Leo Veterans Observances 2015 Photos

Here are some pictures that I took of yesterday's Leo High School Veterans Observances -

 Vietnam Veterans of the Class of 1965 Rich Doyle and Tom Connors chat with Leo Hall of Fame Inductees of 2015 - The Marines of Chicago's Own 2nd Battalion, 24th Marines.

 Decorated combat veterans of Tinley Park VFW Post

 Mr. Harold Green keeps Leo High School a place to be proud of and is himself a Vietnam Vet.

Don Hogan who fired the big guns of the Battleship New Jersey in WWII is welcomed back to Leo High School by the Class of 2015.

The courtyard was thick with heroes.

Jim Wilkins '44 and his beautiful family were treated with great respect and dignity by ABC 7's Ravi Baichwal.  

Leo High School Veterans Observance 2015 - God Bless All Who Serve!

" Busted!" Jim Wilkins '44 showed Darius Branch '16 the 1943 Tribune article showing him ditching classes at Leo to join the Navy in WWII

This year Leo High School corrected a wrong.

17 year old Jim Wilkins ( Leo '44) ditched school during his Junior year at Leo High School ( an act of bravery in itself, given the watchful eyes of the Irish Christian Brothers at that time) and enlisted in the United States Navy.

Jim Wilins is the blond gent in the 1943 Tribune article ( lower Left and Large!) 

From 1943 until the end of WW II, Jim Wilkins served on many combat patrols aboard submarines.

Jim returned from the war and was denied his diploma . . .he did not have enough academic credits.

Then, in a few years, Wilkins went back into the service to fight in the Korean War.

He still did not have enough academic credits to merit a diploma.

Seventy one years later, Leo Alumni President Emeritus Rich Furlong and his heroic brother Jim Furlong who saved his company commander, his squad and his mission by leaping in front of a North Vietnamese hand grenade, sacrificing his left leg in that bloody bargain, heard that Jim Wilkins had been wronged by educators.

The best people who work in schools, really use that term 'educator,' because they are teachers.

There is a huge difference. In my forty years plus of teaching in Catholic high schools, 'educators' are the persons who can not discipline a class, lead kids to learn, or merit the respect of people who do; they become educators.

Teachers teach no matter what their 'academic' job description tags them to be and try to make every experience a learning one.

Yesterday, Leo High School taught Chicago a great lesson.  Credentials mean little.  Capacity means everything.  James Wilkins has capacity a plenty.

Mr. Wilkins and Mr. Jack Schaller ( Leo '43) an Army Purple Heart veteran of New Guinea and the Philippines laid the wreathes at the Leo War Memorial to taps played by Mr. Jim Gould of Bugles Across America.

More than three hundred people including Jim Wilkins family,  four serving combat veterans of Chicago's Own 2/24 Marines, Tinley Park VFW members, eleven combat decorated veterans of Vietnam from the Leo High School Class of 1965, scores of Leo High School veterans of WWII, Korea, Lebanon 1959, Berlin Occupation, Cuban Missile Crisis, Dominican Republic, Vietnam, Grenada, Lebanon 1980's, Desert Storm, Iraq and Afghanistan  and the entire student body of Leo High School witnessed Jim Watkins accept his diploma.

I would like to thank the Chicago Tribune Suburban Branch, ABC 7 Chicago's Ravi  Biachwal, 2/24 Marines, Bugles Across America, Windy City Veterans, Tinley Park VFW Post, Steuber Florists, Pat Roberto of Calabria Imports, Miss Mary T. Burke, Bill Figel '73, the Leo Alumni Association and the Officers of Chicago Police District

Leo High School's 20th Veterans Observance Friday, November 6th 2015

 

In 1995, Leo High School Principal and later President Robert W. Foster began the annual recognition of all who serve our country, especially those members of our Armed Services.

Since then, on the Friday immediately before our National Veterans Day ( November 11th) the entire Leo High School convenes in the courtyard of the school on 79th Street at the marble maker engraved with the names of Leo Men who died defending America.

This event allows no speeches by politicians.  It is a simple and dignified ceremony honoring the people who sacrificed their youth, blood, limbs and lives protecting all of us.

Doing the Color Honors will be the team from Chicago's Own and Leo Hall of Fame 2014 Honorees the Second Battalion, Twenty-Fourth Marines and Taps will be performed by members of Bugles Across America.

• Steuber Florist  provides the wreathes for honors

• Calabria Imports provides post-ceremony refreshments

• Chicago Police Sixth District provides event coverage and security

This year, Leo High School will present a diploma to a combat veteran of World War II and Korea who was denied that piece of paper, because he entered the service in his junior year.

