"Like most true war heroes, Tom rarely talks about the war."
Because of circumstances that often happen in war, my father's ship and crew had to serve a double tour of duty in the Pacific Campaign. They were 19 months straight at sea without touching land. He was a radar man, the one who actually aims the guns, on the USS Boston. How he got the job is a story in itself. They managed to shoot down enough of their targets, and managed to be lucky enough also, that they never once got hit by so much as a peice of shrapnel the whole time. Only one other ship in US naval history had led so charmed an existance, that being the USS Constitution. He never spoke of his war experience, except in the last 2 years of his life. I'm so glad he did. I've got to go wipe away some tears now.
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branchandroot
In memory of my own father
Date: 2004-03-13 09:24 am (UTC)Because of circumstances that often happen in war, my father's ship and crew had to serve a double tour of duty in the Pacific Campaign. They were 19 months straight at sea without touching land. He was a radar man, the one who actually aims the guns, on the USS Boston. How he got the job is a story in itself. They managed to shoot down enough of their targets, and managed to be lucky enough also, that they never once got hit by so much as a peice of shrapnel the whole time. Only one other ship in US naval history had led so charmed an existance, that being the USS Constitution. He never spoke of his war experience, except in the last 2 years of his life. I'm so glad he did. I've got to go wipe away some tears now.