Interview with a few of my Veterans

The first Interview is with my Mom. Woman Marine Virginia Ruth Irvin (Rueber)

1. What branch of the service were/are you in? Marine Corps 1962-1964 2. What’s your rank? PFC3. What made you decide to join the service? Why this branch? I wanted to get an education to become a nurse, I figured if I was going to enlist, I’d go with the best! (by the way, as she found out in Boot Camp, you don't go into the Marine Corps to become a nurse!!!)
4 What’s the best thing about being in the military? You get to travel. The chance to serve my country
5. What’s the hardest thing about being in the military? Being away from Loved ones.
6. Do you think Veterans and Active service Personnel get the respect they deserve? They do now, but they didn't used to
7. What could crafters and artists do to help support you? Send cards to send home to loved ones, there is no place to buy them. Even on base the pickings are few.
8. What else would you like to share with our readers? I had the honor of being the escort to John F Kennedy, 2 months prior to his assassination. I was in Communications at the time. I took a lot of pictures. He came to my defense when the Commanding general Thought that I said “I guess so” Actually I said “Yes sir” and President Kennedy said “Sir, she said yes sir”. “Sir, yes sir, I said Yes sir” “He said she must be from the Boston area” (she is from the Philadelphia area.) He smiled and told her “it’s okay, no one understands me either!”

Next up is my brother Duane W. Rueber:


1. What branch of the service were/are you in? Marine Corps
2. What’s your rank? Lance Cpl
3. What made you decide to join the service? Why this branch? They were probably going to be the only place where I could learn to be a "man." -- Why pick an "easy" branch? If I'm going to do it, I'm going to do it right, all the way.
4 What’s the best thing about being in the military? Best thing is the bond that no one else ever has unless they have served.
5. What’s the hardest thing about being in the military? Hardest thing is being "government." Too much red-tape BS!
6. Do you think Veterans and Active service Personnel get the respect they deserve? I think they get it NOW, but it was a long time coming for our older Vets.
7. What could crafters and artists do to help support you? Crafters and everyone else need to really grasp, and understand the SACRIFICE our Vets give. Some, never come back home to their families. Don't we owe quite a bit to the one's that do?
What can we do? Push for unconditional support when they are done serving. Stop throwing our Vets away.

And finally, my husband David R Thornton:


1. What branch of the service were/are you in? Navy
2. What’s your rank? FN ( E-3) Which means a non-rate.
3. What made you decide to join the service? Wasn’t too sure what I wanted to do. Why this branch? I talked to other recruiters and was thing of Which I would like more to be in. The Navy, is a way to see other parts of the word and able to do it for free!
4. What’s the best thing about being in the military? The free travel we got to do.
5. What’s the hardest thing about being in the military? All the training we did on board an air craft Carrier. Also the different watches I had to do at all times of the night. But enjoyed every minute of it.
6. Do you think Veterans and Active service Personnel get the respect they deserve? Not really.
7. What could crafters and artists do to help support you? Send cards to send home to loved ones, there is no place to buy them. Even on base the pickings are few. Support the active members by sending card to help them write home to their family.
8. What else would you like to share with our readers? Keep supporting the active members. They all need to come home.(his brother is currently serving in the US Army)


There are other members of my family who proudly served, but are no longer with us. My Great Aunt Dorothy (Irvin) Fisher served as a nurse in the US Army during the Korean War. She also had the honor to be a private nurse to Eleanor Roosevelt!!! What an honor that must have been!!!!

Another interesting story, a great, great grandfather on the Irvin side, served in the Irish army. He was shot in the stomach with a cannon ball, and it went straight through his stomach!!!! He survived this attack, and lived many many years. He later died crossing the street. He was hit by a drunk driver.

Why not do a little research into your family, and see what great stories you can find??