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Monday, March 31, 2008

My Dad The War Hero

Tonight was my dad’s 60th birthday party.  We got the whole family together for supper and celebrated.  All of us kids went in together and got his Army medals framed.  Here’s a (admittedly not very good) picture I snapped as we were picking it up:

image

What you’re seeing there are a silver star (the third highest decoration for valor in the US Armed Forces) , four bronze stars (each with an attached “V” to indicated that they were awarded for valor), three purple hearts and an air medal

Also depicted are his unit insignia (the black horse for the 11th Armored Cavalry), his combat infantryman badge, his Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Award, his Presidential Unit Citation and his Army Meritorious Unit Commendation.

The photo in the middle is my father, all of 19 years old, with the silver star, a bronze star and two purple hearts already.  George S. Patton IV, then a colonel and commander of the 11th Armored Cavalry from 1968 - 1970, had just got done pinning them on him.

As you can tell, I’m very proud of my dad and hope he had a happy 60th birthday.

Comments

No soldier ever had a finer display.

Say ‘Happy Bday’ to him for me, Rob.

Ken McCracken on March 31, 2008 at 07:32 pm

I’ve met Rob’s dad, he’s a GOOD GUY.

Happy birthday!


The Debate is over!  Global Whining has been confirmed.


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The Whistler on March 31, 2008 at 07:43 pm
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Happy birthday!  America has been and continues to be blessed by the service of men and women such as this.  They carry freedom on their shoulders!

halatbis on March 31, 2008 at 07:55 pm
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Pass along a Happy Birthday to your Dad. Excellent display of his medals.

tom on March 31, 2008 at 08:01 pm

I’ve met Rob’s dad, he’s a GOOD GUY.

I’ll have to come up to ND and meet all you guys sometime.

Ken McCracken on March 31, 2008 at 08:16 pm

That’s quite impressive!

Kevin on March 31, 2008 at 08:16 pm

I’ve met Rob’s dad, he’s a GOOD GUY.

I’ll have to come up to ND and meet all you guys sometime.

Rob’s dad, yes.  Rob and I not so much.


The Debate is over!  Global Whining has been confirmed.


The Whistler's signature
The Whistler on March 31, 2008 at 08:19 pm

But if you do come up, I’d recommend January.


The Debate is over!  Global Whining has been confirmed.


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The Whistler on March 31, 2008 at 08:19 pm

But if you do come up, I’d recommend January.

See, that’s a good idea, because I want the full North Dakota experience.

Ken McCracken on March 31, 2008 at 08:21 pm

A very Happy Birthday, indeed. A Blackhorse Trooper, eh. Carry on, Sarge.


Una Salus Victus Nullam Sperare Salutem

2Hotel9 on March 31, 2008 at 08:22 pm

That’s a kick ass Shadow Box!  Complete with Cav goodness!

Paulie B on March 31, 2008 at 08:27 pm
Rob
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See, that’s a good idea, because I want the full North Dakota experience.

You really need a full year - from 102 degrees in the summer to -80 in the winter - to get that.

And thanks for the kind words about my dad.  He’s so shy about this stuff.  I still don’t know the whole story about how he got some of these medals.  He says “I got them, I’m proud of them, but I don’t think they make me special.”


The war against illegal plunder has been fought since the beginning of the world. But how is… legal plunder to be identified? Quite simply. See if the law takes from some persons what belongs to them, and gives it to other persons to whom it does not belong. See if the law benefits one citizen at the expense of another by doing what the citizen himself cannot do without committing a crime. Then abolish this law without delay … If such a law is not abolished immediately it will spread, multiply and develop into a system.

Frédéric Bastiat, The Law

Rob’s recently listened-to songs:

robport.gif border=0

Rob on March 31, 2008 at 08:28 pm
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Complete with Cav goodness!

The crappy part is that they spelled “cavalry” wrong on the plate in the box.  It says “11th Armored Calvary,” but “Calvary” is where Jesus was crucified in the Bible.  “Cavalry” is the word for mounted soldiers.

I’ll have to get that fixed.

But overall I’m really happy with how it came out.


The war against illegal plunder has been fought since the beginning of the world. But how is… legal plunder to be identified? Quite simply. See if the law takes from some persons what belongs to them, and gives it to other persons to whom it does not belong. See if the law benefits one citizen at the expense of another by doing what the citizen himself cannot do without committing a crime. Then abolish this law without delay … If such a law is not abolished immediately it will spread, multiply and develop into a system.

