As Father’s Day draws near, I find myself thinking about how important the men in my life are to me. The majority of them have served in the military. My dad was in the Army, my husband in the Air Force, my oldest brother served in the Navy. My maternal grandfather was in the Navy. I couldn’t remember if my Grandpa Howard served in the military so I called my dad to find out.
Dad reminded me that his father lost an eye as a child and couldn’t enlist. He did, however, work at the naval station at Port Hueneme, California during World War II. Dad told me his brothers had all served, too. Wayne was in the Air Force in missile electronics at Cape Canaveral. Jess was an MP (military police officer) and played baseball for the Army while assigned to Fort MacArthur. Uncle Harold was in the Army infantry.
My father was assigned to the 7th Division and served in Korea from 1955-1956. He handled payroll. Back in the day, the troops were paid with military script. Dad said it looked like monopoly money and that even the coins were made of paper.
He told me one story that could have seriously impacted my life! One night while out on patrol, they encountered enemy fire. It was dark and they couldn’t see the enemy, but they had been taught to “look for the muzzle flash, point your gun to the right and shoot.” When he returned to camp later that night, he found a bullet hole through the left armpit of his field jacket. My dad is right handed, but because my Grandpa Howard only had one eye, he had taught him to shoot left handed. Dad said “If I would have shot right handed, I’d be dead and you wouldn’t be here today.” That was a story I had never heard before!
This year, I am honoring not just my Dad, but all the men in my life by making a donation to the National Military Family Association. I want to show my support of all the military families in my life, and honor their service to our country.
This Father’s Day, pay tribute to the special men in your life by making a donation in their honor. And spend a little extra time and find out more about them – you might be surprised what you learn!
Happy Father’s Day, Dad – I love you so much!!
Posted by Annie Morgan, Deputy Director for Development and Membership
