The Stovebolt Forums Forums The Side Lot The Legion Hall Boot Camp Photos!

Rusty -- Back at ya with Presidential Helo Grizzly (and Momma Grizz), PAO Grizzly and Mess Night Grizzly (Mr. Vice in action). By the way, the inverted "brodie" helmet on mr. Vice's table (used for fine collection) was my grandad's. As a Marine, he wore it in combat at Belleau Wood, 1918.

Happy Belated Birthday, BTW.

S/F
Grizz

My Dad, Maurice (Shorty) M Bass circa 1942. US Army. Passed 1992

This isn't a boot camp photo, but of my dad George Hansen (b 1919 - d 1996) I believe just prior to shipping over to Europe for WW2. His unit crossed Omaha Beach a month after D day and fought their way thru France. This link [coulthart.com] is to his Silver Star citation awarded for action near Nancy, France.
He was a real soldier. I was just a REMF.

Young salt 1967

Unfortunately, 8 yeas' worth of photos, paperwork, and a lot of other memorabilia of my USAF experience was lost in a fire. After refusing to reenlist under duress from my soon-to-be ex, I came home from work one day to find that there had been a bonfire in the back yard involving my uniforms, boots, and every souvenir or scrap of paper she could find with any connection to my military experience. All I had left was the pair of jungle boots I was wearing at the time.
Jerry

Jim -- Which boat is that??

Jim -- Which boat is that??

Jerry -- well ... that stinks!

And as long as we're doing family members from WWII, here's my granddad. Right before he shipped overseas. He's holding his first grandchild, my 1st Cousin. He and my uncle served in WWII. My uncle was a B-24 aircrew in the Pacific theater. My granddad served in the European theater and was at Bastogne. My other grandfather was a WW1 Marine. My granddad in the picture (Grandma Stovebolt's dad) graduated from Princeton University about 1926 with an architecture degree. He was one of those few (and interesting, if not slightly tragic) people for whom WW2 was the best thing that ever happened to him. He failed in his profession and became an alcoholic. His marriage failed. He was able to enlist when the war came and distinguished himself in combat (as an "old guy"), won a battle field commission after the Bulge. When the war ended, he reverted to his enlisted rank of SSgt and worked for European Stars and Stripes. He ended his days as a groundskeeper at the Connecticut VA home where he lived (and died) not too long after my parents were married.

My cousin, the baby in the photo, is a Vietnam veteran and retired from the Air Force as a LtCol. His younger brother, my other male cousin, is a two-tour SEA veteran and Little Bird pilot who retired from the U.S. Army as a CWO-5. I was born about 10 years after my grand dad (in the photo) died. As my cousins actually got to know him, they retain most of his memorabilia. I have his casket flag and fly it on special occasions.

Our local VFW/American Legion posts sponsor a display of crosses on special days that line both sides of the road near the post. Each cross flies a 3 X 5 foot American flag and the name, service dates, and branch of service of a deceased veteran. Family members in the local community can purchase the flag displays for $150.00 each for a period of 3 years, renewable at a discount. Dad, who was a B-17 pilot, and my uncle who swam to the beach on D-day through burning oil are represented there.
Jerry

[img]https://www.stovebolt.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/ubb/download/Number/36936/filename/Grandpas Company.jpg[/img]My grandpa and his Company in training to go to Europe, where they fought in Battle of the Bulge. He is the one directly in the middle. This was his and grandma's wedding day. His best man is the big guy on his right.

John, My boat was SSBN 602 USS Abe Lincoln FBM, made four deterrent patrols plus overhaul and shakedown cruise. Attaching pic of my half brother Bill Jr who flew 54 missions in a B-17 in Europe, Bill is bottom row 2nd from left. Other half bro Randy served in Pacific landing craft getting Marines to the beach, both came home.