I'm not sure why, but it seems many of the members of my extended family have served in the US military over several generations. I'm not sure why, it's just kind of strange.
I served in the US Army (1982-1988 - Granada was the big event then)
My dad served in the US Army, WW2 and the Korean war
My daughter served in the US Navy during the Gulf War crisis on the USS Eisenhower.
My daughter's husband also served during that time in the Navy on the USS Eisenhower. That's how they met.
My father had 5 brothers and 2 sisters. Of the 6 boys, 5 of them served in the Navy and US Army (WW2)
Of the 2 sisters (my aunts), both of their husbands served, one in the Air Force, the other in the Army, (WW2)
My sister served in the US Army (Vietnam era) and also married in the Army to another US Army soldier (Vietnam era) (my brother-in-law).
My other sister's (significant "other") is a US Army Vietnam vet.
I have first cousins on my dads side that served in the Air Force, Navy, and Army.
On my wife's side of the family, well ... she married me and both our children were born at DeWitt Army Hospital on Fort Belvoir, Virginia.
My wife's dad was a US Marine (Vietnam era).
My wife's oldest brother was US Navy.
Her younger brother was US Coast Guard.
She has a niece and her husband that is currently Air Force.
And I'd like to add a couple more "honorable mentions," my mother's brother. My mother is first generation German, married my dad after WW2 ended. Her brother served in the German Army during WW2 but was wounded by a mortar shell. Fortunately, there was a tree blocking his body, but his arm and leg were in front of the tree when the mortar went off, blasting him unconscious.
When he woke up, he was a Prisoner of War, caught by the US Army. He was given medical treatment and then shipped to the US where he spent the duration of WW2 as a prisoner of war at Camp Chase, near Columbus, Ohio:
More info, click here. He learned to speak English and when the war was over, returned to Germany. He married, eventually had a son, and lived a peaceful and quiet life, and finally retired in pharmaceuticals. (Borg Warner). He died in the late 1980's.
Also,
My mother's sister (who was first generation German also), married a friend of my Dad. He was Polish, serving as an aleye to the US in the Polish Army serving beside my dad. My mother's sister and husband eventually migrated to Warren, Ohio and became US citizens.
Koodos to all of them. As far as I know, no one in my family, close family members or somewhat distant, died while serving. Everyone returned to civilian life eventually.
