Things our fathers gave us

[ColdWaterFshr]

My Dad on the right and my Uncle Pete on the left, about the time they shipped off to live most of their formative years in Boys Town Nebraska.

[ColdWaterFshr]

Uncle Pete died about 5 years ago, Purple Heart, Bronze and Silver Star, 173rd Airborne in Vietnam, shot 9 times. Dad passed 13 years ago, no combat or medals or bulletholes, but a hero nonetheless --- raised 9 of us kids, worked at Paul Mueller Co for many years to support us

 

[laker67]

My Dad passed away when I was only 17, but he gave me my love for the outdoors and especially fishing. At a very young age, I was following him down any warm water creek and fly fishing for anything we could get to bite. Not sure how old I was, but one day after work he brings home a fly tying vise and all the components to tie flies. He says, "here you go, have enough flies tied up for this coming weekend". I had no idea how to tie a fly, but luckily there was a little pamplet that came with the vise. Those flies were pretty crude, but you know what, they caught fish. During summer months we would hit the creek, wet wade and fly fish. In the winter months we would rabbit hunt and jump shoot ducks off local ponds. Thank  you Dad for all you did.

[ness]

10 hours ago, ColdWaterFshr said:

My Dad on the right and my Uncle Pete on the left, about the time they shipped off to live most of their formative years in Boys Town Nebraska.

I know this isn’t the first time you’ve heard it, but your dad looks so much like your son who looks very much like you. 

[ness]

Dad was a surgeon in a MASH unit in Korea. Here’s his hat from then:

He always said the look and feel of the TV show was pretty accurate. Doctors were given a pretty long rope and got way with a lot.

[ness]

I grew up in Independence, MO and Harry Truman was very much a regular guy around town. My dad's first office in Independence was on the street behind the Truman home and a few houses down. Truman was a walker and encounters with him on the sidewalk were pretty common. No secret service for him until later. Mom was an early volunteer at the Truman Library and saw him regularly there. Folks were at a party once and Harry was there and played piano. Though they weren't friends there were connections and my dad somehow wrangled three autographed sets of his memoirs, one for each of us kids. 

[fshndoug]

My dad rode up in a elevator one day in Independence and Harry Truman talked to him.My dad said he seemed like a regular guy.My dad emigrated from England and thought it was pretty cool to be able to talk to a former Potus.

[DADAKOTA]

My Dad passed 6/3/18.  Still doesn't seem possible that he's not around.  Best things he ever gave me was sound advice to be a good man, treat people right, always do more than your share, work hard to achieve what you want in life, and he instilled my love for hunting, fishing, canoeing, and being outdoors.  I have several wooden decoys he carved and others he and his brothers hunted over that that they bought. Wildfowlers, Masons, and Passagoulas I value the ones he made over those.  Miss ya Dad.

[ness]

On 6/22/2020 at 9:31 AM, fshndoug said:

My dad rode up in a elevator one day in Independence and Harry Truman talked to him.My dad said he seemed like a regular guy.My dad emigrated from England and thought it was pretty cool to be able to talk to a former Potus.

I think he was a pretty regular guy. Soldier, farmer, failed businessman, poker player, bourbon drinker, piano player and serial cusser. Hand picked by corrupt KC political boss Tom Pendergast for a powerful county position, he pretty much did the right things which often pissed off old Tom. Even though, he got Tom's backing and was elected to the senate where he soon made a name for himself exposing wasteful government defense spending through the Truman Committee. Roosevelt selected him as VP in large part because his popularity due to that, and 3 months after inaugration he's the president -- which he didn't want. After he left office, he resumed a pretty normal life living in the house left to them by his in-laws. He turned down paid positions and speaking engagements afterward saying something like, 'It's not Harry Truman you want, it's the office of president you want, and it's not for sale.'

[ness]

Having said that above I'm begging you guys -- please no politics here. There are other threads and even a special rubber room for all that stuff.