Memorial Day…..Remembering the ones who have served and are no longer here.

[Rimfire Fanatic]

As I sit here on Memorial Day, I’d like for us to remember those who have served and are no longer with us. I’d like to share with you a little bit about my late Grandfather Charles “Chuck” Phillips.

He served in WWII during the Battle of the Coral Sea. He was on the Lexington. He was blown off the deck during battle and was floating around in the water with severe injuries. He was later rescued from the water and the ship was scuttled.

The War really did a number on him. He had to have several surgeries to his face, as part of it was missing after the explosion. He was sent to hospital in Hawaii and met my grandmother there. He relived that terrible day that over and over for the rest of his life. While he was lucky enough to go home, so many of his shipmates did not.

He died in 2005. His ashes were interred at sea by the US Navy about a year after his passing, into the Pacific.

He was a singer and drummer during the Big Band era, and I have one of his records that I still play from time to time. What a voice he had.

Rest In Peace Grandpa Chuck. You are not forgotten.

 

[SuperTrooper]

As I sit here on Memorial Day, I’d like for us to remember those who have served and are no longer with us. I’d like to share with you a little bit about my late Grandfather Charles “Chuck” Phillips.

He served in WWII during the Battle of the Coral Sea. He was on the Lexington. He was blown off the deck during battle and was floating around in the water with severe injuries. He was later rescued from the water and the ship was scuttled.

The War really did a number on him. He had to have several surgeries to his face, as part of it was missing after the explosion. He was sent to hospital in Hawaii and met my grandmother there. He relived that terrible day that over and over for the rest of his life. While he was lucky enough to go home, so many of his shipmates did not.

He died in 2005. His ashes were interred at sea by the US Navy about a year after his passing, into the Pacific.

He was a singer and drummer during the Big Band era, and I have one of his records that I still play from time to time. What a voice he had.

Rest In Peace Grandpa Chuck. You are not forgotten.

View attachment 434

I've been on the Lucky Lady Lex - she was used as a training ship at Pensacola NAS for many decades.

 

[SuperTrooper]

My grandpa went up San Juan hill with Teddy Roosevelt, and during WW1 his cavalry unit was transitioned to field artillery. Retired from the Army in 1926 at the rank of Sargent Major. Called back as a civilian contractor in WW2 stationed at NAS Pensacola where he helped keep Naval Aviator trainee aircraft in the air. There's a placque honoring his accomplishments on the runway behind the Museum of Naval Aviation, and is buried not far from that plaque at Ft Barrancas National Cemetery on the base at NAS Pensacola along with Grandma and a half dozen uncles, and one aunt. Someone in my family has served in every armed conflict this country has been it.

 

[just_shoot]

Powerful story! thank you for sharing that about your grandfather. Men like him carried a lot home with them and it still echoes through families today.

 

[Alan]

As I sit here on Memorial Day, I’d like for us to remember those who have served and are no longer with us. I’d like to share with you a little bit about my late Grandfather Charles “Chuck” Phillips.

He served in WWII during the Battle of the Coral Sea. He was on the Lexington. He was blown off the deck during battle and was floating around in the water with severe injuries. He was later rescued from the water and the ship was scuttled.

The War really did a number on him. He had to have several surgeries to his face, as part of it was missing after the explosion. He was sent to hospital in Hawaii and met my grandmother there. He relived that terrible day that over and over for the rest of his life. While he was lucky enough to go home, so many of his shipmates did not.

He died in 2005. His ashes were interred at sea by the US Navy about a year after his passing, into the Pacific.

He was a singer and drummer during the Big Band era, and I have one of his records that I still play from time to time. What a voice he had.

Rest In Peace Grandpa Chuck. You are not forgotten.

View attachment 434

Thank you for sharing his story and honoring his memory

 

[SuperTrooper]

My bad, your grandpa was on the original Lexington CV-2, the one at Pensacola was CV-16 and is now a museum ship in Corpus Christi. I missed the scuttled part. That was one hell of a rescue mission.