As you all know by now, I am John Morris, the creator behind this woodworking site and forum. I love this site, I love interacting with all the members here. We are first and foremost a woodworking site for hobbyist and professionals alike. When I created this site, I wanted to combine two very special areas of my life into this site with the hope that woodworkers would share the same general philosophies in those two areas. My never ending love for woodworking and the folks who shape a tree into something beautiful, and my love of our American Soldiers. I know it's hard to imagine how we could combine a woodworking website and a site where we can help our American Fighting Men and Women at the same time. But I think we have done just that! For the majority of the calendar year, we are a woodworking site, for two very special times of the year, we shift gears just a bit and turn to helping our Soldiers, Marines, Airmen, and Sailors. We provide support all year long, but these two months of the year get ratcheted up a bit more.

Our members give all year long, just by accessing our site, and visiting our affiliates and making purchases, your helping us and our military men and women. We have members who have donated to The Patriot Woodworker directly, they believe in what we are doing. We have used those funds to pay our hosting dues, and to pay for shipping our latest project the Challenge Coin Displays to Walter Reed Medical Center to be passed out to our wounded. You as members are involved in many ways whether you know it or not. So, if you are unable to donate to our great cause, The Wounded Warrior Project, feel no guilt, you have done enough by being here. If your able to donate, awesome!

Now, as the title goes, why did I create The Patriot Woodworker?

My dad spoke of his Uncle Jeroid many times, I knew of my Great Uncle Jeroid as a Marine that served in World War II. I knew for years he died of his wounds received on a Guam beach, he was taken back to his ship where he died and was buried at sea. A few years ago, dad brought over the photo of Uncle Jeriod in his dress blues, and a Western Union Telegram informing his mother and father of his death. He died a month before they were notified. Information was slow back then.

I was taken back by his striking handsome features and his youth in the photo, the photo was taken in 1942 in San Diego.

He died two years later, July 29th, 1944. He was involved in other South Pacific Theaters before he was killed. The horrors he must of seen on those islands, I am sure would have changed that youthful look you see here. My dad still remembers when Uncle Jeriod returned home on leave, he asked his dad who was a metal worker if he would shape his K-bar Knife into a more lethal weapon, completely against Geneva Convention I am sure, but his dad modified the knife, and got it back to Uncle Jerry before he was to leave one last time around Christmas. He was never to be seen again, I wonder if he ever used that modified K-Bar. War is ugly, he did what he needed to do to survive.

I have been researching Uncle Jeriods service for three years now, I know some things, and I know very little. I am searching for any information on how exactly he died, and at what beach.

Uncle Jeriod is our family hero, I named my only son after him. And I'll never let his memory die in our family. For generations, the Morris Family will know of this young man, from Kane County Illinois, who gave his life to protect our country and world from being taken over by Hitler and Japan.

This site is dedicated to my Great Uncle Jeriod, USMC, God Bless you Uncle Jeroid and God Bless all fighting men and women protecting us from harm.

Our family has been in service as well, my Dad was a Corpsman in the Navy, I was in the Army, and when my son becomes of age, and if he decides to join up, grab a rifle and stand post, I'll be the proudest dad in the world.

Sorry for being long winded, but with Memorial Day coming upon us, I thought it was appropriate to share this little bit of my personal life with our gang.

Here is Uncle Jeriod, San Diego 1942 USMC

The signature at the bottom right reads, "To each of you, with all my love, Jerry"

 

John Morris

 

John

Nicely put. I too am from a service family. My father did 26 years in the Air Force flying in the Korean conflict. I served as an aircraft mechanic in Da Nang, and my son spent the first 7 months of this Iraq conflict in the Army over there. I can't agree with you more about the debt we owe our military; now and then.

Dan

Thanks for the story of part of your Military family John.

That Western Union letter would have been a rough way to find out about something like that happening.

I will never forget the day when 2 Army Officers came to my house, knocked at my door, I opened it to see them, not knowing what was going on. My parents were at the store. They asked if they were home, I replied, no, they will be back soon. As they were walking off the porch, my parents pulled into the drive. As I walked back into the kitche, they all came into the house, and I heard them tell my Mom n Dad that their son was killed by a drunk driver.

A memory I never want to remember, but, it is one I will never, ever forget.

I was never in the Military, only because back in '69, I lost my only Brother (age 21). During the Vietnam era, while he did not die in action, he was in the Army, and was run down, run over by a drunk driver, was killed instantly with a broken up back.

I was 14 at the time. I still have my days, 42 years later. Back then, by loosing him, I was the only surviving son, so, they didn't want me. This was bitter/sweet, I guess.

