AirWalter Loc: Tipp City, Ohio

Patriots will really like this video! When I was home from the US Army one time I needed to get my monthly pay because I was short on cash and was about to travel back to Fort Sheridan, IL. I had heard of a uncle that I had, and had never had the opportunity to meet him as he was usually way off some place in the US Air Force. He had married my Dad's sister. I knew a little about him. I knew that he had flown "The Hump" during the war. My Mom had made arrangements for me to meet him at Wright Patterson Air Force Base near home in Dayton Ohio, as he had agreed to get me paid through the Air Force to get my pay. As I approached the building where I was to meet him, he suddenly approached me coming out of the door. I guess he recognized me because I was wearing an Army uniform on an Air Force base. As I saw him in his uniform which had all the medals he had earned during the war and his career, I was flabbergasted at how important he appeared in uniform as a Lt Colonel, and not a hair out of place, not one small thing wrong with his distinguished appearance, and I thought this is my Uncle and I was so impressed knowing what little bit I did about him and his history. We met, introduced ourselves, and he said come with me and we will get you taken care of. As I turned around after getting my monthly pay I realized that he was gone, and I didn't know where. Then I realized what an idiot I was and I was so embarrassed at what I had done meeting him. His name was Don Carroll. I realized That I was so taken aback as a PFC in the US Army, and I had just met my Uncle who had flown in such dangerous conditions in the US Air Force and is know a LT Colonel, and I had not saluted him as we finally met. I was so embarrassed at my lack of respect! That was some 59 years ago, and was never able to talk to him or apologize for what I did, or didn't do. He is gone now, and I'm going on 79, and I haven't even been able to find out where he is buried so that I could go to his grave, and salute him and apologize for that incident. This has bothered me all these years, and still does. I might try the US Air Force Museum in Dayton, Ohio, to see if they could help me locate his burial place this 4 of July. I hope they can. Please watch this short video, and if it reminds you of a lost one of yours, remember them this 4th of July, and visit their grave once more if you can. I'm done babbling now.

https://biggeekdad.com/2013/10/food-city-salute/

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

This might help you. https://www.cem.va.gov/
--Bob

AirWalter Loc: Tipp City, Ohio

Thank you so much. I will certainly give it a try.

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

Walter, here's another site you might explore. https://www.findagrave.com/
--Bob

PhotogHobbyist Loc: Bradford, PA

I had an older half-sister who died a few years back. She had married an Army Sargent who was killed only a few months later in Vietnam. He was buried on my 22 birthday while I was in the Navy. I am not sure where he is buried but would certainly like to visit him there. I attended his funeral and cannot hear "Taps" without a few tears.

Excellent video, thank you for the link.

Geegnome

Try Fold3.com. Lots of options for finding soldiers that have left us.

Najataagihe

::chuckle::

Let me assure you it was NOT taken as disrespect!


A similar thing happened to me a few years ago.

One of my cousins (who I had not seen in many years) was an Army SFC and our extended family was gathering for a funeral. He had seen someone in uniform at visitation, the day before, but I changed as soon as I got to the house, so he never knew which of us cousins it was.

The next day he spotted me as I got out of the car and bolted to get to the house before I disappeared. His reaction? "I knew you were was also in the Army, but I didn't know you were my boss!"

(I was a Captain, at the time.)

Forget a salute or even a "Howdy", he was so gob-smacked, all he could do was stand there with his mouth open, until I hugged him.

It turns out no one told him I had gone to OCS at 19 and gotten a commission.


To tell the truth, I never even realized there was no salute, until you posted this - it is that unimportant.

Respect goes both ways, takes many forms, and is always earned.

A salute is unnecessary, when the respect is understood.


A PFC might not realize that, but a 79-year-old veteran should.

If you didn't, you do now.


I doubt he even noticed.


Huah.

AirWalter Loc: Tipp City, Ohio

In 1961, in basic trainer, we were taught that we were actually saluting the uniform, not the man, even though that didn't really sound right.

starlifter Loc: Towson, MD

Thanks. I'm an air force vet, and get this my name is the same as the young soldier in the video.

Stephan G

Saluting the uniform is the protocol.

For a time, it was deemed as a protocol to salute vehicles with officer decals on the bumpers. This was corrected when it was complained that the salute was for the officer, not for anyone driving the car.

Saluting the man is understood when it is done for the man. In this, it is a recognition of the person rather than the office he/she occupies.

Stephan G

I hope you find his location.

As to not saluting him when you met him for the first time, you did nothing wrong. He recognized you and by-passed the forms. You did know that you had to snap to "attention" before you salute him? As for "respect", your actions spoke for you and that was sufficient as a salute to him.

A small bit of trivia. When in a group, it is the ranking individual that salutes the higher ranking officer approaching the group. Everyone else snaps to attention. They do not salute.

FWIW: One could get "loans" from the Red Cross and the USO in case of needs. Also, one can get paid through the branches of the US military with proofs of service. I think the VA used to do pay outs in this way as well. I have been out of the loop for a long while, so things may have changed.

scallihan Loc: Tigard, OR

Your "babbling" is very touching and indeed brought more than one tear to my eye. My daddy was career Navy, his four brothers served with distinction in the Army and Air Force, all during WWII and all survived. One does not have to be a "patriot" in the political sense to be a patriotic person who appreciates our military personnel. Thank you for posting.

ad8rr Loc: Jackson, Michigan

Thank you for this touching post. I just posted a link to it on Facebook. I am a 75-year-old veteran of the Vietnam War, having served in the U.S. Navy and with the U.S. Marine corps as a Hospital Corpsman. It was wonderful to see the respect and love for each other displayed by those 2 men.

nervous2 Loc: Provo, Utah

Nice video. Thank you for including.

Stephan G

Suggestion:

If you can obtain his last station, you might be able to contact the First Sergeant of the unit to see if you can get obit information as to location of burial. Or some other source for that information. He may be listed in a group organization. Two Donald Carroll popped up when I googled bronze star medal. If you could recall a specific medal, you might be able to find him by doing a search for the list of that particular medal winner.

One thing you can do to assuage your sense of guilt for the omission. Go to a local military burial site and salute the flag that is flying. If you like, ask as to when the flag is brought down in the evening. Then stand with the setting sun in the West, do a salute as it comes down. That will be for all who have died and your familial relative.

Keep him in your thoughts and tell your youngsters about that moment when you met him.