The Peacekeeper

Dad on the right - Sailor unknown

        Wednesday was Veterans’ Day, and I would be remiss if I did not mention my Dad’s summation on his own stint in the Marines. Dad had three older brothers all of whom served during World War II. Harvey was in the Army. Basil was in the Army, I think. Bernie was in the Marines. Dad had two younger brothers and they served during the Korean War. Hillery was in the Navy – I remember that because he had an anchor tattoo on his arm. And Dennis was in the Marines.

        So all of Dad’s brothers served either in World War II or in Korea. But was Dad in a war? No, he was in the Marines in between the two wars! He spent all of his time at Camp LeJeune in North Carolina. When I was little Dad said the Tarzan movies I watched on TV were shot at Camp LeJeune, but upon Googling  today, I do not find evidence of that – so perhaps he meant Camp LeJeune was like the jungle of the Tarzan movies – some sort of connection.

        Anyway, Dad said that when he joined the Marines he was sworn to keep the peace, “and that’s exactly what I did!” No wars for him!

        Dad always had a ton of respect for each of his brothers especially their stints in the U.S. Armed Services. He was happier than anyone else to have them all returned home safe and sound. But over the years, Dad did have to give them that dig – “I kept my promise – I kept the peace!”

316 20151112 The Peacekeeper