I was blessed to have a father who loved his family above all else, who cared little about material possessions or keeping up with the Joneses, and who devoted his life to taking care of his wife and three sons.
Dad grew up in Hoboken, New Jersey, where he was a childhood friend of Frank Sinatra. I always say that Sinatra grew up to be a great singer; my dad grew up to be a great man.
He had a long and successful career selling everything from motor oil to paint to pet supplies. After he retired, I helped him get a job in the Stanford Athletic Department, running the gym store, which began a love affair with Stanford sports that continued until the day he died.
Even now, anytime I run into a Stanford coach or athlete from that era—people like Dick Gould, Mark Marquess, Paul Wiggin or Jim Harbaugh (who got to know my dad when he was attending Palo Alto H.S. and his father was Stanford’s defensive coordinator)—the first thing he will say to me is, “I loved your dad” or “I miss your dad.”
That’s because my dad was such a unique, engaging, unforgettable man. He always had a joke, a story, a piece of music, a recipe, a mutual fund, or a sports team he wanted to tell you about.
He had such enthusiasm for life. He made people feel welcome and comfortable and special. He loved to make people laugh, to help people, to share some important piece of information, to show them the right way to do something.
I used to tell my dad that the older I got, the smarter he got. He showed me what was really important in life. How to be a good husband and father. How to love a woman and honor her and take care of her. How to support, advise, and guide my children—demand a lot of them, set high standards, but love them unconditionally and back them up at every turn.
My dad grew up on a potato farm on the Oregon/Idaho border, traded potatoes so he could pay for room and board at University of Idaho, ran track at U of I, and was just beginning law school at Willamette when World War II began. He joined up, came home in 1945, raised four kids, played NW baseball, loved the NY Yankees, loved fishing, worked hard and died 36 years ago. He taught us to be honest, work hard, bait hooks, throw a decent ball, and always to respect people. Miss him today and every day.
I've always envied those who has good relationships with their dads. I didn't. Not all of us had Ozzie and Harriot for parents. My dad was harsh, petty, extremely self -absorbed. Married young, unsure about his role in life, but unwilling to admit it, he raised his three children with erratic emotions and actions. Of course, we all escaped as soon as we could. But it served me well: when I had a dilemma when raising my own daughters, I asked myself, What would (name) do?". Then I did the opposite.
Bless you who had good fathers. I enjoy reading about them.
I wrote this a few days before my dad died on March 18, 2022:
All living things die, therefore, we must never focus on why someone we love dies. We must focus on why they lived!
My dad is nearing the end of his earthly life soon to be reunited with everyone gone before us including my sister, Diana Lynn. It comforts me knowing she will remember his arms holding her with the love and strength he has shown all of his children. I am forever blessed having my dad be part of my life for over 58 years.
The last several days I have been thinking of all the glorious reasons my dad HAS lived. My mom, at the age of 12, knew she would marry him after seeing him in the alley behind her childhood home (which became my childhood home). It took my dad a while longer to realize this fact so my mom tells him, 'I've loved you longer". My mom married my dad at the age of 17 on April 14, 1962. My dad gave my mom a marriage with real love. Not the love we see in movies but a love with arguments & compromise. My parents definitely gave us a foundation on which to build our own marriages which we have given to our children. What an amazing legacy he has bestowed on us.
My dad's work ethic is like no other. Going to work in the coal mines with a gout flare up. Coming home and literally crawling up our stairs. Going to work with kidney stones. I had kidney stones while pregnant with Matthew and could not even stand up. But it didn't stop my dad. My dad went to work each & every day. I don't remember him ever calling in sick. Today, I have a hard time calling in sick. I mean come on my dad went to work with kidney stones.
My dad lived to show us the humourous side of love. A jokester and teaser. Still to this day he is teasing everyone. Oh, and a lecturer. Boy can he lecture. I do not have half the skills he does but I am pretty good because of him.
