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A Dying Breed

February 27, 2016 3:22 pm / Leave a comment

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by D. Barry Fisher| Special to The Advocate

On July 24, 1944, U.S. Marines stormed two narrow beaches on Tinian, a South Pacific island in the Northern Mariana Island chain. Their mission was to clear out a Japanese garrison of 9,000 troops and secure the island so it could be used for strategic air combat for the 20th Air Force.

While the Marines met little resistance upon the initial beach landing, the Japanese were dug in with over 100 gun emplacements and resisted for nine days before the island was secured. Subsequently, Tinian became one of the most active airports in the world, given the number of B-29 Superfortress bombers that departed the island for bombing raids on Japan’s homeland. Most notably, the “Enola Gay” carried the first atomic bomb that was dropped on Hiroshima.

One of those Marines that waded in after off-loading from a Higgins boat, which were designed and built in New Orleans, was Clyde Hymel, soon to turn 90.

Recently, Hymel told me his story.

A lifelong resident of Garyville, Hymel joined with approximately 41,000 other Marines. He carried a 16-pound Browning automatic rifle as his primary weapon.

He lost several of his fellow Marines during the siege, even though fighting on Tinian took fewer American lives than several other islands that were invaded.

But things did not get easier for Hymel.

Soon after Tinian was secured, his unit was shipped to Guam. He and his fellow Marines were initially assigned to jungle patrol to root out the Japanese from their hiding.

Hymel said the jungle was so thick it was hard to maneuver and find the enemy as they were masters of hiding in caves, tunnels and the cover of the jungle itself. Automatic rifles and hand grenades were the primary weapons for getting the Japanese soldier out of hiding. The general rule was to take no prisoners.

After completing jungle patrol duty, Hymel said he was assigned to the 9th Anti-Aircraft Battalion on Guam for the remainder of the war. This group was so successful at their mission that the Silver Star, which is awarded for gallantry in action against enemies of the United States, was awarded to each member of his battalion.

The war ended in 1945, but Hymel remained on the island for a year before mustering out of the military and returning to Garyville.

After the war

Shortly after getting back home, Hymel married and raised eight children. He made a career at Godchaux’s Sugar Co. for several years, but spent the last years of his work life with Kaiser Corp.

In his spare time, he continued his boyhood love of hunting, fishing and trapping.

Hymel seemed to view life as one big adventure from his war experience to exciting times in the swamp. He told of how once a 10-foot alligator he had on a line charged him with mouth agape. His boots had gotten stuck in the mud, causing him to fall backward into a sitting position. His only defense, he said, was to stick his semi-automatic rifle in the gator’s mouth and pull the trigger several times. That alligator was then his. Just another day in the swamp.

Although his age may have slowed him down somewhat, it hasn’t diminished his quest for adventure.

Just a few years ago, he went skydiving with four of his grandchildren and one of his sons. He recently visited the National WWII Memorial in Washington, D.C., and traveled back to Pearl Harbor, where he and his battalion waited several weeks in 1944 for a convoy to ship them to Tinian.

It was truly a privilege and honor to meet and visit with Clyde Hymel. A true American, he is a member of the “greatest generation,” having endured the Great Depression, active combat duty of WWII and overcoming many adversities to survive and raise a family.

Thank you, Clyde! Many Americans recognize your contributions and owe you and other servicemen, a great debt of gratitude.

We will not forget.

— Fisher lives in Zachary

A Look Back, my first blog on Google.

February 20, 2016 6:35 pm / Leave a comment

A Tribute to a Hero

February 20, 2016 9:36 am / Leave a comment

Some of you may know I retired from the CT State Police some 28 years ago. We get frequent updates of this, that, and other things from time to time via email and our Alumni News Letter. Thanks to the Internet you can still feel a part of your past and keep track of who’s doing what and the various things going on. Our CT State Police Alumni Association does a wonderful job.

I did not know Darrell D Stark but obviously there was a true American hero living in close proximity to my first posting, Troop “C” Stafford Springs. Troop “C” has moved from Stafford Springs to Tolland, CT a more central location in the geographical responsibility area. The troop even has their own Face Book page.

