my veteran

Marion A. Tripp (March 18, 1916-February 7, 1993)

Today I am observing this day for my Grandfather, Marion A. Tripp, a veteran and survivor of WWII stationed in the South Pacific. He was a gifted man and a special Grandpa. He passed away when I was 17 and I wished that I could have known him better; known him longer. Grandpa was a good Grandpa. He would let me sit on his lap when I wanted and he was patient with me. In my mind, he was loving, nurturing and kind.

I have family keepsakes in a curio cabinet in my home that has been passed down to me by relatives. I cherish my family deeply and I miss my Grandpa tremendously. I wish he were alive to meet my sons; his Great-Grandchildren. I think about Grandpa each week of my life. I have so many wonderful memories of him and today they flood my mind and swell my heart. I cannot wait to see him again.

These are my thoughts and memories of my Grandpa.

~ true American
~ conviction in his beliefs
~ unwavering
~ “Duke”
~ Cincinnati Reds
~ baseball on the radio
~ Camel cigarettes
~ handyman, craftsman
~ bird watcher and squirrel admirer (and they liked him)
~ red sweater, blue corduroy pants
~ eyeglass case in left breast pocket
~ humble
~ quiet
~ man of few words
~ father of 3 girls



~ musically gifted
~ painter, artist
~ Republican
~ slapping the back of the neck and rubbing fingers
~ Indian “powder” dance
~ funny
~ “Laugh-in”
~ “The Lawrence Welk Show”

~ witty, intelligent, quick
~ gas station
~ playing with tools and getting yelled at for it
~ basement workshop
~ Ronald Reagan
~ 5555 Bosworth
~ “a city within a city”
~ 244th Air Squadron, U.S. Army
~ railroad train
~ eating purple cows together
~ war veteran
~ a hero
~ “Jesus Christ Himself couldn’t please that woman” (famous Grandpa quote)







~ strong
~ “Hee-Haw”
~ Patsy Cline’s “Crazy”
~ flying spaghetti
~ “our children aren’t supposed to die before us”
~ Mr. Fix-it
~ home-body
~ swing and big band
~ stubborn
~ patriotic

Grandpa with Santa Claus (that's my biological father being Saint Nick).

Me and my Grandpa.

Grandpa with one of his squirrel buddies.

Me and my Grandpa hanging out in his chair.

I love you, Grandpa! I miss you! Happy Veteran's Day.