Photo By Petty Officer 1st Class Kim McLendon | Capt. Ronald Oswald, commanding officer, NAVOPSPTCEN Port Hueneme, Calif., thanks...... read more read more
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CAMARILLO, California - Naval Operational Support Center Port Hueneme military personnel honored World War II veterans during a Spirit of ’45 event that kicked off 2012”s Memorial Day weekend Friday afternoon at Atria Los Posas, a senior group living home.
Spirit of ’45 represents the generation of servicemen and women who served during World War II and are the nation’s oldest group of veterans.
“It was such an extraordinary honor to meet and say ‘thank you for your service.’ These cherished soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines, and WAVES [Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service] of America's ‘greatest generation’ inspire our generation to be better servicemen and servicewomen!” said Capt. Ronald Oswald, commanding officer, NOSC Port Hueneme.
The NOSC Port Hueneme Color Guard Detail presented colors, and the Pledge of Allegiance was led by Oswald. Personnel Specialist 1st Class Zachiery Easterling sang the national anthem and was followed by Makayla, age 5 and daughter of Yeoman 1st Class Shannon See from NOSC Point Mugu, who sang "America the Beautiful."
“To be able to [be] present for those who have served before us is an honor. I feel that all events with veterans are very important,” said See about her and her daughter’s attendance. “It is always nice and fun to hear parts of history, and see what they experienced while serving.”
Veterans were given flag pins, pinned on by Oswald, and certificates of appreciation for their service were handed to them by Master of Ceremonies Lyndsey Hale, the veterans’ community liaison for VITAS Innovative Hospice Care. Hale is descended from two generations of military service, both her father and grandfather served, and she is a navy spouse whose husband is currently deployed.
“It means a lot to our WWII veterans to have the young local military troops here to support and honor them,” said Hale.
“Being able to shake hands and share stories with WWII veterans was an honor and a privilege, and I salute each and every one," said Personnel Specialist Seaman Taylor Perry, NOSC Port Hueneme. “I proudly serve and will continue serving as my heroes [before me] served to protect my freedom.”
During the intermission, veterans had a chance to tell some of their stories to the sailors from Hueneme. Gentlemen from all branches of the service were in attendance, and of the lady veterans present there were two Navy WAVES and one from the U.S. Navy Nurse Corps.
WAVES Beneva Larcher said she supported the war effort by serving at home so other sailors could go forward into harm's way. She spoke of the way everyone on the home front served to support those overseas. She talked about the everyday sacrifices that people took pride in because they knew what it meant to “our boys” in North Africa, Italy, and Germany.
Lt. Cmdr. Larry Mullen, USN retired, recalled his navy memories from NAS Point Mugu and NAS Alameda, flying the Martin JRM Mars, a four-engine, cargo transport seaplane. He was considered a "mustang" which is someone who rose in rank from enlisted to officer.
“I spent most of my time as a chief [petty officer],” said Mullen. “Then I flew the Mars.”
U.S. Navy Nurse Mary Eileen Madigan, said that she simply loved to serve and deeply cared for every sailor or soldier she saw. In her 80's, she speaks clearly and stands taller as she tells the story of her time healing wounded servicemen on a U.S. Navy hospital ship in the Pacific.
Also attending the event was husband and wife Jay and Millie Holmes, who have been married 69 years. Mr. Holmes was a U.S. Marine and Mrs. Holmes joined the WAVES.
“I thought they were going to throw me overboard,” quipped Mrs. Holmes about being in the navy and married to a Marine. She modestly relates her service as “just doing paperwork” during the war.
“It is humbling to listen as they recount their experiences on the Sands of Iwo Jima, over the skies of France, on the deep waters of the Western Pacific, in the forests of Germany, and on the hills of Korea,” said Oswald.
According to Hale, the youngest of this generation of soldiers, sailors and Marines are in their mid-80s and this summer VITAS is trying to honor as many local World War II veterans as possible as nationwide “we are losing them at a rate of over 1,000 a day.” As a part of Spirit of ’45, VITAS is collecting World War II veterans’ reminiscings for archiving so their stories are not lost.
“They paved the way, showing us true honor, courage, and commitment, values that we hold forever dear today,” said Oswald.
The event included the reading of the true story turned children’s book, Eddie and Bingo, by local bookstore owner, Connie Halpern of Mrs. Fig’s Bookworm. It is a war story about a U.S. Navy photographer and the ship’s mascot, Bingo, as told by Photographer’s Mate Ed McDonald, USS Hornet, to his daughter, Kathleen Taylor before he passed on a few years ago.
Co-author of the book with Taylor is her mother-in-law, Katherine Taylor of Camarillo, Calif., who shared her own family experience from World War II. She related the sobering statistic of submariners. “Twenty per cent of the submarines did not return from battle,” said Taylor. Her uncle/godfather, Electrician’s Mate Third Class John Patrick King, U.S. Naval Reserve, stationed on USS Grayback, was one of the unlucky ones.
“We have our freedom today literally because they [all veterans] chose to offer up their lives as a potential sacrifice to ensure that freedom. There are plenty of service personnel who never made it back from many conflicts and wars, who paid the ultimate sacrifice,” said Builder Second Class Douglas Hoffman, NOSC Port Hueneme. “It is my humble opinion that if we fail to respect, and recognize those who did return, it would be as if those who didn't return; sacrificed in vain.”
The event concluded with the sound of Taps played on a bugle by former Staff Sgt. Joe Saenz, U.S.A.F., of the local volunteer Military Honor Detail.
“This is the best opportunity for us to celebrate our Memorial Day. We should thank our heroes or love ones when they can still appreciate our gesture,” said Master Chief Petty Officer Terry Delacruz, command master chief, NOSC Port Hueneme.
| Date Taken: | 05.25.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 06.01.2012 20:10 |
| Story ID: | 89319 |
| Location: | CAMARILLO, CA, US |
| Web Views: | 230 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Local military honor World War II veterans for Memorial Day, by PO1 Kim McLendon, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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