Albert- Great post.
I just returned today from a funeral in Virginia for my first wife's father. He died on Memorial Day at 79 years of age.
This man, John Horace Parrish, lied about his age and joined the Marine Corps at age 16. A year later, the guy was in the initial landing force at Tarawa and was wounded, receiving a Purple Heart at 17. He went on to work his way through the Pacific Theater.
John became a member of the US Navy's Underwater Demolition Training team 2- which later evolved into the US Navy Seals. John was one of the first men to be priviliged to work with the new SCUBA gear, and was later a certified Deep-Sea Diver for the USN. He finished out his career as a USN Seal Trainer.
John spoke very little about the war in the Pacific- except to say that:
1. It was beyond anyone's comprehension without being there
2. Japanese Imperial Marines were to be greatly feared!
3. US Marines quickly learned to love flame-throwers, and used them until their arms were blistered with burns.
4. Americans should never forget the sacrifice of those Pacific warriors.
Here's to the memory of John Horace Parrish.
I just returned today from a funeral in Virginia for my first wife's father. He died on Memorial Day at 79 years of age.
This man, John Horace Parrish, lied about his age and joined the Marine Corps at age 16. A year later, the guy was in the initial landing force at Tarawa and was wounded, receiving a Purple Heart at 17. He went on to work his way through the Pacific Theater.
John became a member of the US Navy's Underwater Demolition Training team 2- which later evolved into the US Navy Seals. John was one of the first men to be priviliged to work with the new SCUBA gear, and was later a certified Deep-Sea Diver for the USN. He finished out his career as a USN Seal Trainer.
John spoke very little about the war in the Pacific- except to say that:
1. It was beyond anyone's comprehension without being there
2. Japanese Imperial Marines were to be greatly feared!
3. US Marines quickly learned to love flame-throwers, and used them until their arms were blistered with burns.
4. Americans should never forget the sacrifice of those Pacific warriors.
Here's to the memory of John Horace Parrish.