I have always been so greatful to everyone who has, or is, served our country so that I can enjoy all of the freedom from the best country in the world.  Nothing could be more true than saying freedom isn't free.  I had family members who fought in WWII and Korea, but none were in the Navy.  From the first time I learned of the US Indianapolis the ship and it's crew really touched me deeply, and not just  because it was hit and sunk.  My father was a college chemistry and physics professor, so I know how dangerous just having a nuclear bomb on board was; especially with how little they really knew about nuclear radiation and it's lasting effects.  There mission was dangerous, and everyone on board defined what a hero is! 
I was very happy to find this site, it is so important that all of the men who fought for us (even those of us, like me, who hadn't even been born yet) be remembered forever.  If there are any survivors who wouldn't mind becoming an email pen-pal I would love to hear from you; and not just about surviving the attack and sinking of the ship, I would love to hear about you before and after that time.
To the survivors, those who lost friends and loved one's at sea, and those who had your friends and loved one's survive but have since passed on, the words Thank You just can't express how much you mean to me and how greatful I am to each and every one of you.

There's something about WWII survivors that draws me to them. I recently met and heard Bill Henderson who was on Iwo Jima all 36 days. He gave a passionate speech/sermon and said something like, "We fought to give you these freedoms and if you don't get off your fannies, it's our fault." I got a vial of black sands from Iwo Jima and had it's stand signed by him, and is one of my prized possessions of my small WWII collection. All I can do is get their stories and if the Lord wills, I'll be able to tell the next generations the stories and share with them the experiences so that they might tell their descendants and so on. We must not let their sacrifices be in vain. We must fight to protect the freedoms that they fought, bled, starved, and even died for. We need to do it for those who fought in the American Revolution, War of 1812, WWI, and WWII. It's our duty to try and revive the WWI and WWII generations in the next generations by teaching them what it means to be a man, woman, and training and discipling them about God.

-- Edited by usskittyhawk on Saturday 12th of June 2010 07:14:25 AM