I was born in early 1948, two and a half years after the end of World War II. You couldnt grow up in the early baby boom generation and not have some grasp of the enormous significance of the war. Had the Allies not prevailed against Germany and Japan and the other Axis forces, life as we know it would be dreadfully different today. Its scary to think about it. My sister, Brenda Harris, and I were proud of our fathers service in that war---and a few years later, I would learn that Wilma was equally proud of her fathers role in the same situation. We often wondered if they were in the same area during combat. Well never know, of course. They were both heroes in every sense of the word. Only later on did I realize Dad had been awarded the Bronze Star. The Bronze Star Medal is the fourth-highest individual military award and the ninth-highest by order of precedence in the US Military. It may be awarded for acts of heroism, acts of merit, or meritorious service in a combat zone. In other words, it was and still is a big deal. But, I honestly dont recall him ever making much mention of it. He said he reported as ordered when drafted in 1942, and he did the best job he knew how to do when he ended up in combat duty in Europe. In fact, that was his advice to me when I was drafted in 1970---although I never had to face the hell he, Ted Boatright, and millions of other Americans did back then. The photos depict Brenda and me with Dad in 1960. The document was found in his personal effects after he passed away on the first Saturday of May 1995. He and his friend Kathy Palumbo had just returned to his home after a Kentucky Derby party with friends in Big Stone Gap when he died on his front porch. And, I still think of him often....most particularly on Veterans Day. Well done, Sergeant Flanary.
Posted on: Tue, 11 Nov 2014 19:26:00 +0000