"Born an American, Marine by choice"
Loren's mother, Roxy, passed when he was very young. As a young man, he knew hard times and good times. He lived through the Great Depression, lived for a while with his younger brother, Wayne, and two of his sisters, Earldean and Roxy, in the Lewiston Children's Home since his father, Earl, and oldest brother, Hughbert, and many thousands were doing, going anywhere hoping to find work. "The home wasn't a bad place - warm bed, clothes, picnics, got to go fishing and movies," he would often reminisce. He stayed in the area and worked as a lumberjack for Larrabee saw mill in Forest, Idaho, until July 1940.
His father, Earl, was killed in an oil rig accident a few years later.
Loren joined the Marines March 29, 1941, in Oklahoma. He received an honorable discharge with two Purple Hearts and, remarkably, a good conduct citation, on Dec. 20, 1945. As a sergeant, he served one year, 11 months and 21 days at sea and in the Asia Pacific, where he participated in the battles of Iwo Jima, Saipan and Tinian in the Marianas Islands. "Benny," as everyone calls him, joined the Merchant Marines after his discharge from the Marines and was shipped to Guam and then to Shanghai, China, in 1948.
Benny lived, haunted by his war experiences, but was always a very proud, courageous Marine, warrior, veteran and never a victim. He had a little something to say about those he deemed as whiny: "If you're looking for sympathy, look in the dictionary; it's between ..." I'll just leave that as that as colorful as it was.
Benny came back to Idaho after his service, became a skilled master carpenter, husband, father and friend. He got his pilot's license. I'm told that was scary. He had a super-quick mind, memory and wit, and would never miss a chance to tell a joke, pull your leg or spin a yarn. "When telling a true story," he would instruct, "it's all right to use the truth as long as it doesn't ruin it." He would continue with, "A Tannahill should never be caught in a lie, but should have 20 creative versions just in case there's a question."
As proud as he was of being a Marine, his five sons were that precious to him. Ben would joke, "I'd always hoped they would join the military service; one did, but mostly they just joined the Navy and Army instead. Not that there was anything wrong with the Navy or the Army. The Navy was always willing to give the Marines a nice ride to a war, and the Army, well, they were right there behind us, way behind, not sure what they were doing."
A true Idaho man, he loved to strike fear in the fish, hunt even if it just ended with a whopper of a story and a lot of spent ammo. He loved to raise his prized tomatoes, salt shaker always at ready position, in his meticulously well-kept garden. Generous, you couldn't visit without leaving with something; he would insist. Ready as any good Marine to battle for his friends, family, state his opinion and burn your ears when he felt put upon. He stood his ground and demanded respect.
His sons are fortunate for a father that was honorable, deserved respect and passed to each character, kindness and intelligence. The beloved grandchildren, great-grandchildren and generations into the future are all part of an invaluable legacy.
Mr. Tannahill, as some referred to him, will be interred with military honors at the Idaho State Veterans Cemetery, 10100 N. Horseshoe Bend Road, Boise.
He was preceded in death by his mother, father, all brothers and sisters, and the loves of his life, his sons' mothers.
"They broke the mold and threw it away when he was made, and then the mold maker was properly punished."
Lewiston Tribune October 13, 2015
=========================================
Loren's mother, Roxy, passed when he was very young. As a young man, he knew hard times and good times. He lived through the Great Depression, lived for a while with his younger brother, Wayne, and two of his sisters, Earldean and Roxy, in the Lewiston Children's Home since his father, Earl, and oldest brother, Hughbert, and many thousands were doing, going anywhere hoping to find work. "The home wasn't a bad place - warm bed, clothes, picnics, got to go fishing and movies," he would often reminisce. He stayed in the area and worked as a lumberjack for Larrabee saw mill in Forest, Idaho, until July 1940.
His father, Earl, was killed in an oil rig accident a few years later.
Loren joined the Marines March 29, 1941, in Oklahoma. He received an honorable discharge with two Purple Hearts and, remarkably, a good conduct citation, on Dec. 20, 1945. As a sergeant, he served one year, 11 months and 21 days at sea and in the Asia Pacific, where he participated in the battles of Iwo Jima, Saipan and Tinian in the Marianas Islands. "Benny," as everyone calls him, joined the Merchant Marines after his discharge from the Marines and was shipped to Guam and then to Shanghai, China, in 1948.