Growing up he taught us to be sneaky, although my mom always knew. When we would go somewhere with my dad we would stop at Orlando's pizza for a couple slices even knowing it was dinner time when we arrived home.
My dad lived to walk each of his girls down the aisle at our weddings and to attend his son's wedding.
My dad was brave enough to leave Ohio with his family in 1984 and move to Oregon to begin a new life. It wasn't easy but definitely one of the best choices. Because of the move our lives have been blessed.
My dad has taught us how true sports fans should act. Each & every year will be Cleveland Browns year. Being raised by my dad I believe this each & every year.
He has had several jobs during his 82 years of life; potter, woodworking, bakery, milkman, furniture delivery, coal miner, Sunday paper delivery, warehouse janitor, HVAC installer but the best role he has ever performed was DAD. My dad!
Please pray for my family. Please pray for my dad as he transitions from this life to the afterlife.
My dad was never a big sports fan, but he attended every one of my basketball games that he could, as well as all of my other activities. As his eldest daughter, I was especially proud that he taught me how to change a flat tire, oil, and even spark plugs in my car. It really paid off when I drove two guys back to OSU from Medford after Thanksgiving break and we had to stop to put chains in the car. Neither of them had done it, so I showed them how. My dad passed seven years ago. I miss him terribly , but I thank him for the lessons he passed on to me.
Very nice article as per usual...My Dad was a self-made man born right after WW1,raised during the depression,quit high school to help support the family,WW2 vet who was a great support all thur my lifetime growing up.He took me to my first MLB game in 1960 at Candelstick park to see both the Reds then Braves play.He was a workaholic usually holding down 2 jobs in my youth.The one thing he always said was "nobody is going to hand you anything so always be prepared to work for want you want"...lesson learned ..Happy Fathers day to you!
My Dad grew up on a dairy farm in Mt. Vernon, Washington. Won the state boxing championship in his division all four years in high school, played football, track & field, and high jumped on a scholarship at WSU. Taught at Roosevelt High School in Seattle for 44 years. Coached Cross Country, Track & Field & was Boys Varsity Basketball Coach for 30 years & won several state championships. Raised three kids and married to our Mom for 54 years when she passed away at 75. Coached several players that went on to the NBA. His most well-known player was James Edwards, who even had a short stint at the end of his career playing for the Trailblazers. He’s in the Washington state coaches, Hall of Fame. My dad is very beloved to this day to his students & players. He subbed until he was 75 years old at Roosevelt. Shortly after my father retired at 65, they honored him by naming the gym after him and put his name into the wood floor, on both sides of the court. Both of my kids High School Basketball Coaches arranged games so my kids could play ball on their Grandfather’s Court! Now he’s almost 90 and finally quit playing tennis but still walks several miles five times a week with his buddies. My dad has 12 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren with another one on the way. What a Legacy!! My dad enjoyed going to all of his grandchildren’s games up through high school. He got to watch my niece who was an All American Rower at University of Washington win a national championship. Since I was a little girl, I looked up to my father and knew that I wanted to be a teacher from a young age. Everywhere we went on vacation or around Seattle when I was growing up and even to this day people remember who my dad was. I always heard tons of stories about how much my dad helped everyone. I wanted to be just like him. I tried my best to love and respect my family, my students, school staff and their families the way my dad loved us, my mom, and his students. My dad always taught me to treat others the way I would want to be treated and especially the secretaries, bus drivers, custodians, cafeteria staff, and paraeducators, because they’re the real ones that run the school!
My Dad Homer Flym Bransom. The best Faller of trees in the southern Oregon region. From the Crater Lake forest to the norther part of California border. Hilt California. Up at 3 or 4 in the morning driving one of his crummy pickups down some forrest, falling trees all day long, But then I would see that old yellow truck coming in the driveway in Central Point, Oregon to watch me play on. Sports team, whether football, basketball, softball during the summer. Always there when I needed him. Yes, I miss that voice in the stands,
I wanted to be a professional baseball player after my dad took me to a Kansas City A’s game. I had to settle for softball, but my dad always cheered me on at games. Before games, he played catch with me, warmed up my arm and settled in to watch. I have 5 siblings and my love of all sports was a way to get his time and attention. I miss him so much!