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Troop C, Stafford Springs, CT (Now a Sr. Ctr.)

 

troop-c

Troop C, Tolland, CT

On the first Monday of each month all OF’s, ( Old Farts) get together at a local eating establishment, tell war stories and catch up on what each is doing as well as who’s not doing well. This American Hero was a guest and speaker at one of Troop “Cs” breakfast sessions.

I received this today and just wanted to pass it along. It’s short, a wonderful read and a person, “The Donald,” would dispute being a hero.

I’ve included a few links that look back on the history of where Darrell’s mis-adventures took him for those who may be interested. I’m sure many of us, me included, have no clue as to some of this history. We all owe it to ourselves, to know from whence we came. I remember an old quote from John F. Kennedy; “We are tied to the ocean. And when we go back to the sea – whether it is to sail or to watch it – we are going back from whence we came.” Thank you to Darrell and all the men and women of World War II, Where might we be now?

Semper Fi.”

Stark, Darrell D

Stark, Darrell D.

Darrell D Stark, 92, of Stafford Springs, CT, husband to the love of his life for 69 years, the late Julia (Ridzon) Stark, passed away on Wednesday, February 17, 2016 at Evergreen Health Care Center surrounded by his loving family.

He was born in Ardmore, OK, son of the late Frank H. and Gladys (Pollard) Stark. He left his loving family in Oklahoma at 16 to work in the Civilian Conservation camp in Montrose, CO. He enlisted at 18 in the United States Army and was a very proud member of the 31st infantry. He surrendered in Bataan, Philippines on April 9, 1942, and saw the horrors of the death march. He spent time in the Cabanatuan and Davao Penal Colony and Bilibid prison, and then spent 62 days on the Hellship Canadian Inventor and arrived in Moji, Japan in September or October of 1944. He worked in a factory in Yokkaichi, Japan for three or four months until the factory was destroyed by an earthquake. He then went to Toyama and was liberated there in August 1945.

http://time.com/3334677/pow-world-war-two-usa-japan/

After returning to the United States, he was hit by a car and that is when he met the love of his life working at the military hospital. Darrell was a Purple Heart and Bronze Star recipient. He retired as a corrections officer from the State of Connecticut. Darrell was a member of the Strazza, Tonoli-Emhoff Post No. 26 American Legion, V.F.W. Post No. 9990 of Stafford, and the Italian Benefit Society. He spent a lifetime trying to help those who suffered from PTSD, talking to veterans at the VA or veterans at the prison, they all had the same thing in common and all handled it differently. He loved to be on the go and if one of his children was not able to take him to lunch or out and about he would say “that’s ok, I’ll call Dave or Fred”. Thank you Dave Walsh and Fred Bird, he loved you both like family. He also had adventures with Hope Frassinelli every Friday since his beloved Mimi passed away. We cannot forget the reporter that came to interview with him and found a new family and new projects that he would give her to do, Amber Wakley, thank you.

He is survived by his three children, Darrell W. “Butch” Stark and his wife Dolores, Darlene Dion and her husband Edward, and Judy Gilbert and her husband Ronald; nine grandchildren, Jennifer, Amy, Cynthia, Eddie, Chris, Michael, Peter, Nancy, and Stephanie; 15 great grandchildren; two brothers, Donald “Bud” Stark and his wife Reta, and Gerald “Ed” Stark and his wife Ruby; two brothers-in-law, Edward Ridzon and Daniel Ridzon and his wife Pat; very special friends, Dick and Shirley Hills; and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by three sisters and two brothers.

His funeral service will be held on Monday, February 22, 2016 at 10 A.M. at Introvigne Funeral Home, Inc., 51 East Main St., Stafford Springs, CT. Burial with Military Honors will follow in South Cemetery, Tolland, CT. Calling hours are on Sunday from 1-4 P.M. at the funeral home. Memorial donations may be made to the Stafford Youth Center, 3 Buckley Highway, Stafford Springs, CT 06076, American Legion Post No. 26, 10 Monson Rd., Stafford Springs, CT 06076, or please show an act of kindness towards a veteran.

