VETERANS DAY
A day to honor men and women who have served our country as members of the United States Armed Forces.
SIGNED INTO LAW MAY 26, 1954
Veterans Day. A day in November to honor all veterans- men and women in the military who have served their country. And the correct spelling “the attributive (no apostrophe) rather than the possessive case is the official spelling “ according to an article “Apostrophe Sparks Veterans Day Conundrum”. I had to look it uphere.
Who do you know who has served? Scan and email a photo of a veteran you know, along with name, rank and service branch and I’ll add it to the Gallery of Veterans. rutheh(at)gmail(dot) com
Connie’s Dad
Joseph John Hnida
Born: 11Nov1910
Farrell, PA
Mercer County, PA
Died: 29Sep1990, Brookfield, OH
Buried: Holy Trinity Lutheran Cemetery, Hermitage, PA
He enlisted on Feb 26 1942 from Mercer Pennsylvania but actually joined on March 20, 1942 as a meat cutter. On January 25, 1944 he was sent to Hawaii where he served until November 17, 1945 and was discharged November 25, 1945. Serial number 33164958. In Hawaii, TSgt Hnida ran one of the Mess Halls (now known as ‘Dining Facilities’) which with his background as a butcher, had the best steaks and became the one that many senior officers chose to eat at even though not assigned there (according to Joe).
One of his stories is that primarily because of his age, and the quality of his Mess Hall, he wasn’t allowed to fly as a crewman on any of the bombers. He managed to get a crew that ate at his Mess Hall to let him fly on a mission with him in the tail gunners position and on return, was discovered and threatened with a court marshal should he ever do it again.
At wars end, immediately on returning home he saw someone walking down the street wearing one of his civilian suits. His family told him they didn’t expect him to survive the war . . . so, they had sold all his stuff.
Joe is on the right with the cocked helmet.
RIP TSgt Joseph Hnida
U.S. Army Cpl. Elvern Kletscher, “my father, in the trenches in Korea. (From my father’s photo collection)” contributed by fellow blogger Audrey Kletscher Helbling
“My Dad*, born November 17, 1915
Served US Navy Seabees during WW II. Built the runway on Tinian that the Enola Gay took off from with the first atomic bomb
4 out of 5 of his children are also veterans, 2 serving in Vietnam.”
*(father of LTC Linda Dempster, scroll down)
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“My dad’s blouse from WW2. He was in Germany and at Dachau Concentration Camp a couple of days after being liberated to “immunize and vaccinate” the population. When he called back to the hospital outside of Munich to explain that the population didnt need vaccines – they needed food and water – and when he asked them what they should to as they just kept dying… they said “ we dont know”. No one has seen anything like this….. Picture is one he sent my mom walking down the street in Germany.” Eileen Hunt sent these photos of her father
S Sgt Michael R Pace was a graduate of Airline Mechanic School and was an Airline Propeller Mechanic as seen in the next three photos sent by his daughter, my friend Vincie. He served in Sicily, Naples, Rome and Egypt
WWII, on the left my father’s brother T Sgt Alan Ray Hendricks, US Army Air Forces who “observed his 28th bday by flying a bombing mission over Japanese-held Koror Island in a 7th AAF Liberator on which he is a gunner”.(old yellowed newspaper clipping) Received the Distinguished Flying Cross. Brother Harold next to him
David L. Cooley Airman Apprentice. 1968White uniform and profile photo (70) I was Ships Serviceman 3rd Class. Photo by truck was Norfolk Va in 1969 I think before I made 3rd Class.
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Phu Bai, Viet Nam
Quantico, VA 2011 Reunion TBS-4-66
(My friend and blog follower and frequent commenter Sue Reinfeld’s father)
Joyce Hilliard’s Father
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Retired Lt. Colonel Linda Dempster ( see her father’s photo at top of blog) – she served our Country for many years including a side trip as a very young nurse to Viet Nam and eventually becoming one of the first Army Nurse Corp’s Certified Nurse Midwives
( P.S. I was her Case Study at Fort Knox Kentucky when expecting my son Mark in 1976- Scroll down to see him in the USMC)
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Mike Kichi USMC Sent by blog follower and friend and frequent commenter Toni Kichi (RIP)
From Anne Hamilton- UK-
Charles Albert Kydd ” I thought Ruth might like the attached photo of my great uncle, the brother of my English grandmother (the one you met). Charles Albert Kydd was born in 1896. He went missing and I’ve also attached a document relating to this which I found in amongst my gran’s papers. Unfortunately I don’t know anything else – not even what regiment he was attached to.”Thankfully he did survive the war and lived into old age!
Below are memorabilia from James side of the family my son-in-law’s grandfather and father
JAMES’ MATERNAL GRANDFATHER (GRANDSON CHARLES’ GREAT GRANDFATHER) CHARLES WADE EMIG BORN: DEC 31, 1923 COSHOCTON, OH
My grandson Charles sits on his Grandfather’s lap (my SIL James’ Dad)
Chuck served in Viet Nam
Update:photo of Charles taken seven years ago
These next photos are from my DIL Erika’s side of the family. Her mother Marlene’s father Frank Simok was in the Navy in WWII.
Donald Payer after returning from Bicentennial Cruise in the Mediterranean, my DIL Erika is the little one in her mother Marlene’s arms. 
(Amy McCall’s Uncle)
2nd Lieutenant
U. S. Air Force, 1969-1972
p.s. Today is also my mother’s birthday. She was born on November 11, 1914. Happy birthday, Mom!
Official U. S. Air Force photo, January 29, 1970:
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“Picture of a staged Christmas Eve service, 1969, in a camp we called the Zoo, located at Cu Loc on the outskirts of Hanoi.” Col Howard Hill (see bio below)
Howard Hill graduated from the United States Air Force Academy in 1965 beginning a career proudly serving his country until he retired 24 years later as a full Colonel. During his career he was a command pilot flying fighter and transport aircraft. He served in the Vietnam War and was shot down, spending over 5 years as a POW in Hanoi. Twelve years after his release from captivity, Colonel Hill was selected as the Principal Advisor to the Secretary of Defense for POW/MIA Affairs. He twice returned to Hanoi as a member of a U. S. Government delegation seeking information about his fellow servicemen still missing in action.
Howard has always taken an active role in supporting community activities including coaching youth sports teams and volunteering in schools. He is currently serving his 27th year as President of the all-volunteer PAL Soccer League in Niceville, FL, which typically has over 1,000 players. In 1996 he was elected to the Okaloosa County School Board and served 14 years. Additionally he continues to educate and motivate groups throughout the community speaking about patriotism.
His military decorations include the Silver Star, Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Meritorius Service Medal, Air Medal and POW medal.
He is married to the former Elizabeth Andersen of Shalimar, Florida, and has three grown children and four grandchildren.
