Friday, November 11, 2016

Veteran's Day 2016


I am proud to be a member of a family that has served this country in all of the military branches and through many, many wars and cold wars, starting with the American War for Independence.
On Veteran's Day 2016, I honor my family members who have served in the USA military.  

My father, James G. Gilbert, a real "horse soldier",  served in the U.S. 17th Cavalry in the Western states guarding the Mexican Border many years before WWI and later deployed to Hawaii during WWI dec

Wilbur Cockrell - Army WWI - Uncle dec 
James Norman Gilbert - Navy, Ret, WWII also Chicago Police Department Retired - Brother dec (Pictured with my sister, Katherine Elaine Gilbert Davis)

Robert P. Perry - Army WWII Served under General MacArthur & Reserves - Uncle dec

John E. Perry - Army WWII Went all the way with General Patton - Uncle dec
Thomas D. Perry - Army WWII (KIA buried in France) - Uncle

Arthur L. Perry - Navy Seabees WWII - Uncle
Uncle Leo was to young to enlist but was accepted in the Seabees. He served in the Pacific Islands building runways. dec
Thomas Gooch - Army WWII - Uncle dec
William Roy Adams - Navy, WWII, USS Ammen (DD-527) Cousin dec
Hershel Spears - WWII & Korean War (BIL) dec
Sidney L. Davis - Air Force, Ret (Vietnam) (BIL) dec 
Bill Cockrell - Army - Cousin 
Bob Cockrell - Naval Reserves - Cousin
John Cockrell - Marines - Cousin 
Richard O. Lucas - Navy - Vietnam (Air Guard and Policeman)
James David Gilbert - Army (Hawk Missile) Brother dec

George A. Davis - Army Vietnam - Nephew
Capt. George A. Davis is a career Intracostal Waterways captain of a large boat, who previously served as captain on boats servicing the oil rigs in the Gulf of Mexico

Jamie Bianca Davis-Weston - Navy - Niece 
Martin Randall Clark - Marines - Persian Gulf War, Desert Shield/Desert Storm and Somalia (ex-SIL)
Gerald Martin Clark- Marines, Ret.
(Grandfather, MaryJustice Lucas-Clark)
Pictured with son, Randy Clark

Michael Dennis Lucas - Navy, Persian Gulf War, Desert Shield/Desert Storm) USS Midway (CV-41) Aircraft Carrier and USS Independence Aircraft Carrier - Son - Deceased 2013 Michael loved being in the Navy and would have made a career there, but for an injury to his elbow. Being a victim of PTSD himself, he had a passion for helping the disabled veterans. He went back to school to get his Occupational Therapist Assistant degree and was so happy to finally get to the VA Hospital in the Valor Rehabilitation Group working with those severely disabled and with PTSD and other mental disorders. He loved his job, but his career was cut short by a heart attack. 
There are cousins on the Gilbert side of my family that I did not know. I do recall Conrad Gilbert, US Army, Ret. I was very young, but I recall my father being very proud of him.

Please thank our veterans, policemen, fireman and EMT's for their unselfish service to our communities and country.


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