Frédéric Bastiat, The Law

Rob’s recently listened-to songs:

robport.gif border=0

Rob on March 31, 2008 at 08:31 pm

That’s a nice tribute to your Dad! Happy birthday, Mr. Port!
Rob: You should maybe approach him with a tape recorder sometime, and ask him for an “oral history”. Those who do not learn from history are destined to repeat it. In reminding future generations of the horrors and necessity of war, perhaps he can serve his country yet again?

You might also want to share with him the words of John McCain from 1995. I think your Dad can identify with them.



Those who think the party or the country, will be “taught a lesson” by handing the levers of power over to the liberals will learn a lesson, but it will be at the expense of our country and her liberties. And there are no guarantees that the party or the country will come out stronger, more conservative or better positioned to win elections against the incumbent liberals.

Proof on March 31, 2008 at 08:40 pm

Rob,

Unless I am very much mistaken, your father is as humble a man as he is heroic.  Please pass along my heartiest congratulations.  You both have much to be proud of… as does your Mom!


“Poverty of goods is easily cured; poverty of the mind is irreparable.”

Bat One on March 31, 2008 at 09:08 pm
Rob
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He’s not so damn humble when he’s kicking my ass at cards, but when it comes to this he is.

I am very proud of my dad, but I don’t claim any of his glory for myself.  He did that before I was even a gleam in his eye.  He served, I didn’t.

My mom, though, who waited at home for him while he was fighting the communists deserves some recognition.


The war against illegal plunder has been fought since the beginning of the world. But how is… legal plunder to be identified? Quite simply. See if the law takes from some persons what belongs to them, and gives it to other persons to whom it does not belong. See if the law benefits one citizen at the expense of another by doing what the citizen himself cannot do without committing a crime. Then abolish this law without delay … If such a law is not abolished immediately it will spread, multiply and develop into a system.

Frédéric Bastiat, The Law

Rob’s recently listened-to songs:

robport.gif border=0

Rob on March 31, 2008 at 09:14 pm

Rob,

Your father is a credit to his nation.


Out Here
Rodney G. Graves

Persia delenda est.
Latin: “Persia (modern day Iran) should be destoyed”

Rodney Graves on March 31, 2008 at 09:35 pm

Rob, wish your Dad a happy birthday for me and thank him for his military service for me.  And that box is pretty sweet.



A political party cannot be all things to all people. It must represent certain fundamental beliefs which must not be compromised to political expediency, or simply to swell its numbers.

dougee on March 31, 2008 at 09:56 pm
Rob
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Rob, wish your Dad a happy birthday for me and thank him for his military service for me.

Will do.


The war against illegal plunder has been fought since the beginning of the world. But how is… legal plunder to be identified? Quite simply. See if the law takes from some persons what belongs to them, and gives it to other persons to whom it does not belong. See if the law benefits one citizen at the expense of another by doing what the citizen himself cannot do without committing a crime. Then abolish this law without delay … If such a law is not abolished immediately it will spread, multiply and develop into a system.

Frédéric Bastiat, The Law

Rob’s recently listened-to songs:

robport.gif border=0

Rob on March 31, 2008 at 10:07 pm

Happy Birthday, Mr. Port.


“To love is not to stare steadfast at one another...it is to look forward, in the same direction.”
Saint-Exupéry

laydownSally on March 31, 2008 at 11:27 pm

Sending happy Birthday wished to your dad.

Men like him are few and far between.


You eat the sandwich. The fact that it screams while you’re doing so only bothers you a little bit...

WunderKraut.com

WunderKraut on April 1, 2008 at 04:52 am

Outstanding!  Tell him Happy Birthday from an Air Force Air Traffic Controller.
Without men like him, we would not be free nor would many around the world.


Communism is evil

Chief RZ on April 1, 2008 at 05:52 am
Avatar for Jay

Wow, that’s impressive.  Must be quite the man.

Jay on April 1, 2008 at 08:29 am
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Rob.  Happy birthday to your dad.  Welcome home.

Wolfman
SGT, Hue/Phu Bai, Apr66 - Jun68

Wolfman on April 1, 2008 at 02:39 pm

Wolfman, it would appear you chewed some of the same dirt, thank you for your service.


Una Salus Victus Nullam Sperare Salutem

2Hotel9 on April 1, 2008 at 04:28 pm

I don’t think they make me special.

True heroes blow me away on a number of levels, this type of modesty is one.  The medals might not make you special but what you did to earn them does.

19 years old.  19 years old?  You contributed more while you were a teenager than most of us will contribute in a lifetime.  Thank you for your unselfish service Mr. Rollie Port.

All of you veterans are special.  The most special people in my book.  Thank you all!


“The monster was the best friend I ever had.”

Boris Karloff

Joseph on April 1, 2008 at 08:47 pm
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