thedrifter
07-07-05, 05:22 PM
Pappy, a Pendleton original, dies at 97
Submitted by: MCB Camp Pendleton
Story by Lance Cpl. Ray Lewis
http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/image1.nsf/Lookup/200577153236/$file/pappilow.jpg
Mickey Urlie reminisces with an artifact of her late father's, made from the wreckage of a Japanese airplane on Iwo Jima Photo by: Lance Cpl. Ray Lewis.
MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. (July 7, 2005) -- He was there for the flag- raising at Iwo Jima and at the opening of Camp Pendleton, but most importantly, Howard "Pappy" Young was there for his Marines.
Young, 97, died in his sleep June 22 -- but not without touching a few hearts before he left.
"He loved all people he came in contact with, and they loved him in return," said Faye Jonason, Pendleton's History and Museums Officer.
"Even in his deathbed, Pappy had Marines visiting him in the hospice where he spent the majority of his last days," said Jonason.
Young touched Pendleton in many ways during many eras, as a Marine in the base's early days and as a civilian employee and volunteer later on.
Young was born in 1907 in Rockford, Wash., but raised in Spokane until he was called to active duty from the Marine Corps Reserves in 1940. He'd just opened a butcher shop but closed its doors when the call came to report to Camp Elliot, now Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, for duty as a radio technician.
Fifty-eight years later, after his wife Betty died, he began working as a docent with Jonason, serving primarily at the historic Ranch House.
Dressed in a bolo necktie and topped off with a tilted cowboy hat, Young loved to tell stories in first person, friends and family members said.
He told of a young combat correspondent who wanted to snap a picture of him crawling up the volcanic-ash-covered beach at Iwo Jima.
"The (Marine) wanted to get closer for a better shot, but he told him no, because there was a wire," said his daughter, Mickey Urlie.
The photographer snapped the image anyway.
"He was so proud of that picture. It was in LIFE Magazine," Urlie said.
While at Iwo Jima, Young scaled a mountain to get to a downed Japanese fighter plane.
"He made bracelets out of the Zero plane scrap metal. He made about 50 of them for his Marines," she said.
Young fashioned the jewelry by etching the metal with his pocket knife; he inscribed "Iwo Jima" and the year.
He also explained how he got his position as the first mess sergeant on Camp Pendleton when it opened in 1942.
"Pappy was eating chow when he saw a young Marine trying to prepare stew by chopping up frozen meat," Jonason said.
"What are you doing?" said Young, noticing the young devil dog's mistake.
He showed the man how to do it right, Jonason said.
His culinary prowess earned him a new assignment and a quick promotion.
"Pappy loved to tell (the) story (of) how they fed the troops," Jonason said.
Young was soon called back to Camp Elliot to march in the ceremonial opening of Camp Pendleton in Sept- ember 1942.
Not long thereafter, he was off to Iwo Jima.
After the war, he served at Marine Corps Recruit District Parris Island, S.C., and Camp Lejeune, N.C., where he applied to become an air traffic controller.
He made the cut, serving at Marine Corps Air Station El Toro, and later returned to Japan.
After his 20 years of service, Young returned to Pendleton, where he worked for 10 years as a meat cutter at the commissary.
Young later started a Plexiglas business. He manufactured coin holders and other custom items for solid currency.
He traveled throughout the world with his wife until she became ill.
After she died, Young took to volunteering and other pursuits.
"He became good at so many different things," Jonason said, adding, "he'll always have a place in our hearts."
He told lots of stories and made lots of cards to show he cared, Jonason said.
Despite his advancing age, he even became a bit of a technology buff, she said.
"He would share those paintings and cards by scanning them and sending them over the Internet to friends and family," Jonason said.
Friends and family gathered Wednesday at the Oceanside Elk's Club to celebrate his life.
"Pappy never wanted a funeral. He finally agreed to a (party) before he passed," Urlie explained.
"We're all richer for having known him. We'll miss him," Jonason said.
