Harmonica Pete was an American patriot and a class act.

The girls and I "bumped" into Pete back in 2014 when we were on the same flight over to Belgium for the anniversary of the Bulge. Pete immediately captured all our hearts as serenaded us on his harmonica during the flight and afterwards waiting for our baggage.

Later that week Pete shared with me the excitement he had to be back in Belgium. Not just because it was where he'd served as an Army Medic 70 years before, but because this was where both his parents had served nearly 100 years before during the Great War, the War to End all Wars.

The years that followed I'd get occasional calls from Pete that would always start with him playing a chorus of his favorite music on the harmonica, then in a deep and youthful voice, "This is Harmonica Pete." Just my favorite.

In the poem "If" by Rudyard Kipling, he says to "Fill the unforgiving minute with 60 seconds worth of distance run." If you knew Pete or followed his regular adventures in the news, you would agree with me that Pete filled every minute with 61 seconds.

Thanks for the memories.

Peter B. DuPré

May 12, 1923 - January 18, 2022

US Army || World War Two

Operation Meatball

Honoring Veterans & Connecting Them With the Youth of Today

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A few days ago the little world of Operation Meatball took a personal hit when we lost board member and dear, dear friend Sergeant John Edwards USMC.

John/Gunny/Top… was an impeccable Marine, a brilliant mind, and the most reliable of humans - epitomizing the Marines motto Semper Fidelis. He has been a standard in my mind of what a Marine looks like.

Whenever I think of my first meeting with John, I get the biggest grin. I was sat next to him on the flight from Honolulu to Guam a number of years ago. Before the plane took off, he started the conversation by telling me that if I was a dull companion for the flight he would have to partake of his whiskey flask. 7 1/2 hours later, after talking all sorts of subjects (from the Marine Corps greats to philosophy to how to solve the orphan problem in America), our flight landed and John turned to me and with a wry grin said, “Well look, I didn’t even have to touch my flask.”

From then on he was my hero and we became wonderful friends.

“Liberty - Remember the two USMC mottos 1. Semper Fidelis 2. 240 years of tradition unhampered by progress. We are the only service that has two. ”

— John Edwards

Having John, someone I admired so much, as a board member was just one of the greatest honors for me. I have many little memories I shall treasure… as I know each of his friends share with me, as well as the countless lives he touched. I would’ve loved to have made the trip to Peleliu with him and experience that magic which I heard so much about from others. But I’m pretty sure I’m okay missing out on his specialty: Spaghetti MRE.

Semper Fi Top.