I’m the daughter of Petty Officer 1st Class George M. Gemmecke, who served in the Navy from February 1942 to Nov. 6, 1945, on U.S.S. Heywood that saw action in Pacific Theater for a total of 11 battles. My father’s ship was the attack transport ship that delivered Marines to battle. I’m also the sister of Petty Officer 3rd Class George F. Gemmecke, who served in the Navy from 1969 to 1973 as ordinance specialist, who came close three times to going to Vietnam; what stopped him was that he was the only son in the family. I’m also a Navy veteran who was proud to join the same service as my dad and brother. I come from a family of veterans, from my dad’s brother Vernon and his cousin Johnny Gemmecke who both served in the Army during World War II, to my uncle Dan Gemmecke who served in the Army during World War I.