A split here when it comes to the my ancestors. My father's side traces their ancestor back to both Ireland and Scotland. I guess we Celts tend to be a warrior class, as such, we just picked the wrong religion to back, some met the reprisals of the English at Culloden and others were smart to get passage to America. All of them you could say, were on the frontier of New York. According to my great aunt, who is the family genealogist our family has served our nation faithfully for over 200 years. Our link is back to the Battle of Brooklyn Heights, 6 years in the New York line and others who served in the New York militia, one at Saratoga. A family member participated in the invasion of Canada in the War of 1812. We lost family on both sides during the American Civil War, 3 family members in the Union side lost their lives at Antietam and 2 from North Carolina in the Sunken Road. One other died at Fredericksburg. World War 1, Grandfather lost his brother, World War 2 (3 of my father's brothers served, two in Europe, 1 in the Pacific). Father was part of riggers who jumped into Chosin, Korea, 3 tours in Republic of Vietnam, 1 tour in Laos, and a stint at the embassy in Phnom Penn. Uncle served three combat tours as part of Studies and Observation Group. My first cousin paid the ultimate sacrifice in Vic Thien Phuoc Special Forces Camp, Quang Tin province, Republic of Vietnam, he was part of D, Company, 1st Battalion, 46th Infantry, 198th Inf Brigade. My aunt and her husband (82d) also served in the Army, all during the Vietnam War. Both my father and uncle both retired. One of my cousins, daughter of my uncle who served as part of SOG, did 4 years. I ate some dirt for about 20 plus years.
As for my mother's side, 2 cousins died (Japanese Imperial Naval Infantry) in the Solomon's, most Marines know it as Guadalcanal. 1 cousin died as an aviator in the Imperial Japanese Navy. My mother's family has direct lineage to Oda Nobunaga, the first great unifier of Japan. Many of my mother's family served either in the old Tokugawa regime or in the Imperial military. My cousin serves in the Japanese Self Defense Force. You could say that if you were a male in my wife's family, you were duty bound to serve.
As for my wife, her dad served in the Army during WWII, as an artillery man. Six uncles served in the Navy, Marine Corps, Army and Air Force. My wife's cousin is a retired Command Sergeant Major in the Marine Corps (the Marine Corp's Crew Chief award is named after him). His son serves proudly in the Marine Corps and has several combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. My wife's cousin is now a contractor at Beaufort and his son is stationed at Lejeune.
I worked in the company of a group of heroes in my military career, but the true heroes are my wife and my two children. They often had to deal with the stress of not knowing and praying. I'd say, they more than deserve, as many wives and children of military members that serve our nation deserve a medal. I am sure many of us who have served would agree with that statement.
So in summation, as I spoke to my students today, Veteran's Day has is a moment in reflection for service and sacrifices of those who have served.
I need to look into mine deeper and see what i can find
