The USS North Carolina (BB-55) My all-time favorite warship. As an elementary school student in North Carolina, I donated nickels and dimes to save this ship back in the early sixties.

Saturday, September 25, 2021

Veteran Turns 100 in Mississippi: Talmage Byrd

From the September13, 2021, AP News  "Mississippi World War II veteran celebrates 100th birthday."

Talmage Byrd of Vancleave was born in 1921 and joined the U.S. Navy when he was 20  years old, saying he was influenced by the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.

His first post was near the Aleutian Islands, then he  was moved to Astoria, Oregon, where he repaired battle damaged ships.  In the 1950s, he was stationed in Guam.

His military service inspired generations of his family to serve their country.  His son, Larry Byrd, joined the  Air Force in 1965, serving more than twenty years servicing aircraft like B-52s before retiring in 1986.  His grandson,  Chris Rowell,  served in  the Army beginning in 2007 and was stationed in Baghdad, Iraq, for 13 months.

Happy Birthday, Mr. Byrd.

--GreGen


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