Category Archives: Military

Ft. Rosecrans National Cemetery, San Diego, California

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Ft. Rosecrans National Cemetery, San Diego, California

Ft. Rosecrans National Cemetery, San Diego, California Ft. Rosecrans National Cemetery, San Diego, California

Ft. Rosecrans National Cemetery, San Diego, California

Ft. Rosecrans National Cemetery, San Diego, California

Ft. Rosecrans National Cemetery, San Diego, California
Ft. Rosecrans National Cemetery, San Diego, California

Ft. Rosecrans National Cemetery, San Diego, California

My aunt took these photos yesterday, 5/27/2012, while at Ft. Rosecrans National Cemetery in San Diego.

Look at the sheer numbers of markers.  At ONE National Cemetery.  Just one. Seeing all these numbers made me think.  If this is one cemetery, add all of the markers from ALL of the National Cemeteries. Then, add all of the markers for those who are NOT buried at National Cemeteries.

It makes me incredibly sad.

When are we going to learn?  Not just the U.S., cuz this isn’t just a U.S. problem.  It is world-wide.

I feel like we are thumbing our noses at all those who have sacrificed for us.  Obviously our governments have learned nothing after centuries of fighting.  Will they ever?  We can tout and yell about how we remember.  It won’t mean anything until WE ACTUALLY REMEMBER AND PUT THOSE MEMORIES IN TO PRACTICE.  Actions speak louder than words.  I’m sorry our soldiers, and those all over the world, have to continuously provide the “action” with their lives while our governments learn and provide nothing.

They think they are providing a great service when they provide nominal health care, markers for graves.  The best service would be to actually remember why people have died and to act upon it by making this world a better place. That is why our soldiers died, hoping to make the world a better place. Now if only our governments could do that, what could be a better service to provide? What better rememberance?

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Salute

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Howard Dickson Pendergrass, Sr. My grandpa

Howard Dickson Pendergrass, Sr. My grandpa

6 year Pacific Fleet Boxing Champ aboard the U.S.S. Arizona, prior to Pearl Harbor.

6 year Pacific Fleet Boxing Champ aboard the U.S.S. Arizona, prior to Pearl Harbor.

Stationed aboard the U.S.S. Ludlow

Stationed aboard the U.S.S. Ludlow

The Howard Dickson Pendergrass men.. Sr. and Jr.

The Howard Dickson Pendergrass men, Sr. and Jr.

This picture, and those above, are my Grandfather, Howard Dickson Pendergrass, Sr.  Retired Navy.  The picture of him in the tent, I thought was my Uncle, his son, who served during Vietnam.  So young and they look so much like each other, could not believe it.  So amazing.

Uncle, William Clyde Chambers

Uncle, William Clyde Chambers

Uncle, Phil Wesley Tindle, Jr.

Uncle, Phil Wesley Tindle, Jr.

Uncle, Cleo McComas

Uncle, Cleo McComas

The man in the dark sailor uniform is my Uncle, William Clyde Chambers, married to my dad’s sister, Betty Jo Tindle.  (Yeah, named after her)

The next young man, with the young lady, is my dad’s brother, Phil Wesley Tindle, Jr.  With the lady he married.  Aunt Ruth.

The last young man is my Uncle Cleo, married to my Aunt “Pete”, I really gotta find out how she got that nickname, her real name is Lucille.  She is my great-aunt, aunt to my mother.

There are lots more that have served in my family, all of these young men are now gone, including my uncle, in the picture up there with my Grandfather, the two Pendergrass men. He died waiting for a heart transplant, of a massive heart attack, in 1990 at the age of 51.  Shoot, they all died of heart attacks.  :(   Didn’t even think of that.

Anyway, have had cousins in the marines, I heard, while I was in the Air Force that I even had a female cousin in the Air Force while I was in the Air Force.  I think she is from Alabama, I don’t know that I ever met her.  That I recall.  We didn’t live there very long, about one year, when I was a kid, before my brother was born.  He was born there, I must have been young because the two of us are 16 months apart.  I was a baby! :)

I guess we have a long tradition of military members in our family.  On all sides.  As do many others, everywhere.

My hat is off to all in salute.

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Reuniting Vietnam Veterans/Soldiers

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Someone I know is creating memorials for members of the Armed Forces that were killed in Vietnam.  Actually, for the whole group, missing, kia, and survivors.  His site is here: A Troop, 3rd Squadron, 4th Cavalry, 25th ID, Vietnam  He is missing information, pictures, headstones of several members.  If he were able to obtain the information of the last few, his memorial would be complete.  Those needing more information are as follows:

SGT Rafael Torres-Rivera (need photo/shadowbox) died April 23, 1965. 25 yrs old from PR. (Died serving with the 25th Division’s Shotgun program prior to the squadron’s deployment)

PFC Raymond A Gibbs (need photo/shadowbox) died May 12, 1967 23 yrs old from TX.

SGT Donald C Brown (need photo/shadowbox) died January 12, 1968 20 yrs old from NY.

SP4 John J Moore (need photo/shadowbox) died January 20, 1968 20 yrs old from NY.

SGT David J Klippel (need photo/shadowbox) died January 23, 1968 20 yrs old from MI.

SSG Luther J Page Jr (need photo/shadowbox) died February 14, 1968 38 yrs old from CA.

SSG Donald L Lloyd (need photo/shadowbox) died February 14, 1968 28 yrs old from OK.

SSG James D Brown (need photo/shadowbox) died February 21, 1968 28 yrs old from TX.

PFC Arthur C Tijerina (need photo/shadowbox) died May 10, 1968 21 yrs old from TX.

PFC Ollie L Sauls Jr (need photo/shadowbox) died May 27, 1968 28 yrs old from MI.

SP4  Eugene Hilton Jr. (need photo/shadowbox) died from wounds June 3, 1968 20 yrs old, OH.

SP4 Lewis King (need photo/shadowbox) died August 24, 1968 23 yrs old
from FL.

PFC James T Griffin Jr. (need photo/shadowbox) died August 24, 1968 20 yrs old from TX.

SSG Bruce G Tindall (need photo/shadowbox) died August 24, 1970 27 yrs old from AL.

SP4 Glen L Atkinson (need photo/Shadowbox) served in 3rd platoon in 1968 and transfered to D Trp. He died February 3, 1969 22 yrs old from ID,  Panel 33W Line 46

I am just trying to help my friend, who has put quite a bit of time and effort into adding the members of his troop to the online memorial.  There are the remaining few he needs more information on to complete his memorial.  He would like to be able to add personal pictures and pictures of the headstones, where they are buried, etc…to the memorial he has created.  So, I am hoping that putting these names out here and the quest of my friend, that there might be some Veterans out there who might have some information and be able to help.  If so, all they need to do is visit the page (link) at the very top of the page and contact the creator.

I am trying to find what I can on Ancestry.com, many however, were born after 1940 and without knowing the names of their parents or next of kin will be hard to locate.  ANY help will be appreciated.  I think having this completed by Memorial Day of 2012 would be a GREAT way to commemorate these fellow veterans.  Thanks for any and all help in completing this quest.