Death Is Lying in Wait at The Door of an Old Time Hog Fan..........

[LSUFan]

His name is Al Dennis, a lifelong resident of Bryant, Arkansas, great grandfather to my boys, and is at the age of 92.

A little history on him;

He grew up during the Great Depression, where he recalls eating rats and possums many times at the dinner table with his family.
After finishing High School, he joined the military to help support his family and fight the Germans to make our world a safer place. He did three tours in Germany in WWII. Fighting so long that sometimes he had to defecate and urinate in his pants.

He then went on to do three tours in the Korean War, where sometimes he went for weeks without boots in the cold of winter.

He retired from the military, and then went to work for the phone company as a lineman in Little Rock, where he subsequently retired.

He married a woman with an illegitimate child, took the child in as his own, and fathered another girl with this woman, whom he is still married to this day.

He worked from sun up till sun down, building their house brick by brick, while holding down a fulltime job with the phone company.

He taught many people, many things, especially my boys.

He would never cuss around a lady, but could cuss with the best of us.

He taught my boys to love crappie fishing, quail hunting with his dogs, camping on the Buffalo, and to cheer for the Hogs when I wasn't around, lol.

He is what epitomizes Arkansas. He's great, not good people.

He cheered his Hogs on through the good times and bad times, in his mind was.......Razorback History; the 64 Championship, the Frank Broyles Days, Nolan, Lou Holtz, 1994 Tournament,  Ken Hatfield days, Bailey Stadium, and the Ice Bowl. He grew up listening to games on the radio, and still loved to do that, even if a game was televised.

They move him into Hospice in the morning.

All I ask is this, if you believe in prayer, pray for the comfort of my boys, and for him.

One day very soon, Hog Nation and my boys will lose a Hero, and a 90+ year Hog Fan.

God's Speed dear sir, you have done well.

[usf15cc]

Your family is in my prayers....

[lechon]

Very sad that the greatest generation will be gone soon, people today will never understand the sacrifices that so many
made that still shape the world we live in.

[TPM]

Buried my 94 year old Daddy yesterday.  You and your family are definitely in my prayers.

[jb11]

I go to church with bro.Al. I have known him for a long time. He is a great man.

[MuskogeeHogFan]

May God bless and be with you and and all of your family.

[uconnhog]

Al is what is USA is all about. Prayers from Lonoke

[ImHogginIt]

His name is Al Dennis, a lifelong resident of Bryant, Arkansas, great grandfather to my boys, and is at the age of 92.

A little history on him;

He grew up during the Great Depression, where he recalls eating rats and possums many times at the dinner table with his family.
After finishing High School, he joined the military to help support his family and fight the Germans to make our world a safer place. He did three tours in Germany in WWII. Fighting so long that sometimes he had to defecate and urinate in his pants.

He then went on to do three tours in the Korean War, where sometimes he went for weeks without boots in the cold of winter.

He retired from the military, and then went to work for the phone company as a lineman in Little Rock, where he subsequently retired.

He married a woman with an illegitimate child, took the child in as his own, and fathered another girl with this woman, whom he is still married to this day.

He worked from sun up till sun down, building their house brick by brick, while holding down a fulltime job with the phone company.

He taught many people, many things, especially my boys.

He would never cuss around a lady, but could cuss with the best of us.

He taught my boys to love crappie fishing, quail hunting with his dogs, camping on the Buffalo, and to cheer for the Hogs when I wasn't around, lol.

He is what epitomizes Arkansas. He's great, not good people.

He cheered his Hogs on through the good times and bad times, in his mind was.......Razorback History; the 64 Championship, the Frank Broyles Days, Nolan, Lou Holtz, 1994 Tournament,  Ken Hatfield days, Bailey Stadium, and the Ice Bowl. He grew up listening to games on the radio, and still loved to do that, even if a game was televised.

They move him into Hospice in the morning.

All I ask is this, if you believe in prayer, pray for the comfort of my boys, and for him.

One day very soon, Hog Nation and my boys will lose a Hero, and a 90+ year Hog Fan.

God's Speed dear sir, you have done well.