My dad was a WWII veteran who fought in Europe and he owned a restaurant in Medford that kept him busy for long hours. One of my fondest memories that showed his love for me was during my freshman year in high school. I was the starting QB on the varsity football team and we had a night game in Lakeview, a four-hour drive away. While we were warming up before the game that was played in the local rodeo grounds, I heard a familiar voice from the stands holler out for me to play hard. That was totally unexpected but it instantly told me that he would go to any length to support me in whatever I was doing.
My dad will be 87 here in...11 days. He played catcher for U of A in the mid/late 50's. He would pitch to me and hit me ground balls from the time I was probably 4 years old until I was 21 before my senior year in college. When I think of the sheer volume of pitches (from about 20 feet) and grounders, it is overwhelming. Had to be over 10,000. When I was my last couple years of high school we would stop at Dairy Queen on the way home and have a milkshake. My first few years of college he would bring a couple beers in a cooler and when we were done we would sit in the back of the pickup and talk. My last year, I finally had turned 21, and we would stop at a tavern and get a beer... and talk. I now know why he did that. He didn't want it to end. My two girls play water polo. I do a lot of driving and we play a lot of one handed catch. It is going by too fast. Today, Fathers Day, My girls and I will be at Petco for the Padres game (in about 2 hours!). We had a 4th ticket for my dad. But it's too much work for him now. I see him in my girls. The way they watch baseball, the way they cheer for Duck football. My dad was and remains my hero. I wish it would never end.
Jun 18, 2023·edited Jun 18, 2023Liked by John Canzano
My siblings and I hated to go with Dad on his Saturday morning errands, but it was our only chance to spend our weeding/raking dimes and quarters on comic books. He had many stops and he talked to everybody. EVERYBODY! I finally understood, watching the folks at his memorial service coming in to overflow the church. I hope I learned to leave a positive feeling, just like he did. You're well on your way, John. Happy Father's Day!
Jun 18, 2023·edited Jun 19, 2023Liked by John Canzano
John, I could and maybe someday will, write a book about my dad. He was a bit of a wild ass early in my childhood, we lived in Redmond and he owned a small auto parts chain called Champion auto parts, he also rode broncs in the rodeo, drove motorcycles, raced cars and hunted and fished every other free moment he had. And he and mom took us four kids everywhere. We camped a lot but it all changed in an instant when he drove a 1956 Porsche roadster off the road and over a cliff. He survived the crash but was paralyzed from the waist down. We moved to Portland and after a year and a half in the hospital and rehab, he resumed his life almost where he left off. With a lot of tough love from mom, who wouldn't let him give up or feel sorry for himself, dad reentered life! He worked his way up the chain on the data prossessing side if GP, we still went camping and fishing and when we got older even hunting, my brother Pat and I became his legs. One of us would put him on our back and the other would carry his chair and decoys and we'd trudge through the marsh to a place dad says was "can't miss" which always seemed to be on the other side of the marsh. Dad had a great sense of humor and we would laugh often at the predicaments we'd get into. He was also the manager of my traveling hockey team and would load the old Pontiac up with 4 boys and head for Canada several weeks a season. He created great bonds with my friends and my brothers and sisters friends too. He was my idol too. I remember all of his struggles and that he never complained. He was an incredible man and I miss him.
My father was a child of the Depression, the eldest of four siblings, his father committed suicide during the Depression and as the oldest child had to quit school in the sixth grade to help support his family. Dad got a job for ten cents a day as copy boy for the sports editor of the Baltimore Sun when the Orioles were a minor league team. He saw many Hall of Fame players as they came up through the minors.
