We Lose a Dedicated Hattaras Boater

[spartonboat1]

Well, I am very sorry to report that one of the kindest, dearest men on this earth went to meet his maker on Feb 11, this year, 2011, at the age of 93, and would have been 94 in March on St. Patty's Day.

That would be my Dad, who I cannot document ever spoke ill of anyone ever, as well as never raised his voice to anyone, either inside or outside of the family (including me!). Why or how he was able to be able to be that soft-spoken, he would not share with me, but he was of the WWII and depression era generation; his brother, also recently deceased, was that way as well, my cousins tell me. To DlCameron2, he was your MBA classmate Scott's Grandfather; Scott was the eldest Grandchild.

Well, from the minute he laid eyes eyes on our '72 43' DCFB Hatt, he literally cried. That was in 1997, when he was 79 I believe. He was always on board for the maiden Spring Voyage, which was Memorial Day Weekend and for the final Fall Voyage, after Labor Day Weekend. I can remember when we were headed out of Detour, MI, where we had picked up my brother-in-law as party on board. Dad liked to run up the DD's. He was at the helm and he asked "...can we go fast now?"- i.e. wind up the DD's, since fast is a relative concept in an old Hatt. He always liked on come anytime he could and would "hover", waiting to take the helm. From there, no matter how tired, he always stood the watch at the wheel, as long as I would let him.

He was also on board for our/my ill-fated voyage into 17' seas and 55mph winds in Oct, 2009. Somebody would ask him about that day and he would get a wry smile, because I think he enjoyed that crazy day and ride, in some way, since my brother was also on board, which was rare. In 1929, he helped his father sail a hand-built sailboat from Northport, MI around to Cheboygan and that was through the same area of water where we encountered the big seas. That is a long and big stretch of water for a 20' wood sailboat!

After he returned from Hawaii, after WWII, where he an officer shipping materiel to the war-fighters in the Pacific Isles, he was the founder with my Uncle and 4 others of Co. C of the Nat. Guard. Since he was the only commissioned officer in that area of N. MI, he was also the original Commander. He was the Memorial Day Parade Marshall in Cheboygan, MI for 50+ years, in which he took great pride.

My mother and he would have been married 70 years, next year, in 2012. While he was under drugs in his final days, he would repeat over and over "Mother is Wonderful, Mother is Wonderful" and two of them cared for each other deeply.

So I say, three longs and two shorts, on the horns. I also raise my hand in a final salute to him, on his passing. Never more will he be on board, but he will always be sailing with us in spirit! As he would say in he last days, "May the Lord bless you and keep you and make his face shine on you and my he take a liking to you!".

 

[lumina]

Sparton,

You have my very very deepest sympathies, but I am thankful for you as well, to have had such a good man, a loving parent and a friend for so many years.

My dad was of the same vintage, severed proudly in the Seabees in WWII and was cut from much the same stalk.

My Dad died unexpectedly at 80 two years ago and I swear there isn't a day that goes by that I don't think about him and miss him, sometimes it's still painful but more often it's with a grin. You will find this to be true as well.

I hope you were fortunate enough to be with him when he passed, I missed it by 3 hours and regret it so much.

I think its wonderful your Hatt could be so much a part of your shared experience, and I have no doubt whatsoever that he will be standing next to you guiding you and helping you skipper.

My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.

Gene Ingalls, proud son of Harvey.

 

[bigbill]

sorry to hear of your loss. our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family

 

[ppat324]

We am so sorry for your loss. Only, you haven't really lost. You will always have wonderful memories such as the ones you have told us about.

God bless you and your family and know that the Hatteras family is thinking of you during this time. You are in my prayers..ppat and ws

 

[Nick]

Sorry to hear of your loss! Your dad evidently left his mark and you will have fond memories of him for a long time!

 

[Avenger]

Very sorry for your loss. My dad is gone too so I know how it feels.

It sounds like yours had a long and full life and a wonderful family. We should all be so blessed.

 

[DLCameron2]

Quincy, you, Scott and your entire family have my deepest sympathy. The good news is your Dad left you with such fond memories and the lasting gift of Love. Stay strong and enjoy the memories. 2011 has been a tough year so far.

