- Joined
- Jun 30, 2005
- Messages
- 4,251
Mr. Hiday was drafted into the Army during WWII. He was a Lineman with the 324th Infantry. After the war he came home to his wife in Indiana, went back to work with a division of GM, raised his son & daughter, and retired.
Bruce welcomed me into his family when I married his granddaughter. As I had no more surviving grandparents he told me, if I wanted, I could call him Grandpa - I did. He was one of the kindest, most giving people I had ever met. Whenever I had a health issue he would always ask for regular updates on me, even more than some of my own family. A few Christmases ago, while talking to him about the M1 Carbine I'd bought, he started telling me some stories of his time in WWII. I was the 1st person he had told these stories too, my Mother-In-Law said she'd not even known what Unit he was with.
Maybe it was his familiarity with the TL-29, but I'd noticed that most of his pocketknives were 2-blade Jacks of one kind or another. As my boys had gotten older he'd given over quite a few of his pocketknives to me in keeping for them. One Kabar Peanut/Jack is especially nice - Jigged Brown Delrin handles with a Clip main & pen blade, both with a beautiful patina to them. One Serpentine Jack shows heavy use, tip of the Clip blade had a slight bend to it - probably used to pry with. My youngest son used it this year to earn his Whittling Chip in Cub Scouts. Can't tell what make it is as there are no markings or they got worn away. One of the few non-Jack patterns is a SAK Classic type pocketknife made by Bonsa. Stainless scales that have a light checkering to them, 2 pen blades on 1 side & scissors on the other.
Sadly his health started to decline a few years ago & he had a stroke. While the In-laws were on their way to pick him up for Christmas this year he suffered another stroke. When they got there he was in the hospital in varying states of responsiveness. Tests showed the outcome was only a matter of time. Before they could transfer him to Hospice Care he passed away this Tuesday in his sleep. My Mother-In-Law said he looked at peace. He gave his daughter one last Christmas together. He was buried with Military Honors earlier this morning. Sadly I could not be there, but my wife & 2 boys made the trip along with her sister and her 2 daughters. Before my wife left I gave her an old USA Made Schrade 33OT to place in his pocket. I think he would of liked it.
I am honored to have known such a man. I am very thankful that my boys, his Great Grandsons, got to know him. I'm going to miss him. That said, he survived WWII, got to see his Great Grandkids, and now he's back home with his Wife & Son.
Bruce welcomed me into his family when I married his granddaughter. As I had no more surviving grandparents he told me, if I wanted, I could call him Grandpa - I did. He was one of the kindest, most giving people I had ever met. Whenever I had a health issue he would always ask for regular updates on me, even more than some of my own family. A few Christmases ago, while talking to him about the M1 Carbine I'd bought, he started telling me some stories of his time in WWII. I was the 1st person he had told these stories too, my Mother-In-Law said she'd not even known what Unit he was with.
Maybe it was his familiarity with the TL-29, but I'd noticed that most of his pocketknives were 2-blade Jacks of one kind or another. As my boys had gotten older he'd given over quite a few of his pocketknives to me in keeping for them. One Kabar Peanut/Jack is especially nice - Jigged Brown Delrin handles with a Clip main & pen blade, both with a beautiful patina to them. One Serpentine Jack shows heavy use, tip of the Clip blade had a slight bend to it - probably used to pry with. My youngest son used it this year to earn his Whittling Chip in Cub Scouts. Can't tell what make it is as there are no markings or they got worn away. One of the few non-Jack patterns is a SAK Classic type pocketknife made by Bonsa. Stainless scales that have a light checkering to them, 2 pen blades on 1 side & scissors on the other.
Sadly his health started to decline a few years ago & he had a stroke. While the In-laws were on their way to pick him up for Christmas this year he suffered another stroke. When they got there he was in the hospital in varying states of responsiveness. Tests showed the outcome was only a matter of time. Before they could transfer him to Hospice Care he passed away this Tuesday in his sleep. My Mother-In-Law said he looked at peace. He gave his daughter one last Christmas together. He was buried with Military Honors earlier this morning. Sadly I could not be there, but my wife & 2 boys made the trip along with her sister and her 2 daughters. Before my wife left I gave her an old USA Made Schrade 33OT to place in his pocket. I think he would of liked it.
I am honored to have known such a man. I am very thankful that my boys, his Great Grandsons, got to know him. I'm going to miss him. That said, he survived WWII, got to see his Great Grandkids, and now he's back home with his Wife & Son.
), but I started off my special relationship with my girls the moment my eldest girl was born-still attached to Mum...I held her in my hands and promised her we would have something so different and neat....20 years on, we are still the best of friends.