It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rather we should thank God that such men lived.
Memorial Day is the day we remember our soldiers who gave their life for our freedoms. On Memorial Day, at 3 p.m. local time, let’s remember our brave men and women with a moment of silence.
Joseph Bailey Wegener
My grandfather, Joseph Bailey Wegener, is honored on this day. He’s buried in Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia along with my grandmother, Katherine Virginia Wegener. I never got to meet my grandfather, but every once in a while, my grandmother would share a story. My grandfather died when my Dad was just a young boy. My grandfather was flying in a routine exercise and crashed. His branch of service says US Army, but if you look at his gravestone it states A.F. (Air Force). He died in 1948. He had served in WWII.
Joseph B Wegener, Texas, T SGT 161 AF LIASON SQ, WORLD WAR II, DEC 19 1911, SEP 22 1948
My sister, Holly, found this: “Technical Sergeant Joseph B. Wegener, was killed in a plane crash in Venezuela in 1948 while flying on a mapping mission for the U. S. Air Force, but not before he had served as a rated mechanic and pilot in the U. S. Marines as one of their first pilots. After serving six years with the Marines and flying off of the USS Saratoga, he transferred to the U. S. Army Air Corps and stayed with them until they evolved into the U. S. Air Force.” Source: http://www.ultracomp.com/steve/uvhpa.htm
My grandfather, 2/Sgt. J.B. Wegener, Panama Canal Jane, 1948 U.S.A.F.
My Grandmother’s Memoir
My grandmother began writing her memoir in a simple spiral bound notebook on November 1, 1991. It was her birthday:
. . . “In December 1940, I met my husband, Joseph Bailey Wegener (Joe), and we were married after 4 or 5 weeks. He was in the Army Air Corps. (later Army Air Force) and stationed at the civilian airport south of Albuquerque on detached service. The military used half of the T.W.A./U. hangar and civilian aircraft the other. The military mostly serviced transient aircraft that came through for gas or repair.
War was on the horizon and the airport was being converted to a military base, now Kirtland Field. 4,000 men were transferred there from March Field, California.
In March 1941, Joe was transferred to Stockton, California where Gary Rudolph was born.
Pearl Harbor was bombed December 7, 1941 and everyone was called in. Leave cancelled, no civilian clothes, etc. when President Roosevelt declared a state of war existed between the US and the empire of Japan.”
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“In 1942, Joe was transferred to Tulare, California a civilian base training primary for the military. A few months later, he was transferred to Lemoore Field although we lived in Hanford, California. In December of that year Joe was transferred again. We traveled together on the train to Houston, Texas. Again, we met Gene Autry on the train and I got to play bridge with him. He was a good player. Autry was on his way to Williams AFB for by then he was in the service. He got off in Phoenix, Arizona. He was a Warrant Officer. Joe had to get off in Houston to go to Fort Sill, Oklahoma with plans to send for me and Gary as soon as he was settled. . .”
Read more about the Memorial Day holiday here
Read more about my grandfather here
History
It is fascinating to me that I am just now reading my grandmother’s words for the first time and typing them into my blog. 28 years have gone by! I never really put much thought into my family history. For most of it, is truly tragic.
My paternal grandparents had three sons. My father, Gary Rudolph, was the eldest of the three. I haven’t seen or spoken to my father since I was 14 years old. Their middle son, my Uncle Joe aka Joseph Bailey Jr., (we commonly refer to him as Crazy Uncle Joe) is somewhere here in the US. My sister, Holly, will receive a phone call from him around every blue moon. I think that he (Crazy Uncle Joe) is still madly in love with my sister, Holly, his niece. And, my youngest uncle, Uncle Jim, died at 21 years of age.
Uncle Jim’s Death
My grandmother, my sister, Holly, and I were driving down the road one day in Phoenix, Arizona and all of a sudden my grandmother states, “And this is where your Uncle Jim died. In that ditch over there.” Uncle Jim had died of a drug overdose.
The story goes that my mother (evil person! evil person!) had warned my grandmother about Uncle Jim’s drug abuse, but my grandmother remained in denial. There is no one to verify this story as they are all dead now. And, I most likely would not get the full truth anyway.
Life has a funny way of bringing you around full circle. Stay tuned to read more of these crazy, but true life stories.
Pretty Thoughts and Pretty Things
What would Memorial Day be without a pretty tablescape:
Shop my Tablescape
This is such a great table runner – similar here
Blue Paper Napkins w/White Stars – similar here
The Centerpieces are from Dollar General
Gold Flatware – similar here
Shot Glasses – similar here
The USA flag paper plates on top were sourced from HEB. This is such a great way to have themed plates without breaking the bank and then trying to find storage room for them.
Outfit
It is so easy to wear blue jean shorts, a red, white, or blue tank top and this scarf to complete your outfit.
Ladies & Gentlemen have a beautiful and safe weekend!