DC

 

[saltshaker]

My deepest sympathies to you and your family. Losing a parent is a difficult thing and one you never fully get used to. You had been blessed with a great father and friend for many years. Best thing you can do to honor your father is to pass those memories along to your family and friends.

 

[StratPlan61]

Spartanboat, I salute your father, appreciate his military service and offer my sympathies for your loss. My father also was a WWII vet - they remain our greatest generation. I will share this sad news with my friends that also commanded at the Cheboygan armory, still today a great military unit!

 

[Boatnut]

Our sincere sympathy, and prayers are with you.

 

[nor'easter]

I shared this with my wife. We wish fair winds and following seas for your dad. I am sure he felt as blessed to have his family as you all feel to have had him.

 

[spartonboat1]

Spartanboat, I salute your father, appreciate his military service and offer my sympathies for your loss. My father also was a WWII vet - they remain our greatest generation. I will share this sad news with my friends that also commanded at the Cheboygan armory, still today a great military unit!

Thanks for the kind remarks all, which I assure you is appreciated. His passing was the lead headline and front page story, in the local Cheboygan paper.

Regarding the Armory, I used to 'play' in the original Armory, as a tyke, when Dad would go in for various reasons. The 'new' armory was built in 1961. Dad was frustrated that after '911' the old veterans were not allowed in the Armory to pick up their usual weapons, WWI rifles, for use in the Memorial Day ceremonial 21 Gun Salutes. But, yes, it is very fine local Nat. Guard group!

I knew several of Dad's friends who served in WWII. A few in the the Pacific, including the local barber "Larry" (Marines), long time friend Orville Wheelock (Marine CB), and my Uncle Dick Greenless (deceased, Maritime in Pacific). Also, Bob Greenwood, US Army Tank Corps. They all saw significant action.

One friend of Dad's I did not know, by the name of Don Massey was KIA in the D-Day jump over Flanders I believe. He is buried there. I did know his parents, Ernie and Nanette Massey, who were extremely nice people.

Regarding the fellows I did and do know, Larry said his ship was shot up, or torpedoed and sunk "out from under me", so he was sent shore-side for the rest of the war. Larry told me "There were 15,000 Marines on shore, so I never had a shortage of customers!".

Orville was in some of the worst island invasions, and he told me there 4 major ones- Saipan, Tarawa, Guadacanal?, and Iwo Jima(?)- I will have to make sure I write them down next time I see him. He says the fighting was fierce and he was wounded, "sent back to a ship to recover, then sent back to the fighting". He said one island invasion was only 72 hours long, but extremely fierce. Orville was a big, strong, athletic man, as were his sons. He could have played football for UCLA, "but came back home to Cheboygan instead". To this day, he has no appreciation (very polite term) for anyone driving a Japanese car.

Bob Greenwood said he was in the Battle of the Bulge, as Tank Commander, where he lost his tank turret and three comrades were killed; he was the lone survivor. I went to HS with all Bob's son's, without knowing anything about their father's WWII background!

My Uncle Dick was a Maritime Officer and commissioned three ships. The family was not happy, when he married my Dad's sister Arlen, because, although he was a 'local boy' he was a rough talking 'salt'. However, I always thought he was a nice, man, but on the job he was probably pretty direct. Dick and Ar both passed several years ago.

Dick was in the famous/infamous Battle of Leyte Gulf, which included one of the worst Pacific Typhoons ever, besides being one of the most significant WWII US Navy battles. That typhoon is documented to have resulted in the sinking of several Navy Ships, due to the high winds and huge seas in the weather. Uncle Dick once told me that "...ships would go by during the Typhoon, at high speed in the huge seas, with men literally screaming from the decks for help". When he told me that, when I was quite younger, I did not realize how significant a storm it had been!

During the Battle, his ship was shot up by Japanese aircraft and he took a US Destroyer under tow, which had been badly damaged. He pulled sailors from the flaming waters, and towed the destroyer out of the fuel soaked waters, which were aflame. Later the next day, the destroyer sank. Much of this is out on a USCG website.

So thank you for the remarks and allowing me to post information on the actions of the Greatest Generation.

