Happy Memorial Day

Greater love hath no man than this,
that a man lay down his life for his friends.

John 15:13
 

On this Memorial Day I would like to honor ALL that have served our country.
But in particular I would like to honor those I know personally.

My Brother Steve served you and me during the Vietnam war

 

He was 11 years older than me and I thought he was such a "man" now I see he was just a boy!

 This is one of my brother's friends/shipmates John in front of their ship
 

  This is another of my brother's friends/shipmates Rocky on the flight deck
 

 Lower left, Rich Kramer with his arm on Steve Vandeschraff, then, counter-clockwise, Stever Tiller (my brother's best friend, also named Steve), Mike Schmidtman, and Pete Kazura.
This picture was taken on the "Connie" in the offices

 

I salute you all and thank you from the bottom of my heart. Not just for serving our country but for introducing me to my big brother. I would never have known him without you all!

My brother was hurt in a motorcycle accident when he came home on leave. He spent the next 30 months in a coma before he died. A few years ago I set out on an adventure to get to know my big brother. These men and more came to my rescue and shared stories and photos that no one in my family had ever seen. They became "big brothers" to me

 This was "his" ship - the US Constellation CVA-64 (those are all cars on the flight deck)
 

The "Connie" as they called it has now been retired and is being parted out in Northern California and will eventually be sunk.

 

Thank you . . .

Steve Peterson - Brother - Vietnam

Steve Tiller  - Friend - Vietnam
Rich Kramer - Friend - Vietnam

John Winther - Friend - Vietnam

Rocky - Friend - Vietnam

Bob Jackson - Friend - Vietnam

Allen Mikeska - Nephew - Peacetime

Winford Schell - Uncle - WWII

Gaylord (Al) Schell - Cousin - Vietnam

Titto Ferrera - Brother to my SIL - Present