Today I would like to take a page from WTMJ and recall a few of my late ancestors who defended our country.

First was General Joseph Spencer of the Connecticut Militia who fought in the revolution. My Great Great Great Uncle Moses was the first to give his life in service, a teamster in an Indiana regiment during the civil war. My great grandfather fought in the first world war, and I had many great uncles in WWII, including my Great Uncle Harold, who was killed in Italy.

My grandfather was in Pattons army (demolitions), Great Uncle Art was a P51 pilot and Great Uncle Reg was the crew chief on a B-25 in the pacific. Great Uncle Howard was a marine in the pacific. I may have missed some from that era as most of the men in my family served.

Uncle Don was a communications man in Viet Nam, and died 20 years later from exposure to agent orange.

I am proud of my family's service, and grateful for yours. I have the freedom to come and go as I please and to say what I will, be it good or bad about my own country because of the courage and sacrifice of veterans, and I can do no more on this day than to say thanks to all of those who are gone now that they may never be forgotten.

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We owe them nearly everything we have.

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My wife and I attended the Memorial Day ceremony with her 88 year old father who served in the Korean Conflict.
It was a beautiful ceremony honoring our past and present heroes.
We must never forget!

My family isn't as esteemed as yours Hoss. We just haven't been here that long.

Maternal uncle served in Korea. He's 85 and still going.
My Dad also served during the Korean War. He passed away 9 years ago this August.
My Son served for 5 years and was deployed to Afghanistan. He was one of the few that actually went out into the field.

There was a Reising in a cavalry unit from out of the Peoria area that was killed in the Civil War. We can't tie him and his family directly to our family but his family lived in the same area as our family did so I call him a "great great great uncle". I suspect we are more than likely related but without proof it don't count. Interesting thing is he was a twin. One son was named Adam Peter and the other Peter Adam. One, Peter, went to war the other, Adam, stayed home and helped his dad on the farm.

Edit- The service records have changed. 10 years ago Peter was listed as captured at the Battle of Sunshine Church and never heard from again. Now they show him as being mustered out. Good for him.

Here's a link to look up Civil War soldiers who signed up in IL. (Someone could have lived in another state but came to IL to join a unit.) Other states probably have something too.

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Most of my family either served with Canadian or British forces, but a shout out to my second-cousin Hardy who enlisted with the US Military and was a Navy Seabee (Construction Battalion) who served in Vietnam from 1966-1969. Lost his battle with cancer almost 3 years ago.





"Construimus. Batuimus"
"We build. We fight."

RIP Hardy.

Thank you to all that have served to keep us free!
I myself missed the Vietnam war by a short time. I graduated high school just after the war ended.
I love my country, and would have served if needed. I would have been terrified, but would have gone.

My father in law was in WW2 and was shot 3 times, getting 3 purple hearts. He had one of his lungs blown out. He passed away in 1994 at the age of 70.
I have had so many relatives in the wars, I couldn't list them all.
But I thank them all for what they did.

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