First PGR mission of 2016

[KG]

Our great State of Tennessee and the people of Memphis have lost another Veteran Hero… Alton Jones Hadley, 90, U.S. Navy, passed away February 9, 2016. Mr. Hadley’s son; Kelly has invited the Patriot Guard Riders to honor his father and the family.


Found out from the family he was on the USS Franklin and manned the 5inch guns during the attack where he received the Purple Heart for injuries during the battle.

The USS Franklin (CV/CVA/CVS-13, AVT-8), nicknamed "Big Ben," was one of 24 Essex-class aircraft carriers built during World War II for the United States Navy, and the fifth US Navy ship to bear the name. Commissioned in January 1944, she served in several campaigns in the Pacific War, earning four battle stars. She was badly damaged by a Japanese air attack in March 1945, with the loss of over 800 of her crew, becoming the most heavily damaged United States carrier to survive the war.[1] Movie footage of the actual attack was included in the 1949 film Task Force starring Gary Cooper.

[Earl43P]

Another one of America's greatest generation has passed.

Thank you for standing in his honor.

[old2soon]

Riding P G R and Standing for these HEROES IS I M H O-a very Honorable thing to do. When the Family takes time out from their grief to Thank You personally you Know you are doing something right. Thanks for Riding and Representing P G R.  RIDE SAFE.

[czuch]

By God, Sir, By God. Thank you for being there.
The Franklin, after being very heavily damaged, was drifting twards Japan. It was getting critical that they move or sink her. They got her under way and and out of harms way. Quite the story of seamanship and heroism. The book was written by her Chaplain.
The PGR is the best reason to ride.

[KG]

it is always a Honor to ride with the PGR

The thing I find  interesting is the family knew he had been wounded in combat and he was in the Navy but that was it until they got his DD-214.

The horrors of war some lock it away and go about life and others are haunted by it. I
 pray that wars would end and our men and women in the military would never have to experience war again.