tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20866330519924122312024-03-05T18:21:23.151-08:00Taps for Fallen HeroesPlease scroll down to see more stories, and check our archives for those not shown. Larry Wisemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17306865754582819008noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2086633051992412231.post-31276463547096520772013-11-21T15:19:00.000-08:002013-11-21T15:26:10.779-08:00WWII Hero Jerome Gerald “Gummy” Robinson His Story by his daughterKathleen Robinson-Nikiforov<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Jerome
Gerald “Gummy” Robinson </span></div>
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My Father, Jerome Gerald “Gummy” Robinson was born in
Baltimore, Maryland on May 25, 1917 to Russian immigrant parents. His much
older brother was sent to medical school so it was up to Dad to make a living
and support the family. THIS IS HIS STORY.</div>
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13136466 was the number given to my Father, Jerome Gerald
Robinson. It was too late for Officer's Training School, so he enlisted as a
Private and was attached to the US Army's 40th Finance Dispersing Section. He
was activated to go to Africa in the winter of 1942, but they were ready to
invade Europe. 7,000 soldiers were sent to Europe on a ship called
"Orion" originally out of Australia. They landed in Ireland, went to
Scotland and then on to Great Britain. </div>
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The 40th Army Division that Dad was attached to was never
created so they gave him an assignment that was most unusual. He was, along
with 17 enlisted men and 3 officers, to pay the thousands of soldiers their
salaries, and to compensate the innocent victims of war.</div>
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He was stationed 80 miles from London on the East Anglia
Coast facing the Northern Sea. His Camp was called Stowmarket, named after the
town. They slept in overcoats during the entire winter of 1943.</div>
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Dad said that the Air Force was stationed nearby and that
the ground soldiers would watch the planes take off at 5 AM, rally into
formation and fly over the English Channel into Germany. If a red light was
flashing at the base, it would mean that a soldier was killed.</div>
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He said they all smoked cigarettes, talked all night long
and would watch an occasional dog fight in the air against a very dark sky. </div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They went into the
town of Stowmarket for drinks at an English Pub and occasionally into Ipswich,
for a USO Dance. He would not elaborate further on this subject.</div>
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Every three months they would have one weekend off. They
would go to London, sleep in cheap hotels where they could bathe and sleep on
beds with sheets. </div>
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During the blitz, they would run to the London Subways until
the bombing stopped. Dad and his Division stayed at Camp Stowmarket from
September 1943 until the June Invasion of 1944.<br />
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They crossed the English Channel in Navy Boats. They landed
on Utah Beach under fire. Utah Beach was the code name for the right flank of
the Allied Landing beaches during the D-Day Invasion of Normandy as part of
Operation Overload, June 6, 1944. They slept in fox holes standing up, dug by
soldiers the day before.</div>
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The next morning, the team jumped into trucks and drove
towards Cherbourg France. They set up the officer’s quarters in the then empty
Spanish Embassy. Upon arriving, they called the bomb squad who found several
bombs hidden inside the toilets. They were there for 30 days. </div>
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They then traveled down the Cotentin Peninsula to Saint Lo
following General Patton on the way to Paris. They arrived in Paris on trucks
loaded with technical equipment, found rooms and settled into the "Main
Bank" of Paris. </div>
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As Dad recalled, the bank building had 5 cellars filled with
money. The US Government had printed German Marks used for the Invasion. Headquarters
called it "Operation Tiger".<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Their department handled all of the French/American money transfers. No
