Here are some photos of Dad's first cousins who were also WWII vets.
First photo Paul Howard to my left US Army and John Howard to my
right US Marine WWII. Clearly, we were having a great time!
(As usual, I was having a bad hair day. People ask me all the time if
my hair color is real and I say "Do you think I'd do this to my self on purpose?!"
My t shirt says: "If you value your freedom, thank a Vet!" and I'm wearing my
WWII Memorial pin.)
John Howard was one of the most fabulous human beings I've ever known.
Whenever I'd see him at family events, it was just like seeing a rock star.
I had to curb the tendency to follow him around, hanging on his every word
and making a terrible PEST out of myself. He was a GENIUS and truly one of
the most deeply spiritual people I've ever known. He passed away suddenly
about a month after this photo was taken. Oh how I miss him! He was such an
amazing multi-talented person, it was hard to keep up with him - but I really wish
that I'd talked with him more about his experiences as a marine on Iwo Jima.
The second photo is L-R: John Koumjian a WWII Marine who was also at Iwo Jima
and also had escaped the Armenian genocide, fleeing with his mother.
John is 95 and going strong (married to Dad's first cousin Mary Howard Koumjian
on the far right of the photo), Paul Howard, me, John Howard, my cousin Elaine
O'Connor Maynes (daughter of my great Aunt Ellen Howard) and Mary Howard Koumjian.
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