Priceless Moments by Melia

God Bless America!

Happy Veteran's Day to all those who have faithfully served our country. "I'm proud to be an American, where at least I know I’m free. And I wont forget the men who died, who gave that right to me. And I gladly stand up, next to you and defend her still today. Cause there ain’t no doubt I love this land, God bless the USA!" That song really sums up what I feel today and everyday! Love to all my family members who have served, father, grandfather, uncles, great uncle, brother and sister-in-law. Your sacrifice will never be forgotten. Here's a collage of my family members along with an image of an eagle that I took this week. The eagle represents freedom. Living as he does on the tops of lofty mountains, amid the solitary grandeur of Nature, he has unlimited freedom... God Bless America!

Veterans Week part 7

Last, but by far not the least.  This is my beautiful, sister-in-law, Jessica Basso and my brother, Paul, on their wedding day.

 

 

Jessica is a combat medic and she is currently serving in the army.

 

Below is a description about an event that my sister-in-law participated in.

 

Rucksack March BAGHDAD

- 18th Military Police Brigade Soldiers set in motion the month of April with a competition between its non-commissioned officers and Soldiers during its 2nd Quarter 2008 NCO/Soldier of the Quarter Board. Sgt. Jessica Basso, combat medic, and Spc. Ashley Roberts, military police Soldier, 18th MP Bde. gruel to the finish as they compete in a three-mile strength agility rucksack march. The march was the first of three events scheduled during the competition held April 1 in Iraq.  

(U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Steven Houser and remarks by Maj. Michael Indovina)

There is Jessica in the front.

Thanks, sis, for your dedication, strength and courage.  You are an inspiration to us all!!

Veterans Week part 6

Here is my brother, Paul Basso.  He is currently serving in the military and has been since August of 1999. He has served as a Tomb Guard at the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery from October 2000 to February 2004.  He then became a part of the 39th Military Police Detachment in Fort Shafter, Hawaii where he met Jessica Estrada who also serves in the army (tomorrows featured family member).  They were married in September 2006 and are both currently serving in Baghdad.

I had the great opportunity to visit my brother twice while he was a tomb guard and I was lucky enough to document this scared place.  Look out for a sample of the book that I designed featuring the Tomb of the Unknowns in December.

Here is a picture of Paul at the Tomb of the Unknowns.

In his own words, one of the most memorable moments at the Tomb was, "during July 2002 when the Boy Scouts of America had their National Jamboree in Washington DC. I was in the Sentry Booth during a Wreath laying and during Taps, I looked out into the crowd of hundreds. I could not see one person not in a Boy Scout uniform and they were all rendering the three finger Scout Salute."

Here is an article about my brother.  Click to read the description.

Thank you, Paul, for being an amazing brother and for your dedication and willingness to serve our country.  You know I am your biggest fan!!

To learn more about the Tomb Guards, visit www.tombguard.org.

Veterans Week part 5

This is Grant Lewis Hansen, my uncle and mother's brother.  He was a 4-time World War II survivor and former Assistant Secretary of the Air Force under President Richard Nixon.   Uncle Grant survived three separate sinking ships and fought in eight major battles at sea while in the Navy and received a Purple Heart after being wounded in the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.  The ships that were sunk were the battleship California, the heavy cruiser Northampton and the aircraft carrier Hornet.

He later became an Aerospace manager who played key roles in development of the Thor and Centaur rockets. In 1968 Hansen was tapped by Roger Lewis, Chairman of the Board of General Dynamics, to serve as Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Research and Development. While at the Pentagon, he helped manage the F-111 and C-5A aircraft programs, served as a delegate to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and held a top intelligence-gathering post.

He shared family dinners with close friend and astronaut Neil Armstrong, and his children often played with those of another pioneering astronaut, William Anders.

(Information gathered from San Diego Union-Tribune and Paso Robles Press)

Thanks, Uncle Grant, for your courage and strength.  We miss you!

Veterans Week part 4

Here is my grandpa, Charles W Basso, my father's father.  When grandpa went to fill out his application for the United States Navy, he was asked what his full name was.  Grandpa answered, "Charles Basso."  The officer said, "look, I need to fill out every space on this application.  There's a space here for a middle initial, so I need to put something down."  Grandpa gave it some thought and then said, "ok, I share my birthday with President George Washington, so put a 'W' for a middle initial." He was known from then on as Charles W Basso.  Grandpa Basso began his tour on the USS Chaumont and later was assigned aboard the USS Detroit based in San Diego, California.  After ten months in the Navy, he was promoted to the radio division to learn communications.

