February Eleventh

Happy Birthday Fred

I miss you.

You're in my thoughts

and in my heart,

as always!

first snow . . .

On Saturday, December 5th the first sign of winter has finally arrived. We have had about six inches of snow falling in Frederick area. It was so beautiful to watch the tiny flakes of snow falling down and slowly its cover the entire ground with a big white blanket. A peaceful time and a lonely time for me. I still remember just like yesterday... that you would make a pot of bean soup to warm our tummy or a big breakfast with grits and bacon or sausages whatever we have in the fridge that weekend. Oh, how I miss you. I miss you so much that my heart aches and my bones hurt. Why did you have to go so soon? It has been 16 lonely and difficult years without you . . . How do I love Thee? Let me count the ways...

Another year

Another long and hard year has gone by without you and today is your birthday. I miss you and thinking about you every day... I wish you were here to celebrate your special day with me, our children and grandchildren. Life is so lonely and hard without you Fred, I love you, miss you and hope you have A Happy Birthday wherever your spirit might be...

Did you know that on this day (February 11) in history these things were happened:
1818: Chile proclaims independence
1943: General Eisenhower selected to command the allied armies in Europe

and you're sharing your birthday with some of these well-known celebrities:
Thomas Alva Edison was born in Milan (1847)
Sarah Palin, governor of Alaska
Jennifer Aniston, Sheryl Crow, Burt Reynolds and Eva Gabor

Fifteen anniversary

The autumn's chill and briskly air outside brings me back to that horrific memory of my husband untimely death ... I miss him so much that my heart still aches. Fred, you're in my mind and my thoughts 7/24 since that darkest date of my life as I stood there held your hand and praying that God wouldn't take you away... time passes by so fast but as for me it seems like yesterday as I was sitting by your bed next to you in the hospital room in Chicago. We're talking about our future, our work, our children, and your new tavern in Spring Valley. I remember you're so excited about that bar ever since you begun to write its business plan and working toward your MBA degree at the same time. You graduated that September and didn't get a chance to attend your graduation ceremony, so on your behalf I went to Frostburg University that fall and received your diploma for you... and I remember you said that you couldn't wait to go back there (tavern) to see how well its doing. If ONLY I've known of your condition then I'd have fought back with you and hospital staffs to keep you in the hospital few more days until your poor heart is well again but I didn't know, I couldn't tell... and that same night in a blink of an eye you were gone... forever. Leaving me and the kids all alone. I still am blaming myself for not thinking clearly during those crisis moments. Life is so hard without you. You're in my heart and I love you still...

If tears could built a stairway,
and memories were a lane,
I would walk right up to heaven
to bring you home again.
No farewell words were spoken,
no time to say goodbye,
you were gone before I knew it,
and only God knows why.
My heart still aches in sadness and
sacret tears still flow,
what it meant to love you,
no one will ever know.

Cubs won!

Fred would be out of his mind, he would have gone stir crazy if he was here... as you all know he was a Die-Hard Cubs Fan all of his 58 and some years. On Sunday, September 14, 2008, Chicago Cubs played against the Houston Astros at the Miller Park in Milwaukee...because of the effect of Hurricane Ike in Houston, pitcher Carlo Zambrano threw a no-hitter and the Cubs won 5-0. The first no-hitter for the Cubs in 36 years. Cubs defeated the Astros 6-1 again on Monday night game...

Even his little granddaughter Brenna was cheering for the Cubs... actually she was just posing... sitting on Cubs'chair and wearing Cubs' hat.

Memorial Day 2008

This year I went with Jen, Jason, Brea and their new baby boy to Arlington National Cemetery to visit Fred. It's first time for Brea and baby Justin to come visit their grandfather's grave although Fred was gone long before the children borned.

Happy Birthday Fred!!!

My dearest Fred, my love, I wish you were still here with me today. I would bake you a biggest chocolate cake ever to celebrate your birthday and knowing that our children and grandchildren would love to celebrate your seventy-third birthday with you and watch you blow out all of the candles on the cake, however...

On a chill day in the autumn of September evening of more than 14 years ago, God decided to take you home without a word of good-bye... I will never forget that day and a saddest look in your eyes… I knew… but you are forever in my heart, in my thoughts each and every second of the day. With silence around me and only my footsteps for company, my thoughts are with you. As the cold winter breeze caresses my face, my thoughts are with you. As tears swell up in my eyes, my thoughts are with you. With love in my heart, I think of you. Happy Birthday Sweetheart, I love you...

Fact sheet

Fred is congratulated by Colonel James Reidy as he receives the warrant officer fact sheet on December 1970 at HQ-MACV in Vietnam.

Vacation

Here we're in Chicago visiting Bob in the winter of 1973. Jennifer was about 2 months old, and the Duke was one year old.

