Saturday, July 25, 2020
For me, Uncle Jimmy always had a special presence. Like his brothers, my Uncle Frankie and Uncle Michael who passed before him, Uncle Jimmy was a unique DeLuca. What stands out for me, was his appreciation for irony with a lighthearted sense of humor. He allowed himself to be placed in harm’s way while working within the army’s special forces. I marvel at and miss Uncle Jimmy’s ability to hold simultaneously both great courage and humor with ease.
As a child, I remember a time when my family visited him after an army deployment. He showed us a video simulation of a Green Beret mission. So when my Girl Scout troop scheduled a camp out weekend during late fall, I sought out uncle Jimmy’s guidance. He lent me his army sleeping bag and explained the technique of blocking out coldness from the ground by spreading down newspapers below the sleeping bag. The supposed “camp out” ended up taking place in a heated cabin! But I did sleep in his army sleeping bag. And I always treasured his offering those survival skills to me.
I miss Uncle Jimmy very much. I’m glad he gained an additional, loving family with Mary Ann. My faith informs my hope that we will all meet again in our eternal home. I will keep all his loved ones in my prayers.