At age 14 Dad lied about his age and joined the Merchant Marine sailing to Iceland & Greenland. At 15 he again lied about his age and began an illustrious 30 year career in the US Coast Guard. Dad went in as the lowest of the low, a seaman recruit E-1. He later became an officer and retired as a Commander. The guys that did this were called Mustangers and were highly respected. All this without even a grade six education whilst competing with Coast Guard Academy graduates for promotions.
Upon retirement in the mid 1950s he became the Harbor Master for the derelict Port of Coos Bay
and with military precision turned the port into the biggest timber shipping port in the world by the time Dad again retired. He raised three successful sons, only missed our events if he was out to sea and as military kids we were certainly drilled with manners. I’m the only one of we three boys to have served in the military - VN as an Infantry officer - and that as well as being the youngest son is perhaps why Dad and I were so close.
I loved & respected my Dad and love & respect him to this day. The manner in which I show that continuing love & respect is that I never fail, when writing about him, to capitalize the D in Dad.
My father grew up in Seattle. Was worked out by the Cubs a and Yankees in the late 40's. College here and there. Survived the Korean War as a Navy Corpsman. To Washington State where the Cougars asked him to walk on as a second baseman. By this time a wife and children. Decided his best choice to care for a family was not going to be baseball. Earned his degree in Veterinary Medicine...cattle and horses his new passion! We always had baseball! Lost him 3 years ago...boy, he was the real deal!
I was blessed to have a father who loved his family above all else, who cared little about material possessions or keeping up with the Joneses, and who devoted his life to taking care of his wife and three sons.
Dad grew up in Hoboken, New Jersey, where he was a childhood friend of Frank Sinatra. I always say that Sinatra grew up to be a great singer; my dad grew up to be a great man.
He had a long and successful career selling everything from motor oil to paint to pet supplies. After he retired, I helped him get a job in the Stanford Athletic Department, running the gym store, which began a love affair with Stanford sports that continued until the day he died.
Even now, anytime I run into a Stanford coach or athlete from that era—people like Dick Gould, Mark Marquess, Paul Wiggin or Jim Harbaugh (who got to know my dad when he was attending Palo Alto H.S. and his father was Stanford’s defensive coordinator)—the first thing he will say to me is, “I loved your dad” or “I miss your dad.”
That’s because my dad was such a unique, engaging, unforgettable man. He always had a joke, a story, a piece of music, a recipe, a mutual fund, or a sports team he wanted to tell you about.
He had such enthusiasm for life. He made people feel welcome and comfortable and special. He loved to make people laugh, to help people, to share some important piece of information, to show them the right way to do something.
I used to tell my dad that the older I got, the smarter he got. He showed me what was really important in life. How to be a good husband and father. How to love a woman and honor her and take care of her. How to support, advise, and guide my children—demand a lot of them, set high standards, but love them unconditionally and back them up at every turn.
I just hope I’m half the man he was.
That’s so good.
Awesome salute to your Dad! Thanks for sharing Gary!!
Thank you Kent.
Great tribute Gary.
Thank you Ken.
My dad grew up on a potato farm on the Oregon/Idaho border, traded potatoes so he could pay for room and board at University of Idaho, ran track at U of I, and was just beginning law school at Willamette when World War II began. He joined up, came home in 1945, raised four kids, played NW baseball, loved the NY Yankees, loved fishing, worked hard and died 36 years ago. He taught us to be honest, work hard, bait hooks, throw a decent ball, and always to respect people. Miss him today and every day.
Love this.
I've always envied those who has good relationships with their dads. I didn't. Not all of us had Ozzie and Harriot for parents. My dad was harsh, petty, extremely self -absorbed. Married young, unsure about his role in life, but unwilling to admit it, he raised his three children with erratic emotions and actions. Of course, we all escaped as soon as we could. But it served me well: when I had a dilemma when raising my own daughters, I asked myself, What would (name) do?". Then I did the opposite.
Bless you who had good fathers. I enjoy reading about them.
Thank you for sharing this and for being a great dad to your kids. It’s a gift you’ve given them.
