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Re: He wasn't any sort of war hero to anyone but me-

Wed Sep 30, 2009 10:17 am

The Inspector wrote:I just learned that my dear old Dad, William R. Downing passed away this evening @ 18:30 9/29/09.
Dad was closing in on 93 and had a good long run at it. He was a code specialist @ Pearl Harbor during WW2 in the Navy and never could really tell anyone what he did, but once he admitted to having something to do with parts of Purple Code breaking. He was no sort of war hero except to me and Mom. He imbued me with the traits of honor, humbleness, courtesy, curiosity, self pride (within limits), self respect, and the desire to always try to finish whatever I'd started good or bad. I just hope I've lived up to his standards-a good man who is missed by me, his grandkids and his great grandkids


Without a doubt he is a hero to me! He would tell me his war stories all the time. I would lay on the floor in front of him and be spell bound! He would start one then ask "did I tell you this one before?" I'd say yes but please tell me again. They never got old. He always understated his roll in the war, I'm not sure if thats because he was such a humble man or if it was because of orders? He told me of his units involvement in downing Yamamoto's plane, and how Yamamoto was like a Swiss watch. If he said I will be here at 0330 he was there at 0259.001 That is one of the reasons downing Yamamoto was made possible. He would get letters from the DOD (?) on occasion stating that there are new declassified things he could talk about. While stationed at Pearl city each one of the code specialist had a Marine guarding them. Their orders were to shoot the specialist if there was the possibility of one getting captured. He painted such vivid stories for me that it was as if I was watching a movie. He had so many stories about his service it would take a book to tell them all. So now I tell his stories to my kids and friends.

So to my Grandpa I say thank you for all of your sacrifices and love you gave us.

Wed Sep 30, 2009 10:51 am

My condolences to you and your family.

Wed Sep 30, 2009 11:10 am

Sorry to hear it. You're in my thoughts.

Wed Sep 30, 2009 11:37 am

Very sorry to hear about your loss. They were and are all heroes.

Dan

Wed Sep 30, 2009 4:45 pm

I'd like to take this opportunity to thank each of you who have expressed their condolences on the passing of my dear old Dad, especially his Grandson 262crew who expressed more than I could in my initial outpouring last night, hard to type through tears.
I now completely believe in the fact that we on this forum are part of a very tight bond of camaraderie and friendship.
In that spirit let me strongly urge each and everyone of who's parents are still alive to get their stories out in the open and recorded.
Secondly, be certain to get ALL the information about who's the lawyer with the Will (is there a will!?!), are you the executor or is someone else? who's the funeral provider.
If they are in a facility, be sure to make arrangements to have them NOT allow ANYONE in to the apartment until you are there (some of my Moms things went missing when she died and Dad was not thinking clearly, and none of it went to the family member promised the item). I've been burning up the phone lines today between my house and various facilities across
Puget Sound trying to track down information and details, who's who, and what's what. It's a darned good thing I have 5000 free minutes a month! I now discover that Dad had several insurance policies but only wrote down the policy numbers, not the carriers of the policies HOOBOY!!! Trying to figure out how to stop his pension, (the lawyers will help me with that they say) trying to find his Social Security number to alert the SSA, on and on and on-
My head aches from trying to find things out and grieving, please get the details while you can! It's tough enough if you have the stuff at hand let alone trying to ferret this stuff out in the past tense and the only person with all the information can't provide any of it any more.
Once again, a very huge THANK YOU to all who either responded or paused for a moment to reflect, we truly are community-and friends, bless each of you

Wed Sep 30, 2009 6:23 pm

INSPECTOR,

Sorry to hear about your Family's loss.

SPANNER

Wed Sep 30, 2009 7:01 pm

Inspector,

Hold in your heart that your Dad is with some pretty good guys. I know how you feel and you must always remain proud.

Here's a couple of guys he's hanging out with now. :wink:

Image

Wed Sep 30, 2009 7:09 pm

Condolences, so sorry to read about your father's passing.

Wed Sep 30, 2009 7:19 pm

He was the best kind of hero - YOURS.

God Bless.

Sorry

Wed Sep 30, 2009 11:00 pm

{{{{{{{{{Bill}}}}}}}}}}}}}} So sorry for your loss. You know that Michael and I are here for you.

He wasn't any sort of hero to anyone but me

Thu Oct 01, 2009 8:14 am

My condolences to you and your family, They Were The Greatest Generation.
Phillip

Thu Oct 01, 2009 2:09 pm

Crap, Inspector and 262, you're getting me all choked up now. Godspeed to him and am extremely sorry for your loss. All of my grandparents have passed, so I know just how hard this is for you. And Inspector, I dread the day that I am in your shoes with my father passing. The simple mention/thought of it upsets me. I will be a wreck. So hang in there. I'm sure it's tough.

Thu Oct 01, 2009 5:29 pm

My deepest condolences and sympathies to you and your family.

My thanks and utmost respect to your father for his service.

May he rest in eternal peace.

Sincerely,

Tony Coulter

Thu Oct 01, 2009 9:20 pm

may you & your family heal quickly & take solace of his ww 2 contribution, & as the core of love for your entire family.

Thu Oct 01, 2009 9:55 pm

My deepest condolences.
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