From the Rant Board:
Pictured is my granddaughter at the memorial at Pearl Harbor where the names of those who lost their lives on the U.S.S. Arizona are listed on a wall within the memorial which sits over the sunken ship there in the harbor. Among the names within that memorial is an E.A. Walther, FCsc. Sharing the name of Walther I wanted to know more about this person. After returning from a visit to the memorial I posted an inquiry on the geneology forum, “Gen Forum” asking if anyone knew more about him whom I had been able to further identify as Edward Alfred Walther. Some time later I received a responsive posting from a Robert Walther who advised that Edward was his uncle who was killed at the age of 19 and had been born in Covington, Kentucky. I further learned that Robert had a younger brother who was named after Edward in honor of him. In November of 2008 I responded back by posting: “Thank you for the information. It is certainly an honor to share the Walther name with one who served his country and gave his life in that service. Ironically, I just got your message as Veterans Day is starting.”
Earlier, in 2004 I had the opportunity to along with my wife attend the commencement of our third oldest son at his graduation from Northwestern University just outside of Chicago. Speaking at the Commencement was Tom Brokaw, the NBC news anchor, who had just completed his book, “The Greatest Generation” in which he wrote of those who served in World War II. In his remarks he paid tribute to the young men and women who had 60 years earlier fought for freedom in that war and challenged the graduates before him to become the next “greatest generation.” He told those of us there assembled that these veterans of World War II offered a “priceless legacy for your own unique and profound set of challenges.” To the graduates in particular he challenged, “Remember them as you leave here to change the world and the circumstances you have inherited. Share their excitement in the opportunities before you, however taxing they may be. And most of all, anticipate the satisfaction of history’s judgment that you did not fail.”
My own father and four of his brothers were among those members of “The Greatest Generation” that Tom Brokaw referenced as having served their country in World War II. Years ago I was invited to go through some materials in the attic of what was by then the abandoned ranch house in which my father had lived growing up in Nevada. One of the items I came across was a hanging upon which were placed upwards of five cloth stars. I later learned that each of those stars represented a son of my grandparents who was serving in the military during World War II. Somewhere in my things I still have that momento.
The five brothers served in the following branches of the United States military during World War II: Harold Walther, my father, in the Navy; Paul Walther in the Air Force; William (“Bill’) Walther in the infantry to include the Alaska National Guard and the Army; Gerald Walther, the Coast Guard; and Roy Walther in the Army artillery. As one of them stated, they “all came home in one piece. Even though several did receive wounds of varying degrees, all were able to return, raise families, contribute to society, and enjoy eventful lives."
My father's decision to serve his country was, like many others, precipitated by the events that occurred on Pearl Harbor Day 75 years ago today.
He wrote, “After Pearl Harbor Day, I decided that I would prefer to serve my country in the Navy, and enlisted in the Navy in Salt Lake City.” At the time he lived on a ranch near Elko, Nevada.
My father went into the Navy as an apprentice Seaman and completed his service as a Chief Petty Officer which is the highest rank for a non-commissioned officer. He went to San Diego for six weeks boot camp and then traveled to Chicago where he spent nine months in aviation metalsmith school there on Chicago’s Navy Pier which had housed the training schools. During that time he attended church in Chicago where he met my mother who was a student at the University of Chicago. He then went on to Providence Rhode Island and eventually overseas to Peurto Rico where he spent his final two years in the Navy until the war ended.
So indirectly, my own existence was also a consequence of Pearl Harbor Day.
Pictured is my granddaughter at the memorial at Pearl Harbor where the names of those who lost their lives on the U.S.S. Arizona are listed on a wall within the memorial which sits over the sunken ship there in the harbor. Among the names within that memorial is an E.A. Walther, FCsc. Sharing the name of Walther I wanted to know more about this person. After returning from a visit to the memorial I posted an inquiry on the geneology forum, “Gen Forum” asking if anyone knew more about him whom I had been able to further identify as Edward Alfred Walther. Some time later I received a responsive posting from a Robert Walther who advised that Edward was his uncle who was killed at the age of 19 and had been born in Covington, Kentucky. I further learned that Robert had a younger brother who was named after Edward in honor of him. In November of 2008 I responded back by posting: “Thank you for the information. It is certainly an honor to share the Walther name with one who served his country and gave his life in that service. Ironically, I just got your message as Veterans Day is starting.”
Earlier, in 2004 I had the opportunity to along with my wife attend the commencement of our third oldest son at his graduation from Northwestern University just outside of Chicago. Speaking at the Commencement was Tom Brokaw, the NBC news anchor, who had just completed his book, “The Greatest Generation” in which he wrote of those who served in World War II. In his remarks he paid tribute to the young men and women who had 60 years earlier fought for freedom in that war and challenged the graduates before him to become the next “greatest generation.” He told those of us there assembled that these veterans of World War II offered a “priceless legacy for your own unique and profound set of challenges.” To the graduates in particular he challenged, “Remember them as you leave here to change the world and the circumstances you have inherited. Share their excitement in the opportunities before you, however taxing they may be. And most of all, anticipate the satisfaction of history’s judgment that you did not fail.”
My own father and four of his brothers were among those members of “The Greatest Generation” that Tom Brokaw referenced as having served their country in World War II. Years ago I was invited to go through some materials in the attic of what was by then the abandoned ranch house in which my father had lived growing up in Nevada. One of the items I came across was a hanging upon which were placed upwards of five cloth stars. I later learned that each of those stars represented a son of my grandparents who was serving in the military during World War II. Somewhere in my things I still have that momento.
The five brothers served in the following branches of the United States military during World War II: Harold Walther, my father, in the Navy; Paul Walther in the Air Force; William (“Bill’) Walther in the infantry to include the Alaska National Guard and the Army; Gerald Walther, the Coast Guard; and Roy Walther in the Army artillery. As one of them stated, they “all came home in one piece. Even though several did receive wounds of varying degrees, all were able to return, raise families, contribute to society, and enjoy eventful lives."
My father's decision to serve his country was, like many others, precipitated by the events that occurred on Pearl Harbor Day 75 years ago today.
He wrote, “After Pearl Harbor Day, I decided that I would prefer to serve my country in the Navy, and enlisted in the Navy in Salt Lake City.” At the time he lived on a ranch near Elko, Nevada.
My father went into the Navy as an apprentice Seaman and completed his service as a Chief Petty Officer which is the highest rank for a non-commissioned officer. He went to San Diego for six weeks boot camp and then traveled to Chicago where he spent nine months in aviation metalsmith school there on Chicago’s Navy Pier which had housed the training schools. During that time he attended church in Chicago where he met my mother who was a student at the University of Chicago. He then went on to Providence Rhode Island and eventually overseas to Peurto Rico where he spent his final two years in the Navy until the war ended.
So indirectly, my own existence was also a consequence of Pearl Harbor Day.
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