Month: May 2015

Dogs and cats – and pigeons, horses, oxen and even elephants – have served with Army and Navy service persons for much of history. These brave animals have not only provided essential services and moral support for soldiers and sailors under wartime conditions far from home, they’ve saved lives and sometimes given their own lives for the humans who cared for them.

The HMS Hermione, a British Royal Navy anti-aircraft cruiser during WWII, acquired a ship’s mascot shortly after it entered the war in 1939: Convoy, a black and white cat who was not only officially listed with the ship’s crew, but assigned a sailor’s kit including a pint-sized hammock. While the Hermione patrolled the Mediterranean, Convoy kept the crews’ spirits uplifted. In 1942, the Hermione was attacked by a German U-205 and struck by a torpedo; 87 crewmen and Convoy went down with the ship.

TBC or That Bloody Cat was found on the River Clyde in 1941 by a crewman aboard the HM SGB-7, a Scottish steam gunboat as a black and white kitten almost frozen to death. However, with care TBC soon recovered and proved himself a warrior, running to the bridge snarling when the Action Alarm sounded. TBC also enjoyed his ration of rum. When the ship was docked, he typically used the torpedo tubes to disembark. One day prior to the SGB-7’s sinking in 1942, he slipped, fell into the ocean and drowned.

During the Vietnam War, a German shepherd named Kaiser was assigned to D Company, First Marines, 3rd Marine Division as a scout dog. Together, he and his handler did combat patrols and military operations. In 1966, they were ambushed by the Viet Cong. Kaiser was shot and didn’t survive his wounds. He was the first dog killed during the Vietnam conflict.

Greeting Card Universe joins you in celebrating all our wartime heroes – four legged or two legged – with our unique Memorial Day cards. Order on-line, add your personal message and we’ll send your cards through the mail the next business day. Or order on-line and get free in-store pick-up, usually in 1 hour, at most Target and Bartell Drug Stores.

What Are Happy Shoppers Saying About Greeting Card Universe?
“Just finished addressing the personalized Graduation cards I ordered from Greeting Card Universe, one of my many orders. The cards were perfect and I know the graduates are going to love them. I have ordered cards several times and have really been very well satisfied with the cards. Excellent choices, awesome quality and speedy delivery. Will order again, and again and again!”– Kay, May 21, 2015

Memorial Day in the United States is celebrated on the last Monday in May, a day set aside for honoring those who have served their country in the Armed Forces, the heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice. Here are three heroes who may be unknown to you, but should be remembered.

Private Roger W. Young: As a young man, he joined a company of the Ohio National Guard in 1938. His company was activated in 1940 and became part of the 37th Infantry Division which was assigned to the South Pacific. Young has a hearing problem and at his request, was demoted in rank from Sergeant to Private. On July 31, 1943, Young saved his squad in the Solomon Islands when the men were pinned down by Japanese machine guns. Risking his life, he got close enough to the shooters to throw hand grenades despite being wounded by bullets. He died, but his squad suffered no further casualties.He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his brave sacrifice.

James Henry Mills: A farm boy who’d tried to volunteer for service but been turned down because of his frail physique, Mills was eventually allowed to sign up in 1944 at age 21. The first time he saw combat, he earned a Medal of Honor by single-handedly saving his entire platoon. Assigned point ahead of the other men, Mills first encountered a German machine gunner. While under fire, he captured both the gunner and his assistant, then went on to capture another German planning to ambush the American soldiers with a grenade. Next, Mills – still alone – came under fire from six Germans. He charged them with his rifle, causing them toe surrender. Two more machine gunners were shot, another captured. He then volunteered to provide cover fire for the rest of the platoon. By the end of the action, Mills had killed 4 enemy, taken 9 more prisoner, and caused the capture of a further 24. He died in 1973, the victim of a robbery-homicide.

John Belton White: A hero of World War I, White sustained an astonishing 63 battle wounds caused by machine guns, rifles, bayonets and shrapnel. In 1917, White joined the American Expeditionary Force and was sent to France where he fought in numerous battles including The Somme, earning the Distinguished Service Cross (awarded by General Pershing on the battlefield) and the Croix de Guerre in addition to being officially cited three times in official dispatches for his heroism. His many injuries caused him to to be sent home to the US in 1918, where he served as a motorcycle courier in New Jersey between Camp Merritt and Hoboken. An accident left him with severe injuries and he died 6 hours later.

Greeting Card Universe honors all the soldiers, sailors, airmen and others who have given their lives in service to the US Armed Forces by offering unique Memorial Day cards. Just order on-line and we’ll put your cards in the mail the next business day. Or get free in-store pick-up – usually in 1 hour – at most Target and Bartell Drug Stores.

What Are Happy Shoppers Saying About Greeting Card Universe?
“This is the BEST site for buying cards. They are unique, you can modify them to your liking, and they will even mail them for you. I just sent out 3 without having to run to the card store, standing there and not really liking the choices. I got 3 fantastic cards, and changed them around in print, color, layout to make them personal. I will never shop anywhere else!!” – Sheryl – May 13, 2015