[livingdustmops]

My father was a navy pilot who received the Distinquished Flying Cross (I actually have the picture of him receiving it) during the invasion of Italy. He has been written about in books and right before he was killed (a tractor accident at 75) he had been contacted to help write a book on the Solomon Island battle. My father requested to be buried in Arlington National Cemetary because he wanted to keep his eyes on the bastards in Washington (his words) and because he always felt the most alive during the war. The service was extremely moving (he got a full military burial) and it is/was very moving to look at all of the crosses and understand how many men died for our country. I am extremely proud of my father and his military service.

It was interesting though that it took him 30 some years to talk about the war but luckily I have a great deal of information written down from him and I have researched a great deal. Dad would go back to Pensacola every 5 years for a complete physical at the expense of the Navy for the rest of his life. I don't know if he was part of a study based on what happened in the war or not..but I do know he loved going back.. I also do know he became much more open as the years past to talk about much of it. I feel very strongly about understanding all of it and am in contact with children of other men who served on the USS Boise.