The November 11th date for Veterans Day was originally chosen because it was intended to mark the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month of 1918 when the armistice for World War I went into effect – “the war to end all wars”.
Today that description breaks our hearts because that glorious, hopeful dream never became a reality. ‘The war to end all wars” was followed by six major wars our country has fought in: World War II, and the Korean, Vietnam, Persian Gulf, Afghanistan and Iraq Wars, along with other devastating conflicts.
Most of our American families had members who served our country in those struggles and during our brief interims of peace. Just to remind us, I’m still trying to construct/maintain/update our own family’s list of all those boots on the ground, in the skies and on the seas. It’s a humbling experience.
To make additions of those I left out, or to make corrections or add detail, please use “Comments” on this blog, or email me at fordvid@gmail.com, If you can contribute a photo, especially good would be of the person in uniform, or at least, the approximate age they were when they served.
These are the names compiled so far, along with whatever details or photos we could find. I’ll list them by family group.
THE FORD LINE:
Donald Francis Ford (my-brother-in-law):U.S. Air Force, lifetime career of 32 years during WWII, Korean and Vietnam wars. 2nd Armored Division in Europe during WWII, engaged in Battle of the Bulge and other conflicts. Had 3 meritorious awards and a bronze star. Earned a Ph.D. during service. Trained in Latin American development, reached rank of full Colonel before retirement.
Robert Edward Ford (my brother-in-law): U.S Navy 1943-1946 radioman, served 3 years on ships in the Pacific Ocean Theater.
Gene Alan Ford (my husband): U.S. Navy Air Force 1946-1948, Airman, control tower operator at Naval Air Station in Alameda, California following WWII.
Daniel Lee Ford (my nephew): 20 year career in U.S. Air Force,1966-1986. Served as Bomb-Navigation Technician, Missile Technician, Associate Engineer in the U.S. and in South Korea. Awarded numerous medals and commendations. After retirement as Air Force Master Sergeant. earned additional degrees in electrical energy and power and in engineering. Also worked at the Hanford Nuclear Site and then Civil Service for the Army 1st Signals Brigade in South Korea,
Leslie Ann Ford Sully (my niece): U.S. Army Captain, medical services officer. Served with the Army Medical Logistics Command in Germany, and was deployed to Saudi Arabia during Iraq War. I think she procured and dispatched medical supplies during that war. Since leaving the service, she worked as a public information officer for the U.S. Army Recruiting Battalion in South Carolina and now works at Fort Jackson as the media relations officer.
Henry S. Sully (Leslie’s husband): U.S. Army, Captain. (Details to be compiled.)
THE GORMAN LINE:
Jacob L. Johnson (my great-grandfather): Civil War, Union Army, 138th Infantry, 1864. Buried in South Dakota in 1933 at age 86 with full military honors.
Leo Francis Gorman (my uncle): U.S. Navy following World War I.
James Michael Gorman (my father): U.S. Merchant Marines, seaman, following World War I.
James Donald Gorman (my brother): U.S. Army, served in Korea at ending period of War.
Richard John Gorman (my brother): U.S. Army, following Korean War. Enlisted in 1957 for 3 years. Specialist 4 Machine Accounting Specialist. After discharge, worked at the Pentagon as a computer programmer, and later as a G-5 computer/programmer/analyst for the Federal Reserve.
Robert Brown (husband of my niece Elizabeth Gorman Brown): U.S. Navy, 28 years of active duty. Graduate of West Point (undergraduate); Naval Postgraduate School; Commander Staff College. Career highlights: Counter-intelligence in Germany for 8 years, United States Defense Attache to Armenia for 2 years; Somalia with United Nations on Peacekeeping Mission.
Arlin Kermit Longfield (my cousin): U.S. Army, WWII.
Helen Longfield (my cousin Arlin’s wife): U.S.Army. (Details to be compiled).
Edmund Carlton Longfield (my cousin): U.S. Navy, WWII.
Russell “Sonny” Merrifield (my cousin):
Donald Covey: (my son-in-law Brad Covey’s father): U.S. Marines, Korean War, fought in the 17 day battle at the Chosin Reservoir in Korea, considered one of the most brutal battles ever fought in U.S. military history.
Robert Carlson Opsvig (my son-in-law Eric Opsvig’s father): at age 17, joined the U.S. Marines and served for 3 years before Korean War.
John Thomas Opsvig (my son-in-law Eric Opsvig’s uncle): U.S. Air Force, WWII, 1st Lieutenant, Pilot 449th Fighter Squadron 51st Fighter Group. Missing in action over Hangzhou, China since 1944, declared dead on February 7, 1946 at age 24. Awarded the Air Medal and the Purple Heart. Has a memorial marker in his home town cemetery in Minot, South Dakota, and his name has been inscribed on the Walls of the Missing at the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial in the Philippines.
Theodore Julius Lund (my son-in-law Eric Opsvig’s uncle): U.S. Navy, served in the South Pacific during WWII.
