Honoring Veterans Every Day

I’m a little late, but I’d like to acknowledge some of the war veterans in my world.

First and foremost, my partner, Charlie who served in the US Army from 1966-1969 and was in Vietnam for nine months.

Many of you know of my uncle, Allen Benton, the inspiration for my novel, War Sonnets. He was a US Army sergeant from 1942-1946 who served in the Philippines and Japan in 1945 and 46.

My ex-father-in-law was in the US Navy during World War II and was a part of the Normandy Invasion. Out of six siblings, four of them served in the war ; the other two were too young to serve. Hats off to Margaret, Bill, Bob, and “Schwats.”

Their father also served–in World War One

Back in the Civil War, two of my ancestors served: Captain James Dana Benton was a surgeon with the 111th New York Volunteers from 1862-1865, and is the source for my work in progress, Nostalgia. Corporal Napoleon Bonaparte Drown (yes, that was his name!), served with the 10th New York Cavalry Volunteers from 1863-65. You’ll see him in Nostalgia as well.

Even the Revolutionary War included ancestors of mine: Captain Abraham Willey, Isaac Benton, Teunis Wells, Jacques Rouse, Allen Haydon, and Robert Harper.

Hats off to them and all of the soldiers who’ve defended our country over the years.

^{Feature image credit}