Mr. Jim Wilkins of Tinley Park, IL will get what has for far too long been denied him.

Joining Mr. Wilkins in laying wreathes at the Leo War Memorial will be Mr., Jack Schaller a Purple Heart Veteran of World War II combat in the Philippines and a Leo High School Hall of Fame man.

This event welcomes the public.

Contact - Mr. Pat Hickey -Director of Development (773) 224-9600 ex. 208
When – November 6th 2015 at 11AM
Where – The Courtyard of Leo High School 7901 South Sangamon Street Chicago 60620
What - Leo High School, Leo Alumni Association welcomes all veteran to the Memorial Observance at the Leo War Memorial in the school’s courtyard. , Leo High School Principal Phil Mesina (USAF ret.) r & Vice Principal Frank Wilson (USMC ret.)
Who - Leo High School erected a memorial in 1965 to the many Leo men who have died serving America in World War II , Korea , and Vietnam and the Windy City Veterans of Chicago updated the engraved names and constructed permanent lighting for the memorial. Last year more than two hundred persons joined the 150 Leo students in honoring America ’s war fallen. 

 

Leo High School Speakers at War Memorial 11 A.M.
1.  Leo Principal Mesina and Vice Principal Wilson - Call to Order
2. Prayer by Alumni President Larry Lynch and Introduction to the ceremony by Alumni President Emeritus Richard Furlong and will read the biography of Mr. James Wilkins Leo Class of 1944 who was denied his diploma because he entered the service.
3. Leo High School  President Dan McGrath will introduce Mr. Jim Wilkins and present him with his long-overdue diploma and Mr. Jack Schaller ’43 Purple Heart, Leo Hall of Famer.
4. Color and Honor of the 2nd Battalion, 24th Marines – Posting of the Colors -Chicago’s own & Wreathe Laying by Leo Veterans & Purple Heart Veterans.
5. Our National Anthem by Leo Choir
7. Taps by Bugles Across America and Dismissal & Refreshments in Leo Cafeteria

 

Joseph Auman, Larry Spillan, Leo Alums and Marine Raider Heroes of Guadalcanal/

Today marks the 72 Anniversary of Guadalcanal.

Yesterday, I asked a young man in his twenties if he knew about Guadalcanal.  He cheerfully answered, " That was dug by FDR in order to connect the Atlantic to the Pacific."

Okay. I kept my trap shut other than saying, " No, that was the Panama Canal and it was dug at the order of President Teddy Roosevelt -FDR's cousin."

He did not ask for correction.

I was glad that the young man did not answer that it was ditch dug in Egypt.

Guadalcanal was an epic battle fought during the Second World War.  Two graduates of the Leo High School were killed hours apart in one of the Guadalcanal Campaign's hundreds of bloody skirmishes: Joe Auman, Leo Class of 1940 and Larry Spillan Leo Class of 1941.  Both young men were members of Carlson's Raiders and had taken part in the raid on Makin Atoll*.  Now, on Guadalcanal they participated in a long-march raid behind Japanese lines in order to harrass and terrorize the vastly superior enemy.

Larry Spillan was killed outright when he took point in an attack on enemy positions.  The Japanese counterattacked and Joe Auman held off waves of attackers with his machine gun, while his company withdrew.

The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Navy Cross (Posthumously) to Private Joseph M. Auman (MCSN: 293089), United States Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty while serving with Company E, SECOND Marine Raider Battalion during an engagement with the enemy Japanese forces at Asamana, Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, on 11 November 1942. When his company was forced by overwhelming enemy fire to make a temporary withdrawal, Private Auman, with utter disregard for his own personal safety, manned a machine gun and covered the retirement. Steadfastly remaining at his exposed position, he continued to fire his gun until killed by the enemy. His dauntless courage and outstanding devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave up his life in the defense of his country.
General Orders: Authority: Board of Awards: Serial 0478 (May 3, 1943) -Action Date: 11-Nov-42; Service: Marine Corps; Rank: Private;Company: Company E;Battalion: 2d Marine Raider Battalion  (Emphasis my own.)

God preserve our memories.

* a Respolution by the State of Illinois incorrectly notes that Spillan and Auman were killed during the Makin Raid.

Leo Veterans Observance - Facta Non Verba: Honor in Deeds Not Just Words

The Marines of Chicago's Own - 2nd Battalion, 24th Marines carried 1903 Springfield rifles in tribute to the late James Durkin, USMCR Leo Class of 1930 veteran of Guadalcanal, British Solomon Islands 1942, as it was the weapon Mr. Durkin carried in that campaign.


