My dad, Gunnery Sergeant James Phillip Brockway, served in the Marines during World War II. He was on Iwo Jima the day the flag was raised in 1945. He was wounded, and everyone presumed him dead until a fellow Marine stepped over him and heard him moan. He had been shot across the abdomen.

I served in the Navy from 1959 to 1968 during the Cuban blockade and Vietnam
War on board USS Tingey DD539, COMNAVAIRPAC, and Boat Support Unit One.
I first joined The American Legion 45 years ago, but rejoined 2 years ago.