 

[yachtsmanbill]

Hey Quincy... I too am sorry for your loss. Its so sad to hear of that generations' passing. I wish so many times that I had written down some of my dads stories; they tend to get clouded when told from memory...
My dad work at Grebe ship in Chicago during the war and one of the minesweepers (YMS 421) that he delivered new was sunk in that Leyte gulf typhoon. Also had an uncle who was a tanker in the battle of the bulge and was killed and buried there with a CMOH posthumously. His son, my cousin, was born 4 days later. All those people are gone now, and it pains me to not be able to listen to those stories first hand.
You may consider a note about your dad in Boatnerd... theres a lot of people up your way that would no doubt remember your dad as well.

Peace BRO... ws

 

[Finalee]

Quincy thank you for sharing those stories. Sounds like you all had many a good time.

 

[spartonboat1]

Hey Quincy... I too am sorry for your loss. Its so sad to hear of that generations' passing. I wish so many times that I had written down some of my dads stories; they tend to get clouded when told from memory...
My dad work at Grebe ship in Chicago during the war and one of the minesweepers (YMS 421) that he delivered new was sunk in that Leyte gulf typhoon. Also had an uncle who was a tanker in the battle of the bulge and was killed and buried there with a CMOH posthumously. His son, my cousin, was born 4 days later. All those people are gone now, and it pains me to not be able to listen to those stories first hand.
You may consider a note about your dad in Boatnerd... theres a lot of people up your way that would no doubt remember your dad as well.

Peace BRO... ws

YB, thanks very much for your post. I must admit I am very impressed that you have a CMOH in your family's background!

I hope you do not mind that I mention in this same thread that my Dad's Uncle Quincy Gilmore (Gen's sister Sophia was Dad's G'mother) was a West Pt Grad (1st in Class) before the Civil War. During the Civil War, he commanded about 25,000 troops at one point. Dad kept a little shrine to Gen Gilmore in one corner of his living room, where he had many CW books and a CW sword, a long time family heirloom.

He was the 1st General to de-segregate his troops in the CW and specify that they carry weapons in battle- a major decision, since under Federal Law at the time, it was illegal for African-Americans to carry weapons in combat. I have reason to believe that the movie 'Glory' troops were under his command. Dad' G'father Daniel was placed in charge of African-American veterans affairs after the CW- no doubt since he was a brother-in-law to Gen Gilmore. Both of their names are carved in a downtown Cleveland, OH War Memorial. (if any of the above is slightly inaccurate, I would appreciate any updates for the record!).

That is a good suggestion about Boatnerd- I'll see what I can do.

 

[Jaxfishgyd]

Lost my dad in 1982.... And still talk to him daily........

 

[Freeebird]

My sincere condolences on the loss of your father. Cherish those memories and he will always be with you.

 

[lumina]

To the Greatest Generation !!!!!! Thank you !!

 

[CTdave]

Sparton
My depest condolences.
I lost my dad just two years ago. He was 90. They could live to be 200 and we wouldn't be ready for them to go.
I think it was something in the water back then because I will say without hesitation that my dad was your dad's equal. A kind man, honest as can be and a true gentleman.
He too served in WWII under General Patton in the Super Sixth & after the Battle Of The Bulge, being first into the concentration camp Buchenwald and the rest of the horrors of war, my dad wouldn't speak about it either. I found out all about his time from the V.A. after his funeral.
They were a one of a kind breed. The world today made them both sick to their stomachs but they still found the best in everyone. There will never be men like these gentlemen ever again.

My prayers to you and your family.

David

 

[CTdave]

Spartan
Not to take away from your post & your dad but I just read all of the posts and see you dad was in the Bulge as a tank commander! Holy cow!! My dad drove a scout tank during the Bulge. My dad was a Captain & survived a direct hit (unfortunately the others did not survive). He refused the purple heart because he felt his wounds did not deserve it and he knew his mom would be worried sick. Dad ended up getting into a replacement tank a few days later and continued on.
My Dad was in Pattons "Super Sixth", the 231st BN heavy field artillary. many books written about these guys.

The honor guards said to me at my dads funeral and I will pass the same onto you, congratulations and I salute you for having a true hero for a father and god bless that you had him for so long.

David