I would like to propose a toast tonight...

Christopher Snow · 03-17-09, 04:20 AM

...to the finest man I ever knew.

--------------------

To: Lt. Lynn Daker (USAAF, WW2) One time President of the 500th bomb squadron (US).

Married for 67 years. Never took a drink in his life. Nor a puff from a cigarette (or anything else! And even though he was something of a "biker" in his later years).

Most people who know him would say he never had an unkind word for anyone. Not strictly true, perhaps, but we are all just human.....

I'm sure he still had his faults, but I can hardly presume to judge, and I will certainly not do so tonight.

I can safely say, Lynn was the finest gentleman I have ever been privileged to meet, and to be able to get to know.

---------------

Lynn flew a B25 "gunship" in the Pacific theater, during WW2. Real low level stuff, for the most part. Right on the wave tops all the time (as he told it).

Lynn called it the "greatest adventure of his life," and I'm sure, for him, it would be safe to say it was.

He flew 36 combat missions in the Pacific theater against the Japanese, and his plane was hit 28 times.

He was shot down, (or forced down) twice, and the last time with loss of life to one of his crewmembers--Lynn's best friend: SSGT Desire Wilfred Chatigny Jr (age 21).

Lynn was recently part of an expedtion back to the Phillipines to find his lost airplane (and, it was hoped, by some, the remains of SSGT Chatigny). Sadly, it was not to be: the island natives had gradually stripped the wreck over the years, and so the plane, itself, was largely lost. Only the two engines remain (lying, I understand, like a pair of parked VW beetles on the seabed, under 175' of water).

The salvage crew DID present Lynn with a rum bottle...filled with seabed silt taken from the site of the wreck. Lynn (as I understand) broke up...and said it was worth more to him "than a million dollars"...and asked if it would be ok to share it with the other, surviving members of that same flightcrew....

-------

I was VERY privileged, earlier today (Monday, March 16, 2009), to be able to attend Lynn's funeral here in Boulder, Colorado (US). It was the first time I've ever witnessed a full, 21 gun salute in person...and by the time the bugler finished playing "taps" I was a complete wreck (I know the bugler stood somewhere off to my left, but I never really saw him--I was simply too torn up to see much of anything).

"Taps" always rips me up.

I like to think Lynn would simply pat me on the shoulder, in a moment like that, and say "chin up, young man!"

Regardless...Lt. Lynn Daker certainly earned the full honors of his (very grateful) nation this day. He earned EVERY BIT of the services rendered to him today. No question about it.

------------

Lynn, for his part (so I am told) never took a drink in his life.

So I'm sure, wherever he is, he'll view my "silly little offering" here tonight with some amusement.

Nonetheless, it's all I have left to give him. And I'm sure he'll understand that too.

So: <hoisting beer>

Here's to you, sir! And thank you...for everything!

Christopher Snow

Kapitan_Phillips · 03-17-09, 05:03 AM

*clanks beer bottle*

baggygreen · 03-17-09, 05:50 AM

It won't be long until we see the passing ofthe last few of the ww2 vets, too...

Can't say much chris, cos i know words aren't much good round this sort of time, but i raise my waterbottle to join you.

CaptainHaplo · 03-17-09, 06:16 AM

*lifts my mug in salute

HunterICX · 03-17-09, 07:03 AM

*raises can of Ice-Tea.

HunterICX

UnderseaLcpl · 03-17-09, 07:32 AM

*salute*

Oberon · 03-17-09, 07:43 AM

Digital_Trucker · 03-17-09, 09:08 AM

Sailor Steve · 03-17-09, 11:13 AM

August · 03-17-09, 11:13 AM

Rest in peace old soldier. The world is a better place because of you.

bookworm_020 · 03-18-09, 01:16 AM

Raises can of Cola!

FIREWALL · 03-18-09, 01:46 AM

Hoisting one in tribute.

Stealth Hunter · 03-18-09, 02:08 AM

I've only got a bottle of cream soda with me right now, but still I drink to his honor... I mean, I'm sort of drinking... not in the colloquial sense, but hey. It's liquid, isn't it?

Christopher Snow · 03-19-09, 01:35 AM

Thanks to everyone who looked in, and to everyone who replied too.

I would hate to think a fine man like Lynn would leave this world unnoticed.

And, fortunately, that did not happen.

-------

I appreciate it too on a personal note. I've been pretty broken up over it, and it's helped me too, to be able to bounce it all off some sympathetic and understanding folks.

Thanks very much!

CS

joeljansson · 03-19-09, 12:19 PM

i dont have any water here but wait a sec and i get some wait here dont go anywhere ok? i raise my freesh water to you

