hetchy
10-19-2006, 06:29 PM
We are taking my Dad home to his childhood home of Ojai Ca. tomorrow to put him at rest for eternity. The other name for that beautiful area is the Valley of Shangra-la. He passed away on July 20th this year suddenly. We had a memorial service for him at that time.
Dads last day on earth was a good one. He went to the the yearly Okinawia Veterans breakfast, went over to the University of the Pacific to watch one of our projects. Even at 81 he was still very active in our construction company. We valued his experiance gained from building worldwide for more than 50 years. After work he went to his trainers and had a workout which is something he took up late in life and helped keep him active. At home that evening he had a glass of wine with our Mom, his wife of 55 years, like they have for years and talked about their day. So it was a perfect day for him. He went quickly early the next morning like he would have chosen to do when it was his time. I know he still had a lot he wanted to do on this earth but not to be.
Dad enlisted in the Navy at the age of 17 during WW2 serving most of the war on the destroyer USS Bache. The ship was hit by a Kamakzi plane on Mothers Day. Forty three of Dads shipmates and friends were killed. He talked about the war but never in much detail. I think he held a lot inside all this time. He did write his war story which is included in soon to be published book, volume 2 War Stories of Ojai Valley Vets. I'm glad he wrote this. It must have been good for him and the story now lives on for his decendents. Each year he would attend his ships reunion and when he returned he would talk of how each year there were fewer men there. That brave generation of men and women are leaving this earth in large numbers now. I'd like to thank all of this countrys soldiers, past and present for their service and what some of their friendships meant to my Dad.
Robert Francis Davis Sr. was a great father, husband, citizen and just a great guy.
Bob
Dads last day on earth was a good one. He went to the the yearly Okinawia Veterans breakfast, went over to the University of the Pacific to watch one of our projects. Even at 81 he was still very active in our construction company. We valued his experiance gained from building worldwide for more than 50 years. After work he went to his trainers and had a workout which is something he took up late in life and helped keep him active. At home that evening he had a glass of wine with our Mom, his wife of 55 years, like they have for years and talked about their day. So it was a perfect day for him. He went quickly early the next morning like he would have chosen to do when it was his time. I know he still had a lot he wanted to do on this earth but not to be.
Dad enlisted in the Navy at the age of 17 during WW2 serving most of the war on the destroyer USS Bache. The ship was hit by a Kamakzi plane on Mothers Day. Forty three of Dads shipmates and friends were killed. He talked about the war but never in much detail. I think he held a lot inside all this time. He did write his war story which is included in soon to be published book, volume 2 War Stories of Ojai Valley Vets. I'm glad he wrote this. It must have been good for him and the story now lives on for his decendents. Each year he would attend his ships reunion and when he returned he would talk of how each year there were fewer men there. That brave generation of men and women are leaving this earth in large numbers now. I'd like to thank all of this countrys soldiers, past and present for their service and what some of their friendships meant to my Dad.
Robert Francis Davis Sr. was a great father, husband, citizen and just a great guy.
Bob