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Memorial Day
We honor the ones who didn’t come home. One who did was my dad. Three days after Normandy took a bullet in the leg, but ran his platoon for three more days until he could be evacuated. He was awarded a Silver Star. A lot of people are glad he made it home, but none more so than my younger brother and me. If he hadn’t, there would be only two Pratt boys instead of four.
Two of my Dad’s cousins didn’t come home from the Pacific.
Gordon Spredeman, who received a Posthumous Silver Star when his LST was sunk by a Kamikaze off the coast of the Philippines just before Christmas 1944, and Clifford Sebastian, a radioman on the USS Indianapolis, lost at sea July 30th 1945.
I always love to see you honoring your dad, Doug. Thank you.
Thanks Doug. I remember a similar post from last year and I hope to see a similar post next year.
My Dad’s cousins had two that died in WWII and the third son died in the Korean war. (Edit) That part of the family got torn apart and had somewhat of a falling out. Angry Irish grudges can last for generations.
Before my dad died our sides were reunited at the McKeon fire station near Holy Cross College in Worcester. They were so proud of the McKeon Road fire station they did the honor of naming the truck after my cousins. Naming firetrucks is against the rules. I was there at the dedication along with my dad, aunt, and my long lost cousins. We still keep in touch. The crew was ecstatic to see so many McKeon’s there.
Thanks, and thanks for the great story. Stuff like that seldom makes headlines, but it’s what really matters.