Our family members who served during W.W.II in the Pacific:
Danny's family history with the Pacific War: His Father, Joseph Burton Smith Jr., "Burt", was in the 110th U.S. Navy Seabees. We read all about the Seabees and their service beside the Marines on these Pacific Islands and even in the Atlantic Islands.The Seabees were members of the U.S. Navy Construction Battalions which were organized after Pearl Harbor was attacked. Danny's Dad actually helped to build the building that housed the Atomic Bomb on Tinian Island. The B-29 Bomber, Enola Gay, took off from Tinian's North Field to deliver it. If you read about the Seabees on Wikipedia, you will be amazed at how much these Battalions facilitated the victory of WWII!
Danny's family history with WWI: His Grandpa Smith served in France as a Foreign National from England, (legal immigrant). He had migrated to the U.S. in l912 and worked for CB&Q Railroad. He decided to join the U.S. Army to serve for the U.S.;he ran trains north and south in France. After the war, he wanted to become a citizen of the U.S. and went before a judge with several witnesses who vowed for his character and service to the country and was sworn in as a citizen!
Janet and Jane's family history with the Pacific War: Our Mother was engaged to a Marine who was killed in battle on a Pacific Island one month before the war ended. Her brothers both served in the Pacific Islands. One brother David Creason served in the U.S. Army in heavy artillery. Her other brother served in the U.S. Marine Corps. and was awarded the Purple Heart when wounded on a Pacific Island.
As I recall Jodie and Chris's Grandfather Leonard Grupe served in the Navy in the Pacific during W.W.II also! We are proud of all of these men and we loved them all! The above mentioned were those family members who served in the Pacific Islands during W.W.II. My Father, Orville Eaton, served in Iran and Ty's Father, Charles Peck, served in England and we are proud of them too for their service to our country! Ty's Father served in the European Theater and my Father served in the Asian/African and European Theaters. Dad's name, Charles' name, David's name, Dallas's name are all on the record of the W.W.II Memorial in Washington, D.C. That is a Memorial every American should visit, esp. our children and grandchildren, of course!!
This National Museum of The Pacific War was dedicated to perpetuate the memory of the Pacific Theater of W.W.II in order that the sacrifices of those who contributed to our victory may never be forgotten. This was mainly accomplished by President George H. W. Bush Sr.
One of the sections of the museum was dedicated to Admiral Chester W.Nimitz, who was born and raised in Fredericksburg, TX. Admiral Nimitz was a 5 Star Admiral of the U.S. Navy. President Roosevelt selected him to command after the Pearl Harbor attack. He held dual command as the Commander in Chief of the entire U.S. Pacific Fleet for the U.S. Naval forces, including 20,000 planes and 5,000 ships, and Commander in Chief for the Pacific areas for U.S. and allied air, land, and sea forces during W.W.II He was the lead U.S. Navy authority on submarines. Admiral Nimitz was the last surviving Fleet Admiral. He was in charge of the West Pacific and General Douglas MacArthur was in charge of the S.W. Pacific Islands. Admiral Nimitz commanded 2 million men and women. On Sep. 2, l945, Admiral Nimitz actually signed for the United States of America on the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay when the Japanese surrendered.
I remember Dad talking about him and MacArthur also many times!
The USS Nimitz (CV-68) is a super carrier in the US Navy, lead ship of her class; one of the largest warships in the world; nuclear-powered aircraft carriers.The Nimitz-class super carriers are a class of l0 nuclear-powered aircraft carriers in service with the US Navy. They are the largest capital ships in the world, using nuclear power. These ships are capable of operating for 20 years without refueling and their predicted life service time is over 50 years!! These are protecting all of us around the world!
The Navy, Marines, and Army were the main branches to conquer the islands for the U.S. against Japan. The islands were Guadalcanal, Pelelui, Saipan, Okinawa (Mom mentioned her brothers and fiance' were on these), Tarawa, Kwajalein, Eniwetok,Tainan (where Danny's Dad was), Guam, and Iwo Jima.