While his ship was in Hawaii on fleet maneuvers he obtained a transfer to the Fleet Air Base at Pearl Harbor and attended Radio School.  He remained in the radio transmitting station for the rest of his four years of service in the Navy.  He later married a native Hawaiian, Abigail Pililaau, (sister to Uncle Herbert featured on Part 1) and remained in Hawaii until he passed away in 2003. 

Thanks Grandpa, we miss you!!

Veterans Week part 3

This is my Uncle Ralph Hansen.  He was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the United States Air Force.  He earned his wings at James Connally Air Force Base in Waco, Texas after completing Navigation Training.  He served in Vietnam as a Sky Spot Controller.  He used a system called "combat sky spot" bombing system which enabled a ground radar control to direct the bomber over the target and also indicate the exact moment of bomb release in almost any kind of weather.  He was also a Briefing Officer in the SAC (Strategic Air Command) Command Post at Ton Sonute AFB near Saigon, Vietnam, for the General Officers.  After 20 years of service, my Uncle Ralph retired as a Major.   

Thank you Uncle Ralph for your dedicated service!

Veterans Week part 2

Here is my handsome father, Charles Kaluhi Basso, who served in the US Navy during the Vietnam War.  He served honorably for 4 years aboard the USS Badger.  While serving in the United States Navy, he missed the birth of his first child.  I am grateful to my mother who stood by his side and supported him from home. 

Here he is in the CIC (Combat Information Center) where he had the great responsibility of listening and identifying radar impulses whether friendly or enemy.  The CIC is where valuable information is gained by becoming the battle-ready eyes and ears of the ship.  It is also where all the different capabilities of a ship come together and are guided. Weapons systems, navigation, and communications are all fed through the CIC.

My dad said, "you had to listen to see if they where friendly or getting ready to shoot you."

Thanks, Dad, for serving in the Navy and for bringing the USS Badger and its' crew home safely under your watchful care.

 

Above is a picture of the USS Badger.  Here is an article that was published in the local newspaper about my father.  

Download news_article.jpg

Happy Veterans Day!!

I have been so blessed to have many family members living and that have passed on that have served our country faithfully.  I would like to highlight them each this week as we Honor those who have served this GREAT NATION!

This is my great Uncle, my father's Uncle, Herbert K. Pililaau.

 

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, March 3, 1863 has awarded in the name of the Congress the Medal of Honor posthumously to:

PRIVATE FIRST CLASS HERBERT K. PILILAAU
UNITED STATES ARMY

for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty near Pia-ri, Korea, 17 September 1951:

"Pfc. Pililaau, a member of Company C, distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and outstanding courage above and beyond the call of duty in action against the enemy. The enemy sent wave after wave of fanatical troops against his platoon which held a key terrain feature on "Heartbreak Ridge." Valiantly defending its position, the unit repulsed each attack until ammunition became practically exhausted and it was ordered to withdraw to a new position. Voluntarily remaining behind to cover the withdrawal, Pfc. Pililaau fired his automatic weapon into the ranks of the assailants, threw all his grenades and, with ammunition exhausted, closed with the foe in hand-to-hand combat, courageously fighting with his trench knife and bare fists until finally overcome and mortally wounded. When the position was subsequently retaken, more than 40 enemy dead were counted in the area he had so valiantly defended. His heroic devotion to duty, indomitable fighting spirit, and gallant self-sacrifice reflect the highest credit upon himself, the infantry, and the U.S. Army."

I am very proud to have such a Uncle that would defend others with his life.  I wish I had the chance to know this great man.  There is a ship named after him the USNS PILILAAU, fifth in the Bob Hope class, which was christened in New Orleans Jan. 8, 2000. More details about the ship are found here http://www.msc.navy.mil/inventory/ships.asp?ship=pililaau&type=LMSR  Also, here is an article about one of the trips it took to deliver MRAP shippment to U.S. troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. http://www.libnot.com/2007/12/14/large-number-of-mraps-loaded-today-onboard-usns-pililaau-for-theater-delivery/ -Melia