[Updated November 19, 2023]
Thank you for your sacrifice, Veterans!
My maternal grandfather served in the U.S. Army’s Philippine Scouts during World War II and I’m grateful for the sacrifices veterans like him have made for our country: time spent away from their families, their physical and mental well-being, and their own freedoms, in order to protect mine. And although my stepson is not a veteran as he’s currently serving in the U.S. Navy, my husband was proud to wear his Navy Dad shirt, just the same, as we toured the USS Hornet Sea, Air & Space Museum in Alameda, California (10 miles/16 km east of San Francisco) on Veterans Day.
The USS Hornet Museum, as it’s commonly known, is located on the USS Hornet (CV-12), an aircraft carrier which played an important role in the Pacific during World War II, the Vietnam War, as well as the Apollo Program by recovering the astronauts returning from the Apollo 11 and 12 space missions in 1969. The museum is celebrating two milestone anniversaries in 2023: the 80th anniversary of the commissioning of the ship and the 25th anniversary of the opening of the museum.
To thank the community for their support through the years, the museum offered all visitors free admission on Veterans Day. During our self-guided tour of the museum, we walked through narrow passageways, climbed steep stairs, and stepped inside the Junior Officers’ Berthing crammed with bunk beds and lockers. We got to see restored World War II fighter jets, helicopters, aircraft, and more.
I’ve never read about this story in my history books! It was fascinating to learn about Telesforo Dela Cruz Trinidad, an American national of Filipino descent, who holds the distinction of being the first and only Filipino in the U.S. Navy to receive a Medal of Honor for rescuing two men after an explosion on the USS San Diego in 1915.
Alameda Post reporter, Ken Der, shares highlights of the event in his article, which includes quotes from my husband and our younger daughter! Read his article: USS Hornet Marks Veterans Day Amid Big Anniversaries
Tell me in the comments below: Are you a veteran? When and where did you serve?
Bonjour: A Francophile Blog 
Well, yes, I’m a veteran, Vietnam 1964-65.
I have told the whole story in my blog: https://operasandcycling.com/category/vietnam/
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I appreciate you, Don. Thank you for sharing the link. I’ve enjoyed seeing more of your photographs and reading more of your stories about your service in Vietnam. Your handwritten maps also helped me visualize your proximity to some of the danger zones. That said, there’s a calmness to your accounts, especially when you describe your interactions with the local people. You mentioned you returned to Vietnam in 1995, specifically Tân Ba, which sounds like a lovely place. Any plans to visit Vietnam again? Is there anything you wish civilians understood about military service?
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Hi Darlene, thanks for looking at so many of my Vietnam posts, and for leaving such a nice comment. Yes, my return to Vietnam in 1995 was a very positive experience, especially Tan Ba (https://operasandcycling.com/thirty-years-later-tan-ba-1995/). But I have no plans for another visit, because I no longer fly and am too old for a several-week train journey from Germany to Vietnam (which is something I would love to do if I were ¼ or ½ century younger).
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Besides having a day off from work, Veteran’s Day is truly about commemorating those who’ve served and fought for this country (even though we ought to pay it forward even more by helping veterans readjust to life, job searching, etc afterwards with more programs to assist them). It’s great your grandfather served for the US, even though he’s from the Philippines, and his hard work and service is appreciated! Hope you had a good Veteran’s Day, Darlene. 🙂
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You’re right, Rebecca. I couldn’t have said it any better! I think about that all the time: how there should be no such thing as a homeless/unhoused veteran or a veteran without access to health care. It’s good to know that some celebrities (like John Mayer, for example) use their fame for good by setting up a foundation that supports (among other things) the reintegration of veterans to civilian life! Thanks for your kind words about my grandfather’s service. Have a great week ahead!
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