My father, Gary W. Champagne, and grandfather, William Anthony Champagne

I have chronicled this topic before in previous posts but I wanted to recognize that today is a day of remembrance in my family. Today is the day, 70 years ago, that my grandfather’s ship, the USS Spence, was lost in a typhoon in the Pacific Theater during World War II. I wrote this to commemorate him:

Though I never met you,
I can not imagine the fear you felt that night of December 18th,
But, you stayed true to your duty, showing courage to the very end,
And now, I carry the valor instilled in your name,
I never forget your sacrifice,
And if I could, I would tell you,
You are not forgotten because,
Your blood courses my veins…

Western Union Telegram notifying my grandmother her husband was deemed lost at sea during World War II

 Remember that some gave…and…