Phillip Lomblo, R.I.P.

Just before this most recent Memorial Day your loyal Peasant
made a sorrowful discovery, one whose timing was quite fitting
for this day of remembrance for our departed fellow Americans
who served and sacrificed for us in our military. A dear friend,
fellow conservative activist, and a helluva patriot, Phillip Lomblo,
passed away several years ago, and after many inquiries as to
where he was and how he could be contacted your persistent
Peasant bit the bullet and searched some obituary listings; I deeply
regret to say that it was there that I found my friend.

I met Phillip when I was employed by an international advertising/
marketing firm in their Milwaukee office back in my corporate days,
Phillip having joined some time after I did and joined me in the
department that I was working in. We became fast friends, and spent
a hearty amount of time together after hours talking about our shared
politics, our religious faiths --- he was an Anglican; most unusual for
someone of Italian nationality or ancestry! Phillip liked to say
that the Anglicans are actually more catholic than the Catholics;
I playfully disputed that, bringing up the Anglican Church's origins;
being founded and established by a self-serving English king
who didn't like being told "No" by anyone, not even by the Pope.
But Phillip Lomblo (his family name was Lombloghini but shortened it
after coming to the United States) was an outstanding American,
a true gentleman, and a man of God who did the best he could to be
what our Heavenly Father wants us to be. A high school football star,
Phillip enlisted in the Army and saw action in the Vietnam War
as an paratrooper in the renown 101st Airborne unit, a/k/a
The Screaming Eagles. Sleeping in rice paddies, fighting in jungles,
earning and receiving medals for heroism, and rising to the rank
of First Sergeant, Phillip Lomblo came home and embarked upon
a career in law enforcement. Serving as a police officer in
Indianapolis and Wauwatosa, Wisconsin (in my neck of the Wisconsin
woods) Phillip dealt with all kinds, and I mean ALL kinds.
He told me of the time he was called to handle a domestic disturbance
and dealt with a woman who was so angry that she took off in her car,
necessitating pursuit. And, by the by, she just happened to be
buck naked. After a few years on the force in Wauwatosa, and a battle
with cancer which took away his once-muscular physique but not
his life (Phillip was double-damn tough and a damn tough out!).
he decided to try some less demanding work, and along the way he
wound up where I was working. I shall always treasure the day he
came to our company and our department, to be a fellow Marketing
Research Associate. I left the company in a dispute I had regarding
some ethical qualms I had with what I was expected to do for one
particular client firm, and Phillip backed me 100%. He told me of
a company he previously worked for where, like the one we were
employed by, once had a positive and even fun work environment,
only to turn into a dark and dreary, gut-grinding, soul-sucking,
integrity-crushing house of pain and suffering. Having been through
it before, Phillip told me to "do what you have to do", and
said that he'd miss me at the office but to stick to my values.
An indispensable ally as well as a loyal friend, that was Phillip.

We stayed in touch for a time after my departure from that firm,
and got together whenever we could. Sadly, neither of us knew
how much time would remain for us to keep connected. And we
both got so busy with the "busyness" of life that we failed to
stay in contact, a common malady which afflicts so many people
in our workaday world, an old and familiar lament.
Such are the vicissitudes of life.

Phillip moved to Florida later on to be with his daughter and other
family members, as he was divorced and wanted to be near to his
closest relations for his golden years. He spent the rest of his earthly
life with them before accepting our Lord's invitation to share His
heavenly home and hospitality. Although I am sad to know that I
will not be able to further enjoy his cheerful company, his stories
of his war experiences and police tales, his take on the latest
political news, and his cheering me up when I needed a boost,
I have the comfort of knowing that Phillip is but a prayer away.
God rest you, Phil. It was a privilege and a pleasure to have known
you even for barely the blink of an eye in this world, and I look
forward to getting together again with you when I, too, am invited
to partake of our Lord's heavenly hospitality. Oh, the stories we'll
each have to share!

One final note: Phillip told me of his having written his account of
his years in Vietnam, that he had completed his manuscript and was
searching for a publisher to publish and market his book. Sadly, he
never found a willing publisher; may his family, in a loving tribute
to Phillip, take up the effort and work to get his story out. It will
be a great read for people who enjoy an autobiography with
excitement and color, and certainly for Americans who want to
read about an American who loved his country and served,
rather than denigrated her. Not an anti-hero but an authentic hero,
a hero who lived an authentically American life. Well done,
my grand friend. Requiescat in Pace.


MEM