{"id":83310,"date":"2025-05-26T01:25:49","date_gmt":"2025-05-26T07:25:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thetacticalhermit.com\/?p=83310"},"modified":"2025-05-26T02:01:32","modified_gmt":"2025-05-26T08:01:32","slug":"memorial-day-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thetacticalhermit.com\/index.php\/2025\/05\/26\/memorial-day-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"Memorial Day 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"

I typically put up some kind of Memorial Day montage to honor the fallen, but this year I thought I might do something different.<\/h2>\n

Growing up in the late 70’s, early 80’s, I remember watching the movie Jaws<\/em> on more than one occasion.<\/h2>\n

One time I remember watching it over at my Grandparents.<\/h2>\n

Now my paternal Grandfather served in the USMC in WW2 in the Pacific. He fought on Tinian, Saipan, Guam and Okinawa and was 4 times decorated. My Father served in the USMC in Vietnam and did 3 tours and is 3 times decorated.<\/h2>\n

Anyways, this particular evening me (I was around 8 years old) and my Grandpa aka “Pappy” were watching Jaws and this scene came up. I will never forget after the scene was over Pappy told me that everything Quint had said in that story about the U.S.S. Indianapolis (CA-35) was absolutely true.<\/h2>\n

Looking back 40+ years later, I can tell you now that this encounter had a VERY PROFOUND impact on me and planted a seed that made me want to be a Marine like my Pappy and Dad. Without them and their influence, I would not be the man I am today, nowhere close.<\/h2>\n

My Pappy passed away December 8, 1995\u00a0 and my Dad January 8, 2024.<\/h2>\n

I think about them both all the time.<\/h2>\n

Semper Fi Pappy and Dad!<\/h2>\n

 <\/p>\n