spelling vs typing

I am actually very good at spelling. It's typing I'm a disaster at. Just though I'd share that little observation. toodles....Anita

Celebrate the Greatest Generation

Today is the 66th. Anniversary of D-Day. (If you don't know what D-day is---google it.)

My father E. E. (Red) Hern was part of the group of men who endured and survived that incredible event which changed his life forever. He was very young, as were I think most of the soldiers who fought in WW2. I'm going to write a portion of what he wrote down for us to have about his experience on June 6, 1944.

"I was part of the 146th. Combat Engineer Battalion, stationed in Englan, preparing for D-Day. We were divided into boat teams, 44 men on each team consisting of Army and Navy personnel. Everyone was trained for Demolition to blow the heavy steel obstacles designed to prevent boats from landing at high tide, and to destroy the German Teller mines.

We left England on an LST boat pulling the LCM barge where everyone would be loaded one hour before landing. The LST motor failed and the skipper (an "old" Navy man 33 years) made the decision to load everyone on the LCM so they could keep moving. We crossed in very stormy conditions and extremely rough water yet were in position to make our move inland to the shores of Normandy in France at low tide.

We, Dog Red Boat Team #6, landed at 6:27am--3 minutes before H hour at 6:30am on Omaha Beach, Normandy, France. We all carried C-2 explosives, gas masks, rifles, a bangolier which totaled about 100 lbs. (I think daddy probably weighed about 125 lbs. soaking wet).

As we were coming into Normandy, it was just breaking daylight. The Germans started to throw heavy artillery on us. The closer we got the heavier it got. Suddenly this day became real on top of being seasick! The skipper put us right on the beach (an amazing feat) but the first men to hit the ground were killed instantly. Due to such heavy opposition from the Germans the soldiers were unable to get the explosives tied and blow them before the second wave of men arrived in 20 minutes and were accidently killed, so they headed toward the sea wall."

Daddy said it took him 3-3 1/2 hours to reach the sea wall and by that time about 50% of the boat team had been killed or wounded. Later in the day, the remaining men went back to the beach to find the wounded and take them to the seawall for evacuation later to a hospital ship. Everyone able helped carry the men in because 7 of the 8 medics had been killed in the battle.

They had been up nearly 24 hours with only K-rations and candy bars to eat, if they had time to eat. At 3:30am the morning of June 7th. they were ordered to return to the beach to complete the blowing the obstacles. During this activity, daddy was hit by an 88 Artillery shell fragment and two of his buddies carried him back to the seawall. Unable to walk and with no medics, they carried him so he could stay with his outfit. He said, in about 3 weeks he was able to walk again.

He felt very proud to be a part of the men who defeated Hitler and established the liberation of Europe. The 146 Combat Engineers Battalion was awarded the Presidential Citation Award for Outstanding Service to Their Country Under Enemy Fire.

Thanks, Daddy to you and all the men just like you for keeping me and everyone I love free to be. I love you, your eldest daughter, Anita Faye.

Daddy died in 1995, forever a victim of war, yet a man proud of what he'd accomplished who loved the men he'd served with. At an Army Reunion a couple years later, his "Army Buddies" told me that daddy, with his always on and very quick sense of humor kept them going after this battle before they were picked up or rescued or whatever happened to them. They said he kept them laughing and moving even when he was injured. What a legacy.....

Some Pictures

Maybe two days is a bit early to celebrate blog enteries, but hey! it's important to celebrate things.

This is Carter, he's 3 now. Look at that expression, he is so onery but adorable. Here, he's about to terrorize the cat here. (I stopped him) Really all he wants to do is love her but she's stingy with her affection.

This is Richard and me about 2 days before we moved him to the assisted living. It hurst to even look at him.

This is some of my Early Onset Support Group. They are my heroes. They are courageous caring people who struggle with the craziness of Alzheimer's in their spouses. Both caregivers and spouses are mostly in their 50's or early 60's. Lisa's (at the end of the table) husband just died at age 57 and he'd been sick for 10 years. It's tragic disease. The long slow death.

This is good for now. We'll talk more later! toodles..........

I'm back maybse I hope so we'll see

Well hi how are you? I know it's beena long time since I posted. I probably don't have any readers left. Suffice to say that a LOT of things have been going on and I'm still trying to catch my breath and figure out where I am.
I am trying to get used to living alone now that Rich is in the Memory Care facility where he is about as happy as it's possible for him to be (not very) but he's adjusting and so am I. It's hard. I'm still knitting and trying to get used to cooking for one. I bought several goofy things like a bread machine that makes a 3/4 lb loaf and a 7-inch electric skillet (which is only good for eggs I think-too small for anything else!) but they seemed a good idea at the time!
I'm starting to play a little music now and then too. I've got the teaching gig at OU coming up later this month so I need to work on that. Bella, the cat and I are trying to get used to each other. She's really Richard's cat and isn't too happy living with just me but she'll get used to it. I've always been the one who feeds her anyway--go figure, you'd think she'd like me best!!
I hope to get some pictures posted soon-like today or tomorrow.

Okay, this is a beginning. I'll try to post a little more often now. If you read me, leave a comment and say hi. toodles.......