one was permitted to carry American Dollars in France because of the
underground "Black Market" in US Currency. The US Army's 40th
Dispersing Division was in charge of ALL the Invasion Money.</div>
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In December 1944, they left Paris stopping at Charles Le Roy
to celebrate Christmas is freezing weather. </div>
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The Battle of the Bulge was Germany's last stand. For the
Americans, with about 600,000 men committed and some 81,000 casualties,
including 19,000 killed, the Battle of the Bulge was the single largest and
bloodiest battle that America forces fought in World War II. </div>
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My Father won 5 Bronze Stars for The Battle of Great
Britain, The Battle of Normandy, The Freeing of Paris, The Invasion of Germany,
and The Battle of The Bulge. He was my hero.</div>
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During the winter of 1945, the troops forced their way into
Germany and it was the first time Dad was on German Land in Bodden Nichter
Breisen on The Rhein. Soon after, the Army drove Dad back to Paris as he was
awarded a few days leave. He caught a train to The Riviera and two days later
received a wire requesting him to return to his outfit for shipment back to the
US.</div>
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He caught a plane in Nice with the idea that he was flying
back to his outfit first. Because of the violent weather over the Alps, the
plane landed in Paris. </div>
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He was in contact with his outfit and was told to report
ASAP to Chesterfield Port (all of the Ports were named after cigarettes by the
men) to return to the US.</div>
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Dad had requested a temporary leave of absence six months
prior because his Father was dying. The pass finally came through. The ship
from Chesterfield Port landed somewhere on the East Coast and he was taken to
Fort Meade in Maryland. My Grandfather drove my Mother Edith to Fort Meade to
be reunited with my Father. They were married before the war. Dad was
discharged and allowed to return to Baltimore. The year was 1945.</div>
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As an aside, the Army was getting close to liberating the
concentration camps. The Army originally had one's religion embossed on copper
colored dog tags.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They soon replaced the
copper tags with silver tags after they realized their mistake.</div>
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Many celebrities came through the offices on the way to
entertaining the troops. Dad mentioned seeing Bob Hope, Bing Crosby, Jack Benny
and all the beautiful female stars of the day! </div>
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We did not discuss the carnage that he saw as it was too
painful to remember. The names of close friends that he could recall were
Francis Benechek, Jim Richardson, Tom Kelly and Major Major. Major Major was a
Major.</div>
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PS: We won the war! PPS: Dad passed away on April 29, 2013.
He would have been 96 on May 25, 2013. This story also honors the hundreds of
thousands of soldiers who fight for our freedom. May they all be blessed and
may my Dad rest in peace.</div>
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span>Larry Wisemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17306865754582819008noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2086633051992412231.post-77817723135277279202013-06-27T17:08:00.002-07:002013-06-28T18:36:33.909-07:00Live Taps...<div style="background-image: url("http://www.soundclick.com/images/elogos/SC_ExtBG.png"); border-bottom-color: #999999; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: #999999; border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: #999999; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: #999999; border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; width: 473px;">
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National Coordinator, Larry Wiseman, performs with National Spokesperson, Susan D. Wiseman, AKA The Tribute Lady<br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Return to>>> <b><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.buglesacrossamerica.org/">Bugles Across America</a></span></b></span></div>
