1184 Kenneth Preston Howell US Navy USS Boise My Dad Kenneth Preston Howell Jr. served on the USS Bosie 1941-46. I grew us listening to him tell stories of the war and especially the Battle of Cape Esperence. My Dad just passed away in March 2004 and we spent time going through all his memorabilia from the war and the Bosie. Including shrapnel from the Battle of Cape Esperence. I am so proud of my Dad and what he did for our country by serving on the Bosie. I hope that I can keep these memories alive in my children now that Dad is gone. He was a Boatsan Mate 1st class and my son loves blowing on his boatsan pipe or whistle. Dad would always take it out and play the tune for us and tell about when General Macarther was on the ship for his tour. He loved attending the Bosie reunions and was sad when as the years went by and more shipmates passed on. Now I know he is having a great reunion with them in heaven!! His love for the sea and his country were memories my Dad gave us by sharing with us stories of those war time years. Not all of his memories were great for he often got quiet and sad when he talked in reverence about sewing up the bags of the sailors that were killed in preparing them for burial at sea. I will miss Dad and his stories of the sea and the Bosie... but hopefully we can keep these memories alive so people won't forget what America's "Greatest Generation" did for all of us. God Bless America!!
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