. That was a tribute I looked very forward to and only a mile away. Though I coldn't get there, I still felt part watching the large throngs of bikes roll past out building. I do hope each of you took a moment today at 3 PM to remember those who gave for us. We owe a huge debt to those troops.
AJ
Just on a brief note. Sorry guys, but I am a bit put out this thread had to have political rhetoric inserted. Keep it to Anything Goes please. Here is where we say thanx and God Bless to our coomrads... PERIOD. Sorry, but that is how I feel. :god_bless_usa
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Post by Mark O on May 26, 2009 12:24:22 GMT 9
The Vietnam War is still killing people. It's a shame. My cousin was a U.S. Marine and served in Vietnam. He was in the Jungle a lot. He never talked about the war. One day when he was on military leave I questioned him as I was seeing the war on TV nightly. I was in Jr High then. My cousin was a great shot. On the farm I saw him shook groundhogs with a 308 two hundred yards away. He was a marksman with the M-16. I asked him back then (about 1968) if he had ever shot any enemy. He said that he did not know. I pressured him asking, Did any enemy troops fall when you shot at them?. He replied yes, and also added that when he got shot at he fell down also. I also asked about enemy prisoners and if he questioned any. He said yes but the never talked so we would give 4 or 5 to the South Koreans and they would take them up in a huey to about 1,500 and asked the same questions. After the south koreans threw two out the rest talked like turkeys. Thats about all he ever said about the war. He died last year from Agent Orange exposure. The war caused him many physical and emotional problems. His soul now rest with the LORD as do all our fallen military. God Bless and keep them all. Geez Bull... I remember a quote from General Chappie James that went something like... "Warriors hate war more than anyone else. We just understand it better." That's not an exact quote but you all get the message. These days we don't worry about stuff like that in the USAF. Well, we operators do. Its the bosses that don't. They worry about the troops tucking their PT shirts into their shorts and how long our socks are. Don't even get me started on "morale patches." (I wear an F-106 Dart patch when I fly! You all know which one I'm talking about!) There are so many senior officers over there that are doing command tours just to get a block checked. They all shove down our thoats that those deployed bases are, "just like a home base" so much that they actually believe it! It's not!! It's WAR! No more, no less, and certainly not a home base, flying around the flag pole assignment. I just don't get it. Ugggghhhhh!!!!!! Okay, enough venting. Bull, here's a big salute for your cousin. GBU too. :salute
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Bullhunter
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Post by Bullhunter on May 27, 2009 1:01:18 GMT 9
Thank-you Mark, My cousin was not the same person after he finished his tour in Vietnam. He was not the happy-go-lucky person he used to be. I'm sure he suffered PTSD. Many people became afraid of him. I guess PTSD & the Agent Orange took it's toll on him and killed him at 57 years old.
Many of our warriors today from the gulf war to now suffer something.
I agree that any tur in the gulf area is not a trip aroud the flag poll. A lucky shot with a morter round, rocket, or a sniper can take you out. You don't get hazzard duty pay for nothing.
You be careful and stay alert and cautious just like you sound and talk.
:god_bless_usa to you and your crews.
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Post by pat perry on May 30, 2022 6:26:46 GMT 9
Here is a message from me to some of my 456th FIS buddies. I chose to put this message here because this topic has so many contributions from our current F-106 Forum members.
There is another thread here that is similar if you want to read it. forum.f-106deltadart.com/thread/2031/honor-fallen
Here's my message about Celebration and Remembrance: Hi all!
I hope you are spending time with your family & friends today in both Celebration & Remembrance of Memorial Day shown in the attached picture. Had it not been for these three groups, none of us would be here today with our families living in Freedom. (See picture below)
Lisa Ellison Griffin tells us why below in her own words the difference in celebration and remembrance. I believe both celebration and remembrance are relevant and it’s how we choose to spend our time on Memorial Day as a FREE NATION. The Armed Forces Day, Veterans Day Celebrations, and the Memorial Day Remembrances have made it clear that since 1776 the USA has known that Freedom is not Free. We owe both Celebration and Remembrance to those who never made it out of their uniforms and are buried in foreign countries or were never recovered to bring home. We are part of the 3% who made sure we remained a Free Nation!
“Lisa Ellison Griffin (from FaceBook)
May 24 at 5:27 AM ·
Here's some ground rules for this coming weekend:
1. Don't wish me a Happy Memorial Day. There is nothing happy about brave men and women dying. 2. It's not a holiday. It's a remembrance. 3. If you want to know the true meaning, visit Arlington or your local VA, not freaking Disney. 4. Don't tell me how great any one political power is. Tell me about Chesty Puller, George Patton, John Basilone, Dakota Meyer, Kyle Carpenter, Mitchell Paige, Ira Hayes, Chris Kyle, and any other heroes too numerous to name. Attend a Bell Ceremony and shed some tears. 5. Don't tell me I don't know what I am talking about. I have carried the burden all too many times for my warriors who now stand their post for God. 6. Say a prayer... and then another. 7. Remember the Fallen for all the Good they did while they were here. 8. Reach out and let a Vet know you're there, we're losing too many in "peace". Carry on!”
Thanks, Pat P.
Picture attached:
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Post by Diamondback on May 31, 2022 2:48:11 GMT 9
Indeed, sir. God bless and keep all our Missing Men regardless which service's uniform they wore, and our foreign allies who fell fighting at their sides as brothers-in-arms.
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Post by LBer1568 on Nov 22, 2023 2:19:09 GMT 9
I was recently looking over some past e-mail exchanges I have had. Two members routinely e-mailed me with stories and things of interest. They were the Old Sarge Jim Gier and The Old Pastor Jim Scanlon. Both were my favorites of our Old Crew buddies. May they both RIP. The Old Sarge used to send e-mails and "remind" me about God and Country. His comments were straight to the point and I loved getting set right. now on the opposite side was the Old Pastor. His e-mails were a blessing. As I was looking back I remembered Pastor Jim's old Blog/site. I am including a path to his blog/website. On the right side of page are links to his previous posts. I hope you all can enjoy is as much as I did back then as well as today. oldpastoroz.wordpress.com/
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