MAY 2015 SUNRAYS | 17
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Having served in Korea during 1952–53,and Viet-
nam/Thailand in 1967–68, Memorial Day is very
special for me.
Along with remembering all those who served our
country fromWWI to the present, I certainly remem-
ber three close buddies who I served with in Korea
who lost their lives when the aircraft they were on
crashed on takeoff at Tachikawa Air Base, Japan
on June 18, 1953, with no survivors. The aircraft
was a Globemaster 11 C124. At the time it was the
worst air disaster in history, killing all 129 onboard
including seven crew. The passengers were Air Force
and Arms troops returning to Korea after their five-
day R&R in Japan.
John W. Wood, Sr.
MSGT, USAF, Ret.
Past Vice Chair,VMAG
We remember because, on our behalf, warriors go to the sound of
the guns. They go not knowing if they will find victory or death.
They go because they know their brothers are there.
Patrick McCaslin
D
uring the WW II years, I lived in the Pocono
Mountains of Pennsylvania with my family. My
Uncle Michael had been drafted into the Army at
an early age. My mother received a call from him
stating that he had been alerted for overseas duty.
At the time we did not know this was in preparation
for the Normandy Invasion. My mother and I took a
train to Garfield, New Jersey to see him before he was
deployed overseas. After a few days’ visit, we were
saying goodbye to him. As he shook my hand, in the
palm of his hand was a $20 dollar bill folded up into
the size of a postage stamp. I was fifteen years old
and it was the first time I had seen a $20 dollar bill.
Sadly, my Uncle Michael was killed on the first day
of the Normandy Invasion and I will never forget my
last handshake with him.
Tim Timko
W
hen I was a kid, Memorial Day
was the beginning of summer. It
was a three-day weekend at the Jersey
Shore. That all changed when I attended
my first military funeral at the ripe old
age of 15. The brother of one of my class-
mates died in one of the first battles of
Vietnam. There would be so many more
to come.
The Memorial Day holiday provides us
with the opportunity to stop and remem-
ber those who paid the ultimate price for our freedom; a day to honor
every man and woman who died in service to our country. I believe,
along with my husband, Mike, that for most Veterans participating in
a Memorial Day Ceremony is a very cathartic experience. A bittersweet
moment in time when we remember, say thank you and heal. My eyes
always fill with tears and my heart always swells with pride!
Trudy Glackin
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