Veteran's Day 2014

First, let me say "Thank You" to all who have served in any branch of The United States of America Armed Forces through the years, whether during time of war, peace or cold war. You were there ready to put your lives on the line to protect us, our country and the freedom our fore fathers secured for us.

It's been a couple of years since I posted to this blog. It seems so many things always got in the way. I hope to start writing again and share my memories and stories of my family, as was my first intention for starting this particular blog.

However, I have thought about this post for days ... tried to plan what to say, photographs to display. Nothing seemed to formulate and I feel so addled-brained, so I'm just letting words drop on the page without giving much thought to the end result. My heart is heavy.

Veteran's Day, November 11, 2014

AEAN Michael Dennis Lucas

Today all over the country, there will be parades and celebrations honoring our veterans. It will be the first time in many, many years that my son, Michael Dennis Lucas will not be somewhere watching a parade and honoring his brothers from all branches of the military. It became his custom to take his niece, MaryJustice  to the parade in Huntsville, Alabama. I joined them from time to time and thoroughly enjoyed watching the parade. I have never been able to watch a parade without my chest swelling with pride and enjoyed the times I shared these moments with Michael and MaryJustice. Michael was so very proud of the Huntsville Madison County Veteran's Park. If you go to the parade, or perhaps on another day, please go to the brick walk and at Section 18, Row 2, Column 5, see the brick honoring AEAN Michael Dennis Lucas, purchased by his co-workers at the VA Hospital in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, where he was an Occupational Therapist Assistant working with the disabled veterans with PTSD and other mental illnesses. He went back to school in his 30's to get his degree because he knew this was what he was meant to do. He came home from the Persian Gulf War with PTSD, which  at that time was not recognized as an illness. He had his dream job and loved it.

On December 12, 2013, at age 43, Michael passed away of a sudden heart attack. We laid him to rest with "his brothers" at the Alabama National Cemetery in Montevallo, Alabama, on December 23, 2013, twenty-two years to the day that he came home from the Persian Gulf War to celebrate Christmas with his family and friends.

So, today or any day for that matter, when you see someone in uniform or a veteran of any war, tell them "Thank you for your service."

James George Gilbert, Veteran WWI

James George Gilbert, born May 10, 1891, was the eldest son of James William Gilbert and Frances Selna Crawford Gilbert. He married Florence Obelia Perry Gilbert October. 1931, being her senior by 18 years and is the father of Katherine Elaine Davis, Mary Sue Baumann and William Perry Gilbert (deceased). He is the father of James Norman Gilbert (deceased) from a previous marriage. He entered the United States Army at age 24. Daddy's occupation on his enlistment is stated as barber. I'm not sure, but I do think that during that time barbers were attached to the Medical Department. Research has not gleaned anything conclusive.

He enlisted September 5, 1915 and was received September 7, 1915 at Calexico, California and assigned to Troop “B” 1st Cavalry, September 9, 1915. During March , 1919, he was transferred to Camp Harry J. Jones, Douglas, Arizona, where several troops were combined to form the 17th Cavalry. He was in Troop C and on April 5 1919, the 17th Cavalry set sail from San Francisco on the U.S.A.T. Sherman, bound for Honolulu and Schofield Barracks.

He contracted pneumonia during the crossing and was in the hospital at Schofield Barracks. This is the fact that raised the question of barbers being part of the Medical Department as his records show his being in the Medical Department. Other military records do not state if his duties were general cavalry duties or if in fact he was a barber/medic during his entire military stay. I remember his talking about treating people and that he had considerable medical knowledge.

As a passenger cargo vessel fitted to carry livestock, Sherman made an excellent transport and she could accommodate 80 officers, 1,000 men and 1,000 horses. She also had refrigerated capacity for shipping 1,000 pounds of meat.

Schofield Barracks appears to have been very primitive quarters for the Cavalry. I remember Daddy talking about Poi and the feasts the Hawaiians would give with pigs roasted in pits in the ground.

Demobilization following the end of World War I, left the 17th Cavalry manning the garrison at Fort Shafter and Schofield Barracks until the fall of 1920. There was still the problem of covering approximately one hundred miles of rugged coast line with one regiment of cavalry to effectively repel any attempted landing of enemy troops from transports and hold them off until the arrival of reinforcements. With the exception of the sector in and around the city of Honolulu and Pearl Harbor, the entire coast line of the island was left to the 17th Cavalry Regiment. The Regiment developed an intricate system of shielded lights and telephone lines for command and control as well as reporting, with camps placed in locations that provided excellent cover and concealment from the air or sea.