The sections of the Museum: Admiral Nimitz Museum
George H.W. Bush Gallery
Pacific Combat Zone
Japanese Garden of Peace
Memorial Garden
Plaza of Presidents
Ty and I spent 4 hours here taking a couple of breaks and still didn't see everything! There was just wall after wall of data about each island and what took place. There was even a recovered Japanese equipment and even a couple of planes. They also had a display about the women who had helped by working in the factories towards the war efforts. This War was shortly after the Great Depression and it was this War which brought this country back on its feet! A Canadian on our travels reminded us of what a great feat that was for our country to put out all the planes, tanks, equipment in our factories too!
I will never forget looking at the photos of those young men on the ships and amphibious tanks! To know they would land on an island full of the enemy!
So young and so full of patriotism for America!
The one disappointment for me was that I wasn't able to locate...... information concerning the role of the Navajo Indian Americans who had served in the 4th Division of the U.S. Marine Corps. In fact, it was this special group of people who had put a code together with the Marine Corps., in their native language, which saved many lives and even had possibly shortened this war! The Japanese never could decipher this special developed code. These U.S. servicemen were recognized for their service in l969 in Chicago, finally! They had been asked to never divulge their duty overseas and probably never had. There were many who had already died before they were recognized. The U.S. awarded them with a special Medallion! They were each so proud to be finally recognized for this special service of duty. I read a book about them: The Navajo Weapon! This book talked about how the Navajo Indians were a hardy bunch of men who never complained! Thank you for your service!!!
After this trip, you can bet that I will do a full fledged investigation on that!
(I could have missed it too, but don't think so!)
There was a section displaying other minorities who had served. The black or "colored people", as they were called in that era, were in "segregated units", good enough to serve, but had to be in segregated units!! The Hispanics' service was also mentioned, of course!
Ty and I employ all of our children and grandchildren to read about Admiral Nimitz some day..... a great man who accomplished so much in his lifetime to the service of this great country.We plan to go back someday to this museum and visit the Combat Zone and the other sections which we missed.
Ty and I are peace lovers, but this War affected who we are as people today!!! Our parents were known as the "Greatest Generation"!
One other thing! Dad always liked Johnny Cash songs and one of his favorite ones was called "Ira Hayes". Well Ira Hayes was a Native American who served and was actually one of the men on the island of Iwo Jima who held the flag up on the hillside, the infamous photo! Anyway I saw that photo with Ira Hayes' signature on it! Dad would have loved that story!
To this day I wear a ring that my Mother received from her finance' Oliver Costenson which he bought for her in New Zealand during that time! He had left for the war in l942 and she never saw him again. She told this story to all of us, but Jenna actually recorded her stories on tape, so many about W.W.II. Mom actually served too after the War...... she became an active Member of the American Legion Auxiliary for 40 plus years. She signed Jane and I up 25 years ago. Mom signed Jenna and Marla up too. I signed Zofia up this year! We are all proud members of the Legion Auxiliary Post #91, representing the men from our family who have served. The Auxiliary does so much for each community and volunteers hundreds of hours to help the veterans and servicemen and women! Ed just joined the Legion Post #91 one year ago! He represents all of our family who has been in also. Dad would have been proud of him as we are! Ed was nominated to be Chaplain! Miracles never seize to happen!!!
Ty and I are both proud to be Americans and so very proud of our family members!
(Most of the above information was taken from Wikipedia!)
Admiral Nimitz quote: "They refer to a ship as she because she takes a lot of paint and powder."
Let's pray for peace
At Jodie's Confirmation celebration, they sang this song and I was so touched. I love the words and meaning of the words and we try really hard to live by them.
Let there be peace on earth
and let it begin with me.
Let there be peace on earth
the peace that was meant to be,
With God as our Father
brothers all are we
Let me walk with my brother
in perfect harmony!
On this journey, we have made 4 new friends. One new friend at Mardi Gras, JoAnn; one relative of Ty's, Yoko, from Japan, one from the Philippines, Faye, and B Little Eagle from Chokoloskee FL. These new friends have really touched our lives!
Peace!
Love, Janet
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