John was a decorated WWII hero – with the purple heart and numerous other medals.
He captured a castle and a Nazi officer out of uniform – there is a story in a military journal
that is in the WWII museum in Eldred Pa.that chronicles that event.
He took from that officer a automatic machine gun pistol – vintage WWI – that also resides in the museum
and is worth upwards in the thousands of dollars. They keep it locked away as it is so valuable.
He was wounded several times and went back into action.
Bill was a vet of the forgotten war – Korea – he seldom talked about it but while I was growing up –
he gave to me his sleeping bag that he used in the cold winters there.
I admire his stamina as all it was is a wool blanket inside a canvas liner!
I would get very cold while sleeping outside on the ground in it!
He was more to me than a brother in law – he was my friend and like a brother to me.
One time I was out with him on patrol in the cop car – he was the town cop –
We drove down across the tracks and out past the old pipe building –
he saw a woodchuck and said to me –
“Do I get him”?
“Sure I said”!
He pulled out his gun and from the front seat shot that old woodchuck –
I almost went deaf from that gun going off!
I said ” JESUS CHRIST BILL” and then we both just burst out laughing!
Lesson – never fire a gun from inside a car – you can barely hear for like 10 minutes!
Mom was known all over the town and county and into NYS for her baking.
She would bake rolls – bread – pies and cakes. Sweet rolls and sticky buns.
There was not anything she could not knead and bake and all from memory!
She did not need a receipt – she just did it after almost 85 years of her life baking!
She baked as a child learning from her mother who passed at 85 years old.
Mom was next to the youngest of 11 kids and was almost 98 years old when she passed.
She supplied pies and cakes and rolls for a diner in town.
Or she would say ” You are as useless as teats on a boar hog”! She had me in stitches –
she also played the accordion my father the spoons and sang and my uncle jack the wash board.
They would do this at family picnics and if the beer was free – at social events.
When she was young – she traveled with my grandma in the logging camps of Pa.
Making breakfast – lunch and dinner as a way to make money in the depression.
They were together until he passed away at age 81.
She called him “JOHNNY BOY” and he was so good to her – just what she needed after ten years losing my dad.
He could fix anything and construction was his forte.
His cars and trucks immaculate even though they were ten years old – showroom condition.
He fixed up and remodled the house which she had kept going all those years .
That same house today is still in the family after almost 78 years –
my great niece lives there today.
Thank you for reading Papa’s World
WHERE FRIENDS MEET THE FAMILY
FAMILY MEETS FRIENDS
MY BLOG SITE: livnglifedoingitmyway.blog
Just another memory of my family gone but not forgotten.
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Next blog – MY BROTHER MIKE! GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN!