Larry Wisemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17306865754582819008noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2086633051992412231.post-88228617873221816622013-05-19T18:47:00.005-07:002013-05-19T18:49:42.622-07:00Elmer's Tune<div style="text-align: center;">
Elmer Browning passed away about a year ago in Georgia...his wife has shared his story through his book Elmer's Tune<br />
Bugle's Across America was honored to provide a live bugler for Elmer's service!</div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="480" src="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/3kBGQWTCYZY?rel=0" width="640"></iframe>Larry Wisemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17306865754582819008noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2086633051992412231.post-15584723317669352032013-05-16T08:37:00.002-07:002013-05-16T08:39:21.582-07:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJnd_yRCW4E8vowGkZCrS0hm-xSWJFZFJhALsWzAerpDvj37gze6lftgp-4K1uoZjvLCp4Zd_XP1GCBQn26Xd6Mt61DUdbBfe58FNFnMMC8KBbX0fIoqNmYDLWxHD3UDAedjXAsRYnP32f/s1600-h/Picture.jpg"></a><br />
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41st Engineer Batallion</div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii_8WMLsB1mRcxo3yO07VmcRLdthcwv_oVT7va9b_Uud1C4AeDZYz8lcXu0JeMNctexqU1irXMi8lOs2Zf_BMFqmxCCFqHaSaStORj52uAsrDT2kYUAFB343qEqn-jIPJPJlSthgqZWJvx/s1600-h/Copy+of+Mike+Meyer.bmp"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300591361556543970" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii_8WMLsB1mRcxo3yO07VmcRLdthcwv_oVT7va9b_Uud1C4AeDZYz8lcXu0JeMNctexqU1irXMi8lOs2Zf_BMFqmxCCFqHaSaStORj52uAsrDT2kYUAFB343qEqn-jIPJPJlSthgqZWJvx/s320/Copy+of+Mike+Meyer.bmp" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 284px;" /></a> PV2 Michael Roger Meyer 1984-2003<span xmlns=""><br /></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="color: #003300;"><span style="font-size: 85%;">MICHAEL ROGER MEYER WAS BORN NOVEMBER 5, 1984 – ON HIS GRAND PARENTS WEDDING ANNIVERSARY. HE GREW UP IN BROKEN ARROW, OK AND ENLISTED IN THE ARMY DURING HIS SENIOR YEAR OF HIGH SCHOOL. HIS ENLISTMENT OCCURRED FOLLOWING THE INVASION INTO IRAQ BUT HE HAD STARTED THE PROCESS AHEAD OF THAT EVENT.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #003300; font-family: trebuchet ms; font-size: 85%;">MIKE WE</span><span style="font-family: courier new; font-size: 85%;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="color: #003300; font-family: trebuchet ms;">NT THROUGH BASIC AND AIT TRAINING AT FORT LEONARD WOOD, MO., IN ORDER TO BECOME A COMBAT ENGINEER. FOLLOWING AIT HE WAS SELECTED AS ONE OF ONLY 6 SOLDIERS FROM THAT SESSION OF TRAINING TO LEARN TO DRIVE THE ARMY'S HEAVY EQUIPMENT – PORTABLE BRIDGE TRANSPORTS, TANKS, AND LAND MINE CLEARING RIGS. MICHAEL WAS SELECTED FOR THIS DUTY DESPITE THAT FACT THAT THE ENGINEER BATTALION THAT HE WAS PART OF WAS CONSIDERED LIGHT INFANTRY AND THEREFORE WOULD NOT MAKE USE OF THAT EQUIPMENT <table style="width: auto;"><tbody>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: times new roman;">Mike's Dad,Roger Meyer sounds Taps at the 2005 EchoTaps,</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: times new roman;">part of a world record echo, of 680 buglers,</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: courier new; font-size: 85%;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-family: lucida grande;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: times new roman;">in New York State</span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #006600; font-family: trebuchet ms; font-size: 85%;">PRIVATE MICHAEL MEYER WAS ASSIGNED TO THE 41ST ENGINEER BATTALION, 10TH MOUNTAIN DIVISION (LIGHT INFANTRY) – FORT DRUM NY. THERE HE WAS ASSIGNED A HUMVEE WHICH WAS TO GO TO AFGHANISTAN WITH HIM. MIKE HAD PLANS TO JOIN THE AIR BORNE OR AIR ASSAULT COMBAT GROUPS. HE WAS ALSO RECOMMENDED FOR SAPPER TRAINING BY ONE OF HIS TRAINING SERGEANTS – WHO WAS A SAPPER HIMSELF. HE NEVER MADE IT TO ANY OF THAT. TWO WEEKS SHORT OF DEPLOYING TO A COMBAT ZONE IN AFGHANISTAN MIKE WAS KILLED IN A STATESIDE AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT – AT THE AGE OF 19 YEARS, 1 MONTH, AND 22 DAYS – ON DECEMBER 27, 2003. </span><span style="font-family: courier new;"> </span><br />
