2 Prisoner of War buddies reunite

My father died suddenly today, and I will miss him terribly. He was a

proud and vain man and would not have liked to have a picture of his

face posted here. However, he was a staunch patriot and loved this

picture of his reunion with a fellow POW friend, with whom he served

in WWII. He is the one facing the camera. This is the best way I could

think of to both pay tribute to him and let my Photo.net friends know

of my loss.

Christal, fantastic choice of image to show respect to your love one! United in love!  Warm condolences.

Christal,

I am very sorry for your loss.

Mark

Christal...

It is with heartfelt sympathy that Martha and I read of your Father's passing.  While the recent medical issues are fresh, I urge you to remember this valiant patriot, this loving father as he was in your memory.

You and your entire family are in our prayers.

Mike and Martha

Jorge and Mark, Thank you for your heartfelt condolences.  It means so much to me!

Mike & Martha, my dear friends, thank you so much.....I'm so glad you saw this, which I had hoped you would.  I'm just so physically and emotionally drained that I haven't started contacting individuals yet.  I thought a little down time here on PN would clear the mind and allow me to get some rest.  I will email you soon.

Though I had never submitted this for critique, this has been in my portfolio for a couple of years.  Many people had commented on this image, and I loved reading the affectionate and touching remarks.  Somehow I lost all of them, and I'm just sick about it.  I apologize to all who remember leaving a comment in the past.   

I'm incredibly sorry to hear of your loss.  Like the photo, I hope you have steady hands and arms surrounding you to embrace you and your family.

Christal,

   I am so sorry to hear of the passing of your dad my prayer's go out to you & your family.  This is a very touching scene, one that I no you & your family will cherish forever.  Take care, Patsy

Christal...so sorry to here of your loss.  You and your family are in my prayers.  Thank you for sharing this wonderful image.  

I am sorry to hear your loss.

I do not remember when and how mine died; he was not a part of my life...

I applaud your strength to make this communication while the intensity of your pain was greatest...

Regards,

Jeff, Patsy, Bill and Bulent,

Thank you all so much for your kind words of condolence.  It's such a comfort to know that others care! 

I don't know that there's another feeling in the world like losing a parent. I send you as much love and warmth as I can at this time. You've expressed loss here with a kind of beauty that is inescapable and that transcends time and limits. In the end, it's the people we touch and the lives we share that matter. Obviously, your father experienced life with full force and both the horrors of war and the glory of friendship is captured in this moment. Life has both good and bad, often existing side by side. In sorry, there is still love. I wish you much of the love that you've portrayed in this photo. It's the one thing that carries us through pain. My sincerest condolences.

Sorry to know about your loss. I know the feeling loosing  both my parents. We don't see the faces,but the hands are telling all the feeling attached to his/yours life  tory. It is the best attribute to your father's memory.as it talks about love, friendship and support. His legacy is still alive!

Thank you both for your very eloquent and heart-felt condolences.  I'm very touched.  Our relationship was not without its trials and tribulations.  Toward the end things became especially difficult, but growing old was hard for my dad......he still thought of himself as a young man inside.  So we tried to make his life as pleasant as we could.  Two days before he died I had probably the best conversation I have ever had with my dad.....it was a gift.....and perhaps even a prophecy, who knows?  Thanks for your kind words and friendship.

I am sorry to read what happened.  I remember this photograph but am looking at your father more closely now and see that he was a dapper dresser with a fancy watch, ring, nice style of vest and crisp shirt with a lot of hair like someone who was sophisticated with pride.  What I love(d) about this photo is the human touch and how they are both embraced as they embrace.  Your tribute to him shows him loving and probably brave.  You present him beautifully.  I've lost a lot of relatives, and I know it's devastating.  I'm glad you had a great talk with him before he passed.  I think of that era, and it's people who fought in that war that have earned respect.  I wish your family comfort.   Donna

Though I've known you only a brief time through the contact we've had on Photo.net I'm saddened to hear of your father's passing.   He passed before you and believe me he wouldn't have had it any other way.  Without your explanation this photo loses much of it's impact to the casual viewer.  With it it's electrifying.  There is a bond between members of the armed forces which transcends even that between man & wife.  Especially when they share something as dramatic as being POW's together.  I went through basic training in 1958 and made such close friendships that when I learned, some 40 years later with no contact from him since 1959, that one of these close friends had died an untimely death from cancer that I sat in my vehicle alone & cried for a time.  And all we had experienced was peacetime.  How much stronger the bond of POW's?  Nice capture.  I know it'll remain one of your favourites.  Thanks for sharing.  Good therapy!   Best wishes, Len Marriott.

What wonderful words of comfort from you both!  Yes, we experienced the bond my dad had with his war buddies on several occasions, including a POW reunion in San Diego.  My dad would not talk about the horrors of his experience with us, except for in the most general terms.  But when he got together with his war buddies, the emotion came out and we got a true sense of what their experience had been like.  We buried him yesterday, and the military tribute to him at the gravesite was indeed moving.  Thank you both for your support and friendship.

Please accept my sincere sympathies and keep him alive in your memory and everything else that you do.

I am so very sorry to hear about your father.  This photograph says it all too.  I wish you and your family the very best through this trying time.

Thank you for your support at this difficult time.   The one thing my dad was most proud of in the entire world was his military service, so I'm heartened to see so many people paying tribute to him through this photo.  Thanks so much!

Christal,

I found this just after I finished the internal message to you in answer of your inquiry about the location in which I shoot the Bald Eagles.

My sincere and heartfelt condolences to You and Your Family, . . .

At first when viewing the photograph, and being a former member of the Military, . . . well let's just say "I could understand." But then after reading the purpose of the Photograph here on PN . . . I'm fortunate to still have both of my frail Parents nearing 80 years old, And "the loss" is something that I can only imagine.

Sincerely,

Jim j.

Leo.....it's good to hear from you, even under the circumstances.  Thanks for your kind words!

Jim....I hope your parents will grow old gracefully.  I saw such a transformation with my dad as he started failing, and it was difficult for everyone.  For your sake, I hope it is an easy transition.  This is a difficult stage in our lives where we become care givers, and some parents accept that better than others.  Thanks for your support, and I was thrilled to get your description of the location where you shot the eagles.  Thanks so much!  What branch of service were you in?  My dad was in the Army Air Corps......he was a gunner.

Christal,

I was a U.S. Navy Hospital Corpsman of 8 years, Jan 1973 - Dec 1981

"Never let anyone tell you that you get "hardened" to the loss of life." "It ain't so!" 

Our Prayer's are with you in your loss!

Always,

Jim j.

Dear Christal, I'm looking at this moving photo, and I'm saddened to learn of your your father's recent passing. What a lovely tribute this image is. A very warm and emotional embrace. I hope that you will find the same strength and comfort in this so very difficult time, Christal.  My thoughts and prayers are with you, and your family.  Marjolein