Bureau of Naval Personnel

In December 1973, we're packing up and moving to Alexandria, Virginia where Fred's new assignment located, the Navy Annex in Pentagon. He reported for duty in the Bureau of Naval Personnel (BUPERS) as an assignment officer for submarine/nuclear power limited duty officers and warrant officers. He traveled extensively during this time for career couseling and submarine detailing matters for Navy personnel.

Here are few places that he has gone to during his assignment as a detailing/assignment officer:

NAVSUBSCOL, Groton, CT.
COMSUBGRU SIX, Charleston, SC
Nimitz CVAN-68, South Carolina DLGN-37, Newport News, VA
COMSUBRON SIXTEEN, La Maddalena, Sardinia, Spain
USS SPERRY (AS-12)
USS HOLLAND (AS-32)
USS PROTEUS (AS-19)
COMSUBPAC, Honolulu, Hawaii
COMSUBGRU TWO, New London, CONN
NAVSHIPYD PUGET SOUND, Bremerton, WA

The Honorary Hydronaut

During his assignment at COMSUBDEVGRU ONE, he took on another challenging duty as a diver during the period of June 1971 through July 1972...

"This is the certify that LTJG Fred Crickman, USN is hereby designated Honorary Hydronaut. He is to be accorded all honors, rights and privileges that befit those daring souls that venture into the depths of the realm of Neptunus Rex. Be it known that this exalted status was earned on 26 FEB 1973 by descending 322 feet into Davy Jones' locker in the U.S. Navy Deep Submergence Vessel TURTLE."

He was awarded a Meritorious Unit Commendation for Deep Dive System Mark 2 MOD O and ELK RIVER (IX 501).

He also received a CITATION from Vice Admiral W. T. Rapp, Commander THIRD Fleet:

"For his outstanding perfomance of duty as Personnel Officer on the staff of Commander Submarine Development Group ONE from 5 August 1971 to 26 November 1973. Lieutenant (junior grade) Crickman's inspired leadership, professionalism, and devotion to duty reflected great credit upon himself and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service."

Old photographs

I am pausing for a moment from Fred's biography to posing some of photographs from my album during his short-lived live...

Enjoyed boating with his son (Mike is behind) in Spring Valley, IL. This was taken in summer of 1991.

Hugging his oldest son, Ricky.
Sitting in a tarven, enjoying a cold beer,
and planning to purchase that tarven after he retired...

Promotion

During this tour at Commander Submarine Development Group One (1971-1973) Fred was appointed from Chief Warrant Officer (W-2) to Chief Warrant Officer (W-3) on June 14, 1972.



And on 24 October 1972, Fred was appointed Lieutenant Junior Grade (LTJG), Limited Duty Officer (LDO) (Admin), and soon after he was temporary appointed to Lieutenant.

He was officially promoted to Lieutenant (0-3) on 1 May 1975.

It's a GIRL!

Not too long after we moved into our new home at Adriatic Place, I was pregnant with my second child. Fred was still working at COMSUBDEVGRU ONE at Point Loma. Elaine and Don are living next door (you can see their car parks next door in the picture). We bought our first new BUG prior to Steven's birth.

And then on an early fine day of January 1973 Jennifer Marie arrived at Script Hospital in Torrey Pine, San Diego. Fred was so thrilled happy to finally having a little girl as a daughter after five consecutive boys. Although he adores and very prouds all of his sons. That morning after he asked his mom to watch Steven and brought me two dozens of powder pink baby roses when he came to see me at the hospital. I can still see that big happy smile on his face like it just happened yesterday.

Jennifer (three months old) and Steven (one year old)

Reporting to COMSUBDEVGRU ONE

We stayed at John and Meridith Sutphen's home in Chula Vista for few weeks before settled in an appartment at Ward Road in late summer of 1971. John was an admin guy who replaced Fred on his first tour in Vietnam. We became good friend ever since.

Fred reported to his new assignment at Command Submarine Development Group (COMSUBDEVGRU) One Staff at Point Loma, San Diego as Personnel Officer (1971-1973). He was still a Chief Warrant Officer (WO2) at that time.

During this time, Fred's mother, Elaine and her husband Donald Rudat were planning to relocate from Illinois to California. They've decided San Diego was the best place for their Stanley Products home business. So they came out and stay with us just a few weeks before my due day.

In the meantime, we were all looking around for a house to buy. We finally found a new housing development in Mira Mesa area... In the midst of shopping and buying a house, my baby boy was born at the Naval Balboa Hospital in early autumn that year. Steven, the Duke (Fred gave him that nick name), he was such a bundle of joy to us. We bought our first brand new three-bedroom home, one car garage for only $25,500.00 (could you believe the price of housing at that time!!!) at Adriatic Place in Mira Mesa, San Diego. Elaine and Don also bought one with a two bedrooms right next to us. We all stayed at the apartment and awaiting for our new home to be built...

