by: jcpstoddard
The heroes of our past
This Memorial Day, May 27, 2013, we are remembering our grandfathers who served our country during World War II.
- Pappaw (James Belton Kennedy)
- Grandpa Pearce (John Joseph Pearce, Sr.)
- Grandpa Loveland (Oren Joel Loveland)
We are especially honoring James Hans Stoddard Peterson who gave his life.
James Belton Kennedy joined the Air Force and served as a flight navigator. He was in a plane that crashed at take-off in North Africa and woke up in a hospital in Casablanca.
He met his sweetheart in Tennessee while training at Memphis Air Force base. They would date every month for a few days while he was stateside. He still remembered her phone number sixty years later!
She made him promise to wear his bible in his pocket over his heart, so that he would be safe.
John Joseph Pearce, Sr. served as a Navy pilot. During training over Boston, his plane malfunctioned. To avoid crash landing in the populated city below him, he splashed down into the river and made the local newspaper.
He continued to serve in the Naval Reserve after the war.
Oren Joel Loveland served in the Navy. He had experience with the phone company. Due to this, he was assigned stateside in the communications department throughout his service.
James Hans Stoddard Peterson joined the Army and fought on the European front. He was wounded in battle, was sent to a hospital, stitched up, and then sent back into battle.
He gave the ultimate sacrifice for our freedoms. He gave his life, in defense of his home, family, loved ones, ideals, and country.
We honor the family heroes of our past! :)