My dad served in the Korean War with the local Guard unit, the 300th AFA Battalion, which received a Presidential commendation. This memorial was dedicated on Saturday to those heroes and was attended by the Korean General Consulate, who spoke of the gratitude of their nation to those who bought their freedom with their blood.He looks pretty good for an 81 year old, doesn't he? He can still march pretty good (despite an artificial knee) and gives a snappy salute.

He is a great man and I'm proud to be his daughter. He is also a great dad. I've already posted this once, but can't resist posting it again:

The little one is me. **g**

I"m proud of the qualities in me that I get from both my mom and my dad, but one thing I know for sure that I get from my dad is my storytelling moxie. He's a great storyteller, though not everyone knows this. You have to prime the pump the right way or you think he's a quiet, rather shy man.

One of my favorite stories from his time in Korea is the one he tells about building himself a truck, one part at a time. He'd go into the dump,w here the blown apart stuff was and get what he needed. Then he put a camper in the back. He hated sleeping on the ground. **g** Of course, he tells it much better than I do. If you sit down with him and get him talking, you know why my mom fell in love with him and why they've been married for 57 years. (And if you spend much time with my mom, then you know why he fell for her.)

My parents had six children (beating Gov Palin by one!) and my dad started a small refinery that at its height supported over 100 people--with only a high school diploma, a hard work ethic  and his war years as experience.

He's my hero, but I'm proud that he is a hero to the Korean people and to our country. I'm not just glad he gave me life, but thankful to him for values he taught me and for the fine example both he and my mom have always been to me.

I don't have a scanned picture of me with my mom, but I do have these:



thank you to both of you for being who you are and helping to make me who I am.  I love you both!
Perilously yours,
Pauline