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<span style="color: #006600; font-family: trebuchet ms; font-size: 85%;">MIKE WAS AWARDED THE ARMY GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, THE ARMY COMMENDATION MEDAL FOR MERITORIOUS SERVICE, AND THE NATIONAL DEFENSE MEDAL FOR THE WAR ON TERRORISM. HE WAS HONORED IN A MEMORIAL SERVICE AT FORT DRUM BEFORE HIS BODY WAS RETURNED TO BROKEN ARROW FOR BURIAL IN THE VETERANS AREA OF A LOCAL CEMETERY – WHERE HE RECEIVED MILITARY HONORS. THE CAPTAIN TO WHOM MIKE WOULD HAVE REPORTED IN AFGHANISTAN SHIPPED A FLAG TO HIS PARENTS – ONE THAT HAD FLOWN OVER THE BASE IN KANDAHAR. <table style="width: auto;"><tbody>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: courier new; font-size: 85%;"><span style="color: #006600; font-family: trebuchet ms;">MIKE'S ENTIRE LIFE WAS SPENT TRYING TO HELP OTHER PEOPLE. AS A YOUNG CHILD HE PRAYED FOR RAIN TO HELP THE FARMERS WHEN OKLAHOMA WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF A DROUGHT – AND IT RAINED THE NEXT DAY. MIKE WAS THE PRESIDENT OF THE CHURCH YOUTH GROUP AT JOY LUTHERAN CHURCH IN TULSA, OK AND SPENT A YEAR ON THE CHURCH COUNCIL AS WELL. HE JOINED THE ARMY OUT OF A DESIRE TO HELP PEOPLE IN OTHER LANDS WHO WERE FORCED TO LIVE UNDER THE IRON RULE OF A TYRANT, TO HAVE A CHANCE AT A LIFE CLOSER TO OUR OWN. A LIFE OF FREEDOMS AND RIGHTS – NOT OF FEAR AND LOATHING. MIKE ALSO WANTED TO HELP TO DEFEND OUR OWN FREEDOMS AGAINST TERRORISM, SO THAT HIS YOUNG NEPHEW T.J. HELM WOULD BE ABLE TO GROW UP IN A WORLD LESS GIVEN TO ACTS OF VIOLENCE. <table style="width: auto;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/q7HhUwlg1UhZuD0aqkeIjw?authkey=oKQx8cLAxao&feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJnd_yRCW4E8vowGkZCrS0hm-xSWJFZFJhALsWzAerpDvj37gze6lftgp-4K1uoZjvLCp4Zd_XP1GCBQn26Xd6Mt61DUdbBfe58FNFnMMC8KBbX0fIoqNmYDLWxHD3UDAedjXAsRYnP32f/s144/Picture.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: right;"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/wisewis/TapsForFallenHeroes?authkey=oKQx8cLAxao&feat=embedwebsite"></a></td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/0varZ-iZyxQGyAzGP0CvSA?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_H0ZYaIO9agE/SeCvEuG2CZI/AAAAAAAABNc/LfvBXNHlmOE/s144/Civilian%20Bugler%20Roger%20Meyer%2C%20father%20of%20Mike%20Meyer%2C%20sounds%20Taps%20during%20Memorial%20Day%202008%20Moment%20of%20Remembrance%2C%20standing%20near%20Mike%27s%20grave..jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: right;">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/larrywiseman2/BAAArticles?feat=embedwebsite">BAA articles</a></td></tr>
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Mike's Dad is a volunteer</i></div>
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<i>bugler for BuglesAcrossAmerica;</i></div>
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<i>shown here,rendering Taps, at</i></div>
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<i>Mike's graveside, on Memorial</i></div>
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<i>Day,2008...Moment of Remembrance </i></div>
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<tr><td style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: right;"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/wisewis/TapsForFallenHeroes?authkey=oKQx8cLAxao&feat=embedwebsite"></a></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #006600; font-family: trebuchet ms; font-size: 85%;">MIKE WAS A NATURAL ATHLETE AND LETTERED IN CROSS COUNTRY RUNNING WHILE IN HIGH SCHOOL. HE ALSO PLAYED BASEBALL, FOOTBALL, AND BASKETBALL, AND RAN TRACK. HE NEVER GAVE UP AT ANYTHING HE ATTEMPTED. JUST TO GET INTO THE ARMY HE HAD TO GAIN 10 POUNDS. EVERY TIME HE REACHED THE MINIMUM WEIGHT FOR HIS HEIGHT HE WOULD GROW ANOTHER INCH AND THE MINIMUM WEIGHT WOULD GO UP AGAIN. HIS FINAL ARMY PT TEST WHILE IN BASIC WAS COMPLETED WITH A STRESS FRACTURE IN HIS ANKLE – AND HE DID SO IN HIS BEST TIME OF THE ENTIRE BASIC TRAINING PERIOD.</span><br />
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<span style="color: black;">Contributed by Roger Meyer, Mike's dad </span><br />
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<span style="color: #3333ff; font-family: trebuchet ms; font-size: 85%;">Editor's note: </span><br />