Mike thank you for sharing this. You broke the cycle and provided a new example and path for your daughters. Kudos to you.
Truth
Mike, you have my great respect for sharing the truth about your dad. It ain’t easy. God bless you.
I wrote this a few days before my dad died on March 18, 2022:
All living things die, therefore, we must never focus on why someone we love dies. We must focus on why they lived!
My dad is nearing the end of his earthly life soon to be reunited with everyone gone before us including my sister, Diana Lynn. It comforts me knowing she will remember his arms holding her with the love and strength he has shown all of his children. I am forever blessed having my dad be part of my life for over 58 years.
The last several days I have been thinking of all the glorious reasons my dad HAS lived. My mom, at the age of 12, knew she would marry him after seeing him in the alley behind her childhood home (which became my childhood home). It took my dad a while longer to realize this fact so my mom tells him, 'I've loved you longer". My mom married my dad at the age of 17 on April 14, 1962. My dad gave my mom a marriage with real love. Not the love we see in movies but a love with arguments & compromise. My parents definitely gave us a foundation on which to build our own marriages which we have given to our children. What an amazing legacy he has bestowed on us.
My dad's work ethic is like no other. Going to work in the coal mines with a gout flare up. Coming home and literally crawling up our stairs. Going to work with kidney stones. I had kidney stones while pregnant with Matthew and could not even stand up. But it didn't stop my dad. My dad went to work each & every day. I don't remember him ever calling in sick. Today, I have a hard time calling in sick. I mean come on my dad went to work with kidney stones.
My dad lived to show us the humourous side of love. A jokester and teaser. Still to this day he is teasing everyone. Oh, and a lecturer. Boy can he lecture. I do not have half the skills he does but I am pretty good because of him.
Growing up he taught us to be sneaky, although my mom always knew. When we would go somewhere with my dad we would stop at Orlando's pizza for a couple slices even knowing it was dinner time when we arrived home.
My dad lived to walk each of his girls down the aisle at our weddings and to attend his son's wedding.
My dad was brave enough to leave Ohio with his family in 1984 and move to Oregon to begin a new life. It wasn't easy but definitely one of the best choices. Because of the move our lives have been blessed.
My dad has taught us how true sports fans should act. Each & every year will be Cleveland Browns year. Being raised by my dad I believe this each & every year.
He has had several jobs during his 82 years of life; potter, woodworking, bakery, milkman, furniture delivery, coal miner, Sunday paper delivery, warehouse janitor, HVAC installer but the best role he has ever performed was DAD. My dad!
Please pray for my family. Please pray for my dad as he transitions from this life to the afterlife.
Love this. Thank you for sharing.
Darlene - amazing tribute. Thank you for taking the time to share.
I especially loved this: “Not the love we see in movies but a love with arguments & compromise.”
My dad was never a big sports fan, but he attended every one of my basketball games that he could, as well as all of my other activities. As his eldest daughter, I was especially proud that he taught me how to change a flat tire, oil, and even spark plugs in my car. It really paid off when I drove two guys back to OSU from Medford after Thanksgiving break and we had to stop to put chains in the car. Neither of them had done it, so I showed them how. My dad passed seven years ago. I miss him terribly , but I thank him for the lessons he passed on to me.
Showing up… is so powerful. What a gift.
Very nice article as per usual...My Dad was a self-made man born right after WW1,raised during the depression,quit high school to help support the family,WW2 vet who was a great support all thur my lifetime growing up.He took me to my first MLB game in 1960 at Candelstick park to see both the Reds then Braves play.He was a workaholic usually holding down 2 jobs in my youth.The one thing he always said was "nobody is going to hand you anything so always be prepared to work for want you want"...lesson learned ..Happy Fathers day to you!
He gave you a gift as well.
