quote:
Originally posted by chickenfuker:
One of my greatest role models, my Grandfather, passed away last night. I never truly knew how much he meant and how much I could learn until he departed from this world.
Harold Davis enlisted at age 16 during WWII in the Navy, deployed to the Pacific, but they found out his age and kicked him out, so he went to the Army recruiter at 17 and signed up for the Air Corps. He flew as part of air crews over Germany multiple times, and was part of the flight crew that brought judges over for the Nuremberg trials. He got out after a few years, married his sweetheart -my grandmother- and started a family. When Korea started, he jumped back in to the service and continued working in and around planes. After he got out, he got a job manufacturing aircraft and worked on almost every fast attack plane that the US military has, he even helped improve the F16's ejection seat system.
He sent all 4 kids through college, including my mother, and when each of his 12 grandchildren were born, started a college investment fund for each of us. When I was born, he bought a bottle of 18 year single malt scotch, and when I was just about to head off to college, he invited me over for Texas Hold 'Em night with his Army buddies, where he slammed the bottle down on the table and told me that I was going to finish the bottle and like it by the end of the night. He and his buddies helped out, thankfully.
Whenever anyone asked how he was doing, he would respond with "well, I'm sober, but that can be fixed"
I hope that I am 1/2 the man he was. Safe Travels, Grandpa.
Folks like your Grandpa are truly one of our country's greatest national treasures, and we're losing them so quickly these days. I am deeply sorry for your loss.
Godspeed, Mr. Davis, and thank you for your service and your devotion to your family.