A TRIBUTE TO MY FATHER:
DONALD F. GREGORY
(Click on all Highlighted & Underlined Words)
On September 10th, 1923 in a house on Whittier Avenue in the Olneyville
section of Providence, R.I. Mabel Gregory gave birth to a baby boy.
That child would grow to become a courageous soldier, trustworthy police
officer, honest postal employee, loving husband, caring father, and a
humble, yet great American. This wonderful man was my father: Donald
Frederick Gregory.
The Gregory family settled in Riverside, RI and lived near the shore of
Narragansett Bay. Just a few years later (1929), the great depression
hit. Times were tough and the Gregory family had to pull together to
overcome tremendous hardship. Those early days instilled a toughness and
work ethic that Don would carry with him throughout his life.
Due to extreme financial difficulty, he had to leave East Providence
High School in 1940, despite having received A's and B's throughout his
school years. He went to work for a company called International Braid
located in Providence, R.I. The Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor on
December 7th, 1941 and Don Gregory was ready to go to war.
He and school buddy Jed Schifino did not wait for draft notices, they
joined the U.S. Army soon after turning 18 years of age. The two
friends were together for boot camp, but were quickly assigned to
different units as World War II quickly escalated. Dad's rank in the
Army was Technician Fifth Grade with the 114th Signal Radar Int Company.
That Company was under General Omar Bradley.
My father, reflecting back on the war, once told me, "War is a terrible
thing, but the camaraderie and friendship that you establish can never
be equaled anyplace else." Dad hated war, but loved to be a soldier!
For him, fighting for his country was an honor and a privilege, and
something that he seldom talked about in his later years. I had to
badger him with questions until he was tired of my inquiries and then
I could get him to discuss his experiences; at least for a short time.
I guess seeing horrific death and destruction up close can cause one
to fall into silent reflection, knowing that words could never do it
justice.
Donald F. Gregory's Company was all over Western Europe from 1942-1944.
Places like Bournemouth, England; Paris, France; Belgium; Luxemburg;
and eventually into Germany. Dad's Company was part of the Battle of
the Bulge. I have photographs that he took of dead American soldiers
that were found at the Massacre at Malmedy. Out of respect for these
brave soldiers and their families, I have not published them.
One of my father's favorite stories involved one of the late, great
big band leaders. Along with millions of other servicemen, Dad was a
huge fan of the Glenn Miller Orchestra. While Dad's Company was in
Paris, he heard that Glenn Miller was coming to play at the Seventh
Army Recreational Hotel. They were ready and waiting for Glenn to
appear, when they heard the tragic news. Glenn Miller's plane had
vanished and Captain Miller was presumed lost.
Dad's Army career came to end on October 30th, 1945, when he was
honorably discharged from the United States Army. Donald F. Gregory
had earned several medals and awards. These were medals that he
never talked about or even kept; the memories of the war were enough
for him. I had to contact the Army 51 years later to receive his
reissued medals.
Dad returned home to Riverside, R.I. late 1945 and began working for
a company called Franklin Process. He worked there for five years.
Then trouble started brewing in the Pacific. Although he had already
served his country, Don knew that his country needed him again. He
joined the U.S. Navy on October 2, 1950. He had been missing the
camaraderie that I wrote about earlier.
Radioman Third Class Gregory served aboard two ships during the Korean
War. The first was the USS Minos (ARL-44) and the second was the
USS Olmsted (APA-188). He enjoyed the Navy very much. He used to tell
me that he liked the Army, but "in the Navy you always know where you
are going to sleep and what you will be eating".
He was honorably discharged from the U.S. Navy on July 26th, 1954. After
listening to him talk about the Navy and all his buddies, I was always
surprised that he never stayed in the service. Dad received two medals
from the U.S. Navy.
Don returned home from his second war in the summer of 1954 and began
working as a Special Police Officer for the East Providence Police
Department. Dad's other two brothers, Howarth and Leonard, were already
on the force full-time. He would work as a police officer up until the
mid-1960s.
In 1960, he began dating his future wife, Joan Carlson. They dated
for several months and then on February 6th, 1961 they were married.
Leonard Carlson, brother of the bride, was the best-man and Shirley
Lower, sister of the groom, was the maid of honor. A quiet house
wedding at 65 East Street in Riverside was followed by a honeymoon
trip to New York City.
Dad was hired by the U.S. Postal Service in March of 1961. This was a job
that he would stay in for 23 years, serving in many capacities at the
"Turnkey Station" in Providence, RI. He was a dependable and hard working
employee who, once again, was working for the citizens of this country.
1961 was a big year for Mr. Gregory: marriage, a new job, and late
in the year he became a father of a 9 pound 12 ounce baby boy (me).
I could list adjectives for a century and never exhaust the list of
superlatives that describe the most wonderful father I could have ever
been blessed with, but I won't. I will simply state that he gave me love,
courage, and compassion to the infinite degree.
Dad had seen the world on both sides of two oceans. So, once he was
married and had a child, he settled into a quiet and loving family
lifestyle. He would go to work each day and at night would be content
to play cards or watch one of his favorite war movies.
His love for camaraderie was once again satisfied later in life, by his
wonderful relationship with his father-in-law, Al Carlson. They shared
a friendship that was somewhere between father-son and brothers. They
spent many nights together playing cards at the Corona Club in Riverside
and going to clam bakes at Francis Farms in Rehoboth MA. Grandpa Carlson
once told me that I "was blessed to have the best set of parents in the
world".
In 1984, Donald F. Gregory retired from the U.S. Postal Service. He was
60 years old. He missed all of his pals from "Turnkey", but quickly
settled into "the groove" of retirement. He would spend mornings at the
"Coaches Corner" coffee shop with all the regulars, then go home and
watch some more old war movies. Mom even got him to play bingo!
On March 29, 1988, the Lord Jesus Christ took my father to a better place.
Dad had died from bladder cancer. The last couple of days he was in a
comatose-like state. About one hour before he expired, with the help of
God, he summoned enough strength to say "I love you" while Mom and I were
standing over his bed. It was the most spiritual moment of my life!
His spirit never waned; From Germany, to Korea, to a hospital bed in
Providence, RI, Donald F. Gregory was a man of honor; a man of courage;
a man of love.
Please feel free to E-Mail me with any comments.
Thank you for taking the time to read my Dad's life story.
Dad's favorite singer was Nat King Cole, so that's why you've been
listening to "Unforgettable".
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Last Updated: 2-5-02
Originally Built: 1-19-98
E-Mail: Don Gregorydgregory31@cox.net