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Monday, May 31, 2021

Memorial Day, 2021


They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning,
We will remember them.

I'm taking a moment today to be serious and honor some men from my home region of Texas who were killed in World War II.  May they Rest in Peace.

Lt. Alvin M. James of Dalhart, Texas was taken prisoner in the Philippines in 1942 and survived the Bataan Death March only to die in a Japanese prison camp 24 October, 1944.


Pvt. Lloyd Cupp of Huckabay, Texas was killed in action during the liberation of Belgium on 5 September, 1944.


Sgt. William T. Wright of Eliasville, Texas was shot down and killed in action over North Africa on 29 November, 1942.


Lt. Harold Adams of Walnut Springs, Texas went missing in action on New Guinea in 1942 and declared lost in 1943.



Pvt. Ralph Tidwell of Munday, Texas was killed in action coming on shore at Normandy on D-Day, 6 June, 1944.

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I don't believe in war and don't seek to glorify it, but these men deserve to be remembered.




25 comments:

  1. That was a nice tribute, Jerry. They were all so young.

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    1. Thank you, Larry. Some of these men were known by my family.

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  2. Very moving. You are a good guy.

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  3. We owe them heartfelt thanks and must never forget their sacrifice. Thank you for the rememberance,Jerry. It is very moving.

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  4. Beautifully expressed. I don't care for war either but I agree that these men should be remembered.

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  5. I do the Wreaths Across America in December at Ft Sam Cemetary - do you happen to know if any of these heroes remains have been repatriated and interred at Ft Sam? If so I'll put them on my yearly list for a wreath.

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    1. I don't think so, but I will look into it. Kudos for what you do at Ft. Sam. I have relatives buried in that cemetery.

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  6. The Americans came to defend our freedom .. Thank you for paying homage to them Jerry ...

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  7. This is a moving and thoughtful tribute, Jerry. It's also a useful reminder of how this truly was a world war and how far away from home so many young lives were lost.

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    1. I drew these from a memorial page kept by a small college in my hometown, and while most of them lost their lives overseas, it was surprising how many fatalities occurred in training accidents, particularly flight training.

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  8. Nice tribute. I had a cousin (much older than I, obviously) who died on the USS Arizona during Pearl Harbor. They should always be remembered.

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    1. The Arizona remains one of the most heavily visited sites in Hawaii to this day. I was on a plane to the mainland once with a survivor, and a Hawaiian Airlines flight attendant danced hula for him in the aisle. A real Aloha moment.

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  9. A very appropriate and beautiful tribute, Jerry. Not a glorification of war, but of their willingness to give their all for us.

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    1. I like to think they live yet in our minds when we remember them.

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  10. It's just too hard not to fall in love with each of these beautiful young faces.

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  11. Being a "military brat" I grew up in lots of places. I was reminded as a little kid in Alabama that Memorial Day was actually started after our Civil War to pay homage to all the needless dead boys and men. It became a remembrance to all fallen soldiers later.

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    1. True, and the Confederates had it on a different day until fairly recently.

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  12. Please be aware the Legion of Honor of France is availed to WW2 vets.
    If you have a loved one who served in France during ww2 he/they may be eligible. contact coop.com.mmf@ambafrance-us org. or a French consulate or embassy. They will send you an application to fill out and you may have to provide proof of your loved one's service. ie discharge papers.
    I wish all the governments of the countries our soldiers fought in WW2 would have a similar program with their highest honors, our veterans are more than deserving....:)

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    1. Thank you for this valuable information. I had an uncle who qualified.

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  13. Cela m'a fait pleurer en lisant histoire de ces beaux messieurs d'Amerique.
    Ils ont sauve le monde, ils ont apporte la lumiere dans un endroit tres sombre.
    Comme je l'ai deja dit, leur sacrifices et leurs familles sacrifient,ne pourraient jamais etre rembourses.
    Je n'etais pas la, etant ne apres la guerre, mais les membres plus ages de ma famille l'etaient. Je suis si heureux de lire que votre oncle s'est qualifie pour la plus haute distinction que la France puisee donner.


    Gentilhomme a Paris

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    1. Thank you for your kind words, GP. My uncle and father went to school with Lloyd Cupp shown above.

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