Monthly Archives: May 2015
R.I.P. to A Real American Hero . . .
My uncle, Theo Wesley Calvin, Jr., died this afternoon at the Floyd Fann State Veterans Home in Huntsville, AL.
He was 93.
I knew from an early age that, like my mother, her brother, Uncle Buddy (what I called him) had been in WWII. But it was only much later that I found out just what that entailed.
My family and I visited my mother’s family in Athens, AL, as long as I can remember. Here I am with my aunt Virginia and Uncle Buddy when I was about 18 months old.
This was probably in 1949.
Over the years, as I visited, and later lived in Athens, I learned more about his service to our country. One time exploring in my grandmother’s attic, I came across a WWII Army helmet that had ‘T. Calvin’ painted on the inside. And it also had a thumb-sized dent with a crack in it.
When I asked my uncle about it, he looked at me for a few moments and then said it happened the day after D-Day after his landing on Omaha Beach. He said it knocked him down, and his head rang for a week. Then he wouldn’t talk about it any more.
Over the years, I picked up more facts, like that he fought across Europe under the command of General George S. Patton in a Anti-Tank Company
It was only in the last few years that even more of the story came out with the appearance of a mystery envelope full of medals in 2012.
As it turns out, Uncle Theo not only landed at Normandy on D-Day in June 1944, but he was also was part of the Operation Torch landings in North Africa in November 1942, and the Operation Husky landings in Sicily in July 1943. In all, he fought in 7 campaigns during the war, and received a Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster, signifying that he was wounded twice, both times in France.
He also fought in the last major offensive of the war, the Battle of the Bulge during December 1944 – January 1945. Dug in near Bastogne, Belgium, he said it was so cold nobody wanted to fight. “We could see the enemy, but we didn’t shoot at them, and they didn’t shoot at us.”
Among the many medals Uncle Theo received were a Bronze Star, the Belgium Fourragere, and the French Legion of Honor.
In 2011, Theo was the Grand Marshal of the Veteran’s Day Parade in Athens, honoring him for his service.
And then in 2012, Lt. Gen. Richard P. Formica showed up to pin that envelope of new medals on SSgt Calvin, medals that had been forgotten and not awarded at the end of the war.
Since we’ve been RV’ing, we’ve always made it a point to visit our relatives in Athens, and especially to visit my Uncle Theo in the Veterans Home where he’s been for the last several years.
Our hearts go out to my Aunt Virginia, and the rest of the Calvin family in North Alabama.
He will be missed.
adfdsf
I Feel the Need for Speed’s . . .
As far as the rig repair goes, we’re still waiting to hear back from the insurance company, but since our agents, (and friends) Chris and Charles Yust of C and C RV Insurance are on the case, we’re not worried.
A couple of days ago Peter and Patty Louchheim got in touch with us about getting together. They were coming up from Scottsdale to stay at the Fairgrounds RV Park in Prescott Valley to stay for a while. We first met at one of Nick Russell’s late, lamented Gypsy Journal Rallies in Yuma, so that tells you how long it’s been.
Peter and Patty Louchheim showed up at our rig a little after noon. After talking for awhile, we then started talking lunch and decided on Speed’s Hanger Deli, a repeat for us and a first time for them. But they had read the blog post about our last visit and were happy to give it a try.
Jan and I did a rerun on our last visit, with her again getting the Rosie the Riveter,
while I got the Fatman, but on rye this time instead of sourdough.
Still delicious, and so big that both Jan and I took half home, along some of the great potato salad.
Peter got the 8oz Sirloin Steak Sandwich which looked so good I may try it next time, or the time after that. After all it’s not like we’re going anywhere anytime soon. Unfortunately, I lost track of what Patty ordered, but I’m sure it was good.
Since we hadn’t seen them in several years, we spent a good while just catching up. Like us, they have an older rig, a 1994 Safari, and are well aware of the trials and tribulations of keeping things running.
Since they’re staying over at the Fairgrounds RV Park in Prescott Valley, hopefully we’ll have a chance to get together again. After all it’s not like we’re going anywhere anytime soon.
Most of you have probably seen the video of the RV that was driving between Baton Rouge and New Orleans and had a blowout. If not, here it is.
This was all captured on the dashcam of a semi in the right lane. Makes me once again feel how lucky we were.
Note in the video how there was no one coming in the oncoming lane. These people were also lucky as you can see in this photo.
And here’s a link with more info about the crash.
_____________________________________________________________
Thought for the Day:
Ineptocracy:
……. A system of government where the least capable to lead are elected by the least capable of producing, and where the members of society least likely to sustain themselves or succeed, are rewarded with goods and services paid for by the confiscated wealth of a diminishing number of producers.
gsgfdg
