The photos of the two plaques I downloaded off the National Park web site, that is on Saipan in honor of those killed there.
As we approach Memorial Day people have been asking each other what are you doing this weekend? It is the unofficial start of summer, kids are ready to put the school books away and start swimming and playing baseball and other summer games. I tend to keep it a low key weekend. I'll spend one day with my son, eat a couple of hot dogs, watch the races on TV - both auto and horse.
But I also make sure I remember why the name of the day is Memorial. It is easier for me to remember all I have to do is look at the two Purple Hearts in a shadow box that were awarded to my uncle Maynard J. Rogg. Maynard served in US Army, 27th Infantry Division, 105th Infantry Regiment, Company G from some time before the attack on Pearl Harbor until he was killed in action June 18th, 1944 on the second day in the battle for Saipan. I have very few photos of Maynard but was lucky enough to find someone on the internet who also had a relative that served in the same Regiment and shared the photo above. Maynard is in the first row far right. According the caption Maynard was still a private, when he was killed he was a PFC so I'm guessing that the photo was taken in a camp in the US.
Maynard is buried in the National Cemetery of the Pacific in Hawaii. I have not made it there yet but two co-worked who have gone to Hawaii were kind enough to visit Maynard's grave for me and take some photos.
The National WWII Memorial web page is worth checking out. You can search for people you know or add relatives that served in WWII. Feel free to type in Maynard's name to view an entry.
Enjoy the weekend, be safe and pause a moment to remember.
