I Love the Obituaries
The stories they tell that we would never, ever know otherwise. Sometimes they’re quiet, wonderful lives ~ full of love, community and children. Then, sometimes, like today…you just go, “Wow”. And I have to share.
There’s a jaunty picture of a hardcharging Marine ~ caught our eye immediately. (Duh, right?) 
Mr. Winfred Hubert Kiser, 1918-2011. Oh, he did a ton.
…He often said, “The Corps established my humility. My experience with the Marines formed my life. Through the Marine Corps I learned my core values of Honor, Courage and Commitment. I learned to be a leader of men.”
He was honored to receive three Bronze Stars with valor and Purple Heart for his actions sustained during his war time service.
After the war, he married his sweetheart and left the Marine Corp to establish many successful businesses within the furniture, electronics, and floor covering and appliance sectors of the retail markets by establishing chains and innovative marking concepts.
He was a sterling example of honor and moral values, an inspiration, who will be missed by all who knew him.
Lord, that’s just beautiful. Semper Fi, good sir, and God speed.
But then, there was another smiling gentleman and a much shorter passage ~ Jack Boney Dunn, 1924-2011. And, again, an awestruck, “Wow!”… 
…when I got to the few matter-of-fact sentences encapsulating some of LCDR Dunn’s noteworthies…
…He served as Skipper of LCT 619, Easy Red Third Wave, D Day invasion of Omaha Beach. Jack served in numerous aircraft Fleet Squadrons on numerous Fleet aircraft carriers. He served as Director of Flight Program, NAS, Pensacola. He was Chief Project Coordinator for the Hubble Space Telescope for Lockheed, Inc.
Just another day on the beach, Commander? Gracious.
Hard to believe I had one more “Wow!” to go…
Mr. John Gott 1917-2011
…John worked for the N & W Railroad prior to the start of WWII. He joined the Navy after Pearl Harbor. His career included serving in the Pacific with Bull Hulsey. He was on Secretary of Defense James Forrestal’s staff shortly after the war and worked in Naval Attache with Chaing Kai-shek in Formosa. John also appeared in the Navy TV show “Navy Log” about JFK and his PT109.
Extraordinary! And I hope there are grandchildren, or someone, who has their stories down, somewhere. And now, we have a little of their sacrifice and service saved here.
Thank you, gentlemen. God bless you, every one.
Life, Media, Military Thingies | tree hugging sister | 
January 12, 2011 5:58 pm
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Gentlemen, thank you for service and courage. God bless you and keep you.
Wow, just wow!! I too, enjoy reading the obits. Hubby thinks I am macabre that way, but I learn valuable life lessons on how to enjoy and achieve all I can in my life, making sure to enrich my family’s.
Godspeed to those wonderful men!!
Too many of those guys kept their stories to themselves, and that’s a shame. Our world would be richer for them and we probably wouldn’t be going through all this crap today if leftards understood the principles those heroes fought for.
God bless and keep them.
Wasn’t it just grand? And you’re right, Gary. Whether from modesty or holding the pain of battle in, or just the strictures of a different time, a lot of pass along history is being lost. Grand kids don’t live in the same house, or grow up in the same neighborhood as their grandparents any more, so the stories told and remembered from casual conversations don’t happen. Sad.
George grew up in South Orange, New Jersey, and received a basketball scholarship to Upsala College (NJ). At the end of his freshman year, he left college and joined the military. He served as a 1st Sergeant in the US Army from 1942 through 1945, where he was awarded 2 bronze medals for bravery during the Liberation of the Philippines.
THS – this is part of my Uncle’s obit – he passed away in April and never talked about his military service at all – I agree with you – I think this a combination of modesty and pain.