For online condolences or directions, please visit: http://www.introvignefuneralhome.com

Editor, Darrell was an honored guest at the Troop C monthly breakfast.  The above photo was taken at the May 2015 breakfast when he spoke of his war time experiences.  He was a true hero of the greatest generation.  May he rest in peace.  kb

Rooster LogoSemper-fidelis

The United States Must Do It’s Fare Share

February 18, 2016 5:55 pm / Leave a comment

Isn’t it amazing that a Man living in a walled city in Italy can go to the border of Mexico and the United States at El Paso, TX and not want the United States to have a means of accounting for those who wish to come here.

One thing Pope Francis said he did know was that “a person who thinks only of building walls, wherever they may be, and not building bridges, isn’t Christian.” Pity the poor brick masons, next we know they will be in the unemployment line.

John Nolte, who writes for Breitbart was quoted as as saying  “And all I’m asking is that for the good of the world Pope Francis allow America the same border security the home of no less than St. Peter enjoys.”

I’m assuming Pope Francis could order such a thing tomorrow, and after the walls came down he could also choose to greet the wave of “pilgrims” with the “warmth of the love of Christ.”

Of course Pope Francis would never do such a thing because he knows what would happen: Vatican City would be no more, everyone’s security and well-being would be compromised, and the standard of living for close to a thousand residents would be destroyed.  Chaos would completely destroy the home of St. Peter.

Just as the loss of Vatican City would be detrimental to the world, so too will the loss of an America as we know it if our culture and free enterprise system is exploded into a giant welfare state by waves of immigrants embraced by mercenary, power-hungry Democrats desperate to use them to increase the power of the State.

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Courtesy of mysunnylittlecorner.com

Vatican City’s walls allow the Vatican to save itself in order to hold tight to an invaluable culture that exports its generosity and charity and missionary work.  Vatican City cannot take everyone in and survive. And it must remain Vatican City or be destroyed at the expense of all the incalculable good it does.

By all means, Pope Francis should push and prod and even shame America and Americans to give and give and give and give. We should do whatever we can to help the refugees in the Middle East and do whatever we can to influence and help Mexico and its people.

But we cannot do that if we’re no longer America.

John can be followed on Twitter @NolteNC        

2013 report – And who’s #1?

This is a list of countries by immigrant population, based on the UN report Trends in International Migrant Stock: The 2013 Revision.[1]

Country Number of immigrants Percentage of
total number of
immigrants
in the world		 Immigrants as
percentage of
national population		 Notes
 United States 45,785,090 19.8 14.3
 Russia 11,048,064 4.8 7.7
 Germany 9,845,244 4.3 11.9
 Saudi Arabia 9,060,433 3.9 31.4
 United Arab Emirates 7,826,981 3.4 83.7
 United Kingdom 7,824,131 3.4 12.4
 France 7,439,086 3.2 11.6
 Canada 7,284,069 3.1 20.7
 Australia 6,468,640 2.8 27.7
 Spain 6,466,605 2.8 13.8
 Italy 5,721,457 2.5 9.4
 India 5,338,486 2.3 0.4
 Ukraine 5,151,378 2.2 11.4
 Pakistan 4,080,766 1.8 2.2
 Thailand 3,721,735 1.6 5.6
 Kazakhstan 3,476,233 1.5 21.1
 Kuwait 2,920,000 1.3 70
 Jordan 2,925,780 1.3 40.2
 Hong Kong 2,804,753 1.2 38.9
 Iran 2,649,516 1.1 3.4
 Malaysia 2,469,173 1.1 8.3
 Ivory Coast 2,446,171 1.1 12.0
 Japan 2,437,169 1.1 1.9
 South Africa 2,399,238 1.0 4.6
  Switzerland 2,335,059 1.0 28.9
 Singapore 2,323,252 1.0 42.9
 Israel 2,046,873 0.9 26.5
 Netherlands 1,964,922 0.9 11.7
 Argentina 1,885,678 0.8 4.6
 Turkey 1,864,889 0.8 2.5
 Qatar 1,600,955 0.7 73.8
 South Korea 1,230,000 0.5 2.9
 Sweden 1,130,025 0.7 15.9
 Bangladesh 1,396,514 0.6 0.9
 Syria 1,394,227 0.6 6.4
 Austria 1,333,807 0.6 15.7
 Uzbekistan 1,266,278 0.6 4.4
 Nigeria 1,233,592 0.5 0.7
 Venezuela 1,171,331 0.5 3.9
 Belgium 1,159,801 0.5 10.4
 New Zealand 1,132,828 0.5 25.1
 Oman 1,112,032 0.5 30.6
 Mexico 1,103,460 0.5 0.9
 Belarus 1,085,396 0.5 11.6
 Greece 988,245 0.4 8.9
   Nepal 971,247 0.4 3.5
 Kenya 955,452 0.4 2.2
 Portugal 893,847 0.4 8.4
 China 848,511 0.4 0.1
 Croatia 756,980 0.3 17.6
 Libya 755,974 0.3 12.2
 Ireland 735,535 0.3 15.9
 Bahrain 729,357 0.3 54.7
 Ethiopia 718,241 0.3 0.8
 Burkina Faso 696,983 0.3 4.1
 Norway 694,508 0.3 13.8
 Poland 663,755 0.3 0.9
 South Sudan 629,577 0.3 5.6
 Brazil 1,847,274 0.8 0.9
 Denmark 556,825 0.3 9.9
 Serbia 532,457 0.3 5.6
 Uganda 531,401 0.3 1.4
 Hungary 472,798 0.3 4.7
 Rwanda 452,406 0.2 3.8
 Democratic Republic of Congo 446,924 0.2 0.7
 Sudan 446,707 0.2 1.2
 Chad 331,251 0.2 3.4
 Czech Republic 439,116 0.2 4.0
 Republic of Congo 431,470 0.2 9.7
 Costa Rica 419,572 0.2 8.7
 Dominican Republic 402,506 0.2 3.9
 Chile 398,251 0.2 2.2
 Gabon 394,953 0.2 23.6
 Moldova 391,508 0.2 11.2
 Guinea 378,464 0.2 3.2
 Zimbabwe 360,992 0.2 2.6
 Ecuador 359,315 0.2 2.2
 Ghana 358,829 0.2 1.4
 Macau 333,269 0.2 58.8
 Sri Lanka 324,977 0.2 1.5
 Azerbaijan 323,843 0.2 3.4
 Armenia 317,001 0.2 10.6
 Yemen 314,683 0.2 1.3
 Tanzania 312,778 0.2 0.6
 Egypt 297,448 0.2 0.4
 Indonesia 295,433 0.2 0.1
 Finland 293,167 0.2 5.4
 Cameroon 291,792 0.2 1.3
 Latvia 282,887 0.2 13.8
 Tajikistan 275,735 0.2 3.4
 Algeria 270,407 0.2 0.7
 Palestine 256,517 0.2 5.9
 Burundi 254,477 0.2 2.5
 Benin 234,241 0.2 2.3
 Slovenia 233,293 0.2 11.3
 Luxembourg 229,409 0.1 43.3
 Kyrgyzstan 226,960 0.1 4.6
 Turkmenistan 226,327 0.1 4.3
 Liberia 225,484 0.1 5.3
 Mozambique 218,881 0.1 0.8
 Philippines 213,150 0.1 0.3
 Estonia 209,984 0.1 16.4
 Senegal 209,398 0.1 1.5
 Cyprus 207,313 0.1 18.2
 Malawi 206,578 0.1 1.3
 Brunei 206,173 0.1 49.3
 Togo 202,476 0.1 3.0
 Romania 198,839 0.1 0.9
 Mali 195,553 0.1 1.3
 Georgia 189,893 0.1 4.4
 Paraguay 185,776 0.1 2.8
 The Gambia 162,919 0.1 8.8
 Panama 158,417 0.1 3.8
 Bolivia 154,330 0.1 1.4
 Lithuania 147,781 0.1 4.9
 Botswana 146,456 0.1 7.2
 Republic of Macedonia 139,751 0.1 6.6
 Reunion 136,493 0.1 15.6
 Central African Republic 134,237 0.1 2.9
 Niger 132,294 0.1 0.7
 Colombia 129,632 0.1 0.3
 Djibouti 123,537 0.1 14.2
 Afghanistan 105,090 0.1 0.3
 Peru 104,919 0.1 0.3
 French Guiana 104,291 0.1 43.3
 Burma 103,117 0.1 0.2
 Zambia 98,907 0.1 0.7
 Guadeloupe 97,081 0.1 20.8
 Albania 96,798 0.1 3.1
 Sierra Leone 96,368 0.1 1.6
 Iraq 95,780 0.1 0.3
 Mauritania 90,206 0.1 2.3
 Angola 87,436 0.1 0.4
 Maldives 84,230 0.1 24.4
 Bulgaria 84,101 0.1 1.2
Guernsey Jersey Channel Islands 82,592 0.1 51.0
 Guam 80,770 0.1 49.6
 Cambodia 75,556 0.1 0.5
 Uruguay 73,528 0.1 2.3
 Mayotte 73,107 0.2 32.9
 Guatemala 72,764 0.1 0.5
 Vietnam 68,290 0.1 0.1
 United States Virgin Islands 63,271 0.1 59.3
 New Caledonia 63,037 0.1 24.8
 Bahamas 61,343 0.1 16.3
 Martinique 60,653 0.1 15.0
 Namibia 51,448 0.1 2.2
 Bhutan 50,862 0.1 6.7
 Belize 50,860 0.1 15.0
 Morocco 50,771 0.1 0.2
 Montenegro 50,708 0.1 8.2
 North Korea 46,813 0.1 0.2
 Andorra 45,086 0.1 56.9
 Mauritius 44,997 0.1 3.6
 Isle of Man 44,688 0.1 52.0
 Suriname 41,670 0.1 7.5
 El Salvador 41,615 0.1 0.6
 Nicaragua 41,482 0.1 0.7
 American Samoa 40,845 0.1 71.2
 Haiti 38,061 0.1 0.4
 Curacao 36,865 0.1 23.2
 Tunisia 36,526 0.1 0.3
 Aruba 35,950 0.1 34.9
 Jamaica 34,907 0.1 1.3
 French Polynesia 34,830 0.1 12.8
 Iceland 34,377 0.1 10.7
 Trinidad and Tobago 32,488 0.1 2.4
 Malta 34,455 0.1 8.0
 Madagascar 34,313 0.1 0.1
 Barbados 32,280 0.1 11.3
 Antigua and Barbuda 28,733 0.1 31.9
 Honduras 27,503 0.1 0.4
 Sint Maarten 27,021 0.1 59.7
 Swaziland 25,524 0.1 2.0
 Papua New Guinea 25,441 0.1 0.4
 Somalia 24,593 0.1 0.2
 Monaco 24,299 0.1 64.2
 Northern Mariana Islands 24,155 0.1 49.9
 Bosnia and Herzegovina 23,197 0.1 0.6
 Fiji 22,828 0.1 2.5
 Laos 21,801 0.1 0.3
 Bermuda 19,066 0.1 29.1
 Guinea-Bissau 18,024 0.1 1.1
 Mongolia 17,225 0.1 0.6
 Cuba 16,177 0.1 0.1
 Eritrea 15,798 0.1 0.2
 Cape Verde 14,874 0.1 3.0
 Guyana 14,770 0.1 1.7
 Caribbean Netherlands 12,613 0.1 65.9
 Comoros 12,511 0.1 1.7
 Liechtenstein 12,208 0.1 33.1
 Saint Lucia 12,180 0.1 6.7
 Seychelles 12,079 0.1 13.0
 Timor-Leste 11,565 0.1 1.0
 Grenada 11,367 0.1 10.7
 Turks and Caicos Islands 11,356 0.1 24.8
 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 10,260 0.1 9.4
 Equatorial Guinea 10,141 0.1 1.3
 Gibraltar 9,662 0.1 33.0
 British Virgin Islands 9,144 0.1 32.3
 Solomon Islands 7,870 0.1 1.4
 Anguilla 6,520 0.1 45.6
 Dominica 6,419 0.1 8.9
 Sao Tome and Principe 6,345 0.1 3.3
 Greenland 5,694 0.1 10.4
 Saint Kitts and Nevis 5,673 0.1 10.5
 Samoa 5,623 0.1 3.0
 Palau 5,590 0.1 27.8
 Tonga 5,436 0.1 4.8
 Western Sahara 4,932 0.1 0.9
 San Marino 4,399 0.1 15.4
 Faroe Islands 3,641 0.1 7.4
 Cook Islands 3,234 0.1 15.4
 Vanuatu 3,108 0.1 1.3
 Lesotho 3,095 0.1 0.1
 Wallis and Futuna 2,885 0.1 20.5
 Kiribati 2,619 0.1 2.6
 Micronesia 2,600 0.1 2.6
 Nauru 2,070 0.1 21.1
 Falkland Islands 1,975 0.1 62.1
 Marshall Islands 1,705 0.1 3.2
 Montserrat 1,321 0.1 25.9
 Saint Pierre and Miquelon 972 0.1 17.1
  Vatican City 799 0.1 100.0
 Saint Helena 590 0.1 14.3
 Niue 552 0.1 37.1
 Tokelau 298 0.1 25.4
 Tuvalu 148 0.1

Cheers to a GREAT SUPER BOWL GAME!!

February 7, 2016 12:13 pm / Leave a comment

Babe Ruth’s summer house on the market | New York Post[]
“Sometimes when I reflect on all the beer I drink, I feel ashamed. Then I look into the glass and think about the workers in the brewery and all of their hopes and dreams. If I didn’t drink this beer, they might be out of work and their dreams would be shattered. I think, “It is better to drink this beer and let their dreams come true than be selfish and worry about my liver.”
Babe Ruth
Lyndon Johnson
“If all you had to look forward to was sleeping with Lady Bird you’d stay drunk too.”
Lyndon B. Johnson


“When I read about the evils of drinking, I gave up reading.”
Paul Horning
 
“24 hours in a day, 24 beers in a case. Coincidence? I think not.”
H. L. Mencken

Do-You-Know-If-you-are-going-to-Heaven-406
“When we drink, we get drunk. When we get drunk, we fall asleep. When we fall asleep, we commit no sin When we commit no sin, we go to heaven. So, let’s all get drunk and go to heaven!”
George Bernard Shaw


Beer & Pizza - Guardian Games
“Without question, the greatest invention in the history of mankind is beer. Oh, I grant you that the wheel was also a fine invention, but the wheel does not go nearly as well with pizza.”
Dave Barry

Beer: Helping ugly people have sex since 3000 B.C.!
W. C. Fields
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Remember “I” before “E,” except in Budweiser.
Professor Irwin Corey

6-pack-cardboard-beer-bottle-carrier-75-case
To some it’s a six-pack, to me it’s a Support Group. Salvation in a can!
Leo Durocher
th
One night at Cheers (TV Sitcom), Cliff Clavin said to his buddy, Norm Peterson:
“Well, ya see, Norm, it’s like this…A herd of buffalo can only move as fast as the slowest buffalo. And when the herd is hunted, it is the slowest and weakest ones at the back that are killed first. This natural selection is good for the herd as a whole, because the general speed and health of the whole group keeps improving by the regular killing of the weakest members!  In much the same way, the human brain can only operate as fast as the slowest brain cells. Excessive intake of alcohol, as we know, kills brain cells. But naturally, it attacks the slowest and weakest brain cells first. In this way, regular consumption of beer eliminates the weaker brain cells, making the brain a faster and more efficient machine! That’s why you always feel smarter after a few beers.”

beer toast

  

Cheers to a GREAT SUPER BOWL GAME!!

Sunday Inspiration #25

February 7, 2016 11:17 am / Leave a comment

By on Feb 07, 2016

 

Today’s Sunday Inspiration: When you think about the things that can change your life, you might think of the negative things first like an accident, losing your job, or the news of a loved one becoming ill.

But, there’s plenty of room for good things to happen, too.

Getting healthier, improving a relationship, or creating a rewarding career all take effort, but the life-long satisfaction these bring can help fill-up your soul when they are emptied-out by the bad.

Today, remember the good things and let them take up more room in you.

good things
Get more Sunday Inspiration: thebridgemaker.com/sundayinspiration