My Friend's Eulogy For His Father
Eulogy for Sgt. Harold Horning of the Texas National Guard, veteran of WWII. The author is his son David, a classmate of mine and friend for over 50 years. I have the privilege of owning the 1911 Colt that Sgt. Horning brought back from WWII.
I thought some of you might enjoy what David wrote about his Dad.
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Planting pine trees in his back yard and accidentally mowing one down
Getting more paint on himself than whatever he was painting
Visiting neighboring campsites at the crack of dawn with his coffeepot and “Coffeeman” towel cape
Scaring the bejeezus out of kids listening to ghost stories around a campfire
Gutting a catfish to the amazement of city-slicker kids at Lake Texoma
The Yosemite Sam mudflaps on the back of his stepside pickup
The steering wheel knob on that truck, with a picture of Mom in it
Checking the rain gauge whether it rained or not
He saw the advent of the automobile.
He saw Man develop flight, and then spaceflight to the moon!
He saw the horrors of World War II and what it took for Man to vanquish Evil, if only for a while. During that war he acquitted himself admirably, earning four Bronze Stars and other commendations. His occasional screams during nightmares of the war were the only references made to the horrific aspects of that terror, and when pressed for an accounting he would only relay the comedic adventures the soldiers undertook to relieve the stress. He would nevertheless always tear up whenever he heard “The Star Spangled Banner”.
He saw the beginning of the Nuclear Age, the Digital Age, and many miraculous technologies that are now taken for granted.
He enjoyed the lifelong camaraderie of a few close friends: Buster and Billy Overton, Bob Lee, Johnny Eckert, and A.J. Averitt.
He touched the lives of many, many more.
He was a man of his word, with impeccable integrity, and he was my hero, with or without his “Coffeeman" cape.
He loved to fish and hunt.
He loved whichever beer was on sale.
He had zero fashion sense and selected his wardrobe for its functional aspects.
He loved his family and friends deeply, and told them so on extremely rare occasions.
He told me on April the 6th.
Life often laughed at him, but he laughed right back.
Remember Harold Horning, and laugh at Life.
There are many more Harold stories that can be told. Tell them. Celebrate the life of my Dad, a warrior, a hero, and a man whose dream was to run barefoot across an acre of t i t t i e s.
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May he rest in peace!
Thanks for sharing the eulogy.
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A Great Obituary for a GREAT MAN!
Thank you Nunn for sharing it!
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Had me smiling throughout the read….. and then laughing/choking on my coffee at the end. I guess that’s Mission Accomplished!
A salute to Mr. Harold!
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Beautiful. Thanks for sharing that, @nunn
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That is a great eulogy sounds like Mr. Horning lived a good and full life.
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Very nice, thanks for sharing, sounds like a man I would have been proud to know.
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Superb !
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I currently like the idea of running around barefoot. Don
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Seems a great tribute to the man. Thanks for posting, sir.
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Wow...sounds like a life well lived surrounded by family and friends that loved him too !!!
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Very nice. RIP Sir.
Sorry for your loss Nunn
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Sounds like a real character. This was a splendid memoir of his dad's life and times. And now that I've read it,
I have a new dream.
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