The Civil War News & Views Open Discussion Forum - Archive

Re: Diary
In Response To: Re: Diary ()

Reading of the death and destruction wreaked upon Georgia and South Carolina by the Union Army, will give one an idea of why we don't think too highly of General Sherman down here. An Atlanta newspaper editor, introducing him in 1895, stated he was "careless with matches". By the same token, while my immediate relatives were in the ANV, a quick check of the NPS records reveals about 50 Borings on each side. Who knows about the Wallaces, Prices, and McCollums? No matter the side, we can honor them all. Stan

Speaking of honor, we laid my father in law to rest Saturday, he having passed in his sleep last Monday night. He was one of the greatest generation, having fought at Okinawa in April and May of 1945. He was the triggerman on a 40mm AA gun, and helped protect his LST against the Kamikaze attacks which sank so many other ships, After his eulogy I, a retired Chief Petty Officr, stood in awe of a Baker Third Class! The son of a Kentucky coal miner, Homer Kuhl tried to enlist in the Marines when he graduated from High School in June of 1944. Told the Marines had filled their quota for the month, he enlisted in the Navy. Ater the war he married, fathered my wife, and became a sucessful oil executive. He was a City Councilman in Smyrna for 13 yeas, until transferred to Columbus.

He and Georgia had a son and another daughter, 16 years younger than Georgianne. When we married, he told me never to hit his oldest baby. Sometime later, she being as stubborn as he, Homer said to me, "You haven't hit her yet?" I said "No Sir...You told me not to!" After 34 years, I still haven't.

Only in the last few years was he willing to talk about his war experiences. Most notably, his ship was laying a smoke screen to protect a hospital ship from a Kamikaze attack. They covered one side, but as they turned for the return pass, the hospital ship was hit. Homer could hear the wounded Marines and soldiers screaming in the fire. Until the day he died, he would not eat rice. He told me this, and about his visit to Hiroshima after the surrender, some time ago. When I mentioned it to his family, they had to think back before they would believe me about the rice. They could not remember ever seeing him eat any. He had made no big deal of it, and held no animosity for Japanese people; but he was not going to support the exports of the government who had sent men to attack the wounded. I loved him, and I'll miss him, but I'll bet he and the crew of LST 17 are shooting the breeze and telling war stories and jokes to each other. Thanks for listening. At least it was about war, Jim. Stan

Messages In This Thread

Diary
Re: Diary
Re: Diary
Re: Diary
Re: Diary
Re: Diary
Re: Diary
Re: Diary
Re: Diary
Re: Diary
Re: Diary
Re: Diary