Benny lived, haunted by his war experiences, but was always a very proud, courageous Marine, warrior, veteran and never a victim. He had a little something to say about those he deemed as whiny: "If you're looking for sympathy, look in the dictionary; it's between ..." I'll just leave that as that as colorful as it was.
Benny came back to Idaho after his service, became a skilled master carpenter, husband, father and friend. He got his pilot's license. I'm told that was scary. He had a super-quick mind, memory and wit, and would never miss a chance to tell a joke, pull your leg or spin a yarn. "When telling a true story," he would instruct, "it's all right to use the truth as long as it doesn't ruin it." He would continue with, "A Tannahill should never be caught in a lie, but should have 20 creative versions just in case there's a question."
As proud as he was of being a Marine, his five sons were that precious to him. Ben would joke, "I'd always hoped they would join the military service; one did, but mostly they just joined the Navy and Army instead. Not that there was anything wrong with the Navy or the Army. The Navy was always willing to give the Marines a nice ride to a war, and the Army, well, they were right there behind us, way behind, not sure what they were doing."
A true Idaho man, he loved to strike fear in the fish, hunt even if it just ended with a whopper of a story and a lot of spent ammo. He loved to raise his prized tomatoes, salt shaker always at ready position, in his meticulously well-kept garden. Generous, you couldn't visit without leaving with something; he would insist. Ready as any good Marine to battle for his friends, family, state his opinion and burn your ears when he felt put upon. He stood his ground and demanded respect.
His sons are fortunate for a father that was honorable, deserved respect and passed to each character, kindness and intelligence. The beloved grandchildren, great-grandchildren and generations into the future are all part of an invaluable legacy.
Mr. Tannahill, as some referred to him, will be interred with military honors at the Idaho State Veterans Cemetery, 10100 N. Horseshoe Bend Road, Boise.
He was preceded in death by his mother, father, all brothers and sisters, and the loves of his life, his sons' mothers.
"They broke the mold and threw it away when he was made, and then the mold maker was properly punished."
Lewiston Tribune October 13, 2015
=========================================
"Born an American, Marine by choice"
Loren's mother, Roxy, passed when he was very young. As a young man, he knew hard times and good times. He lived through the Great Depression, lived for a while with his younger brother, Wayne, and two of his sisters, Earldean and Roxy, in the Lewiston Children's Home since his father, Earl, and oldest brother, Hughbert, and many thousands were doing, going anywhere hoping to find work. "The home wasn't a bad place - warm bed, clothes, picnics, got to go fishing and movies," he would often reminisce. He stayed in the area and worked as a lumberjack for Larrabee saw mill in Forest, Idaho, until July 1940.
His father, Earl, was killed in an oil rig accident a few years later.
Loren joined the Marines March 29, 1941, in Oklahoma. He received an honorable discharge with two Purple Hearts and, remarkably, a good conduct citation, on Dec. 20, 1945. As a sergeant, he served one year, 11 months and 21 days at sea and in the Asia Pacific, where he participated in the battles of Iwo Jima, Saipan and Tinian in the Marianas Islands. "Benny," as everyone calls him, joined the Merchant Marines after his discharge from the Marines and was shipped to Guam and then to Shanghai, China, in 1948.
Benny lived, haunted by his war experiences, but was always a very proud, courageous Marine, warrior, veteran and never a victim. He had a little something to say about those he deemed as whiny: "If you're looking for sympathy, look in the dictionary; it's between ..." I'll just leave that as that as colorful as it was.
Benny came back to Idaho after his service, became a skilled master carpenter, husband, father and friend. He got his pilot's license. I'm told that was scary. He had a super-quick mind, memory and wit, and would never miss a chance to tell a joke, pull your leg or spin a yarn. "When telling a true story," he would instruct, "it's all right to use the truth as long as it doesn't ruin it." He would continue with, "A Tannahill should never be caught in a lie, but should have 20 creative versions just in case there's a question."
As proud as he was of being a Marine, his five sons were that precious to him. Ben would joke, "I'd always hoped they would join the military service; one did, but mostly they just joined the Navy and Army instead. Not that there was anything wrong with the Navy or the Army. The Navy was always willing to give the Marines a nice ride to a war, and the Army, well, they were right there behind us, way behind, not sure what they were doing."