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #3333ff; font-family: trebuchet ms; font-size: 85%;">As I read this story about Mike, my heart breaks for Roger and his wife Shelley, but it also brings back some vivid memories of a time in I my life almost 24 years ago. On a Sunday night in early May of 1985, I was driving the “handicap” bus for our church, and I had everyone on board, ready to go home after the evening service. As I was about to pull away, I was overcome with a sudden compulsion, to stop what I was doing. I pulled up the brake on the bus, shut down the engine, and went inside the church, where I saw my 19 year old nephew, Randy Wiseman, standing there, holding his 6 week old son. I hugged them both, and said, “I, love you Randy”, and he answered, ”I love you, too, Uncle Larry.”<br />The next night, at around 7PM, Randy was killed instantly in a head-on collision, on his way home from work. He left behind a wife and a young son.<br />Randy’s life verse was “For me to live is Christ, to die is gain”, which is engraved on his head stone. My brother Ralph, and his wife Rita, have prayed for God’s Grace every day since, and Randy’s passing was probably the most devastating event in my life.<br />This also reminds me of my step-son SPC David Dale, US Army, only one month older than Mike Meyer. David made that same commitment to serve his country, very soon after 9/11. He joined the Army Reserves while he was still in high school, and after graduation, joined the regular Army; after his basic at Fort Knox, he was assigned to Fort Hood, Texas, where he was trained as an M1a Abrams tanker. He deployed to Iraq in October, 2006. His best friend, CPL John Barta, was KIA in December 2006. David was emotionally crushed; I played Taps at John’s funeral. On May 22nd 2007, David’s tank ran over a huge bomb, which slammed his head into the turret lid, rendering him unconscious, He received a traumatic brain injury, a broken eye orbit, and torn ACL, and a back injury. He is now out of the Army, and returned to private life.<br />I don’t know why God takes some, and leaves others. I do know that God has a reason for everything, much of which, He chooses not to reveal to us, this side of Heaven. I do live with the eternal peace that there really is a Heaven, and one day, we shall be with all of our loved ones again. Our prayers and love go out to all of those families left behind, who miss their loved ones SO badly, and we will be their friends, to listen to them, and to comfort them.<br />Larry Wiseman </span></span>Larry Wisemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17306865754582819008noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2086633051992412231.post-87289497741676552412010-07-18T12:22:00.000-07:002010-07-18T13:15:39.199-07:00The Twenty Four Toughest Notes<object codebase="http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/get/flashplayer/current/swflash.cab" height="400" width="365" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000"><param name="_cx" value="9657"><param name="_cy" value="10583"><param name="FlashVars" value=""><param name="Movie" value="https://acrobat.com/Clients/current/ADCMainEmbed.swf"><param name="Src" value="https://acrobat.com/Clients/current/ADCMainEmbed.swf"><param name="WMode" value="Transparent"><param name="Play" value="-1"><param name="Loop" value="-1"><param name="Quality" value="High"><param name="SAlign" value=""><param name="Menu" value="-1"><param name="Base" value=""><param name="AllowScriptAccess" value="sameDomain"><param name="Scale" value="ShowAll"><param name="DeviceFont" value="0"><param name="EmbedMovie" value="0"><param name="BGColor" value="202020"><param name="SWRemote" value=""><param name="MovieData" value=""><param name="SeamlessTabbing" value="1"><param name="Profile" value="0"><param name="ProfileAddress" value=""><param name="ProfilePort" value="0"><param name="AllowNetworking" value="all"><param name="AllowFullScreen" value="true"><br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <embed src="https://acrobat.com/Clients/current/ADCMainEmbed.swf" quality="high" bgcolor="#202020" width="365" height="400" align="middle" play="true" loop="false" quality="high" wmode="transparent" allowscriptaccess="sameDomain" allowfullscreen="true" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" flashvars="d=7V253v*2Tq7JN*HdJiy11w" pluginspage="http://www.adobe.com/go/getflashplayer"></embed><br /> <br /> </object>Larry Wisemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17306865754582819008noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2086633051992412231.post-13785702337109863232009-12-08T21:05:00.000-08:002009-12-08T21:27:40.425-08:00Raymond P. Livingston<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEFWn-SynlROJHDrE8RMGUi0UWVwLQJG3AsJYsC_MaVyppoV5HprOjz_0s3RqZn45wO6RjXGGZunhGI6iFMkWBJuMdbCO8Z9ZO_4hLpCkQxcrZRN4YQ_adTl5g2ZfxQFlIJro8W3TEj4Kc/s1600-h/Livingston.JPG"></a>As Told by Raymond's son Greg<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBvFL8uaXjltyMZueO9BM0Hn8In9xeleg5UNPsT9H4-A2NBtP0BTjRwE0ngjdSc2ix79_ANCA1-QNhyphenhyphen6LFtp5VPY_Qjz-8SGzU8V8gxf8CHEeSinhiWofqxoWt_KAHT_QMB90PRYCVzuim/s1600-h/Livingston.JPG"></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgZurhex4HPc5a7DDK8jo7R8biH8bSsmUmrZuDN1-ueXXnj_vT5nC1YJ9WwCj2KE5Hvc1rVPNqbett-pQe_sFIBs0ZEisvCWeo_sN8KxsJQ1nCFldkjl32xaYE7yMyHN9ShnupWv1_4WN5/s1600-h/20701643_123924484910.