by Commander | May 14, 2020 | Living Histories
A View from the Tonkin Gulf How did I get to the Tonkin Gulf in Vietnam? My mom and dad served in the European Theater of WWII. My dad made patriotism a given. We felt a sacred commitment to defend our nation and the hopes of others around the world. I chose my path...
by Commander | May 13, 2020 | Living Histories
Harold Wellington (in Merchant Marine uniform) served in the Merchant Marine from 1942 to 1946, the U.S. Army in 1948, and the U.S. Navy from 1950 to 1954. He served in Africa, Europe, and the Middle East. A Young Man in Vermont joins the Merchant Marines Harold...
by Commander | May 10, 2020 | Living Histories
Vietnam Veteran Series – The Battle of Dai Do Joe Sansosti left Brevard High School at 18 to join the Marines. “My daddy told my brother, ‘that dummy doesn’t even know there’s a war going on,” he chuckled. “I just wanted to do something different.” He arrived in...
by Commander | May 10, 2020 | Living Histories
Dorothy Managan’s story: “I was born on January 5, 1923, in Flushing, New York, and grew up there. World War II was going on in Europe when I was in high school. I graduated in 1941 and went into the three-year hospital program for nursing to get my R.N. at the...
by Commander | May 10, 2020 | Living Histories
Gattis Ervin Allen (known as G.E.) was born on May 1, 1911, in the town of Marshall (Madison County), North Carolina. He passed away in 1997. Like many of our fathers, my daddy never talked to me about his service in the Pacific in WWII, and I wasn’t smart...
by Commander | May 1, 2020 | Living Histories
John, standing, third from left with his Coast Guard buddies John was in the Coast Guard before and during World War II. When the war started, he was based in San Juan, Puerto Rico. His wife-to-be, Laurel Crawford lived in Jacksonville, Florida. They met when John’s...
