Happy Memorial Day!

First and foremost, thank you to all who have read my past blog posts and my book, “Homey’s Adventures.” 

I always try to rest on Sunday because Jesus said that he was the lord of the Sabbath. Yesterday was no exception. 

My brother texted me: “I am watching the movie “Sands of Iwo Jima” with John Wayne.” 

I texted back: “Great Movie! I am watching “Dirty Grandpa” with Robert De Niro.”  

My brother responded: “Funny movie.” 

I half-heartedly explained: “It just became available on Netflix.” 

A couple of hours passed, and I texted my brother: “You won, I should have watched the “Sands of Iwo Jima. Dirty Grandpa wasn’t that funny the second time around.” 

Today is Memorial Day and I want to pay tribute to not only my hero father but to all those who served and died for our country. More specifically, I want to honor those 7,000 Marines who died and the 20,000 wounded taking Iwo Jima and who are immortalized by a picture taken by Joe Rosenthal of the Associated Press on February 23, 1945. This photograph won the Pulitzer Prize for photography. 

I have a very personal reason to honor these marines.  My hero father flew 27 missions from Tinian Island to Japan and back during World War II. He was decorated with an Air Medal for saving himself and the lives of his fellow crewmen after an engine of their B29 bomber failed. This was all before the Marines captured Iwo Jima. After Iwo Jima was taken, B29 bombers could land and get fuel and repairs. Iwo was halfway between Tinian and Japan. 

Without the capture of Iwo Jima, a lot more B29 bombers would have been lost. One of those lost could have been my father. Since I was not conceived yet, it could have been me that was lost too! Yes! I have a very personal reason to honor those Marines. 

The John Wayne movie was a tribute to those Marines who fought and died there. This makes it a very special movie for me. John Wayne was a great man, and great patriot along with all those who fought for our freedoms in all our wars. 

I encourage you to go to my website, www.homeysadventures.com. You can read the first two chapters for free, and you can also buy it. Or you can buy it from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and many other fine retailers. Just search for it using the words: Homey’s Adventures by Jim Wish.  

If you liked this blog post, please click on the like button at the bottom of this page. If you Love my work, then please donate to my future writing:  

I liken myself to the Vienna Violinist described in chapter 5 of Homey’s Adventures Too. I play (write) for your enjoyment and mine. God bless you all.