Raymond Dell Brown (my son-in-law Curt Warden’s uncle): U.S. Air Force Pilot following WWII. Active during Korean and Vietnam Wars and during the Berlin Corridor Crisis in 1960. Achieved rank of Major. Now Retired.
THE FITZPATRICK LINE
James Thomas Fitzpatrick, Jr (my brother-in-law Tommy’s brother): U.S. Marine Corps, WWII, Pacific Conflict
Irving James Fitzpatrick (my brother-in-law Tommy’s brother): U.S. Army, WWII, 1942-1946, Corporal, radar plotter/air traffic controller with the 13th Air Force Signal Headquarter Company. Participated in battles and campaigns in the Philippines, Borneo, China, western Pacific, Luzon and New Guinea. Was awarded many medals and commendations for his service while enlisted.
Edward Ray Fitzpatrick (my brother-in-law Tommy’s brother): U.S. Army, WWII, 1942-46 Staff Sergeant. Served 27 months overseas in the Pacific Theater of Operations. Supervised 50 men and instructed enlisted men in the employment of basic weapons. Participated in battles and campaigns in the Philippines, Borneo, China, the Western Pacific, Luzon and New Guinea. Awarded many medals and commendations for service during his enlistment.
Helen May Schmidt Fitzpatrick (Ed’s wife): U.S.Navy, World War II. 1944-1946. Achieved rank of Specialist (Q) Second Class
Leo Lewis Fitzpatrick (my brother-in-law Tommy’s brother): U.S. Army WWII, 1942-1945, 3952nd Quartermaster Truck Corps. Corporal, served as a driver of 10 ton Mack diesel trucks hauling equipment to Russia. Participated in battles and campaigns in the Rhineland and Central Europe, including the Battle of the Bulge. Awarded many medals and commendations for his service while enlisted.
Donie Lyle Fitzpatrick (my brother-in-law Tommy’s brother): U.S. Marine Corps 1954-1956 rank of Corporal.
Bernard (Larry) Driscoll (married to Barbara fFitzpatrick Driscoll): U.S. Army WWII.
Lester May (married to Shirley Fitzpatrick May): U.S. Navy WWII.
Ray Campbell (husband of Judy Fitzpatrick Campbell): U.S. Army, WWII
Colin Kelly Fitzpatrick: U.S. Army, Vietnam War.
Michael Fitzpatrick (son of Ed Fitzpatrick): U.S. Air Force 1969–1972 Vietnam era. Medical service specialist, Staff Sergeant.
Barbara Ann Meiswinkel “Bonnie” Fitzpatrick ( wife of Michael Fitzpatrick): U.S. Air Force, 1967-1971. General duty staff nurse, obtained the rank of Captain. Stationed in California, Japan, and Thailand.
James Brennan Fitzpatrick (Leo Fitzpatrick’s son): U.S. Army, 1967-69 Viet Nam war, combat medic., SP4(T). He was a supervisor of the 618th Medical Company, 65th Med. Gp. Eighth Army.
John Lawrence Driscoll (son of Larry and Barbara (Fitzpatrick) Driscoll): U.S. Air Force during Vietnam era.1970-1972 regular and 1972-1976 reserve. Aircraft mechanic. Achieved rank of sergeant. Stationed in California and Germany.
Kyle J. Burns (Iving’s grandson – son of Janet Fitzpatrick Davis: U.S. Army Infantry 1997-2012, Sergeant. Operation Southern Watch 1999, Operation Iraqi Freedom 2003, Operation Jump Start 2006.
Dylan Melchior (my great-nephew, son of Dan and Rene (Fitzpatrick) Melchior): U.S. Air Force 2013-2021, Staff Sergeant, 823rd Red Horse Squadron one of only four active-duty units of its kind in the Air Force, executing construction projects for the Air Force, Department of Defense and civilian community. Served in the continental U.S., Afghanistan, Qatar, Al Dhafra, UAE, Agadez, and Africa. Received an early (medical) retirement after 8 years of service.
Bradley James Fitzpatrick (Donie’s grandson. His parents are Greg and Kim Fitzpatrick): U.S. Army, Captain
Keith Fitzpatrick (Irving’s grandson, son of Dan and Lisa Fitzpatrick. U.S. Army
If you’ve read this far, you have probably noodled out that this is still a “work-in-progress”. Much of the heavy lifting was provided by my nieces Rene and Chris and by their Aunt Lola. And also by the amazing genealogical biography of the Fitzpatrick family that was compiled and published by Kelly Fitzpatrick. It’s known in the family as “the Green Book” and it’s a treasure.
Finally, for this Veterans Day, here’s a 21 gun salute to honor all living veterans and those who died for us. https://youtu.be/4fiPZBQqRFY
Ok! Ready to kick back and put your feet up!! This was awesome Patty. Thank you for pulling this all together. It was a privilege to have you ask me to help. This was all you though.
Please, if there is any more info that we don’t have, reach out to us.
Wow. What a legacy of service!
Thank you for assembling this brave group of men and women who courageously dedicated part of their life’s for protecting and defending others. So many selfless and hard working individuals in one family!