Proud Californian

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Comment by NavyDads Admin (Paul) on January 2, 2014 at 8:28am

Good Morning, Blue Angels fans!

Have you heard? We're only 11 weeks out to our first 2014 air show at Naval Air Facility El Centro, Calif. on March 15!

Comment by NavyDads Co-Admin, Gary on December 31, 2013 at 12:50pm

Happy 2014 to you all!

Comment by B'sNukemom&dad⚓️MM on December 31, 2013 at 10:16am

Yes, thank you Scott & Gary for sharing.....

Here's hoping for a Happy and SAFE New Year for All!  Don't ever take anything for granted.....

Comment by NavyDads Co-Admin, Gary on December 28, 2013 at 4:39pm

Got it Scott... God Bless you all as well!

Comment by Scott L. Waller on December 28, 2013 at 4:34pm

Back in the late 60's I did. Have a great weekend too Gary. Heading to the cemetery when the wife gets home from work. God Bless

Comment by NavyDads Co-Admin, Gary on December 28, 2013 at 4:29pm

PFC. Jay Castillo
1973 - 1992
US Army
25th Infantry Division
Schofield Barracks, HI

http://files.usgwarchives.net/ca/sanmateo/cemeteries/ggnational-c6.txt

Comment by NavyDads Co-Admin, Gary on December 28, 2013 at 4:26pm

Scott, I've always been sentimental about my past BIL when telling the story. Greeting a casket or being in front of one is the last place anyone wants to be... But OMG you worked for the Star? I bet if you called around old pals they'd remember this story that was published... The weird thing is... I can't seem to locate any trace of this online... I will leave it at that. Have a great weekend bud!

Comment by Scott L. Waller on December 28, 2013 at 4:13pm

Gary, sorry to hear about this. My wife, Brian, his wife and TJ's family greeted the casket when it came off the plane. His too was a closed casket. A couple of his buddies flew with his body to Germany. His uncle escorted him home from Dover as he was stationed there. Brian and TJ had been friends starting in kindergarten and was like another son to us. Yes I have to remember the good memories of those two together. I know Brian is instilling into his kids to not forget. We had planned on having Mason's first birthday a week late as TJ was to be home on leave. He was buried the day he was to be home. On a lighter note, I used to work for and deliver papers for the Honolulu star bulletin back in the day.

Comment by NavyDads Co-Admin, Gary on December 28, 2013 at 4:09pm

Scott thanks again for sharing... It's how I cope with the grief and the loss...

Comment by NavyDads Co-Admin, Gary on December 28, 2013 at 3:53pm

Scott k got it... Brian must hold him dear till now I know the feeling... Geeze you brought up happy and sad memories for me...

The Army flew us all for free (party of 3, my wife, mother in law and I). We were greeted in Honolulu, HI airport by his closest of friends Army Infantry then driven to our hotel.  I quote "none of them" spoke a word about the incident how it happened, how he was an expert, how he was a sharp shooter with his M16 and so forth, how it should have never happened but showed true compassion and I could see it all in their eyes what they wanted to say... Even the Honolulu Star newspaper called us with some sort of conspiracy theory. Anyhow I ended up in a ravine with a one star general pin pointing his finger where it all happened. Me with one hand on a rope the other recording everything with my camcorder. Obviously I was pretty young at the time myself (mid 20's)  and it did not make any sense to me whatsoever how he described what had happened.

Anyhow -- My BIL's closed casket funeral was complete with the Infantry's roll call and full military honors and his favorite song blasted in the background -- Scorpions "Wind of Change" . I can't hold back the tears until now. My son (active duty in the Navy now) his nephew, knows all about this story and he knows how emotional I get when we talk about this. But there is one thing I always ingrain into his heart and mine... NEVER FORGET!...

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