Sixty-five years ago today, my dad and thousands of other American soldiers along with those from Great-Britain, Canada, and other allied countries began their "Great Crusade" on the beaches of Normandy.
I often wonder what goes through his mind on these anniversaries. My mind can't even comprehend what a terrifying experience the war had to be.
Many people tell me that I have to try to get my father to talk about his experiences during the war. My reply is always the same..."If these guys from "The Greatest Generation" really wanted to talk about it they would." Many of them have, but most of them don't. They came back here from the war, putting their experiences behind them and went on with their lives. Those experiences however live on in their minds and in their dreams.
I often wonder what goes through his mind on these anniversaries. My mind can't even comprehend what a terrifying experience the war had to be. 
Many people tell me that I have to try to get my father to talk about his experiences during the war. My reply is always the same..."If these guys from "The Greatest Generation" really wanted to talk about it they would." Many of them have, but most of them don't. They came back here from the war, putting their experiences behind them and went on with their lives. Those experiences however live on in their minds and in their dreams.
2 comments:
Sorry for this being only the first response, b/c it's the most important blog entry of all. My grandfather fought in the Pacific; the the "greatest generation" seemed to have done all this with so much less ego and narcissism than we have in the modern age. Thanks for the 2cents. It's was well worth the read.
Thanks for sharing the sentiment Tex.
These guys went out and did what they felt they had to do without a sense of the country owes me.
My wife's father who was with Patton's Third Army passed away about 12 years ago. I wasn't until after he died that the family realized that he had received a purple heart, bronze star, and distinguished service cross. He took it all to his grave with him.
These guys and women were absolutely amazing in my book.
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