On this Memorial Day, we honor those
who made the ultimate sacrifice in the service of our country.
Among them were airmen downed in Vietnam and Laos
who were never accounted for.
On my father's second tour, he was involved with
the MACV-JPRC (Military Assistance Command Vietnam
Joint Personnel Recovery Center) that was part of
MACV-SOG (Studies and Observation Group).
Sadly, in spite of great risks which sometimes
cost the lives of JPRC personnel, none were recovered.
http://macvsog.cc/operation_crimson_tide.htm
After my father passed away, I learned
that Seiko watches were issued to JPRC personnel.
The watch pictured below was my father's.
I do not know if it was issued to him
or if he bought it for himself.
The original band is lost to time, but he wore this watch
until he could no longer move enough to keep it wound.
The point that I would like to make, my friends, is this.
If you have any family members who served, be curious.
Use this day to begin a narrative.
Ask them questions. Get them talking.
In this way, you will also honor their brothers who died,
who cannot speak for themselves,
and keep their stories alive, too.
Let me assure you, the day will come
when you will discover things and have questions
that you will yearn to ask about
and your loved one will not be here to answer you.