:razorback:

[Steef]

May God bless and be with you and and all of your family.

[grayhawg]

Prayers for all the family.

[HogWall Jackson]

May God Bless Mr. Dennis as he waits on his arrival. It is my prayer that God provide peace and comfort for his entire family and everyone who knew him. I feel that those of us who didn't know Mr. Dennis really missed something very special indeed.

[zane]

Sounds like a true gentleman!

Thoughts and prayers to those around him

[jethro]

Hats off.
Head bowed.

[Hawgey-Davidson]

Prayers sent. Hope you and yours find great comfort in knowing that you have been blessed with a great man. God Bless.

[DEVIL DOG HOG]

Prayers being sent.

[Hooter]

Prayers

[hoglady]

Your family will be in my prayers.
It sounds like the world is losing another fine man from the greatest generation.
It's wonderful that your boys will truly be able to carry a part of him with them through their lives.

[gmarv]

prayers sent.may god watch over you all at this time and evermore.

[The_Bionic_Pig]

Very sad that the greatest generation will be gone soon, people today will never understand the sacrifices that so many
made that still shape the world we live in.

Believe me every generation that serves it's drilled into our heads as examples of what true American Patriotism is.  (Not the DI but the CO in boot camp) 3800 Chosin Ave. San Diego!!

Silent Marine's  Prayer to my father on his behalf...

[Sir Oinksalot]

I have fond memories of Bryant in the early '70s, mmmm crappie, wow, what a life, remarkable man...

[OLDHOG]

Honor him by living like him. My prayers are with you and your family.

[aar0n]

Reminds me very very much of my grandfathers, who were both the greatest men I've ever known and left a bigger impact on me than anybody else in this world will ever do.  I'm all of 28 years old and I'm saddened by the fact that the generation younger than myself will never know these heroes and unselfish men and women of that generation.  Even though I knew mine for 20+ years, it wasn't nearly enough to learn everything I could from them.  Although they're gone, pieces of them live in the legacies they left behind and the people they made such a huge impact on without even realizing it or doing it for the glory. 

Prayers sent for you and your family.  If he's anything like mine, and it definitely sounds as such, he'll be going to a much better place than here. 

[HawgTide]

Honor him by living like him. My prayers are with you and your family.

[rmcchris]

Prayers for him and your family.

[staffhog]

I read your thread before going to church and couldn't get it off my mind.  What a great man and what a privilege you've had to be close to him

You and your boys will carry weight of his example though out your lives.  Good bless

[RedBird5]

God bless him, you, and your family!  My grandfather, who also was in Germany in WWII, passed last year.  What a great generation of men and women.  Again, may God bless your family

[HSVhogfan2]

Prayers for him, you, and your family.

[fieldturf]

God bless the Al Dennis family!!! People like this are true hero's!

[NVRyield]

LSUFan, my condolences to your family...I know exactly what your going through.  I've thought of posting about it myself, however we had a glimmer of hope this past week and held off.  My grandfather (93 yr old retired LTC after 30 years Army, Reserves, AR National Gaurd and UofA Masters Grad is in his final days it appears. 
Today I had the hardest conversation I've ever had with my hero.  I caught him in a good state of mind and I asked him if the 10 days of tough infection and Meds were to much to bear and if he was ready to see my grandmother again and call it a good life or keep fighting.  They are about to move him out of the hospital to a swing bed facilty or nursing home/hospice.  I wanted it to be his choice.  He told me he doesn't have much quit in him and he wanted to keep fighting.  Despite what the Dr's have said and his body failing by the hour, he knows no way to quit. 
This is the greatest generation to me.  And all will be sorely missed.  If you need an ear to talk to, reach out to me, it sounds we're in a similar boat 
God Bless

[vol_in_ar]

