Veterans' Day

Today is the day that I think inevitably about my grandfathers, both of whom fought in Europe during World War II.

They were different vastly in their backgrounds and personalities. They were also vastly different with whether they discussed the War. My paternal grandfather passed away when I was a freshman in high school in 1985.  He never talked about it. I do not remember him discussing it once; it just did not happen.

My maternal grandfather who passed away when I was a sophmore at Ohio State University talked about it all of the time. He told us endless stories about his friends that died, about bringing supplies to the front lines, and showed us his German Ruger, the Nazi flags and armbands (which I still have) that he "liberated" from France. He was proud, but I do not think that he was necessarily proud of himself as evidenced below.  He was proud of what "we" as Americans had done - stopped the Nazis.

Every once in a while since my maternal grandfather passed away, we pull out his trunk and show the kids his "war things." About four or five years after he died, we were looking through his things, and my mom and I found a tube with a piece of paper signed by President Truman. The old man won a Bronze Star, and despite the endless war stories, he never once mentioned it - not once. He received the Bronze Star when my mom was an infant and for forty years, he never told a single person - never.  My grandmother did not even know. I have wondered endlessly since then, what in the world happened that caused him (1) to be awarded the Bronze Star and (2) to never discuss it.

I cannot even begin to imagine what either of them went through during WWII. I am thankful for their service and that they did what was needed so that my children and I can enjoy the security and freedom they helped provide. I am proud beyond words of both of them.

Happy Veterans' Day grandpa.