FastG45
08-12-2008, 08:42 PM
I went to a full honors millitary funeral today at Arlington National Cemetery 08-12-08 for my favorite uncle Walt. He received a casket team, a 6 horse caisson, a firing party, a band, a lone bugler, and a folded American Flag presented to his widow.
I know nobody probably cares but I thought I would share some of my thoughts anyway.
Walter William Kreimann was married to my mother's oldest sister. When my Dad died in 1980, Walt filled the void for me in many ways and for many years.
Walt began life in 1920 at an orphange in South Dakota. He was adopted by a farming couple in Central South Dakota. Every morning of his childhood began at 4 am so he could tend to the cows, horses, pigs, and chickens. At 14 Walt was supervising threshing crews of grown men at harvest time. Walt drove a 6 horse team of Percherons during hay time.
He rode an Indian pony to a one room school house and he only spoke German until he began school. Walts stepfather, a college grad when few farmers were, made sure Walt would attend college down state. Walt attended Daktoa Wesleyan University. He ran for student body president and won, beating his friend, George McGovern, future democratic presidential nominee. Later, Walt and George would inlist together in the Army Air Corp. They entered flight school together, where 56% of the students in their class were killed during training.
At Iwo Jima, Walt witnessed the raising of the American Flag at Mt. Suribachi.
Walt flew in the 78th squadon (Sunset Squadron). On a 1945 combat mission to Tokyo, his P-51 mustang crashed into the ocean. How he got out of his upside down burning plane has never been explained and his subsequent rescue by the submarine USS Tigrone was nothing short of miraculous. The USS Tigrone holds the record for the most men rescued by a sub in WWII.
In 1995, while attending the 40th anniversary ceremonies at Pearl Harbor, Walt met the Japanese pilot that shot him down. Together they ate ice cream and later exchanged letters.
Walt spent half his work life in private industry and half in Government. He worked a short time for Sentor George McGovern and at the same time my Dad was working for Sentor Case from South Daktoa. Walt's big job before he retired was at the Federal Reserve Board from 1972 til 1986. He was like number 5 man down there. He was friends with Greenspan and some of the other big shots down there.
He helped organize the first Boy Scott Jamboree in the D.C. area.
Walt played the tuba and was State Champ in 1938.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/17/AR2008051702561_pf.html (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/17/AR2008051702561_pf.html)
Scroll down to third person ^
http://www.7thfighter.com/newsletter/sunsetter_fall_2006.pdf (http://www.7thfighter.com/newsletter/sunsetter_fall_2006.pdf)
Scroll down to page 3, right side^
Walt had an saying he like to use and it goes like this "Perception is Reality". Several days before he died, while watching the dawning of a new day, he spoke one last word "Beautiful"
I know nobody probably cares but I thought I would share some of my thoughts anyway.
Walter William Kreimann was married to my mother's oldest sister. When my Dad died in 1980, Walt filled the void for me in many ways and for many years.
Walt began life in 1920 at an orphange in South Dakota. He was adopted by a farming couple in Central South Dakota. Every morning of his childhood began at 4 am so he could tend to the cows, horses, pigs, and chickens. At 14 Walt was supervising threshing crews of grown men at harvest time. Walt drove a 6 horse team of Percherons during hay time.
He rode an Indian pony to a one room school house and he only spoke German until he began school. Walts stepfather, a college grad when few farmers were, made sure Walt would attend college down state. Walt attended Daktoa Wesleyan University. He ran for student body president and won, beating his friend, George McGovern, future democratic presidential nominee. Later, Walt and George would inlist together in the Army Air Corp. They entered flight school together, where 56% of the students in their class were killed during training.
At Iwo Jima, Walt witnessed the raising of the American Flag at Mt. Suribachi.
Walt flew in the 78th squadon (Sunset Squadron). On a 1945 combat mission to Tokyo, his P-51 mustang crashed into the ocean. How he got out of his upside down burning plane has never been explained and his subsequent rescue by the submarine USS Tigrone was nothing short of miraculous. The USS Tigrone holds the record for the most men rescued by a sub in WWII.
In 1995, while attending the 40th anniversary ceremonies at Pearl Harbor, Walt met the Japanese pilot that shot him down. Together they ate ice cream and later exchanged letters.
Walt spent half his work life in private industry and half in Government. He worked a short time for Sentor George McGovern and at the same time my Dad was working for Sentor Case from South Daktoa. Walt's big job before he retired was at the Federal Reserve Board from 1972 til 1986. He was like number 5 man down there. He was friends with Greenspan and some of the other big shots down there.
He helped organize the first Boy Scott Jamboree in the D.C. area.
Walt played the tuba and was State Champ in 1938.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/17/AR2008051702561_pf.html (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/17/AR2008051702561_pf.html)
Scroll down to third person ^
http://www.7thfighter.com/newsletter/sunsetter_fall_2006.pdf (http://www.7thfighter.com/newsletter/sunsetter_fall_2006.pdf)
Scroll down to page 3, right side^
Walt had an saying he like to use and it goes like this "Perception is Reality". Several days before he died, while watching the dawning of a new day, he spoke one last word "Beautiful"