Yes to all the Vets past and present!
My uncle Jim (Army Vet '65-6) was coming down yesterday, so I dug out the WW2 photos of Grandpa (USN Gunnersmate)for him to look at. I am the oldest male grandson left and the caretaker of his stuff. Oh no! Is that sexist!
Not in my family, it's tradition!
Grandpa and his buddy Dave Rooks were assigned armed gaurd duty aboard the new munitions ship SS Quinault Victory (keel laid May 3-44, sunk July 17-44) After docking at Port Chicago shore leaves were issued then shortly after canceled. They were amoung the lucky eight that were not aboard at the time of the explosion. Grandpa and his buddy Dave made it to Richmond (35 miles away) to visit relatives when the explosion happened. The windows were open and the curtains and blinds blew in. Shipmate Rich was just 2 miles away and was injured from shrapnel, but helped carry the injured to help. They recived notice to return to port on the radio.
1st pic is of the Lucky 8, Grandpa is backrow last right. A lot of secrecy on this, they were ordered not to disclose any thing seen or heard aboard ship.