[gene messer]

Every year on my fathers birthday .. I try to honor him in some way for the wonderful dad he was ..
And this year If you would allow me .. I would like to show you what my dad loved to do more then anything up untill his death in 1991 ..
I know this is not purely a carved item .. but alot of things on it were carved ..
My father was a wonderful dad who loved boat building and built several 16 ft fishing boats for people .. But his greatest pleasure in life in his later years was building minature replicas of what were known as chinese junk boats ..
My father built everything from memory with no plans and each boat ( there are 5 of them ) was constructed from scratch built from strips of redwood he cut and built the hulls and constructed the entire boat from .. Even though his hands were severly crippled badly from arthritis in later years .. he gradually pieced together each boat in the months he worked on them ..

My father worked from memory of the real chinese junk boats he often saw on the rivers when he was a P.O.W. in World War II in a Japanese camp for 4 years and a survior of the Battan Death March .. He often told me these boats were pieced together with whatever the occupants could put get their hands on and he made some of his a litttle more elaborate then others ..

The boat is 26 inches long and 24 inches high .. It is all done by hand and he used a lathe to construct the oval piece's ..

I myself have never seen a chinese junk boat before and some day .. maybe I will .. But in honor of this day .. I wanted to share this with all you wonderful carvers to see what a brave father and solider I grew up with and I a'm so very proud of and still am ..

Thanks for letting me share
Gene

[JIM QUILICI]

Gene,
Thanks for sharing .......sounds like your dad was quite a guy. and did a good job on them boats.....
Just old Jim

[Doug Ridley]

Great work by a great guy

[Ashbys]

Gene,
Thank you, I am sure your father was very proud to raise such a thoughtful son.

His work was outstanding. There were not many that survived what he did. Thank you for sharing both the history and his work.

Garry

[Ron Davidson]

Gene you should be very proud of your father and I am sure he is looking down on you and proud to have such a son. Thanks for sharing such a wonderful story.
Ron

[wade clark]

Gene,
You're a lucky man to have had such a Dad! Beautiful boats too!
Wade

[jillsy]

Really nice Gene, also a reminder for those of us who are lucky enough to still have our parents, to enjoy our time with them while they're still with us.

[santagibbs]

Gene, the first word that came to my mind was " beautiful." I remember those days when the men were captured by the Japanease and what a trial and hardship they endured.. I think it is so very nice that you are remembering your Dad in such a special way.. Thanks for sharing your memories with us. Charlotte

[Eddy Smiles]

Gene...

Your Dad's work is beautiful and I know exactly how you feel about it, your memories, and your Dad. Although my father wasn't a POW he was wounded on Okinawa and took part in the occupation landing in Japan. My feelings and memories of him are much the same as yours are to your Dad. The sacrifice the our father's made is why they are appropriately called "The Greatest Generation."

[gene messer]

Thank all of you so much for your kind comment's and memories ..

Jillsy: you are right .. those of us who still have our parents .. let us cherish them so much .. They did so much for us ..

Charlotte: I dont remember those times .. because I wasnt even born yet .. but my dad left a diary of his experiences in the camps and the suffering .. I cant even believe how all those men could have lived such things ..

Eddy .. Yes .. They were one of our greatest generations of people .. Our freedom exist today because of their sacrifices .. I just wish the schools would teach this and help our young people realize where their freedom came from .. Unfortunately they dont bother today ..

But my dad was only one man who fought .. there are so many others who fight today and in the past died for us ...

To all veterans .. We just need to say God Bless You and Thank you for our freedom ... Let us never foget your sacrifices ..