Grandfather tried to get into WWI, but turned 18 on 11/12/18; a day late. Then he tried getting into WWII as a SeaBee because he had a heavy equipment company, but at 43, the War Dept figured Red Lake County needed him more as his graders were the only rigs keeping the roads clear in Northern MN during the winters the war was on. He was always kind of disappointed he couldn't serve.
Dad and his twin brother enlisted in the Air Force in 1953. 852 graduates in their class at Lackland. 800 went to Korea. Dad and his brother stayed stateside. Always wondered if the Sullivan Bros had something to do with that decision. Dad was an FE on a C-119 Flying Boxcar that flew supply missions to the DEW line north of the Arctic Circle. I still have his parka from those missions - my boy wore it two weeks ago during the Vortex clearing snow. Cool old AF logo on the sleeve. Warm as hell too. He stayed in the reserves for 19 years. Flew supply missions into Gitmo during the Cuban Missile Crisis. Retired DoD after 35 years.
Brother was 5th Group SF. Persian Gulf and Panama. Did some drug interdiction here in the states. Didn't talk about it much.
Both of their folded flags are on mom's mantle.