03-17-09, 04:20 AM	#1
Christopher Snow Engineer Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 201 Downloads: 6 Uploads: 0	I would like to propose a toast tonight... ...to the finest man I ever knew. -------------------- To: Lt. Lynn Daker (USAAF, WW2) One time President of the 500th bomb squadron (US). Married for 67 years. Never took a drink in his life. Nor a puff from a cigarette (or anything else! And even though he was something of a "biker" in his later years). Most people who know him would say he never had an unkind word for anyone. Not strictly true, perhaps, but we are all just human..... I'm sure he still had his faults, but I can hardly presume to judge, and I will certainly not do so tonight. I can safely say, Lynn was the finest gentleman I have ever been privileged to meet, and to be able to get to know. --------------- Lynn flew a B25 "gunship" in the Pacific theater, during WW2. Real low level stuff, for the most part. Right on the wave tops all the time (as he told it). Lynn called it the "greatest adventure of his life," and I'm sure, for him, it would be safe to say it was. He flew 36 combat missions in the Pacific theater against the Japanese, and his plane was hit 28 times. He was shot down, (or forced down) twice, and the last time with loss of life to one of his crewmembers--Lynn's best friend: SSGT Desire Wilfred Chatigny Jr (age 21). Lynn was recently part of an expedtion back to the Phillipines to find his lost airplane (and, it was hoped, by some, the remains of SSGT Chatigny). Sadly, it was not to be: the island natives had gradually stripped the wreck over the years, and so the plane, itself, was largely lost. Only the two engines remain (lying, I understand, like a pair of parked VW beetles on the seabed, under 175' of water). The salvage crew DID present Lynn with a rum bottle...filled with seabed silt taken from the site of the wreck. Lynn (as I understand) broke up...and said it was worth more to him "than a million dollars"...and asked if it would be ok to share it with the other, surviving members of that same flightcrew.... ------- I was VERY privileged, earlier today (Monday, March 16, 2009), to be able to attend Lynn's funeral here in Boulder, Colorado (US). It was the first time I've ever witnessed a full, 21 gun salute in person...and by the time the bugler finished playing "taps" I was a complete wreck (I know the bugler stood somewhere off to my left, but I never really saw him--I was simply too torn up to see much of anything). "Taps" always rips me up. I like to think Lynn would simply pat me on the shoulder, in a moment like that, and say "chin up, young man!" Regardless...Lt. Lynn Daker certainly earned the full honors of his (very grateful) nation this day. He earned EVERY BIT of the services rendered to him today. No question about it. ------------ Lynn, for his part (so I am told) never took a drink in his life. So I'm sure, wherever he is, he'll view my "silly little offering" here tonight with some amusement. Nonetheless, it's all I have left to give him. And I'm sure he'll understand that too. So: <hoisting beer> Here's to you, sir! And thank you...for everything! Christopher Snow Last edited by Christopher Snow; 03-17-09 at 04:42 AM.

03-17-09, 05:03 AM	#2
Kapitan_Phillips Silent Hunter Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Swansea Posts: 3,903 Downloads: 204 Uploads: 0	clanks beer bottle __________________ Well, here's another nice mess you've gotten me into.

03-17-09, 06:16 AM	#4
CaptainHaplo Silent Hunter Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 4,405 Downloads: 31 Uploads: 0	*lifts my mug in salute __________________ Good Hunting! Captain Haplo

03-17-09, 07:03 AM	#5
HunterICX Rear Admiral Join Date: May 2006 Location: Malaga, España Posts: 10,750 Downloads: 8 Uploads: 0	*raises can of Ice-Tea. HunterICX __________________

03-17-09, 07:32 AM	#6
UnderseaLcpl Silent Hunter Join Date: May 2008 Location: Storming the beaches! Posts: 4,254 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	salute __________________ I stole this sig from Task Force

03-17-09, 05:50 AM	#3
baggygreen Sea Lord Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Canberra, ACT, Down Under (really On Top) Posts: 1,880 Downloads: 7 Uploads: 0	It won't be long until we see the passing ofthe last few of the ww2 vets, too... Can't say much chris, cos i know words aren't much good round this sort of time, but i raise my waterbottle to join you.

03-17-09, 07:43 AM	#7
Oberon Lucky Jack Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 25,976 Downloads: 61 Uploads: 20

03-17-09, 09:08 AM	#8
Digital_Trucker Silent Hunter Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: The Peach State Posts: 4,171 Downloads: 141 Uploads: 10	__________________ RSM-GIEP-Killflags-LV Tribute-Playable Elco __Peace be with you, Dave.

03-17-09, 11:13 AM	#9
Sailor Steve Eternal Patrol Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: High in the mountains of Utah Posts: 50,369 Downloads: 745 Uploads: 249	__________________ “Never do anything you can't take back.” —Rocky Russo

03-17-09, 11:13 AM	#10
August Wayfaring Stranger Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 23,248 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Rest in peace old soldier. The world is a better place because of you. __________________ Flanked by life and the funeral pyre. Putting on a show for you to see.

03-18-09, 01:16 AM	#11
bookworm_020 Navy Seal Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Sinking ships off the Australian coast Posts: 5,966 Downloads: 1 Uploads: 0	Raises can of Cola! __________________ "There is always one person in any organization who knows whats going on, That person must be fired"

03-18-09, 01:46 AM	#12
FIREWALL Eternal Patrol Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: CATALINA IS. SO . CAL USA Posts: 10,108 Downloads: 511 Uploads: 0	Hoisting one in tribute. __________________ RIP FIREWALL I Play GWX. Silent Hunter Who ???

03-18-09, 02:08 AM	#13
Stealth Hunter Silent Hunter Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Y'ha-Nthlei Posts: 4,262 Downloads: 19 Uploads: 0	I've only got a bottle of cream soda with me right now, but still I drink to his honor... I mean, I'm sort of drinking... not in the colloquial sense, but hey. It's liquid, isn't it?

03-19-09, 01:35 AM	#14
Christopher Snow Engineer Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 201 Downloads: 6 Uploads: 0	Thanks to everyone who looked in, and to everyone who replied too. I would hate to think a fine man like Lynn would leave this world unnoticed. And, fortunately, that did not happen. ------- I appreciate it too on a personal note. I've been pretty broken up over it, and it's helped me too, to be able to bounce it all off some sympathetic and understanding folks. Thanks very much! CS

03-19-09, 12:19 PM	#15
joeljansson Sparky Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: in front of the screen in sweden Posts: 158 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	i dont have any water here but wait a sec and i get some wait here dont go anywhere ok? i raise my freesh water to you __________________