December 1920, the 17 Cavalry returned to the United States aboard the USAT Buford, which was built at Belfast, Ireland, in 1890 as the commercial steamship, Mississippi. The Army acquired her in 1898, at the time of the Spanish-American War. In January 1919 the ship was turned over to the Navy, placed in commission as USS Buford and assigned to duty as a troop transport. During the next half-year she made four round-trip voyages between the United States and France, bringing home over 4700 First World War I veterans.

Daddy returned home aboard the USAT Buford and was discharged at The Presidio of Monterey, California, on December 5, 1920.

The 17th Cavalry is a historical organization within the United States Army that began as a regiment of cavalry after the Pancho Villa Expedition. The unit was constituted on 1 July 1916 in the Regular Army as the 17th Cavalry at Fort Bliss, Texas and originally inactivated 26 September 1921 at the Presidio of Monterey, California. Formerly a part of the 1950s Combat Arms Regimental System, it was reorganized as a part of the United States Army Regimental System, an ongoing effort to maintain the lineage and history of the Army through its units. Today, the 17th Cavalry Regiment is found across the Army within the Combat Aviation Brigades, where the Squadrons, now constituted as attack/recon helicopter squadrons, carry on the legacy of the 17th Cavalry Regiment.

James George Gilbert was proud to have served his country and told us many stories of that time. He died of complications from a broken hip January 16, 1971, just three months shy of his 80th year. I still miss him.

I'am proud of my heritage and my family's participation in historical events of this country.

Afton, New Twig on the Branches of Our Tree

Born on March 12, 2012

in Atlanta, Georgia

Please follow Afton Grey's progress by clicking the link to Facebook!

"Strength for Afton Grey"

Afton Grey* was born on March 12th with a rare heart defect known as TPVR with obstruction. He was airlifted to Egleston Children's Hospital and had open heart surgery just 5 hours after being born. His lungs became infected, and his body has been fighting through a plethora of setbacks each and every day. His parents, Ryann and Nate, will need your love, prayers, and support -- both emotionally and monetarily. any offer, whether it's a kind word, or $1, will be gratefully accepted.

Mommy Ryann reading a colorful book to her baby boy. 

The book was a gift from Afton's Great Aunt Vanessa!

After a long day of brain ultrasounds and other icky tests,

 Afton and Daddy spend some time reading together.

We are seeking love, prayers, and donations for sweet Afton Grey Prathaftakis, grandson of our cousin Kathleen and great-great-great grandson of  Mary Frances Perry and Robert Pierce Perry. Please click the photo link above and LIKE "Strength for Afton Grey" and make a secure donation through the PayPal link on Afton's Facebook Page. Donations go directly and immediately to the family. The financial hardships to come are inevitable, but Ryann and Nate have faith, and enough love for this little boy that they know with your prayers and support they'll make it work -- one day at a time. So, please LIKE his page and pass it on!  You can check his progress daily on facebook and leave messages of encouragement for him.

Independence!

A tribute to my ancestors who fought for our independence:
George Tubb, Sr.
William Tubb, brother
    George Tubb, son of William
Alexander Davidson

Happy Birthday to The United States of America

The Star Spangled Banner Lyrics
By Francis Scott Key 1814

Oh, say can you see by the dawn's early light
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars thru the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming?
And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.
Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

On the shore, dimly seen through the mists of the deep,
Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam,
In full glory reflected now shines in the stream:
'Tis the star-spangled banner! Oh long may it wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

And where is that band who so vauntingly swore
That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion,
A home and a country should leave us no more!
Their blood has washed out their foul footsteps' pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave:
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!
Oh! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand

Between their loved home and the war's desolation!
Blest with victory and peace, may the heav'n rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: "In God is our trust."
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!
This poem and music says it all…from this blogger’s heart!

And, a thank you to my sister, Mrs. Katherine E. Davis who has done such a job great researching. There are more who served but we are still seeking proof!

God Bless America!

Memorial Day, May 31, 2010

Memorial Day is set aside to honor the memory of those who paid the ultimate price to preserve their beliefs and defend the United States. Some were called by our country to fight and some did not wait but, volunteered with pride to serve this great country.

Some of my most vivid childhood memories are of the times during World War II. 

I remember my grandmother proudly hanging the Mothers’ Blue Star Flags in the front window.   There were three.  My grandfather put together a huge world puzzle, glued it to paper and hung it on a bedroom wall.  He stuck pins in the map tracking the war and locations of his three sons.

Then one day, there were two blue-star flags and one gold-star flag hanging in the front window.

 

Thomas Davis Perry was born on September 26, 1912, the fourth of 11 children born to Robert Pierce Perry III and Mary Frances (Frank) Tubb Perry.  At age 32, my Uncle Davis was already a successful, licensed concessionaire traveling with his carnival of rides, concessions, games, and shows throughout the Midwest and Southeast.

