Number "98"

So, on this Veteran's Day, what in the world could the number "98" mean???

Well, in the Restaurant Business (Mr. Steak) I did manage restaurant number 98, which was located on Fair Oaks Blvd near Howe Ave...part of "The Pavilions" now days.  

But back in the day, "98" was my lottery draft number.  The Viet Nam (now written ad Vietnam) War was winding down...I remember watching news account after news account on March 29, 1973, the day the U.S. withdrew from Nam.  All those deaths (58,220 deaths, 2,646 MIA) for WHAT???  The reasons baffle me to this day...if you fight a war, you fight to win!  And these numbers don't include the countless veterans who have suffered, and many who have died, the slow and horrible deaths due to the lethal impacts of Agent Orange.  Back in 1969 when the lottery started, having a number of "98" was a sure draftee.  In my year, with the war winding down, it was considered a high number...I think they drafted a few who had numbers under 25 for that lottery year.  If you had 95 or under, you were considered 1-A, which meant, available for military service.

Dad served in the Navy from 1946-1947.  Although WW2 ended in September of 1945, the dates are different for active service during WW2. The government defines WW2 service as follows:  December 7, 1941, through December 31, 1946, inclusive. If the veteran was in service on December 31, 1946, continuous service before July 26, 1947, is considered World War II service.

Four of Mom's brothers served in the Navy during WW2, one of whom was at Pearl Harbor on that fateful day but he survived, another died due to a Kamikaze plane hitting the USS Bunker Hill, an Essex-class aircraft carrier in May 1945, just two months before the war ended. Dad's brother had a heart murmur, the military disqualified many people with heart conditions, including those with valvular heart disease, to avoid having to pay veterans' disability benefits after the war.  Uncle "Red" lived to be 84 years old.  Mom's youngest brother was in the Air Force.

Brother-in-Law Arny served in the Navy during Nam, to this day he wishes he was assigned to a ship so he could help out with the war, but his value was more valuable here in the states.  A HUGE Nascar fan, he ALWAYS stands for the playing of the National Anthem before each race...and would do the same watching football, but they rarely show that anymore.

My ancestry goes back to the Mayflower...I have countless numbers of ancestors who served in the military...like Peter Burdick, 1703-1800.  He served in the Rhode Island Militia where he was appointed an Ensign in May,1737. Later he was made a Lieutenant in June of 1742.  He served in this group until 1743.  On the last Tuesday of February, 1727-8, he was admitted as a Freeman at Westerly.  His service was in the 2nd Co. Westerly Militia.  Peter's grandfather was, by most accounts, the first Burdick in America, arriving before 1655 when he married Ruth Hubbard.

Thank you for your SERVICE...

Veta Day - Veterans Day

 

First Veterans Day since dad passed...only fitting I start my blog off today with a picture of him in uniform.  Dad served in the Navy from 1946-1947.  Although WW2 ended in September of 1945, the dates are different for active service during WW2. The government defines WW2 service as follows:  December 7, 1941, through December 31, 1946, inclusive. If the veteran was in service on December 31, 1946, continuous service before July 26, 1947, is considered World War II service. Code of Federal Regulations, 3.2 (d)  Dad fit that time period, so he is considered a WW2 Vet.  He served in the Navy in the Pacific, and even went to Japan for at least one short time period.

 

After working at Bank of America, getting married, he then went to work at the Sacramento Army Depot, and retired the day he turned 55.  He started as a peon, and retired as a high level executive.  His "Boss" urged him to take his temporary high level position permanently and dad said, "What happened to the boss I am replacing?"  "He had a heart attack," was the answer.  "And they guy he replaced?"  "He had a heart attack."  "And the guy he replaced??"  Well, I think you now know why he retired at age 55.  The Army Depot served as a repair facility for electronic equipment, such as night vision goggles, electronic circuit boards, and radium-dial instrumentation.  As part of his retirement we (family) got to tour the base, some of which was normally off limits to non workers.  They let us look through night vision equipment, something was still pretty secretive in 1983.  The retirement picture above was signed by what I think was the Colonel, and if I read it right it says, "Al - Congratulations on your 30 years of dedicated service to Depot and country.  Best wishes in your retired life.  When it comes to injenuity and initative you are tops.  John M...." (can't catch that last name")

Thank you DAD for your service to our country, along with the service of many of your ancestors, brother-in-laws, sons, son-in-law, etc. etc.  

So WHY did I call it VETA Day?  Because "Eta" is now "Hurricane Eta", and it is Veterans Day, so it makes sense to me that they rename the storm "VETA".

But according to our expert weatherman, it will die back down to Tropical Storm as it goes by us...but it is also going by very close to us.

Above is the latest projected path. We are under Hurricane Watch, soon to be Tropical Storm Watch followed by Tropical Storm Warning later tonight, and Tornado Watch along with Flash Flood Watch...just about any "Watch" you could think of outside of cold weather watches.

BREAKING NEWS!!!!

The 1:00 pm update has already downgraded it back to a Tropical Storm!

For a little perspective...above is the latest path, the Red Arrow is where we live.  Expecting lots and lots of rain, wind gusts of 60-70 mph, and I am sure Pasco County will have Tornado Warnings soon...but thank goodness those are typically more inland.  We are about 3 miles from the Gulf.  Hoping we don't loose electricity...

Veterans Day 2016

 

First, thanks to my dad who served during the waning days of WW2.  Although the warfare came to an end on board USS Missouri September 2, 1945, men and women who were in the military during the time period of December 7, 1941 – December 31, 1946 are considered WW2 Vets.  Dad served in the Navy during 1046, so he is a WW2 Vet, and during his service he went to Japan for a short time period.  As a WW2 Vet, dad is currently receiving a VA benefit which helps mom and dad to live in a Assisted Living Center in the Sacramento area.


Second, my brothers, Bob and Jim.  Bob is younger than Jim being the second child, but Bob entered the Army about a year before Jim did.  Bob was stationed in Germany first, then went to Viet Nam, (also called “Nam”, and now days spelled as one word, Vietnam, in many instances.)  As Bob was going to Nam, Jim was going to Germany, and spent his military years in that general area.  Bob came home from Nam safe and sound and fairly “sane”, having spent most of his time serving in Military Communications at Lang Bian Mountain…many of our Vietnam Vets did not fair so well.


Third, my Uncles, Aunts, Brother-in-law, cousins and other relatives I know who also served in the military.  Some during times of peace, some during times of war.  Some who were at Pearl Harbor on that fateful day, one, James Woodrow Cline, who died on May 11, 1945 from a kamikaze attack aboard the USS Bunker Hill, a Essex-class aircraft carrier.  I have written about Uncle Jimmy before, and those posts can be found here:

The Uncle I Never Knew

The Uncle I Never Knew–In Remembrance of Uncle Jimmy

Fourth, to the long list of ancestors on both mom and dad’s side of the family tree, who served in a long list of Military Service and Military Conflicts.  From Grandpa Burdick to my 6th Great Grandfather, Peter, a Lieutenant in the Rhode Island Militia.  There were many of my ancestors who served.

    

And finally, to friends, acquaintances, and to the millions of other American men and women who have served in the military of the United States of America.  The famous phrase, "all gave some; some gave all" should have deep meaning to us all, I know it does to me.  Thank you to all of our Vets, living and dead…and especially to those who came back wounded, and those who gave their all.