Today, I wish to honor those who have served our country and those who are currently serving our country. As I type this, I am watching a newstory honoring a WWI, yes, that's not a typo, a WWI veteran. Frank Buckles, a 107 year old WWI veteran, was honored today as the world celebrates the 90th Anniversary of the end of WWI. There are only 8 surviving WWI veterans around the world. These men deserve to be honored today.
To all of you who have served our country and are currently serving, thank you. Words cannot express the deep gratitude and appreciation I have for you. Because of your courage, sacrifice, and bravery, we live in the greatest country in the world. We, the American people, owe you so much. Thank you.
I would like to now honor the veteran's in our family with some of their own war stories.
Joseph Edwin Rudd, Senior (AMM2C US NAVY WORLD WAR II), was my grandfather. He served in WWII as a pilot. He was stationed at Saufley Field at one point during the war. I have pictures of him flying over Pensacola Bay taken from another aircraft. He kept his pilot's license until the day he passed away. However, he wasn't originally supposed to be a pilot or go to flight school. He was in a group of 6 good buddies. According to my grandmother, these guys did everything together. They went through boot camp together, training together, and they put in to get stationed together. All six of them got orders to serve on the USS Indianapolis, including my grandfather. However, as the story goes, at the last minute, my grandfather got orders to go to flight school - here in Pensacola, I believe. He was the only one of the six friends whose orders were changed. All five of his friends died when the Indianapolis was sunk by a Japanese submarine toward the end of the war. After that happened, my grandmother says Granddaddy was never the same. He suffered from survivor's guilt. He felt he should have been there with his friends. He lost the five best friends he ever had on the day the Indianapolis went down. Granddaddy is buried at Barrancus National Cemetary, a honor that he so very much deserves.
Glenn Douglas Denny (Commander US Navy Vietnam) Scott was so young when his dad was sent to Vietnam. He really didn't understand why his daddy was not home. When people would ask him where his daddy was, he'd form a gun with his little chubby hand and say "Pow, pow, pow!" Mr. Denny was in charge of an APL5 ship in Danang, Vietnam. He tells stories of how they'd see hundreds of dead bodies of Viet Kong lined up in rows along the roads. He told a story of how the Viet Kong would attempt to lure American Servicemen off the main roads by stealing their watches, hoping they'd follow them down the seedy alleys of Danang to ambush and kill them. Mr. Denny had his watch stolen once. He didn't follow the guy. Mr.Denny got to go to Hawaii once for R&R during his stint in Vietnam. Scott remembers going to Hawaii with his mother to meet his dad. He remembers his dad being so tired that all he did was sleep while Scott played on the beautiful Waikiki beach. Mr. Denny has many war stories to tell and a thick photo album of pictures he took while in Vietnam - some showing just how horrific war can be.
So again, thank you to our veteran's and our servicemen and women who put their lives on the line for us. You and your families sacrifice so much. I would also like to honor other veteran's in our family - some are still with us, others have gone home before us. But our gratitude endures forever!
Bryan D. Denny, Captian USAF (Scott's brother)
Michael Faulk, Commander, US Navy; (Cathy's Uncle)
Bobby L Mathews, US Navy(deceased - Cathy's Uncle)
Otus Mathews, US Army, WWI (deceased -Cathy's Great Grandfather).
Honor our veteran's and active service men and women today!
In His Love, Cathy
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