I believe we should live everyday as Memorial Day. We owe everything to our Military forces, and the Military families for their triumphs, and their struggles.

GOD BLESS US ALL. US, in my eyes is our United States of America

I love this country, and give thanks to all the people who put their lives on the line for our Freedoms on a daily basis.

Thanks to ALL our Military, and ALL of our Freedom Fighters, Law Enforcement, Firefighters, and ALL who are invovled in protecting all of US.

Every day should be Memorial Day

My grandfather was in ww2 but never knew what he did.

It'd be great to research that Mike! Family roots to be proud of!

dragon1 said:

My grandfather was in ww2 but never knew what he did.

Dan, thank you for your service and your family, especially your son, thank you.

Dan Shuflin said:

John

Nicely put. I too am from a service family. My father did 26 years in the Air Force flying in the Korean conflict. I served as an aircraft mechanic in Da Nang, and my son spent the first 7 months of this Iraq conflict in the Army over there. I can't agree with you more about the debt we owe our military; now and then.

Dan

That's a sad story RMK. I liken it to some of the stories you here about a war veteran returning home from Iraq or Afghanistan just to be mugged an shot, or hit by a drunk driver and killed. to have survived the odds in war, and to die that way. Just seems unfair.

And yes, all the rescue personnel, law enforcement, and all Freedom Fighters, should be honored more then they are.

Thank you sir for sharing your story about your brother. He will be here on this site forever now.


RMK said:

Thanks for the story of part of your Military family John.
That Western Union letter would have been a rough way to find out about something like that happening.

I will never forget the day when 2 Army Officers came to my house, knocked at my door, I opened it to see them, not knowing what was going on. My parents were at the store. They asked if they were home, I replied, no, they will be back soon. As they were walking off the porch, my parents pulled into the drive. As I walked back into the kitche, they all came into the house, and I heard them tell my Mom n Dad that their son was killed by a drunk driver.

A memory I never want to remember, but, it is one I will never, ever forget.

I was never in the Military, only because back in '69, I lost my only Brother (age 21). During the Vietnam era, while he did not die in action, he was in the Army, and was run down, run over by a drunk driver, was killed instantly with a broken up back.

I was 14 at the time. I still have my days, 42 years later. Back then, by loosing him, I was the only surviving son, so, they didn't want me. This was bitter/sweet, I guess.

I believe we should live everyday as Memorial Day. We owe everything to our Military forces, and the Military families for their triumphs, and their struggles.

GOD BLESS US ALL. US, in my eyes is our United States of America

I love this country, and give thanks to all the people who put their lives on the line for our Freedoms on a daily basis.

Thanks to ALL our Military, and ALL of our Freedom Fighters, Law Enforcement, Firefighters, and ALL who are invovled in protecting all of US.

Every day should be Memorial Day

Thank you Lew, thank you for your service!

Hey Lew, is this you?

Lewis Kauffman said:

Thanks, John.

 

Lew

US Navy 1963-1966

VA-65 Tigers

cool ! anyone fly the A6-E ?

After I got out of the Army , I built the pods ALQ- 99 systems that hang on that plane as a civilian contractor .My dad flew S-2 f's P2-V's and other earlier hardware. I was a Navy brat that went Army !

Thanks Lewis .In the Army I taught crypto-electronics repair back at Fort Monmouth . As a contractor I developed and worked on lots of stuff above and below water .Went into self business in the mid 80's and been woodworking for about 5 years now .

Lewis Kauffman said:

My cousin flew in P2-V during the Vietnam War but he was in the Atlantic/Med. I was an AQF. Trained in Memphis. Went to Oceana, VA. Then on the South East Asia "War Games" aboard the Connie CVA-64. I maintained the Radars and Computers on the A6.

rob durfos said:

John

Thank you for a wonderful read. You have a lot to be proud of. I have read this a few times and really hesitated on responding. But ... Some of the guys I served with never made it home. Being on the Special Forces we were asked to do what no other would or could. We were grouped at different times with the Navy and the Air force as our means of Transportation. They all admired what we did yet we did not consider it any thing that big. We did our job. Memorial Day is coming up and the memories are starting to flood back in full force. All I will really say at this point is be so very proud of your ancestors and anyone else that has served and keep the flag flying. God Bless our servicemen and women and hopefully he has Grace and Forgivness on those that did a job they never asked for.

