REMEMBERING MY UNCLE, the LATE LT.COL SHERWOOD KOK, as well as ALL VETERANS & GOOD CITIZENS ON VETERANS DAY 2010...
Uncle sherwood, or "uncle woody" as we normally called him, was a good man... a career army man who worked his way up to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. ARMY ...when we were kids growing up ingrand rapids, mi, he served in several places around the country & world, including germany, where most of his family lived with him for a while (bob, gary, sherwood jr, kathy, bill, & david)...although bob & gary were college age by that time & so they were already visiting us & for a while bob lived with us in grand rapids as college students @ calvin college..
Bob, the oldest son still lives in west michigan, gary the 2nd son passed away a few years ago in his early 50's...uncle sherwood also seved in vietnam prior to germany & this may have led to post-traumatic stress...which may have contributed to his fairly early death in his late 60's ..its hard on the kids of a military man who gets moved around..just like missionary kids..& some pastor's kids..or others who move frequently for the job..no sense of permanence or a "home base"... uncled sherwood was part of the "big red" unit in vietnam if I recall correctly ..he never talked much about it when we had family gatherings ...the usual thanksgiving meal we shared for a few years after woody retired & his family was back in GR in the late 80's|...those were good times..jim & gary (uncle gary, not woody's son) & sherwood...the three brothers ..& wives & kids would gather at uncle woody's house & watch football ..woody & jim were closest to eachother in age & grew up together in bellflower, ca before moving to holland (mi) & then to edgerton MN (where my aunt faith still lives) ..their dad ( my grandfather) being a crc pastor ...& the story goes on but I can't tell it all here.. I simply want to remember uncle sherwood & all the veterans as well as current military members on this special day God bless you ..keep up the good work
I periodically visit national cemeteries around the country & simply pause & give thanks & say a prayer & am thankful for our troops & their families & also appreciate ALL GOOD CITIZENS who "serve" our country just by being decent citizens & enjoying the freedom of America, & am thankful mostlu to God Almighty for giving us True Freedom.
A SPECIAL DOCUMENT PREPARED
BY MY DAD IN MEMORY OF SHERWOOD
A FEW PICS I FOUND IN THE ARCHIVES OF MY DAD & SHERWOOD & SOME OF THE OTHER MEMBERS OF THE KOK FAMILY IN BELLFLOWER , LATE 30's & EARLY 40's
The YOUNG KOK FAMILY IN BELLFLOWER, EARLY 40's , including JIM & SHERWOOD
1939 : GRANDPA KOK with YOUNG JIM & SHERWOOD in BELLFLOWER
Some of my PAST REMEMBRANCES of our
SOLDIERS & VETERANS & Their LOVED ONES
10/29/10 @ GOLDEN GATE NATIONAL CEMETERY
6/23/09 LEAVENWORTH NATIONAL CEMETERY
MEMORIAL DAY 2010, RIVERSIDE NATIONAL CEMETERY
7/1/09 BALTIMORE NATIONAL CEMETERY
