My Dad The War Hero

The Whistler • April 1, 2008

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:

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.

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http://www.wunderkraut.com/ WunderKraut

Sending happy Birthday wished to your dad.

Men like him are few and far between.
tom

Pass along a Happy Birthday to your Dad. Excellent display of his medals.
http://proof-proofpositive.blogspot.com/ proof_positive

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.
http://SayAnythingBlog.com The_Whistler_ofnd

I’ve met Rob’s dad, he’s a GOOD GUY.

Happy birthday!
http://dougeefargo.blogspot.com/ dougee

Rob, wish your Dad a happy birthday for me and thank him for his military service for me. And that box is pretty sweet.
http://www.dartemis.net/blog/ sayanything-42

Rob,

Your father is a credit to his nation.
Paulie B

That’s a kick ass Shadow Box! Complete with Cav goodness!
http://magyartruth.blogspot.com/ Chief RZ

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.
Wolfman

Rob. Happy birthday to your dad. Welcome home.

Wolfman
SGT, Hue/Phu Bai, Apr66 – Jun68
2Hotel9

Wolfman, it would appear you chewed some of the same dirt, thank you for your service.
http://SayAnythingBlog.com The_Whistler_ofnd

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

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!
http://www.kenmccracken.blogspot.com/ Ken McCracken

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.
http://www.kenmccracken.blogspot.com/ Ken McCracken

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

See, that’s a good idea, because I want the full North Dakota experience.
http://www.kenmccracken.blogspot.com/ Ken McCracken

No soldier ever had a finer display.

Say ‘Happy Bday’ to him for me, Rob.
2Hotel9

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

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!
http://www.valleydeals.com/cgi-bin/board2/YaBB.pl Kevin

That’s quite impressive!
http://SayAnythingBlog.com The_Whistler_ofnd

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.
laydownSally

Happy Birthday, Mr. Port.
Jay

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

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!
http://sayanythingblog.com robport

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.
http://sayanythingblog.com robport

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.”
http://sayanythingblog.com robport

Rob, wish your Dad a happy birthday for me and thank him for his military service for me.

Will do.
http://sayanythingblog.com robport

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.

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