The Durkin Family with Leo President Dan McGrath and Principal Phil Mesina


Liam Durkin and his sister Lilly helped their Mom lay a wreath at the Memorial in Leo's courtyard that was placed in 1965 through the efforts of James Durkin, Leo '30.



Three heroes of the Vietnam War - Leo Men and veterans of the 25th Infantry Division




The Honor is a small part of our obligation


Korean War vet and CFD hero Jim Corbett gives Leo Math teacher Ms. Hickey sound advice concerning the like-surnamed troll to Chief Corbett's right.



Mr. Holden and Mr. Richards of Bugles Across America did a Taps Duet.


Campus Minister Pete Doyle leads all in the Catholic Prayer-  Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.

More great Photos by Phil Mesina, Leo Principal 

'And It's No Go a Tear . . .' Leo Pipe Laureate Dave McKee '46 Pipes Lions Through Heaven's Gate

Dave and Kitty McKee



Dave McKee. Leo '46 has gone home to Christ.

The only sad part of my wonderful job is watching brave, generous, witty, tough and talented men part this world for their places in Heaven.

Bernard Pepping possesses the most dutiful eye for Leo fallen and I regret each note he sends me announcing the passing of Eugene Phillips, James McNicholas, or Jophn P. Coakley. Last night, I received the news from Bob Hylard about the nearing end and the passing of Master Piper Dave McKee.

Mr. McKee piped Leo Men to the Colors at every Veterans Observance and into the hall of most Alumni Banquets.  He was a classmate of Bob Hylard, who played in the Leo Marching Band and edited The Oriole.

"Pat...my very close friend dave McKee,leo '46.. the bag piper is in extremely critical shape at Christ hosp...he's probably close to the end..as you know he piped the vets day doings at leo until he no longer could about 4 years ago....he led the..." Stockyard Kilty Bagpipe Band"... for 50+ years....he and the band were featured in Chicago Trib many times through the years...he is a noteworthy and colorful character and I thought maybe you could get your friend rick kogan [trib] to do an obit honoring a guy who was there anytime he was asked or needed.....pat .i'm writing this approx. 8pm Tuesday and he is still hanging on, but barely....when the end comes I will forward this to you and hope that rick sees the value of a story about a great guy and the band he led through some much of Chicago history...as you probably know the s.y.k.b.was the lead band for the southside st Patrick's day parade ever since it went big time... Years back Dave and the band was on the cover of the trib sunday magazine section...very glossy in those days.....post ad ..great story on tamara holder....tnx pat.......if rick or another writer can do obit Dave's son Matt would be great source of wealth of info....Matt McKee   708/229-1253...tnx pat........"

Thanks Bob.  I know I will get the official news in few hours from Bernie Pepping.  One thing you can count on on this world and that is a Leo Man.

Being a Little Flower HS grad, I offer this small tribute to a sweet and talented Leo Man.  The poem is from a Northern Ireland poet and an Orangeman.




Bagpipe Music

It's no go the merrygoround, it's no go the rickshaw,
All we want is a limousine and a ticket for the peepshow.
Their knickers are made of crepe-de-chine, their shoes are made of python,
Their halls are lined with tiger rugs and their walls with head of bison.

John MacDonald found a corpse, put it under the sofa,
Waited till it came to life and hit it with a poker,
Sold its eyes for souvenirs, sold its blood for whiskey,
Kept its bones for dumbbells to use when he was fifty.

It's no go the Yogi-man, it's no go Blavatsky,
All we want is a bank balance and a bit of skirt in a taxi.

Annie MacDougall went to milk, caught her foot in the heather,
Woke to hear a dance record playing of Old Vienna.
It's no go your maidenheads, it's no go your culture,
All we want is a Dunlop tire and the devil mend the puncture.

The Laird o' Phelps spent Hogmanay declaring he was sober,
Counted his feet to prove the fact and found he had one foot over.
Mrs. Carmichael had her fifth, looked at the job with repulsion,
Said to the midwife "Take it away; I'm through with overproduction."

It's no go the gossip column, it's no go the Ceilidh,
All we want is a mother's help and a sugar-stick for the baby.

Willie Murray cut his thumb, couldn't count the damage,
Took the hide of an Ayrshire cow and used it for a bandage.
His brother caught three hundred cran when the seas were lavish,
Threw the bleeders back in the sea and went upon the parish.

It's no go the Herring Board, it's no go the Bible,
All we want is a packet of fags when our hands are idle.

It's no go the picture palace, it's no go the stadium,
It's no go the country cot with a pot of pink geraniums,
It's no go the Government grants, it's no go the elections,
Sit on your arse for fifty years and hang your hat on a pension.