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413098627834594034" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 250px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 371px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgZurhex4HPc5a7DDK8jo7R8biH8bSsmUmrZuDN1-ueXXnj_vT5nC1YJ9WwCj2KE5Hvc1rVPNqbett-pQe_sFIBs0ZEisvCWeo_sN8KxsJQ1nCFldkjl32xaYE7yMyHN9ShnupWv1_4WN5/s400/20701643_123924484910.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />My Dad,Raymond P. Livingston, was born in Brooklyn on Christmas Day, 1921. His parents had recently emigrated from Scotland. Dad graduated from Dumont High School, Dumont, New Jersey, in 1939. He enlisted in the U.S.Army shortly after Pearl Harbor and completed his boot camp at Fort Dix, New Jersey..<br /><br />He was assigned to the 17th Signal Operations Battalion and landed on Omaha Beach, four days after D-Day. The beach and the surrounding area was still filled with minefields and snipers. He was promoted to First Lieutenant. I have his helmet, my proudest possession.<br /><br />Dad returned home in 1946, graduated from Bucknell on the GI Bill, married Mom in 1949, and I came along in 1951. Dad and Mom settled in New CIty, NY, and Dad became an insurance agent. He led our Boy Scout troop and was active in our church.<br /><br />Dad organized many reunions of his unit over the years, and was very proud of his service. He and I always got along, and we never had harsh words. I listened to every word he said and held him in the highest respect.<br /><br />Dad passed on October 8, 2006, in the same room where their wedding photos were taken, with Mom, my sister, and my brothers at his side. I proudly sounded TAPS at his funeral. He always said that if a German bullet never got him, nothing would...but cancer did.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEFWn-SynlROJHDrE8RMGUi0UWVwLQJG3AsJYsC_MaVyppoV5HprOjz_0s3RqZn45wO6RjXGGZunhGI6iFMkWBJuMdbCO8Z9ZO_4hLpCkQxcrZRN4YQ_adTl5g2ZfxQFlIJro8W3TEj4Kc/s1600-h/Livingston.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413100200370471986" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEFWn-SynlROJHDrE8RMGUi0UWVwLQJG3AsJYsC_MaVyppoV5HprOjz_0s3RqZn45wO6RjXGGZunhGI6iFMkWBJuMdbCO8Z9ZO_4hLpCkQxcrZRN4YQ_adTl5g2ZfxQFlIJro8W3TEj4Kc/s400/Livingston.JPG" border="0" /></a> Greg Livingston is currently a volunteer bugler for Bugles Across America, shown here sounding Taps at the grave side of his father, Raymond Livingston.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div>Larry Wisemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17306865754582819008noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2086633051992412231.post-63514838173169398472009-11-07T06:34:00.000-08:002009-11-07T06:38:15.364-08:00Jack Teuller's Story<object id="ep" height="374" width="416" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000"><param name="_cx" value="11007"><param name="_cy" value="9895"><param name="FlashVars" value=""><param name="Movie" value="http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/.element/apps/cvp/3.0/swf/cnn_416x234_embed.swf?context=embed&videoId=us/2009/11/03/vif2.music.save.my.life.cnn"><param name="Src" value="http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/.element/apps/cvp/3.0/swf/cnn_416x234_embed.swf?context=embed&videoId=us/2009/11/03/vif2.music.save.my.life.cnn"><param name="WMode" value="Transparent"><param name="Play" value="0"><param name="Loop" value="-1"><param name="Quality" value="High"><param name="SAlign" value="LT"><param name="Menu" value="-1"><param name="Base" value=""><param name="AllowScriptAccess" value="always"><param name="Scale" value="NoScale"><param name="DeviceFont" value="0"><param name="EmbedMovie" value="0"><param name="BGColor" value="000000"><param name="SWRemote" value=""><param name="MovieData" value=""><param name="SeamlessTabbing" value="1"><param name="Profile" value="0"><param name="ProfileAddress" value=""><param name="ProfilePort" value="0"><param name="AllowNetworking" value="all"><param name="AllowFullScreen" value="true"><embed src="http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/.element/apps/cvp/3.0/swf/cnn_416x234_embed.swf?context=embed&videoId=us/2009/11/03/vif2.music.save.my.life.cnn" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" bgcolor="#000000" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="416" wmode="transparent" height="374"></embed></object>I am hoping to contact his great hero one day, and to meet him face to face; maybe play some old tunes with him. What a great story, and I want to preserve it here, as long as possible.Larry Wisemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17306865754582819008noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2086633051992412231.post-22862182473041586732009-11-06T17:29:00.000-08:002009-11-06T17:31:54.540-08:00Larry Wiseman sounds Taps at the Vietnam Memorial</strong></span></span></span>
