In memory of my Dad

[Siwsan]

I'm saluting my Dad, today, on the 14th anniversary of his death. Dad was a Marine, who served in President Truman's Honor Guard. He also served with Ira Hays. He was a teacher, a high school counselor, a championship football coach, an athletic director, a principal and a mentor to many. He was also an amazing father who loved me unconditionally (even if I did join the Navy, instead of the Marines). I was honored to be with him when he died, the last touch he felt and the last voice he heard.

This picture was taken when he came to visit me, while I was stationed in Iceland. It was a wonderful week that I will never forget. It was so great to introduce him to my Marine friends, at the base, and watch them immediately treat him like a long lost friend.

Fetha 'ch , Da!

[pintobean]

1. K&R

Sounds like a wonderful man.

[Siwsan]

3. He was a great man

The year before he died, they named the high school football field after him. Then, the year he died, the entire team wore black armbands on their uniforms. I really could not have asked for a better father.

[GentryDixon]

2. Wonderful tribute.

It sounds like he was a remarkable man.

[Siwsan]

5. Thanks

I'm a little sad, today. My brother and I toasted him with a Manhattan (his cocktail of choice).

[Rebellious Republican]

4. K&R

Keflavik or Reykjavik shipmate? My squadron flew ops out of Keflavik, my squadron partied in Reykjavik. One of the few places in the world where you could actually see US Navy war ships tied up next to Russian war ships during the cold war. As I recall the old saying while I was in Iceland was "there is a women behind every tree, the problem was finding the tree!". Fair winds and following seas to your father shipmate.

[Siwsan]

6. I was in Keflavik

I have great memories of that place - the wind, the snow. (I was there during the worst winter in 100 years, but coming from Michigan, it just seemed like the usual.) I managed to get my dad a fishing permit (not an easy thing to do) and even though he didn't catch anything, it was a great time.

[Rebellious Republican]

8. We were out of Brunswick, Maine, but it was still to cold and windy there.

My most vivid memory was the first time we deployed there was the Blacked out Windows in the barracks. Most people will not understand that unless you have been there.

[Siwsan]

10. I arrived on the Summer Solstice

No chance to ease into the 24 hour sunlight. Dad was there in April, so it was pretty much normal light to dark.

In the picture, Dad is standing in front of Gullfoss - an amazing waterfall that is just off the side of the road - no tourist attractions, no fee to go see it. I was so glad to be able to take him to see it, since for my entire childhood, he was the one to introduce me to such wonderful, natural places.

[Rebellious Republican]

12. Just for Siwsan!

[Siwsan]

13. Spectacular! Thanks!

Really one of the most beautiful places I've ever visited.

[stonecutter357]

7. .

[spin]

9. My dad died in 1963 when I was 16 years old. ...

We had a contentious relationship as he was a very demanding disciplinarian. By today's standard he would have been considered abusive. I had dreams that when I got old enough I would beat the crap out of him and walk out the door. The reality is that if that would have happened he would have likely beat the crap out of me. He had been a street fighter, a boxer and play semi-pro baseball and football in his youth.

But his health left him largely because he developed heart problems possibly caused by smoking four packs of unfiltered cigarettes a day for many years. He quit cold turkey one day and never smoked again. For three mounts after he was the meanest man I ever met.

Now many years later I remember him fondly. He taught me a lot and instilled a lot of positive values into my personality that helped immensely during my life. He loved reading, had an intense interest in the news and was an avid sports fan. He passed those characteristics on to me.

Years after he died I began to realize that he was trying to teach me how to be tough enough to face life. While I will never know how he would have felt about how I turned out, I believe he would not have been all that disappointed.

Time is a great healer. Often through the years I wished that I could talk to him once again and thank him.

[Siwsan]

11. My dad came from a very rough and tumble, poor upbringing

Hunting squirrels on the north end of Flint, for dinner type of childhood. Harassing the men on the coal cars so that they'd throw lumps of coat at him, and he could take it home for the furnace. He joined the Marines for the GI bill benefit and used that to go to Michigan State. I think he always wanted us to be comfortable, but never indulged and we all pretty much grew into self-sufficient, feet firmly on the ground adults.

[AverageJoe90]

15. My own grandpa used to work the coal mines in W. Va. from what I've heard from family. nt

[Siwsan]

18. My grandfather was a coal miner in Maryland and his father, in Wales

My grandfather moved to Flint, to hire into GM, so that his sons wouldn't have to carry on the family tradition by going into the mines.

