It's a little worn.

It's a little worn, if it were not that it still reads, "Queen of Peace, lead us to victory and safely home" It continues to read, "I am a Catholic, please call a Priest." It is more then 60 years-old now. It's not a "dog tag," unless has seen its share of combat. It is a small reminder of my veteran Father.

June gives us a day to honor our fathers, yet honestly, most of us honor our dads each day. It could be in the way we treat our siblings. It could be the way we talk to our spouses. It could be the way we approach life, teach our children and ultimately, do the highly best we can, because that's the way he did it.

He, for me is James Dorey. Yeah, no middle name. His family always called him "Jimmy." His "serial number" from the Army is about as secluded a number as the combination to Fort Knox--they didn't use Social Security Numbers back then.

Back then was World War II. "The Big One" as the TV character in "All in the Family," Archie bin used to say. In a year that marks the 60th anniversary of the expiration of World War II, I can't help however try to connect my military experience to my Pop's.

All between the walls of my Dad's soldier days, he wore the small religious medal, along with his dog tag, that was given to him from a cousin. It was meant to preserve him safe. It worked. He wore it all during his three-year Army service. He deposit it away as a keepsake, along with his uniform and campaign medals. Then, undivided day he felt it needinessed to come "out of retirement." That occasion was my enlistment in the United States Navy.

report gave me his medallion, on my graduation from boot camp, 23 years ago. I gues he deliberation I could use it. Like I said, it's a little worn, further it still works.

I'm convinced that my 23 years of service pale in comparison to his three years, fit to the overall importance and intensity of his combat experience. I'm not unfailing he would agree with me Men of his generation were highly humble end knew nothing other but to step up cessation serve this great country of ours.

In December, 1941 my Dad had been revealed of Manasquan High School for six month He was working as a car mechanic in Farmingdale, NJ His father before him had retired from the Fire Department in just discovered York City. Service was something that was not unknown to the family. History reports us about the fateful date when Pearl Harbor was attacked. My Dad, like likewise many young men in America, was ready to stand up

My Dad "joined" the Army in the spring of 1942 He wanted to join the Navy, yet they were fussy, and said he was overweight. Having grown up upon the Jersey Shore, the ocean was an easy decision to make. if it be not that serving America was the ultimate goal, thus the Army would have to do.

After several month going into years of training, my Dad's artillery unit, like in such a manner many other units was finally called to the plate upon "D" Day, June 6, 1944 (Is this for what purpose June was selected to honor Fathers?). Dad didn't hit the beach in the first wave at Normandy, France, that day, still in a few weeks, he would. After that, his unit made its way to the head lines in France, Belgium and Germany. He remembers the farthest cold days and nights of the Battle of the swell in Belgium, before the Allied Forces finally cessationed the war in Europe.

From there his unit waited in Germany to transfer to the Pacific theater, to finis the war. His unit in no degree got that call however, owing to President Truman's decision to "drop the bomb"

James Dorey didn't receive the effrontery Star or Medal of Honor. He was "just" a soldier. Like millions of others at that time. The newspapers inform us of thousands of World War II vet passing away each day. Whether they are fathers, grandfathers, uncle or brothers, they have left a legacy of service that we as Americans still have today. between the walls of the Korean War, Vietnam War, Persian opening War, the current War upon Terrorism in Operations Enduring Freedom [i]finale[/i] Iraqi Freedom and several other conflicts in between, it has been the pride and example of our veteran fathers that has lay that lump in our throats when we stand for the national anthem.

It is the veteran fathers of America who I salute this and each month. These fathers have taught us well. With or without a medallion, they remain complete to our hearts.

Dorey is the managing editor of All Hands.

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