My Dad's last brother died leaving all 7 brothers gone but the local paper wrote up a nice story about our family. We don't have anyone famous but we have served our country. Like most American families they lived quiet lives. My brother retired and I served 6 years. He has a son serving now.
Got one of the brothers name misspelled but it was a nice article just the same.
Published: August 10. 2011 12:01AM
Ed Mathews: Last of Erie's 'Fighting Pettigrews' dies Email
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In big newspaper stories in 1950, they were billed as "Erie's Fightin' Pettigrews" -- seven local brothers who served in the U.S. military all at the same time. When Clarence Pettigrew, the second-youngest and last surviving brother, died Monday at age 80, people of a certain age recalled the brothers' service. Carl Pettigrew, the oldest brother, and Rex, the second oldest, both fought in World War II. They were still serving in the U.S. Army and U.S. Navy, respectively, when Charles joined the Army, Neal joined the Marines, Clarence joined the Navy and Ronald joined the Army during the Korean War. The youngest brother, Thurdwood "Dag" Pettigrew, was 17 -- two years younger than Clarence -- when his National Guard unit was called into service. It meant Mrs. Jesse Pettigrew, the boys' mother, had all seven of her sons serving in the armed forces at the same time. Mrs. Pettigrew was later honored as Erie's mother of the year. Janice Pettigrew Palmer survives her seven brothers. ... The deadliest single incident in the nearly 10-year-old war in Afghanistan -- the downing on Saturday of a CH47 Chinook helicopter -- took the lives of 38 people, including 22 Navy SEALs. That is the elite force of the Navy and the group that killed Osama bin Laden, although none of the SEALs who died in the helicopter attack were involved in the move on bin Laden. The helicopter was shot down by Taliban insurgents, and there is an investigation into where the weapons used in the attack came from. Once again, we are reminded how vital it is to begin getting our troops out of Afghanistan. Russia gave up on its war with Afghanistan because it was losing military personnel daily, and getting nowhere. Back then, we were helping the Afghans fight against Russia. Losing 22 SEALs is a blow because there are not that many members of the elite force. The Navy recruits volunteers to join the SEALs, and they have to go through incredibly rigorous physical and emotional training.
Got one of the brothers name misspelled but it was a nice article just the same.
Published: August 10. 2011 12:01AM
Ed Mathews: Last of Erie's 'Fighting Pettigrews' dies Email
PrintFont Size
Ed
Mathews
Advertisement
In big newspaper stories in 1950, they were billed as "Erie's Fightin' Pettigrews" -- seven local brothers who served in the U.S. military all at the same time. When Clarence Pettigrew, the second-youngest and last surviving brother, died Monday at age 80, people of a certain age recalled the brothers' service. Carl Pettigrew, the oldest brother, and Rex, the second oldest, both fought in World War II. They were still serving in the U.S. Army and U.S. Navy, respectively, when Charles joined the Army, Neal joined the Marines, Clarence joined the Navy and Ronald joined the Army during the Korean War. The youngest brother, Thurdwood "Dag" Pettigrew, was 17 -- two years younger than Clarence -- when his National Guard unit was called into service. It meant Mrs. Jesse Pettigrew, the boys' mother, had all seven of her sons serving in the armed forces at the same time. Mrs. Pettigrew was later honored as Erie's mother of the year. Janice Pettigrew Palmer survives her seven brothers. ... The deadliest single incident in the nearly 10-year-old war in Afghanistan -- the downing on Saturday of a CH47 Chinook helicopter -- took the lives of 38 people, including 22 Navy SEALs. That is the elite force of the Navy and the group that killed Osama bin Laden, although none of the SEALs who died in the helicopter attack were involved in the move on bin Laden. The helicopter was shot down by Taliban insurgents, and there is an investigation into where the weapons used in the attack came from. Once again, we are reminded how vital it is to begin getting our troops out of Afghanistan. Russia gave up on its war with Afghanistan because it was losing military personnel daily, and getting nowhere. Back then, we were helping the Afghans fight against Russia. Losing 22 SEALs is a blow because there are not that many members of the elite force. The Navy recruits volunteers to join the SEALs, and they have to go through incredibly rigorous physical and emotional training.