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<br />Larry Wisemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17306865754582819008noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2086633051992412231.post-30309280136195731102009-01-16T05:49:00.001-08:002009-01-17T19:20:24.483-08:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPxenBOhewX6xGpJSRSqeT34e6gkXC5Y76_PhouvYSQnKmdgSIl7GDvZ77NM1tbrOoES0bHRWKlYRjLcsoBZevmt0y7bxetUjEoEcNTLYBWsjVvWlUcBRm_n5r7RVn-T4Hr_q-yIqZBYbV/s1600-h/1194472224.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292337346484882514" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 325px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPxenBOhewX6xGpJSRSqeT34e6gkXC5Y76_PhouvYSQnKmdgSIl7GDvZ77NM1tbrOoES0bHRWKlYRjLcsoBZevmt0y7bxetUjEoEcNTLYBWsjVvWlUcBRm_n5r7RVn-T4Hr_q-yIqZBYbV/s320/1194472224.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><span style="font-size:78%;">Bugler Larry Wiseman sounds Taps in front of panel 42WLine19, </span></div><div><span style="font-size:78%;">of Dale Alan Luster at the Vietnam Memorial</span><br /><div><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">Dale Alan Luster </div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291703142637764818" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 223px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 133px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwG_9aaOCv26-A7HoDD8RnwTRLnlIbQT9WNgJctyKqGmcXYgj2Dy5_YPUQOmDZYoN2O7_iYEHBiTty54LJ1x16oF407p16cyiQY27fFTX4Qp9a_XJKYcFFaZhUzfZlsSb3a9Lhgvs_DEZC/s320/daluster-gravesite-section30-062803.jpg" border="0" /> </span></strong><br /><div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291712765798301250" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 118px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJD-B1B0rd5AWeXEn9OpTK7MwtZ_spmmE27iPOFg3GPb5T4w7A_a4ugWub2uPEdRxOYsTDPbQeDzb8rJ_D1l5GSFGWssIsW0-_ulNIECTfCK3_H_b9-djVUVPr7COET9HoddCoAQeLGipd/s320/34393_1100080309_tb.jpg" border="0" /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDAm9YiBhioQ6-4oNMTUYbzLVhSKXww0rCB9OeLKlLNfQt5bJ0EHjkjj_acphHGfgthtntubh8qGA9srFjWvW8Hqur0-mragxTW4U40a-ssEnGiQZKtCz0sdwiFnaZBdcWqzlDQQPJutXd/s1600-h/phmedal.gif"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291701021337693250" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 100px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDAm9YiBhioQ6-4oNMTUYbzLVhSKXww0rCB9OeLKlLNfQt5bJ0EHjkjj_acphHGfgthtntubh8qGA9srFjWvW8Hqur0-mragxTW4U40a-ssEnGiQZKtCz0sdwiFnaZBdcWqzlDQQPJutXd/s320/phmedal.gif" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxAd2P9YhhwUz7lKr4KoFxqaINU_RGWybCLCvTvPuYAayr2Ozk-nifmifLef_ipjjaE1c60atDzM9a5yg3nnfMvc_JJKpduEKbyHu95lBlRd1-4xZvqcwodDovDXZB8t9vrspCrOV8ZDFo/s1600-h/dfc.gif"><span style="font-size:180%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291701142338554866" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 104px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxAd2P9YhhwUz7lKr4KoFxqaINU_RGWybCLCvTvPuYAayr2Ozk-nifmifLef_ipjjaE1c60atDzM9a5yg3nnfMvc_JJKpduEKbyHu95lBlRd1-4xZvqcwodDovDXZB8t9vrspCrOV8ZDFo/s320/dfc.gif" border="0" /></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj08WckJvSZX3Y0AYU-rRQcNNFjeANXGxN-dEbYGRJQwA1SNaMU9w7GUT_5lYQ_uA6P7WMPATDtSNmRH9yQS-ZHfUrWROfrzp8vHJbJ2XQx3CL_GBaIP_yoOL0ie3n9QL1kqBqFG8NEXkY0/s1600-h/daluster-photo.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291698143780384370" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 310px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj08WckJvSZX3Y0AYU-rRQcNNFjeANXGxN-dEbYGRJQwA1SNaMU9w7GUT_5lYQ_uA6P7WMPATDtSNmRH9yQS-ZHfUrWROfrzp8vHJbJ2XQx3CL_GBaIP_yoOL0ie3n9QL1kqBqFG8NEXkY0/s320/daluster-photo.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color:#3333ff;"><strong>Dale Alan Luster was born on January 21, 1941 and joined the Armed Forces while in Chicago, Illinois.