Tribute to a Seabee dad and our family of veterans

In honor of Veterans Day, we asked our Assistant News Director Kate Magandy Holzhauser to tell us about her dad, a Navy veteran of 30 years.

Growing up, my life and the lives of my siblings revolved around the military.

My dad was Master Chief John W. Magandy, a 30-year veteran of the Navy Seabees.

My earliest and strongest memories are of Dad in uniform — Seabee greens, before camo became the norm — and khakis, as well as his dress uniforms.

Dad was a veteran of Vietnam, but he also served around the globe with the Seabees. And true to the Seabee credo, he also knew how to have fun.

He was an All-Navy fast-pitch softball player, mainly on the mound as a pitcher. But dad was an athlete who played handball, raquetball, golf, enjoyed bowling and more.

An early family photo was taken just before Dad shipped out for his second tour in Vietnam.

A Providence TV station was supposed to air a story about our family of eight kids seeing dad go off to war. It never aired because of breaking news.

But we have the photo. And the memories. My brother, Tim, followed Dad into service with a stint in the Marine Corps.

My four older sisters all married Seabees. My father-in-law was a fleet sailor in the Navy and a niece served in the Guard and a nephew is active duty Army. We thank them all for their service.

But Dad? He was 10 feet tall in our eyes. And on this day, we remember him, we remember his lessons and we thank all veterans for their service.

We love you, Dad.