loyd.net

My family has never done much to celebrate holidays such as Veterans' Day, perhaps because they've been too busy serving.  Here's the roll call of my family members who are or have been in the military:

• My nephew Daniel, a sergeant in the US Army (after a stint in the Marines).  Was in ordnance, now training to be a recruiter.  Two tours in Iraq.
• My nephew-in-law Randy, sergeant USAF, in communications.  Two tours in Iraq.
• My brother Daniel, retired sergeant, USA (switched from USN).  Morse code interceptor during the cold war.
• My brother Richard, retired sergeant, USA.  Viet Nam and the first Gulf War.  Died in 2005 of stomach cancer at 57, an old soldier to the end.  Buried in Arlington. (Father of my nephew Daniel and father-in-law of Randy.)
• Mom's first husband, father of my two brothers, retired sergeant, USA, an MP.  Still alive in Vegas.
• My father, SFC Louis R. Loyd, USA Ret.  Was a mess sergeant, but started out in field artillery.  In WWII in the 36th Division (a T-patcher), Africa, Italy, France.  Silver Star and Croix de Guerre.  Like so many of his generation, did what he had to but didn't talk about it much.  Tried to protect his daughter and drank to try to forget what he'd seen and done.  Didn't cook at home much (didn't want to bring his work home with him) but as a treat occassionally fixed some fine S.O.S.  Died at 75 after various cancers.  Still have his ashes, one day they'll go in a national cemetery.

Thank you for doing the most horrible job society could ask of you.  Thank you for allowing me to live in peace.