[spartan61]

19. Your dad gave you a

wonderful gift. Because of his life lessons to you, you grew up to be the kind of person that you are and that makes him proud. All children should be as fortunate to have a parent like your dad. I, too, had parents that gave me the same wonderful gift of important life lessons.

[spin]

22. I agree. At one time I hated him. Now I admire the man he was. (n/t)

[AverageJoe90]

14. Sounds like he was rather troubled.

I don't know if I'd be able to forgive him, personally. My own dad is a decent fellow but he's had some issues of his own and there's been some prior issues in our own dysfunctional family; as a result, it's been hard for me getting close to him.....though it sounds like your dad was much worse. Had I been in your position, I honestly have been awfully tempted just to walk away and never say a kind word about him again(and probably worse). I probably wouldn't have even attended his funeral.

But it sounds like you were lucky enough to be able to tough all that out and still end up loving him in the end; I honestly gotta give you some major props for being able to do that, as that takes a LOT of guts(and a big heart).......I myself probably would have broken long before I hit my 16th birthday, in that situation(or worse!).

[spin]

30. My father's life went downhill after an traffic accident in Pittsburgh. ...

A motorcycle cop tried to take a corner at a high rate of speed and ran into the door of my father's car which was stopped at a traffic light. My dad suffered a traumatic head injury which led to his development of epilepsy. Little was understood about this condition in the 1940s and those who had it often suffered prejudice. In today's world my father would have sued the city and would have obtained a settlement that would have made his life easier. Unfortunately that didn't happen.

As a result he decided to leave his job because it required a lot of driving and he bought a tourist home near Lake Erie on Route 20, a major road at the time. This proved a successful enterprise until the interstate system was built.

He worked at a couple of factories for a while until his epilepsy became apparent. He then got a job as a custodian in a church.

My mother provided much of the financial support for our family working as a clerk at J. C. Penny's. I grew up poor but really never realized it. My parents simply sacrificed a lot for my sake.

My father developed Congestive Heart Failure and eventually died from it. The doctor asked my mother after my dad's death if he had a bad temper. He said that anger is a symptom of this disease. In many ways my father's anger was understand as was his wish to make me tough enough to face life.

[AverageJoe90]

35. I see.

Really sorry if I offended you, btw.

[spin]

37. I took no offense at your comment. (n/t)

[AverageJoe90]

16. Such a loving tribute to your Pop.

If there's an afterlife, he's probably looking down and smiling at you.

[jtuck004]

17. We are very lucky to have had, and have, people like him. Thank you for this. n/t

[Stinky The Clown]

20. ". . . . the last touch he felt and the last voice he heard. "

That is such a wonderful, eternal honor.

Thanks for this post about your Dad.

[CK_John]

21. Semper Fi, from an M1 Marine.

[a la izquierda]

23. Cheers to you on this day.

My father in law will be gone 10 years in October. It'll be a rough few days for sure.

[Iliyah]

24. Once a Marine always a Marine

and there is no such as a ex-Marine.

Salute to your Dad!

[Siwsan]

28. It seems it's the same about football coaches

He never lost touch with his players. They used to come and take him out for drinks, and always called him Coach. A couple of them still check in on my mother.

Every day I can look up on my fireplace mantel and see his championship football and a picture of him in his coaching jacket.

[AverageJoe90]

36. I betcha they still miss him real bad.

I know I would. You don't forget good teachers, coaches, etc. like that. They stay with you for life.

[Vinnie From Indy]

25. To your father!

Cheers!

[brewens]

26. Now that's a happy dad! You did good! n/t

[babylonsister]

27. Lovely! Thanks for sharing your dad with us! nt

[KT2000]

29. Here's to your Dad!

[senseandsensibility]

31. Very touching tribute.

Thanks for sharing your memories of your father.

[spanone]

32. what a friendly face......peace all

[Siwsan]

33. He loved to smile, and if you asked him how he was doing, he'd always say "Peachy!"

So, when he retired, they threw him a big party, with decorations in all shades of peach, and gave him a peach tree as a retirement gift. He loved that tree.

He knew how to enjoy life. I just wish it had been much, much longer.

[spanone]

34. lost my dad young...i wish too...