It's no go my honey love, it's no go my poppet;
Work your hands from day to day, the winds will blow the profit.
The glass is falling hour by hour, the glass will fall forever,
But if you break the bloody glass you won't hold up the weather.

Louis Macneice

America's First Responders Lead Leo Men to Honor the Fallen

The honor guard of Chicago's Own 2nd Battalion, 24th Marines leads the two hundred veterans and the Leo  High School student body and staff to the Leo War Memorial, at 11AM on Friday November 2nd..

Leo Veterans and Alumni:  Gene Earner leads the singing of God Bless America while Larry Richards of Bugles Across America prepares to sound taps.

God Bless America and all who protect us!

Leo Veterans Observance Today - Dr. Barrett on Valor and Resilience

Teenaged Marine in Chosin Reservoir 1950 - 35 degrees below zero and surrounded by twenty Red Chinese Divisions - Resilience?

"Fall seven times and get up eight."

In Dr. Terence W. Barrett's recently published book The Search for the Forgotten thirty-four:Honored by the U.S.Marines, Forgotten in their Hometowns?, the final pages sum up Valor as the ability to bounce back - to face the slings and arrows of outrageous Fortune.

Think of police officers hitting a door; firemen rushing up the stairs of every flaming building, a young mother in the throes of labor, any ER nurse, a Com Ed high wire electrician up a utility pole in an electrical storm and think of what most of us call stress. The cable's out. Gas is $ 3.65. Take another good look at that photo above. That kid, if he lived, is now approaching 80 years of living. That boy, frozen, scared, without sleep, and very hungry is resilient. He's on his feet. I believe that he handled the balance of his life with grace and dignity, if he lived past the days ahead of him.

The Outrage of combat is the ultimate test of human resilience. I used to tell my wrestlers that toughness was not determined by how much pain one could dish out, but how much one could endure in order to win. It is so much more than that.

In his study of the lives and the heroic action of American heroes, Dr. Barrett presents human resilience and the psychology of dealing with stress. Fear is merely an adjunct of stress. Resilience, the ability to get back into the fight has a psychology all its own. Barrett explains "resilience is more than managing encounters with stress or harsh experience. Resilience is the ability to adapt in spite of it, to adapt positively in spite of it, and to grow from it. Resilience is identified . . . as part attitude(or thought),and part ability: a blending of strength, endurance and adaptibilty. Resilience develops over time, likely associated to the encounters with realistic and reasonable stresses, and what might be called diligent striving. A persons learns to manage. And once a child learns to manage, he or she will tend to remain resilient across a lifetme."

Barrett goes on to study diligent striving and notes that those men studied in this book demonstrated extraordinary resiliency. They did not wait for events to shape them.

Today, Leo High School will be graced with presence of scores of WWII, Korean War, Vietnam, Desert Storm, Panama, Iraq and Afghanistan heroes. Resilient men and women.

Our students will witness what it takes from those how most surely did.

If they fall, they will get up again. The alternative is unacceptable. Facta Non Verba - Deeds Not Words.

God Bless Our Veterans.


Click my post title to link to the pages on Resilience by Dr. Barrett

God Bless All Who Serve! God Bless our Veterans and Those in Service!

We truly take a lot for granted. Forget the football 'heroes' and movie 'stars'. Pass this on so that all may know the price of freedom

Only two defining forces have ever offered to die for you,

Jesus Christ and a Soldier

One died for your soul; the other for your freedom.

I'ts Good to Be Me and Molar Free - on the lower left Jaw

About 8:45 yesterday, I was offered a piece of delicious Wrigley's Big Red, by one the Leo National Honor Society Members who were the proud center piece of our Veterans Observances at Leo High School. Big Red is a particularly tastey cinnamon flavored jaw popping dental delight that wakes up the flavor buds and on the second bite down splits the last molar on the lower-left jaw of my periodontal challenged mug. The Big Red jingle is sung by Hip-hop artiste Ne-Yo -no less. It comes back to me - repeatedly. Click my post title and share!

I walk off from the National Honor Society Men of Leo and discard the jagged half piece of molar and try to maintain a shred of dignity. A shred is all I can supply.

Fox 32's Pat Elwood interviewed these fine young gentlemen and featured them on the 12P.M. Fox News! Huge, Patrick! Huge! Back to me. The Center of MY universe.

Toxic Abcess, Batman! The Pain was better than 24-Hour Loop Tape of Pete Seeger doing The Lion Sleeps Tonight.

Steady On, Hickey! As New Jersey Governor Elect Christie might blubber, "Man Up!"

