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View Full Version : I had a beer with a guy named Frank



Ivantherussian03
06-04-2007, 03:34 PM
Frank is the guy next door to my house in Oregon. Frank and his wife are rather elderly, both are well into their 80's. My wife and I take them out to lunch from time to time.

One day I asked Frank what he was doing in WWII. His wife just smirked, and said yeah.

Frank said "I was a Navy medic." Then listed some of places he had been: Okinawa, Saipan, Iwo Jima. It turns out Frank was on the front end of those invasions, and many more. he knew every time they picked up a load marines they were going to invade something, and frank would be going to. Amazingly he never got a strach he said.

The only battle that was truely amazing to Frank was Iwo Jima; the USA really did not have the manpower or resources to take the island from the Japs. But some determined marines did it anyway.

It is the Aniversary of D-Day today I believe. It makes think of a bumper sticker I saw recently,

"If you love your freedom thank a soldier. If your reading this in English thank a teacher"

fatnhappy
06-04-2007, 03:40 PM
tomorrow is the anniversary of Rome's capture. Wednesday is the anniversary of D-day. Medics are by definition heros.

Bret4207
06-04-2007, 04:52 PM
Just remember- "Marine" is always capitalized. It's a proper title applicable to any member of the USMC from the lowliest private to the Current Chair of the Joint Chiefs. Navy Corpsmen are beloved by Marines and are considered brother Marines even if they don't wear the same uniform.

God bless all our soldiers, saliors, airmen and Marines everywhere. Semper Fi.

monadnock#5
06-04-2007, 07:26 PM
You would have to be very careful how you framed the question. As in don't ask at all, rather than offend. It is quite possible that you and your wife have been dining with a Medal of Honor recipient.

Ken

MGySgt
06-04-2007, 10:07 PM
Here is the Medal Of Honor Web Page:

http://www.cmohs.org/recipients.htm

Bret4207
06-05-2007, 05:01 AM
There's another site www.homeoftheheroes.com or something like that. There I found my Uncle's name listed as winning the Navy Cross I believe for action as a Corpsman with the Marines in WW1. Pride runs deep, but he never talked about it either. Hard to picture that scary old man as a youngster running through the trenches or out into no mans land to aide a fallen Marine. He'd lose it every now and then and get a bit violent. No wonder.....

twotrees
06-05-2007, 06:35 AM
I had the pleasure to meet and have dinner with Billy Doss, before his death. Quite a man. Yes Check out that Medal of Honor Page for his name.

TwoTrees

fatnhappy
06-05-2007, 12:14 PM
Another medic, Gary Beikirch.

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h152/lhsjfk3t/000_0089.jpg


http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h152/lhsjfk3t/DSC_2015m-01.jpg

Ivantherussian03
06-07-2007, 03:35 PM
That picture is really something--there must be alot of stories in that room!!

Absolutely Amazing!![smilie=1:

Bret4207
06-07-2007, 04:48 PM
Every man in there would be addressed as "Sir" by me, in a reverent tone at that!

SharpsShooter
06-07-2007, 05:35 PM
Every man in there would be addressed as "Sir" by me, in a reverent tone at that!

Amen to that Bret.

SS

danski26
06-08-2007, 01:08 AM
Semper FI

Larry Gibson
06-08-2007, 11:20 AM
Another medic, Gary Beikirch.

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h152/lhsjfk3t/DSC_2015m-01.jpg

Third row back center is Al Rascon. His wife and daughter are to his right. I know his story quite well as I was there. A very brace and couragous man and medic. A very close and wonderful friend also.

Larry Gibson