My Grandfather, Milo Bendickson, enlisted in the Army on March 18, 1942 in Tacoma, WA. I found this information simply by googling my grandpa's name! I clicked on a link for the National Archives and VIOLA! There I found all of his information!
He was a mechanic. My dad thinks his rank when he left the Army was Corporal.
My Great Uncle John was in the Navy. He was a Radioman First Class or E6. He was killed in a car accident November 4, 1961 and is buried at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery Point Loma, San Diego County, California
My dad was in the Navy! From 1960-1963 he was a Navigator, his plane was an A3D Attack Bomber. His Squadron was Heavy Attack Squadron #4, the VIKINGS! (That's so fitting since we are NORWEGIAN!) He was stationed up on Whidbey Island, WA. but his squadron was on the USS Constellation when it left Virginia and sailed around South America to San Diego, CA. And again when the "Connie" headed to the far east. Hawaii, Japan and the Philippines were a few of the stops they made along the way. My mom has a red and black jewelry box my dad bought while in Japan or the Philippines while he was there. He hadn't met my mom yet, but he knew someday he would met "the one" and he would give her that as a gift. I have a plate that hangs on the wall. It has a bunch of butterfly wings under glass and it looks really cool! My dad got it while in the far east and gave it to his mom. It was something that hung on my grandparents wall for as long as I can remember. When my grandparents passed away, I was able to keep it and I love it!
My dad's plane.........
My son, Levi, had thoughts of joining the Navy. When he was 15, we signed him up for the United States Naval Sea Cadet Corps. "Since 1958 the Naval Sea Cadet Corps has been committed to providing American youth with a drug and alcohol free environment to foster their leadership abilities, broaden their horizons through hands-on training and guide them to becoming mature young adults." And it worked! He is a mature young adult! While in the Sea Cadets, Levi was able to go to Airman training on Whidbey Island and it is there that he earned the "Honor Cadet" award! Yes, I was very proud of my boy! He looked so handsome in his uniform! He then went on to spend 2 weeks at Lemoore Naval Air Station, Lemoore CA. It was there that he received an invitation to sail on the USS Ronald Reagan for a week during Flight Ops. My dad decided he'd like to go with Levi so he became an instructor for the USNSCC, shaved his beard (the Navy frowns on facial hair) and away they went! I was so happy for my dad and Levi. They got to spend a week out at sea on an aircraft carrier together! Who gets to do that kind of stuff?
Levi and his Grandma!
Here are some of the awards Levi received while in the USNSCC. They now hang in my office at home.
Well lets see.. My Grandfather made it to Corporal (E-4), My Uncle John was an E6, my dad was an E4, Levi made it to E3 while in the Sea Cadets and I will become Ensign Bendickson soon! Yes, I am an Instructor or the United States Naval Sea Cadet Corps, Blue Angels Squadron! I got involved when Levi was part of the squad and I've never left! I LOVE it! These kids are such wonderful kids and they get to experience so many things, things other kids don't get to experience.
Today we are meeting at the Lake View Cemetery in Seattle. We will be placing over 300 flags on the graves of our Veterans. After that, I'm going to Clover Park High School in Lakewood, near my home. The students there have on display more than 4,500 markers called "The Arlington Project" See Full Story Here where they pay tribute to our fallen men and woman who have died in Iraq and Afghanistan.
On this Memorial Day Weekend, remember the people who have given and continue to give all they have in service to this country, whether you agree with what is going on in the world or not.
1 comment:
With all the men in uniform that are in your family, it's no wonder why you love a man in uniform (especially a military uniform)!
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