A MEMORIAL TO MEMORIAL DAY

I wanted to take this opportunity today to re-post this blog from one of my earlier tributes to my father.  He would have been 95 years old today.

General “Black Jack” Pershing of World War I fame?  No, not exactly.  I would like you to meet another Jack Pershing.  Named after the famous general, this Jack Pershing lived a life outside of public view.  Decorated war veteran, wonderful husband, amazing father, hard worker, when this Jack Pershing entered your life – whatever your life was, it was made better because of him.

A few months ago, my sister sent me a box.  It was a small box.  To almost everyone in the world this box would be meaningless, containing absolutely no material value. But to me, it was very special – even priceless.

For it contained…memories.

This Jack Pershing was a World War II army air force veteran serving 3 years in the South Pacific.  During that time, he was awarded the following accommodations: Asiatic Pacific Accommodation, Philippine Liberation Accommodation, Good Conduct Accommodation, and the Presidential Citation with Oak Leaves.  The object in the foreground is his I.D. bracelet.  It was completely blackened by the passing of time (But, my jeweler accepted the challenge of restoration).  The object in the background is his war diary.  More about that later in this post. His medals and ribbon commendations are between the two.

© 2010

He was inducted into the U.S. Army on August 26, 1942 at Fort Dodge, Iowa.  Stopping for a moment in time, this photograph was snapped to send to his beautiful wife.  His beautiful wife that he would not see for some 3 years.

© 2010

Before shipping out, he purchased a small, insignificant Service Man’s Diary.  He was that way.  When something was important, Jack Pershing wanted to record it for all of time.  And now 68 years later, I share a portion of it with you.  It’s interesting to catch a glimpse into someone’s thoughts as everyday they face the unknown dangers of war.

© 2010

The entry that struck me from this page, “Samar Islands/Philippines/February 2, 1945/First sight of civilization in 2 years.”  Since he shipped out of San Francisco in 1942, he had seen no form of civilization.  In three years, Jack Pershing was never able to go home to see his young wife he had left behind.  But she was in his thoughts based on the last entry, “Bought souvenirs for Myrtle.”

© 2010

In three uninterrupted years of service in the South Pacific, Jack Pershing was involved in 12 war campaigns.

© 2010

Jack Pershing

© 2010

Jack Pershing rarely spoke of the war.  I don’t know if he was trying to forget that period of his life or if the memory was simply to painful to recall.  I’ve often wondered what atrocities he may have witnessed.  I wonder about the human devastation he experienced in those three years.  I honestly don’t know.  But I do know this – he served with honor, never retreating from the patriotism that created such a love for America in the very core of his being.  A great man, known only to a few – and now…you.

Meet Jack Pershing.  No, not that Jack Pershing.  Meet Jack Pershing Thomas – my father.

~ by photographyfree4all on May 27, 2013.