Reminiscing...

Picture above was taken by Gerry (Fred's sister) during her visit with us in summer of 1975 (I think). We were at his mom's house which was right next door to our house in San Diego at Adriatic Place. Fred was listening to his beloved father's voice on an old tape that Gerry brought it along with her on the trip.

"Though nothing can bring back the hour
Of splendour in the grass, of glory in the flower;
We will grieve not, rather find
Strength in what remains behind..."

—William Wordworth

Gerry and our children, Steven and Jennifer are playing in the water at La Jolla Beach.

Leaving Vietnam

In late June 1971, Fred has finished his second assignment at MACV in Vietnam.

During this second tour, Fred was awarded a Bronze Star Medal with combat "V", Joint Service Commendation Medal, and a Combat Action Ribbon.

We're preparing for long trip to America. I was about four months pregnant with our first child. I was very sad and happy at the same time with mixed feeling. Sad because I have to leave my entire family members behind for the first time in my life, and don't know when I'll be seeing them again. And happy because I was with Fred, my husband and my only best friend. We're on our way to a bright and unknown adventure ahead of us.

The 747 jet was full of GIs returning to States after their one-year tour of duty. I think I was the only pregnant female on that plane. Its stopped to refueling at Guam, Hawaii, and finally San Francisco. At left, I took that picture of Fred at Honolulu airport right after we landed. After we've gotten the baggages, then we rented a car and began driving to San Diego.

We drove through the Golden Gate Bridge. I saw it for the first time... so cool and exciting!!! We also stopped at Salinas Valley (often call the salad bowl of the nation, Fred said) for dinner that night. Everything are so new, different than what I've pictured in my head before coming to States... and seem so strange to me, and of course I am already homesick.

Arrived in San Diego, we stayed at the Navy lodge for few days before moving into an apartment at Ward Road. We brought some new furnitures and things to setup our first nest...

Our wedding...

We got married on Saturday, May thirtieth. A simple ceremony and vows exchange in front of my parents was short and sweet.





The reception took place at a Chinese restaurant in Cho Lon Province. We had a blast... celebrating with family and friends. We're back to work as husband and wife in the following Monday with a big hangover. No honeymoon... can you imagine that?? But we're very happy, full of love, and contend with our life. Here are few wedding photos from my old album ...

Love is patient and kind; love is not jealous or boastful; it is not arrogant or rude (I Corinthians) —Bible

On the day of our wedding Fred with his best men Captain Meyers (L) and Tom Brozowsky (R) carried traditional Vietnamese dowdry trays of beetle nuts and leaves, fruits and whiskies) to his bride's home for ceremony. The trays are covered with satin red cloth. Picture below was Fred and my older brother Vinh Phu who died shortly after our first child (Steven) was born.


Our custom is that the groom must buy jewelries (ring and earings) for his bride and he has to present the dowdry in front of her parents before the ceremony.











At left - Fred putting a ring on my finger while my mom putting earing on me with the help of my aunt. Dad is observing at right.














Walking out to the car belongs to Tom Browzowki which he decorated with flowers for us and heading to the reception...


Here are some pics at the reception...

Above is Fred, my Mom, me and my Dad

"One of the oldest human needs is to have someone to wonder
where you are when you don't come home at night."
—Margaret Mead



Here we're going around each table to greet family, friends and receive well wishes and toast... lot of toasts.

Our wedding cake... though its small, sweet, and oh so... very romantic.

"We all mold one another's dreams.
We all hold each other's fragile hopes in our hands.
We all touch other's hearts."
—Unknown

Above left is our boss, Colonel Anderson is giving us best wishes. Fred is watching me gulping down a shot of toast.

More well-wishes and lots of toasts.



Pouring a beer for my husband, and sitting down with friend.

With my sisters, cousin, niece (PhuongDung), and my sister-in-law.
Picture at is with PhuongAnh, my younger sister.

In memoriam

Today, September 18, 2007 marks a-14 years anniversary of Fred's passing. He was my beloved husband and my one and only best friend. He was a wonderful father of our two children Steve and Jennifer, and his four sons: Rick, Jeff, Dan, and Mike of his first marriage. He was a great brother of Bob and Geraldine.

He was loved by everyone who knew him. He brought many happy time and fondest memories to me and our children. He was full of life, energetic, intelligence, thoughtful, kind, and had a wonderful sense of humor.

Below are some pictures of him from my photo album. I hope that they will bring a smile to you and warmth to your heart as they do for me.

Our vacation (pic above) in Hawaii after he retired from Navy in June 1977.

At left, Fred puts up the flag in front of our home. Fred graduated (BS degree) from Univ. of Maryland. He also received an MBA degree from Univ. of Frostburg two months prior to his death.

With Steve and Jennifer in Falls Church, VA.

Above left. With Steve, Mike and Rick. With his four sons in Dec 1968.