Ellie
My sincere condolences
"O I have slipped the surly bonds of earth
And danced the skies on laughter silvered wings;
Sunward I’ve climbed and joined the tumbling mirth
Of sun-split clouds
And done a hundred things you have not dreamed of"
Rest In Peace
God Bless
Submitted by: MCB Camp Pendleton
Story by Lance Cpl. Ray Lewis
http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/image1.nsf/Lookup/200577153236/$file/pappilow.jpg
Mickey Urlie reminisces with an artifact of her late father's, made from the wreckage of a Japanese airplane on Iwo Jima Photo by: Lance Cpl. Ray Lewis.
MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. (July 7, 2005) -- He was there for the flag- raising at Iwo Jima and at the opening of Camp Pendleton, but most importantly, Howard "Pappy" Young was there for his Marines.
Young, 97, died in his sleep June 22 -- but not without touching a few hearts before he left.
"He loved all people he came in contact with, and they loved him in return," said Faye Jonason, Pendleton's History and Museums Officer.
"Even in his deathbed, Pappy had Marines visiting him in the hospice where he spent the majority of his last days," said Jonason.
Young touched Pendleton in many ways during many eras, as a Marine in the base's early days and as a civilian employee and volunteer later on.
Young was born in 1907 in Rockford, Wash., but raised in Spokane until he was called to active duty from the Marine Corps Reserves in 1940. He'd just opened a butcher shop but closed its doors when the call came to report to Camp Elliot, now Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, for duty as a radio technician.
Fifty-eight years later, after his wife Betty died, he began working as a docent with Jonason, serving primarily at the historic Ranch House.
Dressed in a bolo necktie and topped off with a tilted cowboy hat, Young loved to tell stories in first person, friends and family members said.
He told of a young combat correspondent who wanted to snap a picture of him crawling up the volcanic-ash-covered beach at Iwo Jima.
"The (Marine) wanted to get closer for a better shot, but he told him no, because there was a wire," said his daughter, Mickey Urlie.
The photographer snapped the image anyway.
"He was so proud of that picture. It was in LIFE Magazine," Urlie said.
While at Iwo Jima, Young scaled a mountain to get to a downed Japanese fighter plane.
"He made bracelets out of the Zero plane scrap metal. He made about 50 of them for his Marines," she said.
Young fashioned the jewelry by etching the metal with his pocket knife; he inscribed "Iwo Jima" and the year.
He also explained how he got his position as the first mess sergeant on Camp Pendleton when it opened in 1942.
"Pappy was eating chow when he saw a young Marine trying to prepare stew by chopping up frozen meat," Jonason said.
"What are you doing?" said Young, noticing the young devil dog's mistake.
He showed the man how to do it right, Jonason said.
His culinary prowess earned him a new assignment and a quick promotion.
"Pappy loved to tell (the) story (of) how they fed the troops," Jonason said.
Young was soon called back to Camp Elliot to march in the ceremonial opening of Camp Pendleton in Sept- ember 1942.
Not long thereafter, he was off to Iwo Jima.
After the war, he served at Marine Corps Recruit District Parris Island, S.C., and Camp Lejeune, N.C., where he applied to become an air traffic controller.
He made the cut, serving at Marine Corps Air Station El Toro, and later returned to Japan.
After his 20 years of service, Young returned to Pendleton, where he worked for 10 years as a meat cutter at the commissary.
Young later started a Plexiglas business. He manufactured coin holders and other custom items for solid currency.
He traveled throughout the world with his wife until she became ill.
After she died, Young took to volunteering and other pursuits.
"He became good at so many different things," Jonason said, adding, "he'll always have a place in our hearts."
He told lots of stories and made lots of cards to show he cared, Jonason said.
Despite his advancing age, he even became a bit of a technology buff, she said.
"He would share those paintings and cards by scanning them and sending them over the Internet to friends and family," Jonason said.
Friends and family gathered Wednesday at the Oceanside Elk's Club to celebrate his life.
"Pappy never wanted a funeral. He finally agreed to a (party) before he passed," Urlie explained.
"We're all richer for having known him. We'll miss him," Jonason said.
Ellie
My sincere condolences
"O I have slipped the surly bonds of earth
And danced the skies on laughter silvered wings;
Sunward I’ve climbed and joined the tumbling mirth
Of sun-split clouds
And done a hundred things you have not dreamed of"
Rest In Peace
God Bless