For my Papa.

**eljefefx** · 12-19-2010, 10:37 PM

On December 12th, 2010, my Papa passed on. Loys Landes was born on May 31st 1924 in a house in Comanche County, Texas. He served in the Phillipines and saw fierce combat during World War II. I remember one story where they were walking through a town or village and the man in front of Papa – a good friend by all accounts- suddenly was killed by a sniper. Papa, blood and brains still all over him, tracked down the sniper and eliminated him. This actually filled in a big hole in something I found in his closet years ago when I was twelve – a traditional Japanese sword. Papa would oil/sharpen this sword almost every day up until a few years ago when Alzheimers began to take him.

You see, in those days GI's were allowed to send back either an enemy rifle or a sword. Though Papa never confirmed it, I believe that sword to be that of that sniper.

He returned from the war and married Dorothy (Nanny) in 1944. One Christmas he told us how when he returned he had only $9 and a cow. He paid $3 for the wedding and gave the Preacher another $3, though he didn't have to. From that $3 he built what would be a miniature empire in West Texas. He opened Landes Furniture in 1962 and to this day it is still a place that people will literally drive from hundred of miles of away to pick up something for the home -be it carpet, tile, washer, dryer or a recliner – from a business run by a family and not a corporation. He eventually sold it to one of his sons but still dealt with it quite a bit – and his farm – until Alzheimers began to take him from us a little over two years ago.

We laid him to rest this past Wednesday. In attendance were his wife, his five children, eleven grandchildren and fifteen great-grandchildren. There was no one to play taps, but I was there in my Dress Blue uniform to kneel before my grandmother and whisper those powerful words

“On behalf of a grateful nation and the United States Army as a token of appreciation for your loved one's honorable and faithful service, please accept this flag.”

Rest now, Papa.

**CoopKill** · 12-19-2010, 11:01 PM

Sorry for your loss. Your family must be proud for the respect you show and hardships you endure in service to our Country and in life.

I solute you!

**DocWalt** · 12-20-2010, 12:03 AM

Sorry for your loss, Jeff. My thanks go to you, and your father for your hard service for our country. It's because of men like you that we live as free people.

I salute you.

**2fnloud** · 12-20-2010, 12:16 AM

It would of been my honor to play Taps for you and your family. Thank you for sharing, sorry for your loss.

**eljefefx** · 12-20-2010, 12:36 AM

Originally Posted by DocWalt

Sorry for your loss, Jeff. My thanks go to you, and your father for your hard service for our country. It's because of men like you that we live as free people.

I salute you.

Actually he was my grandfather, but thank you