I was very young, but remember the excitement when his carnival came to Birmingham. I remember the chalk Kewpie dolls he gave us and most of all his silver Airstream trailer when parked in Mama & Papa Perry’s driveway.  I don’t remember the car, but I think it was a convertible.  During his travels he met Erna Estelle Sutton in Missouri.  I’ve always thought their meeting and marriage was very romantic (clearly illustrated in their letters to each other). After the war, Erna lived with us for a time before she moved back to Missouri.  I would sit and listen intently while she talked to Mother over a cup of coffee. I think that’s why I enjoy sitting around the kitchen table with friends or family, talking over a cup of coffee, even now.

The family called him Davis, but Erna called him Tom. Evidently, the carnival was playing in her town and they met. Since the carnival was seldom in one place for very long, they didn’t know each other very well, but it must have been “love at first sight.”  Over a meal one day before he left, he asked, “How would you like to do a lot of traveling, not have to do any house-keeping and live an exciting life?” She replied, “I’d like that.” He then said, “Well, marry me.”  He went on to the next town and wrote to her asking that she trust him and have faith in him …  that he would send for her soon.  They were married on January 22, 1940. Little did they know they would have such a few, short years together.

On November 6, 1944, Pvt. Thomas Davis Perry, Sr. was killed in the line of duty in France, leaving behind his beautiful wife, Erna, their daughter Erna Lea Perry and their son Thomas Davis Perry, Jr.,

grieving parents, nine brothers and sisters and their children. After Davis’ death, his youngest brother, Leo, who was too young for the military, left school and joined the United States Navy Construction Battalions (CBs) known as the SeaBees. His brother Robert continued to serve in the Pacific and his brother John served with General Patton for the duration of the war. He is not forgotten. Will not be forgotten.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Memorial Day began as a day to recognize those who died in the single bloodiest war in American history: the Civil War. The holiday was originally known as Decoration Day and many states and organizations take credit for its existence. Decoration Day got its name from the efforts of southern women decorating the graves of Confederate soldiers not long after the end of the Civil War. 

On this Memorial Day of 2010, I wish to honor my great-great grandfather,  2nd Sgt. George Washington Tubb, Company A, 8th Alabama Infantry, who fought at the Siege of Yorktown, April 5, 1862, was severely wounded at Williamsburg, May 5 1862 and wounded again at Seven Pines. He died June 10, 1862 in Virginia.

I would also like to honor Felix Tubb, eldest son of George W. and Mary Ann Massey Tubb, who was wounded and died  May 1865. Felix was buried at sea.

Although writing  commemorates Memorial Day for those who gave their lives during battle,  I would like to honor my great-great grandmother, Mary Ann Massey Tubb. She gave birth to seven children, three of which died at very young ages. She  lost her husband and first child during the Civil War. My great grandfather, George Martin Tubb, the youngest child was eight months old when his father died.  Mary Ann Massey Tubb raised her children alone and died in July of 1925 at the age of 97. Her strength and courage throughout her life clearly influenced her descendents.

Florence Obelia Perry Gilbert

If you stay in touch with this blog, maybe you'll get the full story of how this tree developed from it's deep roots to it's small branches and tiniest twigs. This is my family of which I am very honored to be part of. Each of it's branches touched my life as I grew up and even now as I approach my twilight years. We share a rich heritage with roots reaching deeply into the soil before this country was founded, reaching across the seas to the British Isles. We are from men and women of honor with great strength and courage who instilled in us faith in God, good character and taught us to work. Again, I give credit to my sister, Elaine, for the work she has done on our family history. Some say they live for this day. I suppose we all do and look to the future with hope. I think there is much to be gained from looking back and reflecting on those things that have helped to shape us. We did not do it all on our own. We have good genes and we have God for which I am most thankful. So having finished with the preamble to this post, I want to tell you about Florence Obelia Perry Gilbert, mother of Katherine Elaine Gilbert Davis, Mary Sue Gilbert (Lucas) Baumann and William Perry Gilbert.

One of my favorite pictures of Mother.
It was taken in one of those little picture booths that used to be in all the stores...remember those?

Florence was born May 11, 1909, the second child of Robert and Mary Frank Perry. Mama Perry told me that when Mother was born there was a large gangrenous abscess on her left leg behind the knee. The doctor wanted to amputate her leg to keep the infection from spreading. Papa Perry got the shot gun and told the doctor if he touched that baby he would shoot him. I remember seeing the very large mottled scar on Mama's leg. Throughout her life she was subject to getting serious infections and had a couple of life threatening experiences. I have often wondered about that but, nothing kept her down. She was sweet, stern, creative, talented, thrifty, frugal, generous, ingenious in many ways and had that Perry "dry sense of humor." My mother is my hero. I wish I could be half the woman she was.

