Today, we are celebrating Veteran's Day/Remembrance Day, a day that we honor the brave men and women who have served, as well as their families who were there to support them. We would like to share the stories of two of Liberty's employees and their time with the US Air Force and the US Navy.
Remembering When...
In June 1972, 3 weeks out of High School, at the age of 17, during the Vietnam War, I joined the U.S. Army and took the long bus ride from the Army Base in South Boston, MA to Ft. Dix, NJ for Basic Training. Over the next 6 plus years, I would see duty in Panama, Alaska and a dozen other Forts in between. But right after Basic, I was able to get into the West Point Prep School, a 10 month program at Ft. Belvoir, VA. I tried out for the basketball team, was immediately cut, but was asked to stay on as one of the team managers. We were coached by a young Army Captain. It was his first coaching job. A year later at West Point in NY, I again tried out for the basketball team, again I was immediately cut, and again the same now former Army Captain asked me to stay on as a team manager for the West Point Basketball Team. I did that for a couple of seasons. We knew the coach as Captain “K”. You know the coach as Coach “K”, the winningest coach in the history of men’s college basketball.
Remembering Now…..
Proud to be one of the few Father-Sons Team at Liberty. Proud to be a family of Veterans. Each morning at the Cody Homestead, weather permitting, I raise the flag. Next to the flagpole, I made this memorial listing the names of my grandfather, uncles, in-laws, father, son and daughter who have served. I left out the 8 cousins and nephew for space considerations. Yes, we did have a dedication ceremony in 2013, with speeches, invited guests, military music and all living honorees were present.”
Leo Cody- U.S. Army
Leo Cody III- U.S. Air Force
Lieutenant, US Navy. This one was after pulling in from my first patrol which was about 90 days long. So I hadn’t been home for that long. There are two 18,000 HP tugs pushing us around to dock. I was up in the bridge of the submarine, 40 feet high, relaying the tug commands to the people in the control room below. This photo taken at Delta Pier looks North up the Hood Canal in Washington State. There is a beautiful view of the Olympic mountains from this pier looking West. The 5 hours that it takes to dock the ship, connect shore power, shutdown the reactor, and go home cannot go fast enough.
Peter Chivers - US Navy