Texas State Fair

[ezearln]

Well after living here for many years the Missus and I have decided to finally visit the Texas State Fair up in Dallas! There will of course be much gluttony of food items on a stick, many cervezas consumed, dances to whichever band or group happens to be playing and general conivival silliness completely inappropriate for our age group!!! LOL But I don't care. we got a road trip and a motel room to romp in for 2 1/2 days of completely immature frolic and fun. Gawd we're simple LOL Anyone else going?

[Dallas]

Have a great time, nothing better than food on a stick.

[ezearln]

Dallas I always mean to ask but seem always to forget, You are displaying the shoulder badge of the 1st Marine Division, were you attached to that unit? And did you get my response as to where I was living in Virginia?

[Zephri]

It's like my old boss at the airport used to say and still does say "you can't go wrong with meat on a stick"

[TexasT]

And corn on a stick! Mmmm.

[JBS]

Earl, that's the shoulder patch of the First Infantry Division. The "Big Red One". ARMY JB

[ezearln]

Oops sorry JBS

[gunney_m]

Have a great time.

[Dallas]

Just saw on TV that there is some flooding around Dallas, be careful.

[JBS]

Earl I saw yer post about when you lived up here in Yacoma. What wus you hiding from up here?

Dallas, were you in Nam with the Big Red One?

[ezearln]

Not hiding JBS my folks moved the family up there for my Mothers health, unfortunately Dad had a hell of a time finding work as Tacoma isn't really known for precision steel grinding, so after about 6 months of frustration and hurt we had to move back to the southland. I loved living up there where we were for me it was paradise for my brother it was hades! LOL to this day he'd rather be in L.A. than in the Anza-Borrego!

[Dallas]

I was with the 1st ID in the early 1980's, nobody shot at me for real, thank God.

[ezearln]

My Dad was in the 7th ID in Korea during the entire war, seems according to the records I have many many people shot at him and a few found their mark as well

[Dallas]

I have always equated my military service with being a bench warmer on a sports team. I practiced and practiced and practiced but never got in the game. Part of me would like to have been in a real fight just to see how I handled it. Then I remember that if I had I could have been killed, crippled, maimed or come back with psychological problems. So I'm thankful I didn't have too do it for real, but in the back of my mind I still wonder how I would have done.

Did you Dad make it home alive?

[toolman]

Have fun Earl! You might want to check in Shotgun News or just the billboards around Dallas when you get there, there's usually a gun show going on somewhere around there. The worst part about a road trip to Dallas is getting through Austin-it's horrible so I usually go up 281 and cut over on 67.

[cubbieman]

Austin can't be as bad as trying to get to Michigan Avenue in Chicago in rush hour traffic

[toolman]

Austin traffic on I-35 stretches from Kyle on the south side to Georgetown to the north. There are usually multiple accidents at any time during the day. It works out to about 40 mi. of bumper-to-bumper traffic moving at 5-10 mph. On the plus side, there's lots of little Tx. cuties to look at!

[ezearln]

Yeah Dallas he did bless his stubborn heart he was just too onerary for the NKA or the Chinese to kill I reckon came back with two bronze stars after he was nominated for two silvers and won 7 purple hearts, my Grandmother kept all the clippings she ever found in an album Dad wanted to hock his medals but my Mom wouldn't let him, there was quite a write up about him after one patrol he was credited with saving his patrol after they were ambushed by an entire company of NKA regulars, seems if all is true according to the press that he about burned to cinders the BAR he was carrying as his patrol retired to safer ground refusing to take cover as he was laying down fire and throwing grenades. According to his DD214A, he wasn't all that spectacular a solider until you got to the section dealing with awards and decorations! I had the honor of meeting a man that served with him that Dad saved during that Patrol! Seems the man remembered everything and had never had the chance in combat to thank my Dad. Isn't it funny some times how the circle of life continues and touches all of us in one way or another many years after the events? I find it strange though I know he wasn't seeking glory or fame, he was just doing what he felt his country was asking of him, he often is embarrassed if anyone meantions his service as I know now as a military retiree myself what he must have gone through, he was required then to take many lives and fight in a war he really didn't understand, but he did what he had to do and served both with Honor and Distinction. Often reading of what he did then makes me hang my head and pale in comparison. Though I was never thrust in such circumstance.

[Dallas]

Glad to hear he made it. Many if the great combat soldiers don't standout in training or peacetime. Sounds like he was the type.

[troy2000]

My Dad trudged across a big swath of the Phillippines as a BAR gunner, island by island.

I know how you feel, Earl: I did my bit when it came my turn, but I'm glad I never really had to fill his boots.

My dad gave his medals to my older brother and me to play with one day, when we were little and my mother was gone for the day. We took them out behind the house, and lost them somewhere in the desert sands.

I don't even remember that; I was pretty small. He told me about it when I was grown, and wanted to know what had happened to his medals. When I asked if losing them had upset him, he answered, "are you kidding? Those things kept you and your brother happy and quiet for the entire afternoon. I guarantee that's more good than most guys ever got out of their decorations..."