| Re-published from 2001
By Bob Weaver
Veteran's Day was established to honor our veterans, those multitudes
who sacrificed for our great American experiment.
These days of our lives, we mostly
take them for granted.
Unlike most of America, in rural places like Sunny Cal, we
were dramatically affected because of our sparse population and the
intimate connection of our families.
They marched off to war in much greater
numbers, and many failed to return to the solitude of the hills.
Many of those who came back, were explicitly changed, spending the rest of their
lives trying to return to the quiet life of families and community.
Some succeeded and
some failed, and many suffered from alcoholism.
There were some heroes in my family. The Weaver boys were handsome, bright and
talented.
They sprung from Pine Creek, the children of Frank and Mabel Rothwell
Weaver.
There is much I could say about my uncles, their courage, their victories and
their defeats. Hopefully, as time goes by, I will write more about them.
Ernest, Lauren and Delbert, all serving in WW II, deceased, in addition to Don, Korean War, also deceased. He was a U. S. Army vet and a warrior from the playing
fields of football coaching.
Ernest Weaver
Chief Warrant Officer, U. S. Navy, Ernest Harding Weaver (1923-1974) was in the
English Channel prior to D-Day in June 1944, he spent long periods at sea in both
combat zones, serving aboard destroyers, destroyer escorts, aircraft carriers and
other vessels. He said "We spent a lot of time dodging Jap subs and ships."
Ernest was known for his humor, out-going personality and "kidding around."
He was involved in tense combat situations "a hundred times." Enough times, he said,
to consider his mortality. Ernest said he was at sea for such a long time, he and
another sailor planted an onion just to watch something grow. Ernest, during his Navy
career, also saw action in Korea and Vietnam.
He received the European Theater Ribbon with two stars, Pacific Theater Ribbon,
American Theater Ribbon with star, Victory medal, Good Conduct Medal, among
others. He retired from the Navy in 1973 to die a short time later in 1974, and is buried
at St. Paul Cemetery above Pine Creek. His wife, Mary Weaver, passed
away a few years later.
Lauren Weaver
TSG James Lauren Weaver (1923-1960) entered the military in 1943 and was a radio
operator and gunner on the Eight Air Force B-17 Flying Fortress. He participated in 35
bombing missions over Germany, and at one time was stationed in France. He was a
side gunner on a bomber when shrapnel from enemy fire hit a wooden box on which
he was resting his knee while firing his gun. He received numerous medals for his
combat experience. He returned to America after the war and engaged in the grocery
business in Arnoldsburg and later owned a supermarket in Ravenswood, where he
died at the age of 37, a suicide. His widow, Fern Weaver, raised their children, a what a job she did.
Delbert Weaver
Aviation Machinists Mate, U. S. Navy (1924-1997) entered the Navy in 1942 after being
salutatorian of his class at Calhoun High. He served as a tail gunner on Navy bombers
prior to D-Day. During one night mission, with everything blackened out and bad
weather descending over England, his plane could not land. Running out of fuel, all
aboard had to parachute. Delbert landed near a farm house in the English
countryside, convincing the farmer he was an American, the farmer contacted the
base and his commanding officer came for him. He was awarded the
European-African-Middle Eastern Ribbon with star, Victory Ribbon, Air Crew Wings,
among other medals. He retired in 1962 to work for the National Science Foundation's
radio astronomy program, and died in Arizona. His wife, Maxine is also deceased.
Donald Weaver
Franklin Donald Weaver (1931-2014 ) was a U.S. Army vet, serving from 1953-55. "The
Korean War ended while I was in basic training," he said. After serving in France he
returned to earn a college degree, and has retired from Virginia Beach schools. He
was a former football coach at Calhoun High School and spent most of his career in
coaching. He was married to Ruth Jones Weaver and they live in Virginia Beach,
although he often returned to his hunting cabin at the head of Pine Creek.
So, as I take time to reflect on my uncles lives, maybe you can reflect on the
contributions of your family members and all veterans everywhere who have helped
us have a better life, most notably surviving Nazi Germany.
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