LSUFan, my condolences to your family...I know exactly what your going through.  I've thought of posting about it myself, however we had a glimmer of hope this past week and held off.  My grandfather (93 yr old retired LTC after 30 years Army, Reserves, AR National Gaurd and UofA Masters Grad is in his final days it appears. 
Today I had the hardest conversation I've ever had with my hero.  I caught him in a good state of mind and I asked him if the 10 days of tough infection and Meds were to much to bear and if he was ready to see my grandmother again and call it a good life or keep fighting.  They are about to move him out of the hospital to a swing bed facilty or nursing home/hospice.  I wanted it to be his choice.  He told me he doesn't have much quit in him and he wanted to keep fighting.  Despite what the Dr's have said and his body failing by the hour, he knows no way to quit. 
This is the greatest generation to me.  And all will be sorely missed.  If you need an ear to talk to, reach out to me, it sounds we're in a similar boat 
God Bless

wow, that's a tough question to ask
hope he goes peaceful

[panhandlepig]

  You would think the longer you have them the easier it would be to let them go. No, the longer you have them the more you want them to stay forever. Prayers to all.

[Hogfaniam]

Prayers for him and his.

[Piggfoot]

LSUFan you wrote a beautiful tribute to your grandfather-in-law. Those men fought real battles, battles that enable we as sports fans to engage in battles much less significant. I hope the younger generation truly appreciate the job they did. When men like that pass it gives us an opportunity to honor them and reflect on the important things in life. God Bless him and your family. Go Hogs!

[snoblind]

May God bless and be with you and and all of your family.

[Hoggish1]

His name is Al Dennis, a lifelong resident of Bryant, Arkansas, great grandfather to my boys, and is at the age of 92.

A little history on him;

He grew up during the Great Depression, where he recalls eating rats and possums many times at the dinner table with his family.
After finishing High School, he joined the military to help support his family and fight the Germans to make our world a safer place. He did three tours in Germany in WWII. Fighting so long that sometimes he had to defecate and urinate in his pants.

He then went on to do three tours in the Korean War, where sometimes he went for weeks without boots in the cold of winter.

He retired from the military, and then went to work for the phone company as a lineman in Little Rock, where he subsequently retired.

He married a woman with an illegitimate child, took the child in as his own, and fathered another girl with this woman, whom he is still married to this day.

He worked from sun up till sun down, building their house brick by brick, while holding down a fulltime job with the phone company.

He taught many people, many things, especially my boys.

He would never cuss around a lady, but could cuss with the best of us.

He taught my boys to love crappie fishing, quail hunting with his dogs, camping on the Buffalo, and to cheer for the Hogs when I wasn't around, lol.

He is what epitomizes Arkansas. He's great, not good people.

He cheered his Hogs on through the good times and bad times, in his mind was.......Razorback History; the 64 Championship, the Frank Broyles Days, Nolan, Lou Holtz, 1994 Tournament,  Ken Hatfield days, Bailey Stadium, and the Ice Bowl. He grew up listening to games on the radio, and still loved to do that, even if a game was televised.

They move him into Hospice in the morning.

All I ask is this, if you believe in prayer, pray for the comfort of my boys, and for him.

One day very soon, Hog Nation and my boys will lose a Hero, and a 90+ year Hog Fan.

God's Speed dear sir, you have done well.

A great tribute.  You are lucky!

[YIKES]

You and your family are blessed to have him and to know his story. Sounds like he has earned his rest. God bless you and your family.

[menehune]

Prayers on the way. 

[BorderPatrol]

Praying.

We are losing the Greatest Generation way too quickly.

bp

[LSUFan]

Thank You all, y'all are why I hang my hat here, he was moved to Hospice today.........

[LSUFan]

I go to church with bro.Al. I have known him for a long time. He is a great man.

A one of a kind.
When I compare this younger generation to him, I am saddened.

[LL COOL HOG]

LSU. Sorry for your families loss.

[TheRazorback500]

Prayers going up. May God be with ya'll.

:razorback:

[alohawg]

A one of a kind.
When I compare this younger generation to him, I am saddened.

I concur, prayers to you and your family.

[Ugly Uncle]

LSU, you are in my thoughts and prayers.  You have honored him with your words here and telling his story. 

May God continue to bless Bro. Al's family.

[hollywood hog]

Very sad that the greatest generation will be gone soon, people today will never understand the sacrifices that so many
made that still shape the world we live in.

