This is my father (mid foreground) when he was a Sergeant
on the Newark (NJ) Police Department's 'Emergency Squad' - the precursor to what we know now as SWAT. He's preparing to dive in one of Branch Brook Park's lakes to try and find a murder weapon that was supposedly tossed in to the lake.
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ever notice how some of the most badass guys never say anything about it ? to them, it is just another day at work.
ReplyDeleteit wasn't after my dad died did I find out about the navy cross he got and what he went thru to get it.
he buried down in dc, nave did him right, took real good care of mom too. funny thing, most of my brothers went in uniform and the commander asked why none of us where in the navy. I told him it was dad's fault. to him it was always "the fucking navy" the guy told me, "with the medals he had, he could call it whatever he liked "
he served from 1941 to 1946. then got called back for korea show. he had like 14 or 15 battle stars and a bunch of other ones as well a navy cross with valor. quiet man hard working, liked his beer and some scotch from time to time. and I do miss having a beer with him . so, yes. I know how you feel about it.
great comment, they were truly "the last great generation"
DeleteYeah - my Dad was Navy also. We had two honor gurads at his funeral.
DeleteI wonder how many times that boat got snuck out for some R & R
ReplyDeleteWas that emergency station a former fire station? That tower looks like the ones where they hang hoses to dry.
ReplyDeleteIt probably was - you're right...
DeleteSame for my Dad at the start of WWII. Bailed out of Carnegie Tech (in Pittsburgh) working on his BSc in electrical engineering, joined the Army Signal Corps ROTC and got commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant. They threw his ass on a converted cruise liner and he went over to England. There he lead some of the early teams that set up England's coastal defense radars to warn of Hitler's inbound V1 buzz bombs and Von Braun's V2s from Peenemunde headed to London. Used to ride bikes down the hill at night to hang out in the pub and drink with the Brits, even got strafed once by a German fighter and the rounds hit on both sides of him. Then he came back to Orlando, FL and lead the team at the AAF's Development Board there and designed the radar for our first night fighter, the Northrop P-61 Black Widow. I was lucky enough to get a few stories out of him. He later went on to earn his PhD in nuclear physics and the ultimately became one of the best oil spill guys in the world for Texaco. I still miss him every day....
ReplyDeleteTHAT is one accomplished dude. You havta be proud...
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