My heart is so full.
Spent the last 2 1/2 hours with a 97yo veteran of WWII. He enlisted in 1939. I arrived to that same unit to take my first platoon in 2011.
He was full of stories. Literal twinkles in his eyes, which became mere joyful slits when he laughed, which was often
Spent the last 2 1/2 hours with a 97yo veteran of WWII. He enlisted in 1939. I arrived to that same unit to take my first platoon in 2011.
He was full of stories. Literal twinkles in his eyes, which became mere joyful slits when he laughed, which was often
His first trip was to @PatDonahoeArmy's beloved Fort Drum, or as it was know at the time, Pine Camp for the 1939 First Army Maneuvers. His mortar platoon didn't have their 81mm mortars yet - so they used stovepipes
He got activated for the Louisiana Manuevers - the man who would later go on to combat in the South Pacific referred to his time in Louisiana as "One of the more miserable times." He claims to have invaded TX due to a map problem that got very problematic
He LOVED New Zealand. Absolutely loved it. Befriended some families there. Then to the Russells and Solomons where he said he learned how to not get bombed by Japanese planes: stay in the jungle and don't shine a light
Said he also learned that the Navy always got the best food
Said he also learned that the Navy always got the best food
Called going on patrol "walking tours" of the islands. Got appendicitis at one point and got operated on by Captain Major - who evidently picked up his next rank and moved to the European Theater for his appearance in Catch 22
He seemed thrilled to have someone to talk to about it all - someone who also understood what a huge deal it is to have dry feet & a warm bed. We'd both been to so many of the same places: Drum, Shelby, Polk.
We talked for two hours. Looked at pictures, rosters.
We talked for two hours. Looked at pictures, rosters.
I presented him with the letters & coins from my chain of command. He smiled warmly & said he was overwhelmed at it all
At the end, he tapped my arm with his fist, looked at me, & said "Thank you...You don't know what this means."
So. My heart is all kinds of full.
At the end, he tapped my arm with his fist, looked at me, & said "Thank you...You don't know what this means."
So. My heart is all kinds of full.
Oh! One of my favorite parts of the interview was when he was kvetching that drill weekends didn't have enough time for actual training because logistics and administrative tasks took up too much time which means WE'VE BEEN BITCHING ABOUT THE SAME THING IN THE GUARD FOR 80 YEARS
