On this day, 100 years ago, President Woodrow Wilson issued a message to his countrymen on the first Armistice Day, in which he expressed what he felt the day meant to Americans. What a perfect day to share my dad's military history- he a Veteran of three wars: WWII, Korea and Vietnam.

I've written about him as a dad but not as a military man. He didn't share that life with me so the information here was written by my big brother, Chuck, another Navy veteran worth praising as well. This only tells the story of my dad's military career in WWII. I hope, one day, to learn about the other two wars my dad served in. History needs to be shared!
In the fall of 1942, less than a year after the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, Hawaii and the United States declared war on both Japan and Germany, my dad enlisted in the United States Navy. He was just 17 years old and had to have his parents sign the papers so he could join. He graduated from basic training at Great Lakes Naval Training Center. He then went to school to learn how to be a diesel mechanic. He was very good with tools and machines and did well in that school. He trained to work on engines of small ships. His rating (or specialty) was Motor Machinist. 
In early 1943, my dad was stationed in Norfolk, Virginia where he did more training and some at sea time on ships called Landing Ship, Tank (or LST for short).  These were very interesting ships, as they could come right up on the beach and discharge their cargo. He was one of the men that were charged with keeping the engines that powered the ship in top shape.
Dad did not see any combat in the Atlantic, and was soon transferred to the Pacific theater of the War…or the war against Japan.  Again he was assigned to an LST that was to carry United States Marines to several of the islands in the Pacific Ocean that were occupied by the forces of Japan. The mission of his ship was to land Marines and their equipment on the beaches of these islands. I am not sure of which island campaigns he was involved in but he did see combat in several.  

His ship was never hit by enemy fire, but was an important contributor to the final victory of the Allied forces over the Empire of Japan. His ship did participate in a very historic event. They were part of an advanced force that went into Tokyo Bay, after the Japanese said that they had surrendered, but before the official signing of the surrender documents. My dad told my brother how he and several of the men from his ship went ashore in Yokohama, Japan, and were the very first Americans to be there after the war. He said he didn’t know what the reaction of the people there would be. They went ashore armed in case there was hostility, but there was none. He said it was very sad with much destruction and suffering by the people. A few days later, the official signing onboard the USS Missouri, a battleship, occurred. General Douglas MacArthur signed for the United States and the other Allies.
This photo of my dad (on the right) was taken in Japan, shortly after the end of the war. He advanced very rapidly in the Navy during the war. At the end, he was an Acting Chief Petty Officer. He decided to return home and get out of the Navy and start a family. He did just that and not long after that my brother, Chuck, was born…a Baby Boomer…in 1946. After a brief period as a civilian in Iowa, he missed the Navy and rejoined. He had a wonderful career of 26 years and retired as a Lieutenant.

Thank you to all Veterans for your sacrifices and service. We are grateful for you, today and everyday.