CELEBRATING VETERANS' DAY

 On this Veterans' Day, I wanted to honor my father Donald Sherlock, who served in the US Army from 1951 to 1953.  He served overseas in Korea from 1952 to 1953.  In the above photo, he was celebrating Christmas in 1952 in Korea while his wife and 4 month old baby son celebrated back in Southern California.

Donald was the youngest of 3 sons, all of whom served in the military.  His oldest brother Charles Sherlock served in the Air Force.

His older brother (the middle brother) Edmund Sherlock served in the US Navy during World War II.According to my cousin, Edmund was only 17 years old in this photo. He looks very young. 

Thank you, Dad, Uncle Chuck and Uncle Eddie for your service to our country and your devotion to your families!

HAPPY VETERAN'S DAY

Every Veteran's Day, I think about my Dad and his two older brothers who served in the Armed Forces.  According to family history, Charles (known as Chuck and 2nd from the right) served in the Air Force while Eddie (with the white sailor hat) served in the Navy during World War II.  My dad Donald (on the far left) served in the Korean War from 1951-53.

My Dad never spoke with us kids about his time in the military.  Interesting enough, I probably have more photos of my Dad from 1951 to 1953 than I do from the rest of his life.  Every time I look at this photo, I have to laugh because my Dad probably wanted his photo taken with this sign not because it was on the border of North Korea but because it said Notre Dame on it.  My dad was a huge Notre Dame fan!

So, to my Dad, Uncle Eddie, Uncle Chuck, several of my cousins and 2 of my nephews as well as all veterans -- thank you so much for your service, we owe you a debt of gratitude!  Happy Veteran's Day!

MILITARY MONDAY

Veteran Day Tribute --

I am very proud of my Dad (Donald Sherlock) and his two brothers, Edmund and Charles "Chuck", who served in the military.  Edmund Sherlock (2nd from the left) served in the Navy during World War II.  He enlisted in 1944 when he was 18 years old.  Eldest brother Chuck (4th from the left) also served during World War II, but he served in the Air Force.

 Donald served in the Army during the Korean Conflict in 1951 to 1953.  Below is a photo of him (on the right) with his section leader Keith Daily.  This photo was taken in Korea.

Happy Veteran's Day to all of those who have served in the military (both past and present -- including my nephew Wally) and a huge debt of gratitude to all of you  for your service to our country.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

It's Throwback Thursday!  I guess that is a bit redundant with genealogy since isn't it all in the past.  The photo was taken in 1983.  My cousin Sean was getting married in November so for my aunt decided the theme for the wedding shower would be Halloween.  My Dad and his two brothers joined in the merriment and the spirit of the event.  Uncle Chuck was the headless man/woman, my Dad was a fisherman (already caught a can of sardines) and Uncle Eddie was a belly dancer.  I was sure happy that I had brought my camera with me to the party to take photos.

Wishing you all a Happy Halloween or as they say in Irish --

Oíche Shamhna Shona Duit (EE-hyeh HOW-nuh HUN-uh ditch*)

SIBLING SATURDAY

             Today would have been my Dad's 84th birthday.  Donald Joseph Sherlock was born on 2 Mar 1929 in Chicago, Illinois.  Here he is in a photo with his two older brothers.  Donald is the cute one to the far left.  In the middle is his brother Edmund (known as Eddie) and on the right Charles (who always went by the name Chuck since his dad was also named Charles).

             They were very close siblings -- living most of their life in the same town.  They raised their families in the same town (Van Nuys, California) sending their children at times to the same elementary and high school. Only when they were much older did two of them move away -- Eddie to Vista (in San Diego County) and Chuck to Ventura (near the beach north of Los Angeles).  Donald lived in the same house in Van Nuys that he bought 6 months prior to my birth in 1955 until his death in 2001.

            Happy Birthday, Dad!  We miss you and love you!