Very true.  I'm 33 and these old fellas used to fill the donut shop of my small town.  Once a year on Veteran's Day they would come to our school to be honored.  90% of us minimum, myself included, didn't pay one bit of attention.  My school had never even brushed up on WW2 at all.  I had heard of Normandy, but didn't have a clue what had happened there.  Schools need to educate the children about the most important event of the entire 20th century.  More fascinating than anything I ever learned about in History class, or any class for that matter.  How in the hell do you not teach WW2 in great detail?  I feel cheated that I was never taught the history while many of these men were still around to be given the respect they deserved.  I respected my elders regardless, but just had no idea what kind of real men these old fellas in the donut shop actually were. 

[Arkamedes]

Prayers for you and to your family. Peace and comfort to them all.

[LAHog124]

I definitely appreciate his service for this great country, sir. Sending a prayer to the big man up stairs.

[Maximus Tusk]

His name is Al Dennis, a lifelong resident of Bryant, Arkansas, great grandfather to my boys, and is at the age of 92.

A little history on him;

He grew up during the Great Depression, where he recalls eating rats and possums many times at the dinner table with his family.
After finishing High School, he joined the military to help support his family and fight the Germans to make our world a safer place. He did three tours in Germany in WWII. Fighting so long that sometimes he had to defecate and urinate in his pants.

He then went on to do three tours in the Korean War, where sometimes he went for weeks without boots in the cold of winter.

He retired from the military, and then went to work for the phone company as a lineman in Little Rock, where he subsequently retired.

He married a woman with an illegitimate child, took the child in as his own, and fathered another girl with this woman, whom he is still married to this day.

He worked from sun up till sun down, building their house brick by brick, while holding down a fulltime job with the phone company.

He taught many people, many things, especially my boys.

He would never cuss around a lady, but could cuss with the best of us.

He taught my boys to love crappie fishing, quail hunting with his dogs, camping on the Buffalo, and to cheer for the Hogs when I wasn't around, lol.

He is what epitomizes Arkansas. He's great, not good people.

He cheered his Hogs on through the good times and bad times, in his mind was.......Razorback History; the 64 Championship, the Frank Broyles Days, Nolan, Lou Holtz, 1994 Tournament,  Ken Hatfield days, Bailey Stadium, and the Ice Bowl. He grew up listening to games on the radio, and still loved to do that, even if a game was televised.

They move him into Hospice in the morning.

All I ask is this, if you believe in prayer, pray for the comfort of my boys, and for him.

One day very soon, Hog Nation and my boys will lose a Hero, and a 90+ year Hog Fan.

God's Speed dear sir, you have done well.

Your grandfather's impact and influence is evidenced in your post. My prayers are with you and your family. Mr. Al, WPS!

[thirrdegreetusker]

We are losing the Greatest Generation way too quickly.

1000 a day, I read somewhere

[thirrdegreetusker]

After finishing High School, he joined the military to help support his family and fight the Germans to make our world a safer place. He did three tours in Germany in WWII. Fighting so long that sometimes he had to defecate and urinate in his pants.

He then went on to do three tours in the Korean War, where sometimes he went for weeks without boots in the cold of winter.

I am going to offer a small correction here. But only to exalt, not to diminish.

From the Vietnam era through the present, combat military service has been defined by "tours". But I can say, without much fear of error, that your grandpa did not do "three tours" in Germany or Korea; he did one each. One BIG tour each.

Reason is, they did not get to come home, or even leave the combat zone. For 99%, they were in "for the duration". The unit might get rotated off the front line for "R&R", but it was only a matter of miles, not time zones; they were never far from the fighting.

I am pretty sure of this because I was born on an air base. My dad did three separate overseas tours. For the first two, the tour duration was "until the job is done". Dad went to the South Pacific in WW2, and into Europe for the Berlin Airlift. He stayed at each until the job was done. So did 99% of everyone else. His third overseas tour was peacetime, and it lasted one year.

In WW2, once they shipped out after training, it was customary for them to NOT return until the war was over. For those who paid the ultimate price, their bodies usually did not come home. Teddy Roosevelt has two sons still buried in France.

Peace be to you and your family.