Today has been set aside to remember our veterans. We owe all who have served a thank you for keeping our freedoms intact. The living and those who have sacrificed their lives so that we may live all deserve to be remembered and thanked. Friday may have been the day indicated for observation, but today is the day for remembrance.
My Dad, John Allen Howell, is just one of those to be remembered.
He was 31 years old when he volunteered to serve in World War II. He could have stayed home but felt he had some engineering skills that could be useful.
His Squadron was Bombing Group 9 (Yes, Bugs Bunny was the logo)
In this photo, he is on the aircraft carrier Lexington CV 16, serving as the navigation officer for the squadron. He flew with the squadron, navigating them to the target and back to the ship under radio silence. He did his duty.
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Nice post ✉️
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Thank you
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Yes, today is an important day for many nations. You’ve honoured your father well, John. (And may I say, what a handsome fella!)
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Thank you, Dale. He was a handsome fella but never knew it. He was pretty oblivious to the flirting that went on. He only had eyes for my mom. Such a love they had.
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I absolutely love that!!! What a beautiful thing.
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It was. It ended too soon for sure.
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Awwww. How long were they married?
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17 years. He died when he was 40.
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Oh my gosh. Way too young. So sorry, John.
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Sad story for sure.
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🤗💞
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😊
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Part of the ‘greatest generation’ and while you’re so proud of him, the rest of us are thankful for him and his fellow soldiers. Nice post, John.
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Thank you, Steve. They were an amazing generation for sure. 😊
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It is a very important day, John. We are grateful to your father and all those he served with, those who served before and after him, and all who serve today.
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I agree, Dan. You said it well. 😊
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God Bless us, everyone!
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Amen Annette.
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Thanks, John. For your father and mine, let us never forget the sacrifices our men and women have made for our freedom.
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Thank you, Grant. I hope we don’t forget them. The Greatest Generation is fading away but there are so many more to thank.
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Lovely tribute, John. I enjoyed learning more about your father. God bless all of our veterans.
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I agree, Jill. Here’s a song for today. Wings of a Dove by Ferlin Husky
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Love that song! xo
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It is a good one. 😊
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A good one GP.
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Hi John, I didn’t know that about your father. You must be very proud 🥀
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He died when I was ten but has always been an inspiration. Thank you, Robbie.
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God bless our veterans, each and every one, John, and thank you for sharing your father’s story. (He was a very handsome man, btw.) As the wife of a Viet Nam vet, I definitely honor this day and all who served.
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Thank you, Marcia. Anyone who served in Viet Nam deserves special thanks.
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I will pass that along to Mark, John. He’ll appreciate it, I know. 😀 ❤
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My nephews served and went through hell. So, yes, he has my thanks.
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A father to be very proud of. A great post, thanks.
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Thank you, Darlene. 😊
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Great post. Awesome that his logo was Bugs Bunny.
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They wrote Warner Brothers asking permission to use Bugs and a lawyer wrote back that the image bore no resemblance to Bugs and the were free to do what the wanted with it. A nice way to get around comlications of license etc.
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That’s interesting. I wonder if WB lawyers did that a lot during the war. I mean, it looks like Bugs Bunny.
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It absolutely does. I’m sure they had license agreements with other companies and didn’t want to give away rights but did recognize what the character would mean to the service men.
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Makes sense.
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😊
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To all the men and women who answered the call.
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Hear-hear
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Thanks, Craig.
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What a lovely tribute, John. Our veterans deserve our thanks.
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They do. Thanks, Kymber
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Handsome guy and one who put his life on the line for all of us. He should be remembered proudly, as should all our veterans.
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Thank you, Noelle. Super words. 😁
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Thank you for this tribute to your dad’s military service. My dad served in WWII as well. He was to nearsighted for combat, but he had to deal with what was left behind when the battles were over.
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I’ll bet that was a heartbreaking assignment.
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Yes. It’s why he entered the priesthood.
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Wow. A story there.
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Yes.
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Here, here!! This is a lovely tribute to your Dad, John.
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Thank you, Deborah.
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It’s great to honor your father, John. I’m always impressed with the WWII service members and the awesome operations they undertook.
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Me too, Tim. They accomplished so much in terms of what needed to be done at the time.
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For sure!
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😊
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Thank you John your family certainly did their bit, as they say, bit does not give what they did enough gravitas. A beautiful post and again thank you 💜
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Thank you, Willow. 🤗
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A pleasure 💜
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😁
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I love this personal post, John. Big hugs.
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Thank you, Teagan. Hugs back.
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You must be very proud, John. Never forget.🇺🇸
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So true, Jeannie.
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Thanks for sharing this personal story and photos with us. It is a fine tribute to your father’s service and memory. He was a fine looking man.
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Thank you, Jo. I always loved to visit the Lexington. I felt close to him there.
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John, a wonderful tribute to your father on Veteran’s Day. My significant other, Robert, is a Navy Vietnam Vet. He served his country as an Electrictronics Technician. The only 2304 Morse Code on ships. I’m proud of his hard work getting to that level. And he’s been well taken care of by the VA hospital for medical problems related to war service. God Bless our servicemen. 🇺🇸🎶🇺🇸 Christine
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I agree on God’s blessing Christine. I wish you both well.
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Thank you, John. 🇺🇸🎶❤️
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😊
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A beautiful tribute to your father, John and to all veterans!
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Thank you, Jan
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It is a price we can never fully repay.
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So true.
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🧡🎗 🧡🎗🧡🎗 🧡🎗
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😊X 😊X 😊X 😊X
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🐂 🐂 🐂 🐂
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🐂 🐂 🐂 🐂
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Classic affection!
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Yup. Unvarnished.
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Bless him and all those who serve.
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Thank you, Marc.
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A wonderful tribute, John. God Bless your father and all who have served. Both my dad and father-in-law were WWII veterans. ❤️
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Yes, bless them.
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