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Keep the posts going for Tom!

Posted by Roy Brown on August 13, 2007, 7:41 pm
74.132.113.133

Let's try to keep some posts going for Tom. Talk about anything you want...your haelth, your family outings, your dog or cat, your old car...almost anything.
I went to my urologist today and for the first time in 20 years my PSA was within normal range. AND my blood pressure was 120/74 and heart rate was 57. Man, was I happy with those readings...and thankful to God for keeping me going all these years.
I have to have cataract surgery on Tuesday, Aug.21. Hopefully it will go well also and I will be able to see much better.
Hang in there and say a prayer for Tom.
Roy Brown

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Re: Keep the posts going for Tom!

Posted by Len Brophy on August 14, 2007, 8:40 pm, in reply to "Keep the posts going for Tom!"
66.218.12.183

Roy is right we should all kick in with a post now and then instead of just reading the stories.there arn't many of us left.I arrived at armed guard center in Brooklyn in March 1943 .stayed there for about three weeks and was sent to Chester PA.and boarded a brand new tanker(ss kenesaw mountain) after shake down cruise we went to Port Arthur TX.Loaded up with oil and off to UK.We were armed with 20MMs 1 5in 30 forward and 4in50 on the stern.When we returned to the US they removed the 4in50 and replaced it with a beautiful 5in38 then we were all set.

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Re: Keep the posts going for Tom!

Posted by mike on August 14, 2007, 7:29 pm, in reply to "Keep the posts going for Tom!"
71.230.79.20

Cogratulations Roy. I wish I could get those numbers at 44 years old. God Bless

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Re: Keep the posts going for Tom!

Posted by Melinda on August 16, 2007, 11:38 pm, in reply to "Re: Keep the posts going for Tom!"
97.82.171.86

Well...I'm almost finished reading the book "Gunners Get Glory". It's a really interesting book and has given be more insight into what my dad went through as a gunner during WWII. The name of the book came from an on-board situation when some Merchant Marines were kinda ribbing a group of Armed Guard guys because the Merchant Marines got paid so much more money, etc. They asked the AG guys what they got out of being in the AG since they obviously weren't getting very much money. One AG quiety and calmly responded, "We get glory. Gunners get glory." In 2007 language....'nuff said! I thought that was pretty neat.
Keep on posting!!!

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Re: Keep the posts going for Tom!

Posted by Al Burnham on August 19, 2007, 6:04 pm, in reply to "Re: Keep the posts going for Tom!"
67.72.98.45

Thanks Melinda, but we will have to take this as the 2007 language. Fran's response is right on and I have to agree with it. On the two ships I was on I saw no in fighting or kidding about the pay difference. I'm sure some of this took place
but not what some like to make out as a big problem. Because it wasn't. We all had a job to do and the survival of the ship and crew depended on us working together. This is where
leadership took place and the gunnery officer's
role in this set the working together. We had one 14yr. old kid in the merchant marine on my first ship. Had more sea duty then half of our
gun crew. Glory is the editor of the book's word. Not one of ours back then or now.

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Re: Keep the posts going for Tom!

Posted by Melinda on September 7, 2007, 11:42 pm, in reply to "Re: Keep the posts going for Tom!"
97.82.158.103

Thanks, Mr. Burnham, for your response. When I finished reading the book, I wondered how accurate the recount was. The book was written in 1943, and I believe that it was written by Lt. Bob Berry, US Navy Armed Guard, as told to a writer. It may have been Dept. of Navy "propaganda"....I don't know.
There is an audio file of a "play" that was broadcast over the radio in 1943 and 1944 that has some excerpts from the book. http://www.archive.org/details/wordsatwarOTRKIBM
If you scroll down, you will see a listing of individual broadcast files, and the Gunners Get Glory file is about half way down.
I may not have accurately portrayed the telling of the story. If not, I apologize. The book did emphasize how Merchant Marines and Armed Guard worked hand-in-hand toward the same mission.
If you have a chance to listen to the audio file, let me know what you think. My father, unfortuantely, is no longer around to tell me his perspective. I sure wish he were.

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