PLANET CALIFORNIA

Today, I pay tribute to the members of my immediate and extended family wno have fought in the Armed Services of the United States.

Those Who Gave

Love, William Henry II, Lt., Aide de Camp to General George Washington, lost leg at Battle of Yorktown. (grandfather)

Spray, William Nelson, Lt., fought in the War of 1812. (uncle)

Spray, Frederick Adam Pfc., lied about his age to join the service to fight in the Spanish-American War. (grandfather)

Spray,John USN, landed on Normandy, December 6, 1944. (uncle)

Layman, James, Lt., youngest officer in the Union Army, fought in Civil War. (grandfather)

Layman, John Robert, Pfc., fought in Korean War. (brother)

Layman, Curtis Frederick, SP5, fought three tours in Vietnam. Bronze Star, Silver Star, Medal of Comendation. (brother)

Osterhout, George Thomas, Sgt., Union Army, fought in Civil War. (grandfather)

Hall, L.T., Pfc., World War II. (father-in-law)

Hall, Hugo, Pfc. World War II. (uncle)

Lambert, Homer, Pfc.,U.S. Army, French Medal Legion Winner, WW I. (uncle)

Smith, Charles R., Pfc. U.S. Army, WWII. (uncle)

Avery, Pete, NCO.,U.S. Army, WWII. (uncle)

Smith, Earl, U.S. Army, WWII. (uncle)

Smith, Dale, Col., U.S. Army. (uncle)

Roberts, Ward., U.S. Army Air Corps. Flew bombing mission over Berlin 1945. (uncle)

Ward, Neal, Officer, U.S. Air Force, Reconnaisance Photo. (cousin)

Ward, Darrell, Lt. Col. U.S. Army, Active. (cousin

Leigh, U.S. Army, Lost his life on Normandy Beach, buried in France. (son-in-law's grandfather)

DeMoss, Frank, U.S. Navy, fought in WWII. (son-in-law's grandfather)

Cook, Charles, Tail Gunner, U.S. Army Air Corps, WWII. (brother-in-law)

Cook, Warren B., U.S. Navy, Seabee, WWII. (brother-in-law)

And finally, Recruit for the U.S. Navy, Mr. Ross Beam, of Front Royal, Virginia, 2004. (nephew)

They're all heroes.