Memorial Day: Remembering Those Who Served

My father, Barry Kellner, shared a beautiful and touching story about my Grandfather, William F. Kellner. William, or "Bill" as people called him, served in WW II and was stationed in the South Pacific.

I am proud of his service and how he helped save people's lives as a Technician in 3rd Grade in the United States Army. {I miss you, Grandpa.}

Estimated reading time: 3 minutes

Memorial Day: Remembering Those Who Served

The following story was written by my father, Barry Kellner:

In the early 1980s, I was living with my wife and daughters at 60 Park Ave in Stoneham. One day I met one of my neighbors, Dave Carney. When I told Dave my name, he asked if I was related to Bill Kellner.
"Yes," I said. "He's my Father."

"Your father saved my life. I wouldn't be standing here if it weren't for him. In the War, I got shot up pretty bad. Your Dad was the first one to find me. He patched me up and got me back to the doctors."

A few days later, I mentioned this to my Father. He just bowed his head, closed his eyes, and said, " Yeah, Dave Carney was a good kid."

I wonder how many "good kids" my Father saved as a medical corpsman during those war years in the South Pacific. I wonder how many he tried to save but couldn't. He once told me, "When a guy was too far gone, all you could do was give him a shot of morphine, if you had it, and comfort him, and pray with him."

My Father rests now with my Mother and Brother in Saint Patrick's Cemetery in Stoneham. I thank him for his selfless service to this country, and I admire and thank him for the courage, kindness, and nobility he displayed during those terrible battles in the South Pacific.

We must never forget them.

-Barry Kellner

Barry Kellner originally shared this story on Facebook on 5/29/2016 and with his permission, I have republished it here on Life's Little Sweets.

Special Thanks to my Father (Thank you Dad!) for allowing me to republish his story of remembrance about my Grandfather, it means a lot to me to read it and I hope it means something to others as well.

How do you remember those who served on Memorial Day?

Do you have a story you would like to share?

What did you do to celebrate Memorial Day?

Please know in the comments below!

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Sara Maniez

Owner at Life's Little Sweets

Sara is an architectural designer turned work-at-home Mom. She lives in New Jersey by way of New England and New York, with her husband and 3 kids under 8. She loves design, being creative, and spending time with family and friends. She loves checking out local businesses and eats and being apart of the local farm to table community.

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