November 1, 2019 George A. Carlson (above), the grandfather of author and photographer Jeff Lowdermilk, entered the French town of Stenay on the morning of the Armistice, November 11, 1918. A century later, Lowdermilk was in Stenay for ceremonies and events marking the centennial of the end of the war. Now in 2019 he looks …
Ten years ago today, I gave the eulogy at my mother’s memorial service. Numerous in attendance were above the age of eighty-five. I began by saying, “For many of you, the Japanese surprise attack on Pearl Harbor seventy years ago defined your lives.” Indeed it did! The next day, the United States declared war on …
Pearl Harbor Day, December 7, 1941, 80th Anniversary Read More »
William Dabney (wearing his Legion of Honor Medal) to the right, accompanied by his son, Vinney. June 6, 2021, is the 77th Anniversary of D-Day. Honoring the Courageous Americans of D-Day, the most important day of the twentieth century. The day the free world unleashed its power and might upon the tyranny of fascist Germany. …
At 10:45 AM, I stood by my Grandfather’s headstone and talked on the phone with my dear friend, Sandra Pershing. She is the window of the great general’s oldest grandson, John Warren Pershing III, Colonel United States Army. At precisely 11:00, I placed the red, white, and blue flowers and a small American Flag at …
2020 – 11/11/11 – My Grandfather’s Grave, Fort Logan National Cemetery, Denver, Colorado Read More »
YPO Vauclair is a cherished friend of Jack Port’s and mine. Jack is my dear friend, who is a 4th Division D-Day Veteran of Utah Beach. Jack will be 99 years old this coming April and is doing well. My dear American friends Like forgetting that November 11, 1918, the end of World War I, …
2020 – A heartfelt Veterans Day “Merci” from a friend in France Read More »
Today is the special day a grateful nation honors our courageous Veterans and all members of our military. They are and have been the shield that protects us; without them, our great country would be nothing. We owe everything to them. I took this photo within the American Meuse-Argonne World War I Cemetery in northeastern …
Today is a great day in American and world history. It is the 75th anniversary of the unconditional surrender of Japan, which ended World War II. In the United States, the surrender happened on August 14, but with the time change the surrender in Japan was on August 15. So, either date is correct. The …
July 4, 1917, Paris, France The American army was beginning to arrive in France in late June 1917. The first U.S. Army unit to arrive was the 16th Infantry Regiment of the 1st Division (the Big Red One.) On July 4th, the American Commanding General John J. Pershing and the 16th Infantry Regiment proudly marched …
“Lafayette we are here.” July 4, 1917, Paris, France Read More »
Last November (2019) I attended the New Mexico National Guard’s Military Ball in Albuquerque. The honored guest speaker was U.S. Air Force General (Four Star) Joseph L. Lengyel, who is the National Guard Bureau Chief and a member of the Joint Chiefs. Later in the evening my friend, Major General (Two Star) Kenneth Nava, introduced …
This magnificent statue of a doughboy stands in Elizabeth Park in Pueblo, Colorado. It honors the U.S. armed services during World War I. My Grandfather, George A. Carlson, took me to the park in 1976. My wife and I pass through Pueblo often and most times we stop at the park and I place a …
The famous Christmas Prayer was issued to the officers and troops on December 22. The day after, the clouds dissipated and the U.S. Army Air Corp was at last able to come in and assist the 3rd Army’s advance to victory. The Story behind the famous Prayer: General Patton: “Chaplain, I want you to publish a prayer …
75th Anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge – Christmas 1944 Read More »