Mama worked at a root beer stand when she was a teenager. We have a lot of pictures from this time.

I don't remember how old I was, but when someone asked me my mother's name, I said her name was "sister." She laughed and told me her name was Florence. I suppose I gave her a strange look because I had only heard Daddy call her "hon." We kids called her "mama." The neighbors called her Mrs. Gilbert. However, Mama and Papa Perry called her Sister as did her brothers and sisters and their children...at least in the first wave of Perry grandkids. She is still referred to as "sister" in remembrance by those who are left.

Mother had a box of pictures that we loved browsing through. We had to ask permission before we got the box from the closet shelf. I'm so happy that my sister had it at her house when our house burned. I grew up looking at these pictures and still enjoy going through them and remembering things she told us. She had a Kodak box camera that took great pictures. This one, however, was made at a photography concession. It's a postcard and not in very good condition. I remember when I was a teenager and felt very bold as I looked at these pictures made during The Twenties, I would say look, "Flo was a flapper!" (on the left) She would immediately say "Oh, I was not! We were riding in a convertible!" I would giggle like crazy saying, yeah....

Another of my favorite pictures. Mama with her Spitz, Baby. I don't remember but maybe she still had this dog when Elaine was little. I'll have to ask her. Now, I have a black Schipperke (from the Spitz family) whose name is also Baby. Quite by accident on the name as my dog is a rescue and happened to answer to Baby when I exclaimed, "Baby, you are so cute" and she immediately jumped into my lap.

Mother grew up in the city but had the heart of a pioneer who raised chickens and rabbits in our back yard and kept a vegetable garden. And could she sew! I remember crepe paper costumes duplicated from Carmen Miranda movies for our backyard productions, suits, evening dresses and in her later years ... actually at age 58 she opened an upholstery shop that was quite successful. But I'm getting ahead of myself.

During the winter of 1947 we moved into the country...into a two story log house, no electricity, not telephone, no in-door plumbing, no pump in the well, a log fireplace and a wood burning cook stove...kerosene lamps. The only "appliance" Mother brought with her that worked was her Singer treadle machine. I never heard her complain of the conveniences of the city that were left behind. She seemed to take to the country like a duck to water. I think we all did. I loved it. We cranked a windlass and "drew" water from the well, boiled water in a big black pot over a fire outside and washed clothes on a rubboard while a nice white washing machine sat on the side porch. I loved the house and have some great memories but time in the log house was short lived as it burned to the ground one February night. We barely got out. Daddy put a woolen blanket over himself and told Mother to wrap in one and stay close to him to go down the stairs to get us kids out. Mother was too scared and went out the window, walked across the roof and shimmied down the porch rail. She was standing outside waiting when Daddy came out with Perry and me. Very little was saved. What was gotten out of the house wasn't moved far enough away and that burned, except Mother's sewing machine which she dragged down the hill to the orchard. It took three men to haul it back up the hill!

Mary Frank, Florence and friend.

There are so many stories to tell and pictures to share, but I'll save those for another time. Florence was a wonderful parent who loved her family, siblings, children and extended family. She was a loyal person who kept many things just between herself and God. I still miss you Mama.

There is much more to tell that I'll save for another time. She was a lady in every sense of the word...a wonderful friend, and parent with deep-seated faith and a heart for Jesus.

(Please click on Skippingstitchesintime in the side bar and read the story of Pal which stared when I was five.)

Children of Robert Pierce and Mary Frank Perry

Martha Lea Perry Dyson b. 19 July 1907. d. 17 Jan. 1971

Florence Obelia Perry Gilbert b. 11 May 1909 d. 26 Mar. 1990

Thomas Davis Perry b. 26 Sept. 1912 d. 06 Nov. 1944

James Willis b. 14 March 1914. d. unknown

Mary Frank Perry Cockrell b. 15 March 1916 d. 06 Dec. 1999

Robert Pierce Perry II b.07 Dec. 1918, d. 27 May 1987

John Edward Perry b. 15 Nov. 1920, d. 09 Oct. 1980

Nellie Beatrice Perry Gooch b. 10 Oct. 1922 d. 10 June 1979

A bonus here! I don't have a picture of Nellie Bea by herself so you get Leo, also .... so happy to know that he still sports that big smile and has a twinkle in those eyes!

Ruth Evelyn "Jackie" Perry b. 25 Aug. 1924 d. July 1981

Arthur Leo Perry b. 30 Dec. 1926