1955: WERE WE EVER THIS YOUNG?

 

It has been a very long time since these two guys were the young and vibrant lads shown in the above graphic. My high school singing buddy, Airman 1st Class Lee Belardino is shown in the photo on the left and Private Tom Glover on the right, both new recruits as we filled our obligation to serve time in the U.S. military. On a personal basis, I think we would have far less juvenile crime, gangs and social unrest if America would return to the years when each young man was obligated to give a minimum of 2 years to his country. My guess would be that many young men who are now gang members would see there is another path to life's journey with a term of military service under his belt.  

1952: REMEMBERING "GREETINGS" FROM UNCLE SAM

Back in my teen years and a bit thereafter, young men were faced with the obligation to serve in the U.S. Military. It was known as "Universal Military Training" and each of us had the obligation to serve our country hanging over our heads. In retrospect, and considering the somewhat difficult problems many young men face in this year of 2012, I believe it would be a good idea to subject them to military training when they reach the age of 17, as we did. When we finally received those fabled "Greetings" from Uncle Sam, we fulfilled our obligations and ultimately ended up in the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, or Coast Guard. The above photo is from my "MILITARY" folder in the Hamilton Library Local History Collection. Don was sitting on the running board of a "Deuce and a half" GMC truck in 1952 in combat torn Korea. I am in my first few weeks of basic training at Fort Dix, February, 1955.

RALPH LUCARELLA said...

HI TOM....MY GREETINGS WERE A LITTLE DIFFERENT IN 1944. I HAD A WIFE AND CHILD TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT. THE DRAFT WAS NOT FAIR TO MEN WITH FAMILIES. IN SOME PARTS OF THE CITY SINGLE MEN WERE AVAILable WHILE IN OTHERS THEY WERE DRAFTING MEN WITH FAMILIES. AT ANY RATE I FIGURED WE ALL WERE GOING TO BE ENLISTED SOONER OR LATER. THANK GOD MOST OF MY FRIENDS SURVIVED THAT ERA.

Saturday, February 25, 2012


Tom Glover said...

JUST ANOTHER REASON YOU AND YOUR FELLOW WWII GUYS ARE KNOWN AS
"THE GREATEST GENERATION." YOU ARE!

TOM GLOVER

Saturday, February 25, 2012

Lee Belardino said...

Tommy some of us ended up in the air force which at that time was independent of the army.I believe we should reestablish the draft with no excuse for serving except medical. Military training is good for all Americans.
Lee

Saturday, February 25, 2012

2010: BOB STOCKTON'S "LISTENING TO GHOSTS"

The graphic above is the home page of U.S. Navy veteran Bob Stockton who signed the guest book and also let us know that his book can be purchased at a reasonable price. Check it out. Anything for patriots who served our country, Bob; Good Luck with your book!

2010: PERPETUAL HONOR AND HOMAGE

This is one of 3 photos sent to me by my friend, Bud Foley, who received it from one of his Indiana Navy shipmates. I told Bud when I viewed those photos, I experienced those fabled goosebumps. I took the liberty of adding the post office slogan to the bottom of the photo; never was it more true.

1944: MILITARY PLANE CRASHES IN HAMILTON

Over the years, numerous people have asked me about the U.S. Army plane that crashed in Hamilton. The consensus seems to be that the plane went down ina an area that at the time was woods and farm land. The most logical location would be in an area behind today's Cedar Gardens, a good distance away from Route 33 between Klockner Road to the south.

1989: Hamilton's VFW Post 491

The folks at "491" are ever willing and able to help local worthy causes. Not only veterans' causes but civic endeavors such as their suppor for the Sunshine Foundation as in the photo above.

1956: SP3 TOM GLOVER - RA12480163

I AM OBSERVING TWO ANNIVERSARIES THIS YEAR OF 2008. 54 YEARS AGO ON APRIL 24, JUDY AND I WILL CELEBRATE OUR 54TH ANNIVERSARY. 50 YEARS AGO, A YOUNG SPECIALIST THIRD CLASS THOMAS L. GLOVER, RA 12480163, COMPLETED THREE YEARS OF SERVICE AS A G-2 CLOAK AND DAGGER "CAMPUS COMMANDO," A NAME THE INFANTRY GUYS GAVE TO THOSE OF US IN MILITARY INTELLIGENCE. AS I LOOK AT THIS PHOTO, I REMEMBER WHEN I HAD A 31 INCH WAIST AND WEIGHED ALL OF 130 POUNDS. LOOK AT ME NOW; TIME IS CRUEL!

1941: PRIVATE FRESE

I MAKE IT A POINT TO SAVE EACH AND EVERY ARTICLE OR PHOTO I FIND WHICH RELATES TO THE "COLONIAL GARDENS" NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE I GREW UP. ONE OF THE PLACES I RECALL WAS FRESE'S DELICATESSEN WHICH WAS ON LIBERTY STREET RIGHT NEXT TO THE COLONIAL FIRE COMPANY. I RECEIVED AN EMAIL FROM MARCIA PLAAG SCHROEDER WHO GREW UP ON MILLER AVENUE. MARCIA IS LOOKING FOR OTHER NEIGHBORS WHO LIVED IN THAT WONDERFUL AREA OF HAMILTON. MARCIA, THIS ONE, AND A NUMBER OF OTHER "COLONIAL" ITEMS WILL BE POSTED AS TIME PERMITS.

ARMED FORCES DAY 2006

Thanks to Mr. James S. Puliti for a series of photos from the May 20, 2006 Armed Forces Day celebration at Hamilton's Veterans' Park. In the photo is the Honorable Mayor Glen Gilmore, flanked by Col. Frank Caprario, (Retired) on the far right, and an un-identified U.S. Army veteran in the center.