Remember those who died, and why

  On June 12, 1951, the USS Walke (DD723), while operating some 60 miles off the Korean coast with Task Force 77, was struck by a floating mine that severely damaged her hull on the port side. Twenty-six men were killed and another 40 wounded. One of the men killed was a 21-year-old whom I grew up with. The last time he was home on leave, he had married his high school sweetheart. He never saw her again and never saw his daughter.

He had enlisted in the Navy because his father was a World War II vet and thought his only son would be safer on board a naval vessel than a foxhole in Korea.

I enlisted because they had killed a friend of mine. It wasn’t a death wish on my part but a matter of vengeance; it was for retaliation. It didn’t work out that way; President Eisenhower settled for a stalemate. We didn’t lose — except for about 40,000 dead —and we surely didn’t win. And that’s the way it’s been since 1953.

Rest in peace, Yates Howe.

Douglas Glover, Palm Coast

 

A solemn observance

As I reflect on the upcoming Memorial Day holiday, I am hoping that no one wishes me a “happy” Memorial Day, a greeting I have already seen in print.

None of us who has lost a serviceman or woman in any of the U.S. Armed Services can ever have a “happy” Memorial Day. In fact, every weekend is a Memorial Day weekend as we remember and miss our deceased loved ones, as your paper depicted in a previous year's cartoon whose message has remained with me.

Memorial Day was originally called Decoration Day. It was a day set aside to visit and put flags and flowers on our loved ones’ graves to “decorate” them in memory. I know not everyone has lost somebody and I have no objections to cookouts, beach time or get-togethers. I just would hope everyone would take a moment to remember all who have died for their country.

It is inappropriate to wish anyone a “happy” Memorial Day ,and I hope this is not a new trend going forward. How about wishing me a safe Memorial Day?

Joanne Fischette, Port Orange

— Fischette lost her fiance, Staff Sgt. Jose Gene Abara, in the Tet Offensive in Vietnam in 1968.

 

 

Behind the rise

After reading the news today I feel that the years I spent in school, high school, college, professional training and over 30 years in the medical and scientific workforce were a waste of time. I studied the physical sciences, some meteorology, and a variety of other math and science curricula.

Learning from a representative of the Republican Party that the rise in the sea level is due merely to more dirt settling on the ocean floor was, to say the least, attention getting. To say the most, I am almost at the point of burning all diplomas, certificates and a vast library of journals and textbooks.

Someone, please, “Say it isn’t so!”

Michael McCumber, Ormond Beach