Merl Tanner was no fan of war but served with dignity for the US Army.
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Wounded in battle in Vietnam, Tanner was awarded many medals including the prestigious Purple Heart.
But Adele Tanner said her late husband didn't want to look at his medals.
"He loved Vietnamese people. It was a political war that should never have been in the first place," Adele said.
"We had great respect for the Vietnamese people and what they had to endure and Merl never wanted his children to ever have to go to another war and go through what he did."
I lost my darling Merl on the 29th of November 2020. I will forever miss him and honour the valiant fight for life that he endured.
- Adele Tanner
Adele, who lives in Balgownie, said her husband though loved his adopted country Australia.
The couple's eldest daughter Delaina Tanner will honour her father and wear his medals when she takes part in the Anzac Day march in Wollongong on Sunday, April 25.
"We will attend the Dawn Service as Merl had become an Australian citizen many years ago and loved the tradition and respect that Australia has for its service men and women," Adele said.
"He loved Australia as he loved his birth country America and the bond that we share through many wars and conflicts.
"We have eight grandchildren and the love and respect for him as a grandfather and a veteran goes without saying.
"They have watched him tend the graves of my family. One uncle was on the Kokoda Track and another was in Changi Prisoner of War camp and my mother was an entertainer, dancer and singer who toured throughout Queensland and New Guinea during WWII.
"Tradition and respect is in our blood. My brother in-law, Ray Otto was also in Vietnam, he served in the Air Force for the Americans but also is an Australian citizen.
"We as a family have a lot to be thankful for."
Adele met the love of her life Merl in Hyde Park, Sydney back in 1968.
The man from Salt Lake City, Utah was on R&R leave from Vietnam.
"He walked me back to work and asked me for a date. I declined as I thought he was a bit old for me, only 12 months,' Adele said.
"He was not about to give up and the next day he was waiting outside my work at the time, and had two tickets for the Righteous Brothers. Needless to say we went on our first date."
Merl left after only one week but the couple kept writing to each other.
In one letter Merl indicated he had extended his time in Vietnam in order to be able to come back again to Australia.
"He came back when on a few weeks leave and we became engaged," Adele said.
"When he returned to his unit I did not hear from him for a while and then found out he lost 11 friends on San Juan Hill, he was also wounded.
I truly believe that Vietnam along with all wars and conflicts have a lot to answer for and that the families of all veterans can also be veterans, just veterans of a different kind.
"When his tour was over, he came back to Australia and we were married and moved to Utah in the US.
"But before we left Australia we had taken a trip down the coast and stopped at Bald Hill on Lawrence Hargrave Drive and Merl said that if we ever get back to Australia we will live in Wollongong."
Ten years later Adele, Merle and their three children moved to Wollongong.
Merl opened and managed all three Best and Less retail stores.
He then went into business for himself and ran Stained Glass Overlay, Door and Window Centre for many years.
He only retired in 2014 because of health issues.
"These health issues were mainly as a result of what Merl had gone through in Vietnam. They included cerebral malaria, grand Mal seizures, PTSD, Parkinson disease, stroke and then cancer," Adele said.
"Cancer was a shock as he had gone into hospital because of a fall and that is where they picked up the 10 by 14cm mass in his stomach.
"We were told he had two weeks to live. As a family we had to make some decisions that broke my heart as we had just celebrated our 50th wedding anniversary.
"We danced on our anniversary. We just rocked back and forth in each others arms to the sounds of Unchained Melody by the Righteous Brothers. I am forever grateful he got his wish.
We danced on our anniversary. We just rocked back and forth in each others arms to the sounds of Unchained Melody by the Righteous Brothers. I am forever grateful he got his wish.
"I lost my darling Merl on the 29th of November 2020. I will forever miss him and honour the valiant fight for life that he endured.
"I truly believe that Vietnam along with all wars and conflicts have a lot to answer for and that the families of all veterans can also be veterans, just veterans of a different kind.
"I believe that if you are not ready to stand behind our service men and women then feel free to stand in front of them."
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