Meeting old friends and veterans
Dear Editor:
Re: The ties that bind
I’m writing you in regards to your letter concerning your father, LST 308 and your visit to the LST 325. My father served with yours aboard the 308 during WWII. He was a Gunner’s Mate and remembers your dad very well. His name is Samuel J. Hanna and I believe he was a GM 1st or 2nd class under your father. Like you, I visited the 325 with him when it made a tour of the US and stopped in the Northeast. It was something to go aboard and look around for a few hours. He actually opened up with more stories about those days that he ever had before. Like your Dad, he’s “getting up there” in years and, after reading your story, I just thought it might be something if we could put the two of them in touch with each other. I took him to a reunion for the crew of the 308 several years ago and there didn’t seem to be too many of them left anymore.
It was a little strange looking you up at Canada Free Press and reading your bio. Looks like we have a few things in common. It said you were a firefighter and a retired police officer from California. I have 20+ years with the Mass State Police myself and served for several years as a State Fire Marshal with the MSP in the 90’s. We both seem to have a pretty healthy respect for what our Dad’s did during the war too.
Anyway, if you think your Dad may be interested in getting in touch with mine, you can e-mail me with his info an I’ll pass it along to my father. My parents travel out to California and Nevada pretty often. Who knows, maybe they’ll meet up out in Texas some time soon for old times sake.
Thanks for your time. I look forward to hearing from you or your Dad.
Kevin W. Hanna
Southwick, Massachusetts