<br /><br />He served in the United States Marine Corps and in six years of service, he attained the rank of Captain. He began a tour of duty in the Republic of Vietnam on October 17, 1967.<br /><br />On September 26, 1968, at the age of 27, Dale Alan Luster perished in the service of our country in South Vietnam, Quang Ngai.<br /><br />Captain Luster was killed during his second tour of duty in Vietnam. He was awarded the Purple Heart as well as the Distinguished Flying Cross for his service.<br />--------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br />Dale Alan Luster<br />Captain, United States Marine Corps<br />Illinois<br />Pilot<br />January 21, 1941-September 26, 1968<br />Killed In Action, Quang Ngal, Vietnam<br />Section 30, Arlington National Cemetery<br />--------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br />Courtesy of The Captain's Sister, Joyce D. Luster Donner, August 2005:<br /><br />Dale Alan Luster was born in Chicago, Illinois, on January 21, 1941, to Mr. and Mrs. Wayman Luster. He grew up in Northbrook, Illinois, until his family moved to the northwest side of Chicago in 1955. He attended Taft High School where he joined the ROTC and attained the rank of Major, graduating in June of 1958. Dale was also attached to a local Civil Air Patrol unit.<br /><br />He then attended Northwestern University on the Naval ROTC Scholarship Program selecting the Marine Corps option after his sophomore year. He attained the rank of Battalion Commander. In his senior year, he received the Frank Knox Sword award for displaying the highest leadership qualities for the four year course.<br /><br />Upon graduation in 1962, he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps. He then completed Basic Jet and Advanced Flight Training and was awarded his Wings of Gold.<br /><br />In December of 1963, Dale was united in marriage to Mary O'Hare in a military ceremony. They met during high school and continued to see one another through college and early military service.<br /><br />Dale's first tour of duty in Vietnam was from February, 1965 through April, 1966, where he was stationed at Chu Lai. He flew the A4C and later the A4E fighter planes. Near the end of his service commitment, he extended his service contract and volunteered to return for a second tour in Vietnam.<br /><br />His second tour started in October, 1967, and this time he was assigned to Marine Attack Squadron 121, Marine Aircraft Group Twelve, First Marine Aircraft Wing at Chu Lai where he flew the A4E Skyhawk. During this tour, Dale was also assigned temporary duty as the Air Liaison Officer for the Second Battalion, Third Marine Regiment headquarted in Hue Phu Bai. During Dale’s time with the 2/3, the battalion operated just south of the DMZ from Khe Sanh to Dang Ha and Con Thien.<br /><br />Dale completed his tour with 2/3 early in September and returned to Chu Lai to resume flying duties. On September 26, 1968 Dale and his wingman were providing close air support for a U.S. Army unit which was under heavy attack by a numerically superior enemy force. This engagement occurred during Operation Wheeler Wallowa near Tam Ky in the Quang Ngai province of South Vietnam. The Army soldiers were pinned down and had sustained numerous casualties. Dale made several runs dropping his ordnance within 30 meters of the friendly forces. On one of these runs, just at ordnance release, his wingman saw his aircraft roll sharply to the left and impact the ground in a nose low attitude, having been hit by intense hostile fire. There was no evidence of ejection. As a result of his superior airmanship, the Army unit was able to withdraw from an untenable position.<br /><br />Dale flew 200 missions during his two tours in Vietnam and had served six years in the United States Marine Corps.<br /><br />He was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Purple Heart. </strong></span></span></span><br /><br /><br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='378' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyD2SSZP-l4RoFY82sZ0-gF4HUcX9AAZxWbG7idQPR84-P64PdVXjKPjtDUXEGkC9TH_Gz3eiyIZ6H3N6u9Fw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><br /><br /><div>On Veteran's Day, 2007, I was in DC, at the Vietnam Wall, and at the request of my friend Tom Day, president, and founder of BuglesAcrossAmerica, I sounded Taps at the panel of Dale Alan Luster, 42 West, Line 19. Thank You Dale for your service and sacrifice! </div></div></div></div>Larry Wisemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17306865754582819008noreply@blogger.com