Goodbye Grandad
HM was a member of what has been dubbed "the Greatest
Generation." It is also called the "Builder Generation" or the "GI
Generation". Regardless of the title, some of the greatest individuals
of our country were a part of it. These were those who built our tall
skyscraper and insured our freedom against the aggression of Emperor
Hirohito, Adolph Hitler, and Mussolini. This was the generation that
raised the flag on Iwo Jima and stormed the beaches of Normandy. What
they accomplished is nothing short of remarkable.
As a member of this generation, HM was noble, honest,
responsible, and was a man of integrity. It is an honor for me to say
a
few words on this occasion. He did not want to have any fuss made over
him at his funeral. Maybe a few grave side comments, but that is it.
But it is appropriate that we say more, for truly this was a great man.
From what I understand he had a tough early life. Was a part of a
blended family and had many half brothers and sisters. With his mother
he became a member of the Baptist church at the age of twelve.
As a young man, he and three others took off for west Texas to pick
cotton and wound up in Carey. A store owner there thought four young
women of that small town needed to meet these men and conspired with
them
to arrange this. A young E.P. said that she wanted the
tall one and fifty nine years ago they were married.
By the time of their marriage Lee had already joined the military.
During a furlough they took their vows.
On February 10, 1944 Lee boarded a ship with his company bound for
England. On July 26 of that same year, they landed on Normandy's Utah
Beach. By his own account he was a machine gunner and assistant driver
on a Sherman M4 tank.
On August 6 they received order to move into French interior and block
the roads against the German forces. They encountered enemy fire and
they fired back as they moved through the countryside. On September
1,1944 his tank was hit by a German bazooka, which resulted in the tank
bursting into flames. They had 170 gallons of 100-octane fuel. Of the
five crewmembers only two survived the attack. Both the survivors were
wounded, and were soon taken captive by the German army and finally
wound
up at Stalag 7A.
The prisoners of war were required to perform work details doing
various
things: from planting potatoes to cleaning up buildings which had been
bombed. On one such detail in Munich, HM and another prisoner escaped
and ran for thirteen days until they were recaptured near American
troops
and they finally came; rescuing them on April 28, 1945.
When HM left the United States to go to war, he weighed a healthy 210
lbs., but when he returned he weighed 145 lbs. HM is a true American
hero.
But he is more than that. He was a hard conscientious worker.
Possibly
he worked so hard because of his own experiences early in life and as a
POW. He knew hunger and he didn't want his family to experience it.
For many years he did seismographic work for oil companies and that
meant
the family moved a lot. Sometimes they were in places only a few days.
They lived in a lot of apartments and E became very adept at
packing and moving on short notice. In 1958 he began doing bridge
construction in Dallas and remained there many years. He gained quite
a
good reputation in that field and many respected his work ethic and
manner in which he worked. He was a perfectionist. They tell me this
extended even to the rows in his garden, which were perfectly straight.
After retiring he and E moved to a lake home near Paris, but
moved to C to be closer to his children and grandchildren. He
loved
his two girls and two boys and numerous grandchildren.
HM just loved people. He had a heart of gold and saw the best in
everyone. He expected the best out of himself and others. He had no
patience for hypocrisy, but he loved and took care of many people.
Irrespective of race, education, or social standing.
HM liked to laugh and pull practical jokes on people.
Yesterday
I listened to story after story of jokes he pulled on people.
These are good memories. Memories that you should hold onto and
cherish. While your husband, father, grandfather or friend has
departed
from this life, he lives on in your good memories of this good man that
there is pain at his passing.
It is at times like this that we often turn to God and he responds for
he is faithful. Ps. 147:3 "he heals the broken-hearted, and binds up
their wounds." Ps 34:18 "The Lord is close to the broken-hearted and
saves those who are crushed in spirit." Jesus summons us when he says,
"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you
rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and
humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is
easy and my burden is light." Matt 11:28-30 God has promised to
respond
and we can be confident that he will respond if we will but trust Him.
But God does not just want us during times of sorrow; he wants us all
the time. He desires to be our refuge always and in all ways. Jesus
came as proof positive of God's love for each one of us. Going to the
cross, scorning its shame that we might be restored to a continual
living/dynamic relationship with God, which extends beyond life on this
earth. We are asked to respond in faith, repentance and baptism in
order
to be renewed and reclaimed by God.
This is a time when we think about our own mortality. There are very
few guarantees in life, but one we can count on is that each one of us
will die, unless the Lord returns beforehand. There is hope beyond the
grave for each one of us through Jesus.
We will have another song and then we will be dismissed in prayer.
Prayer-- Father, we thank you for the life of HM and in your
mercy
we commit him to you. We ask that this loss might turn out for
spiritual
gain for this family as they are drawn together to you and as you
comfort
them with your love. Be with them and strengthen them through your
Spirit. Through Jesus our Lord we offer this prayer, Amen.
