Name change .. . 13 to 213
I did it. I changed the name of my Teachers Pay Teachers store from Country Station 13 to Country Station 213. For my first year of teaching, thirteen was the number of my classroom. Thirteen seems to have a bit of bad luck associated with it and 213, the number of my fathers battalioin had no fatalities from combat.
My father served overseas in the 213th Battalion of the National Guard in the Korean War. Although the battalion fought in combat, no one in the unit died. In remembrance of my father and his colleagues who served, I am changing from13 to 213. Documentaries have been made about his battalion, the 213th Battalion of the National Guard that served overseas in Korea.
I watched a video about the event and I am not sure how accurate it is as the references are not given. I have also heard variations, which means there must be some truth from different perpsectives. However, I really like the words of my cousin Jack at my father's funeral. Jack was a few years younger than my father, by about six years. Jack served in the same battalion. Jack said he knew the men in the 213th Battalion who had served overseas, and he said not all of them were that good or religious. But they were all spared. He said he talked to some of the Korean POWs and they said, "We shoot but you no fall..." (I have heard the same said of George Washington by the Indians who fought him in battle. I don't have a reference.)
My father was not a member of the Church or Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints at the time, but was baptized in 1952 after he honorably discharged from the service. His father had left the church and refused to let his children join any church until they were of age. I believe the sincere prayers of everyone is heard, regardless of religion. Ghandi had the people in his country fast four days straight for the British to leave, and they did.
My cousin Jack said Commander Frank Dalley had made a promise to God to pray for 15 minutes a day for all of his men to be saved. They all were. There may have been many prayers by others, for which I am grateful. Not all prayers are answered the same and I don't know why. . . God does. (Garth Brooks, Unanswered Prayers)Honor and respect to our veterans who have served and sacrificed in ways most of us will never know.