A true Idaho man, he loved to strike fear in the fish, hunt even if it just ended with a whopper of a story and a lot of spent ammo. He loved to raise his prized tomatoes, salt shaker always at ready position, in his meticulously well-kept garden. Generous, you couldn't visit without leaving with something; he would insist. Ready as any good Marine to battle for his friends, family, state his opinion and burn your ears when he felt put upon. He stood his ground and demanded respect.
His sons are fortunate for a father that was honorable, deserved respect and passed to each character, kindness and intelligence. The beloved grandchildren, great-grandchildren and generations into the future are all part of an invaluable legacy.
Mr. Tannahill, as some referred to him, will be interred with military honors at the Idaho State Veterans Cemetery, 10100 N. Horseshoe Bend Road, Boise.
He was preceded in death by his mother, father, all brothers and sisters, and the loves of his life, his sons' mothers.
"They broke the mold and threw it away when he was made, and then the mold maker was properly punished."
Lewiston Tribune October 13, 2015
=========================================
Loren's mother, Roxy, passed when he was very young. As a young man, he knew hard times and good times. He lived through the Great Depression, lived for a while with his younger brother, Wayne, and two of his sisters, Earldean and Roxy, in the Lewiston Children's Home since his father, Earl, and oldest brother, Hughbert, and many thousands were doing, going anywhere hoping to find work. "The home wasn't a bad place - warm bed, clothes, picnics, got to go fishing and movies," he would often reminisce. He stayed in the area and worked as a lumberjack for Larrabee saw mill in Forest, Idaho, until July 1940.
His father, Earl, was killed in an oil rig accident a few years later.
Loren joined the Marines March 29, 1941, in Oklahoma. He received an honorable discharge with two Purple Hearts and, remarkably, a good conduct citation, on Dec. 20, 1945. As a sergeant, he served one year, 11 months and 21 days at sea and in the Asia Pacific, where he participated in the battles of Iwo Jima, Saipan and Tinian in the Marianas Islands. "Benny," as everyone calls him, joined the Merchant Marines after his discharge from the Marines and was shipped to Guam and then to Shanghai, China, in 1948.
Benny lived, haunted by his war experiences, but was always a very proud, courageous Marine, warrior, veteran and never a victim. He had a little something to say about those he deemed as whiny: "If you're looking for sympathy, look in the dictionary; it's between ..." I'll just leave that as that as colorful as it was.
Benny came back to Idaho after his service, became a skilled master carpenter, husband, father and friend. He got his pilot's license. I'm told that was scary. He had a super-quick mind, memory and wit, and would never miss a chance to tell a joke, pull your leg or spin a yarn. "When telling a true story," he would instruct, "it's all right to use the truth as long as it doesn't ruin it." He would continue with, "A Tannahill should never be caught in a lie, but should have 20 creative versions just in case there's a question."
As proud as he was of being a Marine, his five sons were that precious to him. Ben would joke, "I'd always hoped they would join the military service; one did, but mostly they just joined the Navy and Army instead. Not that there was anything wrong with the Navy or the Army. The Navy was always willing to give the Marines a nice ride to a war, and the Army, well, they were right there behind us, way behind, not sure what they were doing."
A true Idaho man, he loved to strike fear in the fish, hunt even if it just ended with a whopper of a story and a lot of spent ammo. He loved to raise his prized tomatoes, salt shaker always at ready position, in his meticulously well-kept garden. Generous, you couldn't visit without leaving with something; he would insist. Ready as any good Marine to battle for his friends, family, state his opinion and burn your ears when he felt put upon. He stood his ground and demanded respect.
His sons are fortunate for a father that was honorable, deserved respect and passed to each character, kindness and intelligence. The beloved grandchildren, great-grandchildren and generations into the future are all part of an invaluable legacy.
Mr. Tannahill, as some referred to him, will be interred with military honors at the Idaho State Veterans Cemetery, 10100 N. Horseshoe Bend Road, Boise.
He was preceded in death by his mother, father, all brothers and sisters, and the loves of his life, his sons' mothers.
"They broke the mold and threw it away when he was made, and then the mold maker was properly punished."
Lewiston Tribune October 13, 2015
=========================================
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