Thank you for your service Dad!!

Today is Veteran’s Day.  It is uplifting to see all the flags flying as I drive down the street and around the campus of my church.  That is why today I want to honor my Dad, John Phillips.  Dad died 9 years ago this month and he was a veteran of WWII and the Korean War.  I won’t say his service defined his life, but I will say it had a tremendous impact.

On his last day as he laid in the hospital, he said to me “You know I went AWOL in Korea.”  I knew the story and I knew he had not really gone AWOL.  He was a Lieutenant in the Army when he was in Korea and he had been wounded.  He felt like he was letting his men down lying in a hospital bed, so he left without being released from the hospital and returned to his men.  Dad was an honorable man and therefore, I understand why he wanted to get back to his men as soon as possible.  I am sure he was reprimanded but he did not go AWOL.

Although, the men of his generation were very proud of their service they did not like to talk about their experiences.  This may have contributed to the health issues my father had in his later years.  But in those last years, Dad talked more and more about his time in the service.  So, what he said to me on that last day was not surprising.

When my parents were first married Mom said Dad would fight the lamp in the middle of the night as he dreamed about his time in Korea.  But during the day he just kept quiet about what he saw and what he did.  That was how his generation dealt with things.

In my eyes,  Dad was a big man.  He was 6’ tall with blue eyes and very handsome.  Dad provided wonderfully for his family, he took us on great adventures, he gave us all a wonderful work ethic, he gave us all he could, and he loved us.  He always encouraged me in my education and taught me about business.  He was not a perfect man.  He had flaws and personality quirks just like we all do but he gave his best for his family.

He served both in the Navy and the Army.  I know little about his time in the Navy, but I know he always loved the ocean, specifically the Pacific Ocean and that is probably why most of our vacations were spent in California.  I am sure my love of the ocean comes from him.

When our son was about 11 or 12, Dad gave him his white Navy uniform to wear as a Halloween costume.  Our son was only about 5’ tall and very thin and although the uniform was long it fit perfectly every where else.  All  Dad would say is he must have been much thinner when he wore it.

I miss Dad.  When he passed away I took the shadow box with his colorful fishing lures.  Those lures hang in my office and give me the opportunity to think about him every day.

Thank you, Dad, today on Veterans Day, for your service to the United States of American and for being a great Dad!  And to my nephew Levi Phillips, we are so proud of you and your service to our country!  I know Granddad would be so proud of you too!