A real hero ! ! !

[Ben]

Not certain if this is the place to post this, but I'd like to share it with some of you if it is OK ?

Yesterday, I visited a fellow ( Jack T. Daily ) that is 82 yrs. old. I told him I had a nice M - 1 Garand, he said that he would love to see it as it was his " workhorse rifle " during WW II. Here is a photo of Jack taken during WW II :

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v494/haysb/22.jpg

After sitting and talking with him, I found out that he holds the Silver Star and Bronze Star and a variety of other medals.

Jack is not boastful. He is a meek ,kind, and gentle man.
He is a true American, in my eye. We are loosing his kind
at an alarming rate now ! !

He was in Italy at Anzio, Monte Casino, Southern France. Jack was the 1st American soldier to visually see the Rhine River( he was on a night reconnaissance patrol at the time ), he traveled from the beaches of Southern France all the way into the heart of Germany on foot.

He told me yesterday that he was no hero.......He said that his best friends ( mostly 19 and 20 yr. olds ) that are buried in France were the real heros !

Photos are in # 7 and # 8 below

Thanks,

Ben

[Larry Gibson]

A hero for sure. I hope someone has recorded his story.

P0008 is the Combat Infantryman Badge. I also s a highly coveted award and commonly refered to as the CIB.

Larry Gibson

[Bullshop]

Looks like he has held one a them rifles before.
God bless him!
BIC/BS

[PatMarlin]

Glad you posted this here Ben. I was going to suggest it.. :drinks:

[square butte]

Thank you Ben an THANK YOU JACK! and GOD Bless.

[Poygan]

Ben,
Please tell Jack I send my sincere thanks. This caliber of man is worthy of all of our gratitude.

Chuck

[The Double D]

Man those photo's shouldn't hidden behind some link show them!!!
Photos.............

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v494/haysb/PICT0001-4.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v494/haysb/PICT0002-1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v494/haysb/PICT0003.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v494/haysb/PICT0004.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v494/haysb/PICT0005.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v494/haysb/PICT0006-3.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v494/haysb/PICT0007-1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v494/haysb/PICT0008.jpg

[The Double D]

Here are the other two

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v494/haysb/PICT0009.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v494/haysb/PICT0010.jpg

[AkMike]

Ben, Please tell Jack Thank You from me.

DD Thanks for showing those badges of honor!

[Ben]

Thanks fellows ! !

I KNEW that all of you were the type that could appreciate this.

Many thanks,

Ben

[riceone]

Ben sent me this site address and I registered just so I could write this. When I read the thread tears came to my eyes. I was 11 years old when the war ended and I remember so well them coming home. They were my hero and they still are. Thank you Jack. roy

[Ricochet]

Wow! That's really special!

[Alchemist]

Ben,

Many thanks for sharing this...and please thank Jack for all of us (U.S.)!! And you are right about our WWII heroes passing on at an ever increasing rate. My American Legion post will be saying good-bye on Tuesday to one our very few remaining WWII veterans.

Rest in peace Carl "Bud" Petty. 89 years young, always friendly, always smiling. A good man and a good friend. We miss you.

[rugerman1]

Ben,Thank you for posting this and, tell Jack THANK YOU too.

Mark

[Frank V]

Ben, I'm like everyone else, thanks for posting this & when you see Jack again tell him that Frank from Montana thanks him! He IS A HERO! The Purple Heart shows he bled for our country. Only Jesus Christ & the American Soldier have done that. I'm grateful. Frank

[Ben]

Thanks Frank V:

I asked Jack yesterday what happened that caused him to receive a purple heart, he said that he took a back full of shrapnel from a German 88 round. His buddy was standing next to him at the moment of the impact of the artillery round , it killed his buddy.

You'd love to sit and talk with Jack. He is a God, Flag and Country kind of fellow.

Ben

[timkelley]

Don't mean to be argumentive but the one picture labeled expert marksman is mislabeled. He does hold an expert rifle and machinegun badge, it is on the display.
The blue badge with the flintlock and wreath is the CIB (Combat Infantry Badge) and is arguably (SP) the one most important badge there is. That badge says the holder is a combat infantryman and the only way to get one is to go shoot and be shot at.

[Ben]

noclue:

No problem with your comments, glade you offered the information , I wasn't in the military so that puts me at a disadvantage. Jack was pointing and telling me all the names of all the medals hurriedly , I had to retain it in memory ( guess I didn't do such a good job of it ), until I could get home and write it up.

Ben

[madcaster]

Ben,
Please tell MISTER Daily that as well as the other folks that I appreciate my freedom that he and others like him have so shed their blood to provide!
Jeff:coffee:

[1Shirt]

Unfortunately he is one of a dying breed. Was fortunated enough to be able to get back to D.C. last fall and visit both the WWII and Korean War Memorials and of course the Wall of my War. May God bless the Vets of WWII, Korea, Viet Nam, and the last remaining Vet of WWI.
1Shirt!:coffee:
USMC/USAF

[The Double D]

When I opened the first picture from the links posted in original post, I did not see an elderly Gentleman holding an old gun. I saw a Soldier holding a battle rifle. Sergeant Daily at 82 years with that rifle in has hands still has the military bearing a warrior.

Take another look and see if you don't agree.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v494/haysb/PICT0001-4.jpg

Sergeant Daily may have been a Soldier, but he gets a Semper fi from this former Marine.

[Ben]

DD

You're right !

When the fight starts, we better all hope that we can find enough of his type to deal with it.

Best,

Ben