I have had the pleasure of knowing three friends that have enjoyed my Cookshack smokings. They are real live heroes, two Marines during WWII and one a pilot in the Army Air Corp.
One we see often, Ray Prim, a regimental communications sergeant in charge of the Indian code talkers on Iwo Jima. A movie was made about his actions where his part was played by Nicholas Cage. Ray said the movie was not very accurate, but the book by Tom Brokow "The Greatest Generation" was very accurate of the fight on Iwo Jima. We were present when Rays medals were awarded in Tallahassee last year by the last surviving General that fought on Iwo. What Happened with the medals was Ray failed to pick up his medals when he was mustarded out after the war - getting home was more important than the medals. We see Ray once or twice a week when he comes by the house to share a cappuccino. Ray still works for the Federal Reserve Banking System, 85 and still going. The many times Ray has eaten out at variious restaurants with Daisy and myself, we have never let him pay for his meal - we owe him more than that. He has problems eating pork, but he sure puts the brisket away and gets impatient waiting for the 195 degree setting on the polder to go off.
The second person was Larry Roberts a fishing and hunting friend and a brother to another friend. Larry was the flight commander in a B17, flew 30 missions over Germany, shot down twice, kept flying and received the Distinguished flying Cross, not once but twice. When visiting Cedar Key, he never paid for his meal either. One time the restaurant owner took his tab. We lost Larry a few years ago and I still miss his sharp response to ignorance displayed by our politicians. His favorite was smoked mullet dip, the recipe is on this site and he also done a good job on our BBQed shrimp.
The third person I write about makes for a sad day. He is Guy Gabaldon and his story also was made into a movie. He lived between Fanning Springs and Cross City Florida. Guy also a US Marine lived on the streets of Los Angles, living part time with a Japanese family where he learned street Japanese from the children of the Japanese family, one of which became a Nisei US Army soldier in Italy. Landing on Saipan, he worked behind the lines where he talked between 1100 and 1500 Japanese soldiers into surrendering. This was a rare action by the Japanese during the war. Behind two lines he killed over 30 Japanese, even shooting the driver of and taking back to the American lines a Japanese motorcycle. His commanding officer wouldn't let him keep the motorcycle and it became the commanding officers transportation. He was credited with saving at least one American for every Japanese soldier he captured.
Guy was recommended twice for the Medal of Honor, but being a Mexican descendant, was presented with a Silver Star. When the Medal of Honor recommendation was reviewed his Silver Star was upgraded to the Navy Cross. His Medal of Honor recommendation is still being appealed in congress. Even with a a college degree, Guy was never promoted beyond PFC and probably having worked alone and behind the lines fostered his inability to follow directions he disagreed with. Sgt. York, MH, captured only 50 Germans in WWI.
While behind the lines he was severely injured by hostile machine gun fire and received the Purple Heart. His part was played by Tab Hunter in the movie "Hell to Eternity" and Guy wrote an autobiography of his war experiences. Guy died at his home on September 1, 2006 and his service will be held at the Baptist Church in Cross City Florida Tuesday September 5, 2006. With heart trouble his later years it reduced his intake of BBQ, but he loved it.
God Bless these men who have kept us free and keep in mind, the sharing of our Smokings and BBQ is what it is about, not just the eating.
smokemullet
Original Post