My Dad grew up on a dairy farm in Mt. Vernon, Washington. Won the state boxing championship in his division all four years in high school, played football, track & field, and high jumped on a scholarship at WSU. Taught at Roosevelt High School in Seattle for 44 years. Coached Cross Country, Track & Field & was Boys Varsity Basketball Coach for 30 years & won several state championships. Raised three kids and married to our Mom for 54 years when she passed away at 75. Coached several players that went on to the NBA. His most well-known player was James Edwards, who even had a short stint at the end of his career playing for the Trailblazers. He’s in the Washington state coaches, Hall of Fame. My dad is very beloved to this day to his students & players. He subbed until he was 75 years old at Roosevelt. Shortly after my father retired at 65, they honored him by naming the gym after him and put his name into the wood floor, on both sides of the court. Both of my kids High School Basketball Coaches arranged games so my kids could play ball on their Grandfather’s Court! Now he’s almost 90 and finally quit playing tennis but still walks several miles five times a week with his buddies. My dad has 12 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren with another one on the way. What a Legacy!! My dad enjoyed going to all of his grandchildren’s games up through high school. He got to watch my niece who was an All American Rower at University of Washington win a national championship. Since I was a little girl, I looked up to my father and knew that I wanted to be a teacher from a young age. Everywhere we went on vacation or around Seattle when I was growing up and even to this day people remember who my dad was. I always heard tons of stories about how much my dad helped everyone. I wanted to be just like him. I tried my best to love and respect my family, my students, school staff and their families the way my dad loved us, my mom, and his students. My dad always taught me to treat others the way I would want to be treated and especially the secretaries, bus drivers, custodians, cafeteria staff, and paraeducators, because they’re the real ones that run the school!
My Dad Homer Flym Bransom. The best Faller of trees in the southern Oregon region. From the Crater Lake forest to the norther part of California border. Hilt California. Up at 3 or 4 in the morning driving one of his crummy pickups down some forrest, falling trees all day long, But then I would see that old yellow truck coming in the driveway in Central Point, Oregon to watch me play on. Sports team, whether football, basketball, softball during the summer. Always there when I needed him. Yes, I miss that voice in the stands,
That voice in the stands…
I wanted to be a professional baseball player after my dad took me to a Kansas City A’s game. I had to settle for softball, but my dad always cheered me on at games. Before games, he played catch with me, warmed up my arm and settled in to watch. I have 5 siblings and my love of all sports was a way to get his time and attention. I miss him so much!
My dad was a WWII veteran who fought in Europe and he owned a restaurant in Medford that kept him busy for long hours. One of my fondest memories that showed his love for me was during my freshman year in high school. I was the starting QB on the varsity football team and we had a night game in Lakeview, a four-hour drive away. While we were warming up before the game that was played in the local rodeo grounds, I heard a familiar voice from the stands holler out for me to play hard. That was totally unexpected but it instantly told me that he would go to any length to support me in whatever I was doing.
That is awesome. He showed up.
My dad will be 87 here in...11 days. He played catcher for U of A in the mid/late 50's. He would pitch to me and hit me ground balls from the time I was probably 4 years old until I was 21 before my senior year in college. When I think of the sheer volume of pitches (from about 20 feet) and grounders, it is overwhelming. Had to be over 10,000. When I was my last couple years of high school we would stop at Dairy Queen on the way home and have a milkshake. My first few years of college he would bring a couple beers in a cooler and when we were done we would sit in the back of the pickup and talk. My last year, I finally had turned 21, and we would stop at a tavern and get a beer... and talk. I now know why he did that. He didn't want it to end. My two girls play water polo. I do a lot of driving and we play a lot of one handed catch. It is going by too fast. Today, Fathers Day, My girls and I will be at Petco for the Padres game (in about 2 hours!). We had a 4th ticket for my dad. But it's too much work for him now. I see him in my girls. The way they watch baseball, the way they cheer for Duck football. My dad was and remains my hero. I wish it would never end.
My siblings and I hated to go with Dad on his Saturday morning errands, but it was our only chance to spend our weeding/raking dimes and quarters on comic books. He had many stops and he talked to everybody. EVERYBODY! I finally understood, watching the folks at his memorial service coming in to overflow the church. I hope I learned to leave a positive feeling, just like he did. You're well on your way, John. Happy Father's Day!