I had four hours of minor details and smiling welcomes to Leo Men who sacrificed limbs and souls all over the globe and shuffle with canes and some strollers to Honor Our Fallen.

A quick Memorare* was answered and I manged to make myself useful during the wonderful and moving ceremony.

I am as Yellow as a Duck's Foot and Weep with Self-Pity When it Rains too Hard. Low thresh-hold for pain. South siders and other testosterone rich males have a feline metaphor that causes some to recoil in indignation and feigned solidarity with women.

Not this Cupcake. I am a P . . .pain-reactive hysteric.

When I could I called Commonwealth Insurance for a patient 'What's the Plan Say? Directive.

1. Call Us

2. See your appointed Commonwealth Dental Heath Provider -

3. Have Approved Dentist refer you case to an Approved Oral Surgeon.

Done, I call Call Dr. Fang in Oak Lawn learn that Dr. Fang has recently shed his mortal husk and sleeps with Counsellors and Kings. " You're Kidding! He was a young guy, what did he die of?"

County Kerry voice ( Brosna or Scartaglen) '"T'was nothing serious. The new dentist is Dr. Mara Harry and she will be in on Monday, so."

"Can you ask her to call in an antibiotic and a pain prescription."

"I can not and she can not send a prescription without first seeing you. Monday at 10A.M.?"

I agreed but three hours later of Feliniesque dream sequence encounters with normal people un-hallucinated with a broken and obviously impacted molar and gums on fire changed my tune! My breath must have been as delicate as barfly on twenty Old Styles,eighty Happy Cossack Vodkas, Two Packs of Winston Reds, Tthree Slim Jims and a kiss from Fat Helen at the end of the bar. I needed theeth out!

Back To the good folks at Commonwealth -"Please hold and the first available associate will be with you shortly - Loop Music! Ne Yo!~ The Big Red Guy!

"So Sick"

Mmmm mmm yeah
Do do do do do do do-do
Ohh Yeah

Gotta change my answering machine
Now that I'm alone
Cause right now it says that we
Can't come to the phone
And I know it makes no sense
Cause you walked out the door
But it's the only way I hear your voice anymore
(it's ridiculous)
It's been months
And for some reason I just
(can't get over us)
And I'm stronger than this
(enough is enough)
No more walking round
With my head down
I'm so over being blue
Crying over you

And I'm so sick of love songs
So tired of tears . . .

Tru Dat, Muh Brutha! The Big Red tune keeps coming back to me. I am getting more dizzy, loopy Twilight Zoned by the second. The exposed nerve and toxins within are burning the fuse set to blow any minute. I want to find a pliers and do it myself.

. . .gotta change my answering machine
Now that I'm alone
Cause right now it says that we
Can't come to the phone

Slam with the phone! Back to the event - Veteran Activist Rochelle Crump thanks all groups and all the veterans. I make zombie courtesies with all and sundry. I call my Cousin Gary in the far south western burbs. Gary is a Marquette/Loyola Dental School Graduate! DDS! The Leo National Honor Society guys are escorting the WWII Vets back into the cafeteria which to them was the Old Chapel of St. Leo. The Kids always make me proud. Even the faceless, nameless gent who gave me the Big Red!

Script Prescription! Pain Killers & Antibiotics! Yesterday! Maintain, Pooh C! Maintain. I tell the Principal and former Fire Commissioner Jimmy Joyce (Leo 1960) about the bum tooth. Jim Joyce had an entire warehouse fall on him and broke literally every bone in his body and yet his eyes betrayed no irony or contempt when he registered the relative pain of a bum tooth. Great guy. I excuse myself and head back to my cubicle.

I call and leave the details with Laurie and a few minutes later Cousin Gary, DDS calls back. "This sounds serious get over here."

I do and it is. Gary X-rays the jaw and immediately loads four big-ass needles with Novocaine, dabs on the local as he asks me about the kids - all doing great, as are Gary and Joanne's two. In go the needles - Deeper than Max Weismann. Soon my mug is number than MSNBC.

"You'll feel some pressure."

"Nah Ahh Blid, Garee!"

Using what looks like a high-end pliers Gary makes two deft twists and long roots and bloody plaque get tossed on the tray.

"That's it pal. Happy Thanksgiving! Say hi to your Mom and Dad."

At the very least.

Gary wads up some gauze and tucks it into the gum-trench where a busted molar and impacted Wisdom Bucker had been extracted. I am numb, but what's new?

Thank God for Family. Thank God for Big Red! Thank God for Ne-Yo!

I am very blessed.

. . . Longer with Big Red!

*Remember, Oh Gracious Virgin Mary/that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection . . .