Friday, January 27, 2006
WWII Family Stories.
I've been always intrigued by my Grandfather's past.... I knew he was a sailor and later on a business man in the coffee industry. I also heard many stories about his sons and daughters, the names he picked for them, and many interesting things about him.
As a sailor, he was a part of the crew of the SS "Francis R. Hart," which in WWII was part of the US Merchant Marine Fleet. The Hart was in operation from 1938-1958 and looked like this:
The SS Francis R. Hart and many others tankers were stationed in Honduras. Interestingly, there was a boat called "Francisco Morazan", or as they used renamed on this link to "SS Francisco Morazon" More on Francisco Morazan
I really don't have a diary from my grandfather but US Merchant Mariners were not fully recognized for their contribution to WWII, maybe a letter, but no monetary compensation.
My point also is that many people from Honduras, and possibly many others also contributed to US's WWII victory... their contribution is mostly unknown.
It was not until 2005 when a deeper acknowledgment was made official: "Merchant Mariners of World War II Act of 2005" or here.
As a sailor, he was a part of the crew of the SS "Francis R. Hart," which in WWII was part of the US Merchant Marine Fleet. The Hart was in operation from 1938-1958 and looked like this:
The SS Francis R. Hart and many others tankers were stationed in Honduras. Interestingly, there was a boat called "Francisco Morazan", or as they used renamed on this link to "SS Francisco Morazon" More on Francisco Morazan
In the Mindoro invasion of the Philippines, more merchant mariners lost their lives than did members of all the other Armed Services combined. Sixty-eight mariners and Armed Guard on the SS John Burke and 71 on the SS Lewis E. Dyche disappeared, along with their ammunition-laden ships as result of kamikaze attacks. The SS Francisco Morazon, also in the same convoy, fired 10 tons of ammunition defending herself. A majority of the merchant ships sunk in the Pacific were sunk by kamikaze suicide pilots.
I really don't have a diary from my grandfather but US Merchant Mariners were not fully recognized for their contribution to WWII, maybe a letter, but no monetary compensation.
My point also is that many people from Honduras, and possibly many others also contributed to US's WWII victory... their contribution is mostly unknown.
It was not until 2005 when a deeper acknowledgment was made official: "Merchant Mariners of World War II Act of 2005" or here.
Thursday, January 26, 2006
Star Wars in GIF
Sunday, January 15, 2006
Family visits
I had two family visits this weekend, First my brother came from Tampa, they even brought their puppy.. Sunny... a cocker spaniel, very friendly dog... hehe. In the afternoon, today Sunday, my Aunt Glen came with her husband, her mother, and my twin cousings. Link
Go Gators!!!
UF's Bball team is doing pretty well this season. 16- 0.After a win over Auburn, quite impressive isn't it?
Friday, January 13, 2006
Previous post on Honduras
If you didn't know, Honduras has 4 intl airports... San Pedro Sula, Tegucigalpa, Ceiba, and Roatan. Even though, InterAirports has been moving really slow in the "modernization" of all Honduran terminas, I do think they did a good job w/ Goloson in Ceiba, 
..
I want to see more flights Miami-Ceiba, or even FLL-Ceiba, soon.
..I want to see more flights Miami-Ceiba, or even FLL-Ceiba, soon.
Saturday, January 07, 2006
1st post 2006
New Year's eve was a blast, I also went to Tampa and visit my brother up there... btw, someone hit my car in Naples... :( What a bummer but everything else was just fine!!!
Some New Year's eve pictures:
Some New Year's eve pictures:
"Le gusta la gasolina, dale mas gasolina..."
"And some Swing Dancing...."
"Say Cheesee..... Terri, Ryan, Rachel, Angie, Doris, me, and Michael - Heather's brother"