Generation." It is also called the "Builder Generation" or the "GI
Generation". Regardless of the title, some of the greatest individuals
of our country were a part of it. These were those who built our tall
skyscraper and insured our freedom against the aggression of Emperor
Hirohito, Adolph Hitler, and Mussolini. This was the generation that
raised the flag on Iwo Jima and stormed the beaches of Normandy. What
they accomplished is nothing short of remarkable.
As a member of this generation, HM was noble, honest,
responsible, and was a man of integrity. It is an honor for me to say
a
few words on this occasion. He did not want to have any fuss made over
him at his funeral. Maybe a few grave side comments, but that is it.
But it is appropriate that we say more, for truly this was a great man.
From what I understand he had a tough early life. Was a part of a
blended family and had many half brothers and sisters. With his mother
he became a member of the Baptist church at the age of twelve.
As a young man, he and three others took off for west Texas to pick
cotton and wound up in Carey. A store owner there thought four young
women of that small town needed to meet these men and conspired with
them
to arrange this. A young E.P. said that she wanted the
tall one and fifty nine years ago they were married.
By the time of their marriage Lee had already joined the military.
During a furlough they took their vows.
On February 10, 1944 Lee boarded a ship with his company bound for
England. On July 26 of that same year, they landed on Normandy's Utah
Beach. By his own account he was a machine gunner and assistant driver
on a Sherman M4 tank.
On August 6 they received order to move into French interior and block
the roads against the German forces. They encountered enemy fire and
they fired back as they moved through the countryside. On September
1,1944 his tank was hit by a German bazooka, which resulted in the tank
bursting into flames. They had 170 gallons of 100-octane fuel. Of the
five crewmembers only two survived the attack. Both the survivors were
wounded, and were soon taken captive by the German army and finally
wound
up at Stalag 7A.
The prisoners of war were required to perform work details doing
various
things: from planting potatoes to cleaning up buildings which had been
bombed. On one such detail in Munich, HM and another prisoner escaped
and ran for thirteen days until they were recaptured near American
troops
and they finally came; rescuing them on April 28, 1945.
When HM left the United States to go to war, he weighed a healthy 210
lbs., but when he returned he weighed 145 lbs. HM is a true American
hero.
But he is more than that. He was a hard conscientious worker.
Possibly
he worked so hard because of his own experiences early in life and as a
POW. He knew hunger and he didn't want his family to experience it.
For many years he did seismographic work for oil companies and that
meant
the family moved a lot. Sometimes they were in places only a few days.
They lived in a lot of apartments and E became very adept at
packing and moving on short notice. In 1958 he began doing bridge
construction in Dallas and remained there many years. He gained quite
a
good reputation in that field and many respected his work ethic and
manner in which he worked. He was a perfectionist. They tell me this
extended even to the rows in his garden, which were perfectly straight.
After retiring he and E moved to a lake home near Paris, but
moved to C to be closer to his children and grandchildren. He
loved
his two girls and two boys and numerous grandchildren.
HM just loved people. He had a heart of gold and saw the best in
everyone. He expected the best out of himself and others. He had no
patience for hypocrisy, but he loved and took care of many people.
Irrespective of race, education, or social standing.
HM liked to laugh and pull practical jokes on people.
Yesterday
I listened to story after story of jokes he pulled on people.
These are good memories. Memories that you should hold onto and
cherish. While your husband, father, grandfather or friend has
departed
from this life, he lives on in your good memories of this good man that
there is pain at his passing.
It is at times like this that we often turn to God and he responds for
he is faithful. Ps. 147:3 "he heals the broken-hearted, and binds up
their wounds." Ps 34:18 "The Lord is close to the broken-hearted and
saves those who are crushed in spirit." Jesus summons us when he says,
"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you
rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and
humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is
easy and my burden is light." Matt 11:28-30 God has promised to
respond
and we can be confident that he will respond if we will but trust Him.
But God does not just want us during times of sorrow; he wants us all
the time. He desires to be our refuge always and in all ways. Jesus
came as proof positive of God's love for each one of us. Going to the
cross, scorning its shame that we might be restored to a continual
living/dynamic relationship with God, which extends beyond life on this
earth. We are asked to respond in faith, repentance and baptism in
order
to be renewed and reclaimed by God.
This is a time when we think about our own mortality. There are very
few guarantees in life, but one we can count on is that each one of us
will die, unless the Lord returns beforehand. There is hope beyond the
grave for each one of us through Jesus.
We will have another song and then we will be dismissed in prayer.
Prayer-- Father, we thank you for the life of HM and in your
mercy
we commit him to you. We ask that this loss might turn out for
spiritual
gain for this family as they are drawn together to you and as you
comfort
them with your love. Be with them and strengthen them through your
Spirit. Through Jesus our Lord we offer this prayer, Amen.