Last Wednesday, residents at Independence Village of Waterstone had a special visit from Lt. Commander Kristian Barton of the United States Navy at their morning church service.
Barton, a resident of Berkley, had just returned home from Iraq after a seven-month tour and wanted to say thank you for the care packages he was sent by the senior citizens.
‘We’re really appreciative of all you guys have done for us,? he said to the crowd of men and women, some veterans too. ‘All the thoughts from home really make it that much easier.?
Hadley resident Louise Downs, nicknamed the ‘Desert Angel,? has frequently hosted care package parties for all the troops stationed in Iraq. Barton said he received three of the packages while stationed with the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force in Fallujah.
‘In this age of e-mail and the internet, it’s still nice to get something in the mail,? he said. ‘And when it’s a big box, it generally means we got some goodies.? join the service.
It seemed only natural for him to join. It was his ‘duty.?
‘It was interesting because everybody that I knew, as far as adults, had served in World War II. So, if you were to meet any man who hadn’t served in (the war), he would’ve been an oddity,? he said.
After attending boot camp in 1966, John was assigned to the USS Galveston and was deployed in 1967 to the Mediterranean Sea to keep the threat of the Soviet Union at bay.
When the Vietnam War began, he was deployed to Vietnam on the destroyer ship Alfred A. Cunningham and had the job of ‘searching the sky for incoming missiles, rescuing downed pilots and providing naval gunfire support.?
For the most part, John enjoyed his four years of service in the navy, saying ‘it was a good experience for me.? The only part he didn’t enjoy was getting a ‘cold, seawater wake up call.?
‘The destroyer was 30 years old and my bed was under the rear hatch…so every time the fantail went under, water would pour down on me,? he said.
After his service to the navy was over, John received two Vietnam service medals, one national defense medal and a certificate of recognition for service during the Cold War, signed by Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld.
Because being on the ship ‘is like a floating home,? John still keeps in touch with those ‘family members? who also served on Cunningham through the Association of Tin Can Sailors website
A different war, a different time
Mary’s father, Floyd, on the other hand, was part of a war that remains one of the most significant wars in history.
Her father’s tour of duty during World War II was cut short due to temporarily losing his eyesight.
‘At the time, they had offered him the Purple Heart and he said ‘no,?? Mary said.
But a few years ago, Floyd, who is now 84, decided to write Congress and was able to get the medals, which also included a Silver Star, he deserved.
At the time of the war, Floyd was also serving alongside two of his brothers. One, named Bernie, was on a ship that took prisoners of war.
When all the prisoners were released, Bernie came upon a journal and photo album of a Japanese man who was captured on his ship.
Fifty years later, he found a woman at a local college who was traveling to Japan and was able to find the gentlemen who had lost his belongings.
‘When he got the book back he bowed down to the ground and just sobbed,? Mary recalled. ‘He came over to Midland (Michigan) and personally thanked my uncle for saving the book all those years.?
Thank you, Mr. Soldier
Whenever Mary’s father’s out in public, she said it’s not uncommon to hear teenagers, men and women thank him for serving his country.
‘My dad’s hat says ‘World War II Veteran,? so almost every time he goes out, people thank him,? she said.
The respect citizens show veterans is what makes John and his father-in-law proud to have served.
‘It is such an awesome thing to offer to give your life for your country and for freedom,? John said.