In Memory of our Veterans

Veterans Day was created to honor those who served in our many wars since WWI.

It was originally called Armistice Day to commemorate the end of World War I on 11/11/1918 at 11 AM. My Father served in France and survived the Germans attack on his machine gun nest and survived the Spanish flu. His son Ken was in the Army in France during WWII. His son Ray was a Navy pilot in the US, and I followed by serving during the Berlin crisis in the Army. My Uncle Otto was a Marine on Paris Island on 11/11/1918 and was quarantined and didn’t know the war ended on this day. He wrote the following letter to his cousin who was his friend. A bit of Military Nostalgia.

                                                                                                            .  November 11, 1918

                                                                                                                         Paris Island, SC. 

                                                                                                      United States Marines

Dear Cousin John

                   I finally got your address, an it is about time. Amanda wrote me about your trip across and was very glad to hear that you liked it. I had an idea that when I joined the marines, I would get there in short time, but I figure it’s a matter of luck that I’m not.  The time of the rush there were twenty-two of us sent here and we were told we would only be here a month and the time they stopped recruiting we stood by for a transfer, so they couldn’t transfer all of us, so I have been one of the unfortunate ones again. John… it’s hell when you’d like to go, and they hold you back, but I still have hope this week. For most of my friends left last week and there are only about five us old timers still left.  I call us old timers when being here seven months & you’d call it seven years if you were on an island like this.  The flu has just hit this place reasonably for there are about three hundred cases and about forty that has passed away with it. I just hear tonight that they are going to stop inducting them until the flu has stopped.

The island has been quarantined for the last six weeks and we cannot even go in the Y.M.C.A. or a show at the gymnasium where I used to enjoy my evenings.  I only hope it doesn’t stop me from being transferred.

John, if I were told tonight to pack my seabag for overseas duty, I’d be the happiest bird on the island. I sure would like to be over with the rest of the boys. Pray that luck is with me, since being on this sand bar.  I have made one trip to Savannah Ga on a seventy-two hour leave which I can get away every month and I could have gotten a furlough but thought if I’d take one, I’d miss being transferred. So will close until next time hoping you will save a couple of Huns for me.

                                                                With all the luck in the World

                                                                               Your cousin

                                                                                                                                                                                                      Otto Braun

PS: If you have heard from Otto or Bill (Becker) I wish you would send me their address.