Let us never forget to honor those who gave the ultimate sacrifice serving in the Armed Forces of the United States of America so that we might be free.
Tipper
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LG-thank you for the great comments! The photo was actually take at Fort Gordon GA. Papaw Tony is one of those handsome young guys.
A fine series of photos ,Tipper,s spanning more than half a century–and well accompanied by Paul’s strumming.
The picture of the helicopter-borne assault into the rice paddy conjured up vivid memories of my three and a half years in Viet Nam from 1966-70, for I was in a U.S. Army Assault Helicopter Company in the Mekong Delta, a broad expanse of fought-over rice paddy country. I count my blessings that I was not called on to make the ultimate sacrifice, for many others were. I know and remember more than a dozen names on the Wall, the Viet Nam memorial to those lost, on the National Mall in Washington, DC.
Today I remember Howard Burton Cochran who lost his life off the coast of North Africa. He was a 2nd cousin I never knew. He died almost 7 years before I was born.
He was born 14 Mar 1916 in Macon County, NC. He was the first born of Wymer Roy and Jerusha Mae Morgan Cochran. He joined the Army Air Corps on 26 Oct 1940. On 26 Nov 1943 he was aboard HMT Rohna when it was struck by a German guided missile and sank. The ship was British and the crew was Indian. The members of the crew who were not killed by the blast and ensuing fire abandoned ship, leaving the rest of the survivors to the mercy of the cold Mediterranean Sea. Only 8 of 22 lifeboats could be launched and most of those were overloaded and sank. 1138 men died. 1105 of the dead were US servicemen. 606 men were picked from the cold waters but 35 of those died later. Howard Burton Cochran was among the missing.
The government didn’t immediately release any information other than that more than 1000 men were lost aboard a troop ship. Even the name of the ship wasn’t revealed until Jun of 1945. It wasn’t until 1969 that, under the Freedom of Information Act, all the details were brought to light.
I have looked through lists of WW2 casualties for the state of North Carolina and for all the counties he might be listed as being from to no avail. The national lists have his name but not his home town. If his name does appear in a list or a monument it should be Macon County. If anyone knows whether they have a memorial and if it has his name I would like to know.
BEAUTIFUL! Recently Jim and I stood before the display on the Square in Hayesville. It was so impressive with red/white/blue flowers freshly planted and photos of all those dear sons who had died in battle. Only one soldier was represented for the Vietnam War. My brother knew him personally. Somehow my brother did THREE ROTATIONS in Vietnam and returned home!.
Devotedly,
Eva Nell
What kind of place might the world be now had all those lives cut short by war been allowed to continue and produce what each were gifted to do? But then, what kind of world would it be if there was nothing worth living or dying for?
I own myself a debtor to each and all that sacrificed themselves, or of themselves, and the things they loved and time with the people they loved, to go and serve. Service is too often so greatly under-appreciated. They who serve best have a nobility and depth of character they will never draw attention to.
May we never let them down by forgetting or, even worse, squandering what has been so dearly bought.
Tipper, that was a beautiful and moving slide show. Thank you.
Tipper,
I just heard on the Ivey Obituaries that Miss Jean Christy died. She was one of my teachers at Andrews. I had Study Hall in her classroom. She was 111 years old.
This woman was one of the Great Women and I’m proud to have known her…Ken
What a beautiful tribute to all those who serve–both the pictures and Paul’s wonderful music.
Tipper,
My oldest brother was in the Korean War. I remember him telling about his bunch taking a hill held by the North Koreans at night. The next morning they saw lots of haystacks in the meadow they had just come from. After looking closely, those haystacks had caterpillar tracks behind them and they were slowly moving. Our boys let loose on ’em and before long all 30 vehicles full of Chinks surrendered…Ken
Remembering all of them today, especially Pap!
Tipper,is that picture of young men in dress kakais taken at fort benning Ga.in July-August 1968?
I’ve reached that age where I sometimes recognize people that I don’t know.
LG
This video is a fitting tribute to all those who served and died for our country.
Tipper, you put together a wonderful collection of picture history, and the music was just perfect.
May God bless our nation and the world for all who have given their lives so I can be free to write my message and voice myself to your readers.
A-men,, let us not forget.. and pray for those who are putting their life on the line everyday, here or abroad..
My second husband, who fought in two wars died in 1990. He was in the Korean war and he was a Navy Pilot in the Vietnam war. I guess we’ll continue fighting wars until we learn a better way to live with each other.
I remember!
Today let us remember
Those who gave their lives
For freedom and country.
We cannot measure the sacrifices
Such valor brings to us.
We can only say sincerely, “Thank you!”
We will try to live as responsible and appreciative citizens
Being aware of forces that would rob and undermine
The freedoms for which you died.