Memorial, as in memory from the Greek goddess of memories – Mnemosyne. Memory is what we fear loosing as we age. Fortunately, most people that I know have retained their memory and mental health, although we all get forgetful on occasion. Then again, how many people do I know that know so much that they are running out of storage space? A lot. Bird-watchers, naturalists, scientists, clinicians. All people that have stored knowledge. So, celebrate your memory and everything that you remember, as I will.
My father private, first class Edward Kielb in the U.S. Marines in World War II. He served in the South Pacific.
Here he is after the war.
I sat down with him in the 1980s and discussed the war with him. From the end of 1944 until mid 1945 he was hospitalized. He got dengue fever (a mosquito-borne virus) and was quite ill.
Two campaigns that he took part in resulted in Navy Unit Commendations. This is the for securing Guam, his last action.
This Commendation was for action at Eniwetok. He was a member of the Second Separate Pack Howitzer Company. His stories concerning the fighting on Eniwetok and Kwajalein are what nightmares are made of. I am happy that he came through all of this safe and sound (except for the year in hospital).
Here he is in the 1970s in our kitchen on Lockwood, exactly as I remember him.
More tomorrow…
Michael's Place 