Very Sad News

Aaron D. IL
Aaron D. IL Senior Contributor
edited November -1 in HUDSON
My long time friend and fellow Hudnut Al James passed away. I used to ride up to meets in WI. with him and Linton Richards, the 3 of our Hudsons in formation. I miss those times and I miss Al. He was a curmudgeon but always made me laugh and had a wonderfully cantankerous sense of humor. He was also a Navy Veteran who served in WW2 on the USS Mahan. No word as yet on any funeral date will update this post.

Comments

  • hudsontech
    hudsontech Senior Contributor
    They bred those Navy tin can sailors tough. Our WWII veterans are going rapidly now and each is a bit of history lost.

    You served your country well, brother. Enjoy your tour of duty on Fiddlers Green where the rum and beer flows like water and all the mermaids are pretty.

    Hudsonly,
    Alex Burr
    Memphis, TN
  • Terraplane33
    Terraplane33 Expert Adviser
    Obviously I didn't know him but sad to hear you lost your Hudson & more friend...
  • hudsn47
    hudsn47 Senior Contributor
    Very sad to hear. I didnt know him either but sounds like a great guy. I can relate to this because I lost my dad a couple months ago and he also was a WWII Navy Vet and introduced me to Hudsons as a teen.
  • Richard E.
    Richard E. Senior Contributor
    Alex, "Where the girls all are pretty, the beer is all free, there's bottles of rum hanging on every tree....."

    "You can be on your leisure there's no work to do, the skippers below making tea for the crew....."

    There's more!
  • hdsn49
    hdsn49 Senior Contributor
    Its very unfortunate but less than 10% of the GREATEST GENERATION are still with us. They are missed by anyone their lives touched.
  • tigermoth
    tigermoth Expert Adviser
    edited September 2011
    sorry for the loss of your friend...

    for those interested in what he did during his tour...the history of his ship.

    USS Mahan,(DD-364) keel laid 12jun34, sunk by 3 kamakaze strikes 7jun44. one of four ships ultimately named USS Mahan.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Mahan_(DD-364)
  • hudsonguy
    hudsonguy Senior Contributor
    I first met Al seven years ago when I attended my very first Hudson event, which was a Chi-Mil monthly meet. From that time forward the highlight of each and every meet I've been to has been seeing Al (and Linton). You couldn't find better people. Rest in peace, Al, you will be missed.
  • hudsontech
    hudsontech Senior Contributor
    tigermoth wrote:
    sorry for the loss of your friend...

    for those interested in what he did during his tour...the history of his ship.

    USS Mahan,(DD-364) keel laid 12jun34, sunk by 3 kamakaze strikes 7jun44. one of four ships ultimately named USS Mahan.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Mahan_(DD-364)

    My wifes uncle was on the USS COOPER during the war - to show just how thin destroyers were built, the COOPER got hit by 2 or 3 kamakaze's in Leyte Gulf in 1944 - she went down in less than a minute. Very few of her crew survived.

    Husonly,
    Alex Burr
    Memphis, TN
  • Aaron D. IL
    Aaron D. IL Senior Contributor
    Hi all,
    We received the details regarding Al's wake and funeral. The arrangements are through the Andrew McGann & Son Funeral Home, 10727 S Pulaski Rd, Chicago, IL. The wake is planned for this Tuesday, 9/6 from 3-9 and the Funeral Service will be Wednesday at 11:00. The wake is also Wednesday morning from 8:30 to 11:00 prior to the service. If you are able to attend, please consider driving an HET in honor of all of Al's years of service and membership to our Chapter and Club. His wishes are in lieu of flowers donations be sent to The Animal Welfare League, 10305 Southwest Highway, Chicago Ridge, Il 60415. Condolences may be sent to the family % of his address 11636 S Ridgeland Ave. Worth, Il 60482-2412.
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