Head Bowed in Prayer

Wayne

 

Touching story, John

 

All these war protesters, draft dogers, want peace, some had that ole peace symbols  They need to sent them over to these foregin countries if  they don't appreicate the freedom our forefathers fougt for and gave their lives that we can be free.

I was in the Army in 71-74  , went to Vietnam in 71-72  had MOS of 36KILO,  phone  line installing, switchboard operating, when got to Vietnam, they were short of radio maintance so they took some of us 36 K and put us in 31BROVO as our DMOS

 

I was station in DaNang, South Vietnam with a MP unit so I was bless with no real combat , I got gased one time 

Main thing was that I was shot at by friendly fire, The dumb GI had just come over, and my time was about over,

when had guard duty, we would have to go on rifle range to test our M16's out before going on duty; when he tried to clear his weapon, he fired twice before he relize he had to take the magazine out to clear the weapon.  We were about 300' apart and it when in the ground about half way,  Only God's protecting hand,!!!!!!!

When I got back home I had memory spells leaving me with awful headaches, I went to disp , they told me I need to see a psyc, said I was just crazy.   I didn't proceed anymore,  in 78 I had 2 grand mals,  spent 10 days in Chas VA, they did all kind of test, MRI  scans, but couldn,t find anything and I was diag with epilisty. I lost the job I had, and had to take a step back in life. By God's grace He has help me thur it . Some said the fact I was in Vietnam should get help, some said could been from Agent Orange but I don't have any of the side affects.

 

Mark

War is such a horrible monster, but I can only have admiration for the men and women who have sacrificed their lives to defend our country and freedom.

 

To all of our Veterans of yesterday, today and tomorrow,  Thank you.

Wayne. Rob, Lew, thank you all for your service to our country. Mark, I was a 31Lima, (Lineman) the switch operators (you) told me where to put the lines that ran up to your comm vans or ground positions. Small world. I liked my job, got to climb a lot of poles and trees running comm, man those reels of 26 pair cable were heavy! Thanks for sharing Mark, and thanks to all for sharing, and thank you Meilie for your thoughts for our guys and gals in harms way.

 

Wow, some of these folks really have a heart full of sadness and also I might add they should all  be as proud as proud can be.  When Rob mentioned Fort Monmouth, NJ. that brought back a few memories for me. I spent a bit over 9 months there in 1962 in RADAR ( radio detection and ranging ) Repair school.  I was sent to White Sands Missile Range from there and spent the next 2 years as Missile Electronic Warfare tech.   People ask me if I have ever been to foreign country and I say yes, New Jersey.

I thank each and every military vet and current duty individual for their service and protection.  Carry on, I will be in the area all day.

Leo in AZ.

  My late Father in law was in the US Army Air Corps.     Served as a B-17 instructor at Lockbourne AB, and in Miss.,  before going to North Africa.   One of his army buddies was a singer/actor named Joel McCrea.   

 

 I also had a few uncles that served in WWII, mainly in the army.    Never did get any stories about their time in the service.

 

Also had a few cousins in Viet Nam,  one Air Farce ( LOL) , one Jarhead that LIKED it, and a grunt in the army. Just the Marine got wounded, and went back for more.    The Air Force guy?    Just retired as a Balliff for Logan County, Ohio.   The Army guy?    He rides around on his bike, everyday.    He is also a retiree for CSX railroad. 

  As for me, I'm retired from the Guard since may, 96, and have been in the Retired/Reserves since  then.   Before all of that, well, family tradition says "Keep your mouth shut", so I will.

And with that, thank you for your service Leo! And thank you for lending a bit of humor here as well.

Leo Pedersen said:

  People ask me if I have ever been to foreign country and I say yes, New Jersey.

 

Leo in AZ.

My father in law was a lineman in WWII in the South Pacific.  He wouldn't talk to anyone (even his wife) about what he experienced. In '72 I spend 7 months TDY on Guam which was one of the islands he liberated.  One day he asked me about the island and then relayed some of the details of his service time.  I suppose because we had a common bond.  I felt so privileged because I think I was the only person he shared with.

By the way, when I was station on Guam I determined that it was a hole above ground.

Thanks for sharing Ron, and what an honor your father-n-law bestowed upon you.

Ron Dudelston said:

My father in law was a lineman in WWII in the South Pacific.  He wouldn't talk to anyone (even his wife) about what he experienced. In '72 I spend 7 months TDY on Guam which was one of the islands he liberated.  One day he asked me about the island and then relayed some of the details of his service time.  I suppose because we had a common bond.  I felt so privileged because I think I was the only person he shared with.

By the way, when I was station on Guam I determined that it was a hole above ground.