He made people feel good. What a gift.
John, I could and maybe someday will, write a book about my dad. He was a bit of a wild ass early in my childhood, we lived in Redmond and he owned a small auto parts chain called Champion auto parts, he also rode broncs in the rodeo, drove motorcycles, raced cars and hunted and fished every other free moment he had. And he and mom took us four kids everywhere. We camped a lot but it all changed in an instant when he drove a 1956 Porsche roadster off the road and over a cliff. He survived the crash but was paralyzed from the waist down. We moved to Portland and after a year and a half in the hospital and rehab, he resumed his life almost where he left off. With a lot of tough love from mom, who wouldn't let him give up or feel sorry for himself, dad reentered life! He worked his way up the chain on the data prossessing side if GP, we still went camping and fishing and when we got older even hunting, my brother Pat and I became his legs. One of us would put him on our back and the other would carry his chair and decoys and we'd trudge through the marsh to a place dad says was "can't miss" which always seemed to be on the other side of the marsh. Dad had a great sense of humor and we would laugh often at the predicaments we'd get into. He was also the manager of my traveling hockey team and would load the old Pontiac up with 4 boys and head for Canada several weeks a season. He created great bonds with my friends and my brothers and sisters friends too. He was my idol too. I remember all of his struggles and that he never complained. He was an incredible man and I miss him.
Amid those struggles he never complained… wow.
My father was a child of the Depression, the eldest of four siblings, his father committed suicide during the Depression and as the oldest child had to quit school in the sixth grade to help support his family. Dad got a job for ten cents a day as copy boy for the sports editor of the Baltimore Sun when the Orioles were a minor league team. He saw many Hall of Fame players as they came up through the minors.
At age 14 Dad lied about his age and joined the Merchant Marine sailing to Iceland & Greenland. At 15 he again lied about his age and began an illustrious 30 year career in the US Coast Guard. Dad went in as the lowest of the low, a seaman recruit E-1. He later became an officer and retired as a Commander. The guys that did this were called Mustangers and were highly respected. All this without even a grade six education whilst competing with Coast Guard Academy graduates for promotions.
Upon retirement in the mid 1950s he became the Harbor Master for the derelict Port of Coos Bay
and with military precision turned the port into the biggest timber shipping port in the world by the time Dad again retired. He raised three successful sons, only missed our events if he was out to sea and as military kids we were certainly drilled with manners. I’m the only one of we three boys to have served in the military - VN as an Infantry officer - and that as well as being the youngest son is perhaps why Dad and I were so close.
I loved & respected my Dad and love & respect him to this day. The manner in which I show that continuing love & respect is that I never fail, when writing about him, to capitalize the D in Dad.
Happy Heavenly Father’s Day, Dad!
Love and respect… well said
Welcome home! (From a non-grunt EM - Tay Ninh, RVN 3/70 to 3-71).
Well, it just shows how much smarter you were than me by staying away from the Infantry!😜
Welcome home, Monte. Tri border area/Ban Me Thuot’67-69
I’m glad you’re here!
Thank you. Me, too!😊
I am a Coast Guard vet too and those Mustangs were the best officers!
Dennis, I can recall Dad saying his happiest days were as an E-8 before he was commissioned 😊
My father grew up in Seattle. Was worked out by the Cubs a and Yankees in the late 40's. College here and there. Survived the Korean War as a Navy Corpsman. To Washington State where the Cougars asked him to walk on as a second baseman. By this time a wife and children. Decided his best choice to care for a family was not going to be baseball. Earned his degree in Veterinary Medicine...cattle and horses his new passion! We always had baseball! Lost him 3 years ago...boy, he was the real deal!
The real deal indeed…
John, A day doesn’t pass that I don’t wish I could talk to my Dad for just one more hour.
Glad you called your Dad today and Thanked him.
Thanks for this Chris.