Remembering the past, so we don't repeat it....

[tabaqui]

It's that day of the year again, and again, I'm telling my dad's story.

Born in 1925, to a family of thirteen, he dropped out of school in the eighth grade to go to work. And then the war came along, and rather than be drafted into the Army, my dad and his brothers all joined the Navy. Albert, Bill, Henry, Duffy. Nobby was too young.

At the age of 19, my dad was sitting on a ship off the coast of Normandy, watching the troops go 'over the top'. He was a 'pharmacist's mate', which in the Navy-speak of the day meant a medic. He never really talked about that day, except to say he was there. Years later, after seeing a bit of 'Saving Private Ryan' on tv, he said it was years before he could close his eyes and not see the carnage on the beach that day. The few stories he told of his time in the war were lighthearted and full of fun - he never wanted to dwell on the ugliness.

He came home, got his high school GED and went on to become an anesthesiologist. He was recalled to the Navy and served in Japan during the Korean War, but fortunately was spared Vietnam.

Now that he's gone, there's not a day goes by that I don't think about him, and about his life. He overcame so much, and he served with pride, and he came home and built a good life.
For what he and his brothers did, without a second thought - for what his generation did, here and overseas; sacrificing so much so that those left behind could build a future...thank you. We must never forget, and we must never stop striving for peace.

Comments

[stir-of-echoes.livejournal.com]

He'll be added to my thoughts every time I look at my poppy or see anyone wearing one.

[tabaqui]

Thanks, bb.
*hugs*

[shakatany.livejournal.com]

What a lovely tribute to your dad.

The worst part of these stupid wars Dubya has gotten us into is that the country as a whole is not involved. It's all happening elsewhere and, for the majority, to other families. It reminds me of the Star Trek ep "A Taste of Armageddon" where the inhabitants of the planet made it so bloodless and neat that the war lasted for centuries. We've now been fighting twice as long in Afghanistan than WWII. Sorry about the rant but I'm just so angry about that and the way we treat our veterans.

Shakatany

[tabaqui]

Thank you.
And I totally agree, our government had no business putting so many people - troops and civilians - in such harm's way. And to then completely ignore them and give them no support upon return - it's shameful.

[nashmaveric.livejournal.com]

I always wear a poppy on the day for two reasons. One is to remind myself and others what the world has lived through. The other is to show how proud I am for those that did what had to be done. Nothing we say or do can thank them enough I think. Whatever the politics of the situation, the people fighting did so hoping to create a better world. That alone deserves respect.

[tabaqui]

Yes indeed. I certainly would never make a good soldier, and am very grateful for all the sacrifices the troops have made, especially in the last ten years.

I wish I had kept a poppy from the last time I bought one, like...four years ago. Maybe I can make one, i dunno. But i'd like to have one when i go out today!

[fanbot.livejournal.com]

Thank you for sharing and making me think and remember. My dad was fortunately speared combat, but he never talked about what he saw in the aftermath he witnessed.
I miss him all the time.

[tabaqui]

They were amazing people, weren't they?
I think about my Dad all the time and yeah - miss him so much.
*hugs*

[ruthless1.livejournal.com]

Thanks again for this post. I love that you do it each year. Your dad must have been one very stellar guy.

[tabaqui]

Well, *I* sure thought so. :) Thanks, bb, I appreciate it. It feels good to share his story.

[randomstasis.livejournal.com]

It's good to remember; my dad's story is somewhat similar, and he, too, only ever tells the fun stories. WWII changed his life and future in so many ways- but he doesn't like to talk about it, or remember it, and doesn't cling to the souvenirs, except stories about the great people he met and the crazy things they did.
Thanks for putting that up; it reminds me to call my dad while I've still got him.
It's very sad that the troops have so little support from the nation; didja know that a few years ago the VA needed to cut costs, so they "deprioritized" WWII vets in favor of vets from these more recent wars. Fine that they get priority treatment, except that the WWII vets don't have *time* to wait 3-5 years for treatment:( Seems like some of those fat corporations could put a little of their war profits into the kitty for the vets, doesn't it?

[tabaqui]

Yup - he loved to talk about the crazy antics of his fellow servicemen, and even had a fun 'this one time i met a German medic, who turned out to be a girl!' story, but talk about the carnage and the loss? No.

It's a crying shame that *any* vet, from any war, has to go begging for anything. And the war profiteers should be eliminated. *After* they've coughed up a few billion.

Yes, call your dad. :) I'd give about anything for one more chat with mine.
*hugs*

[randomstasis.livejournal.com]

I will.. wish you could too, I really do. At least you have your mom, right?

"one time i met a German medic, who turned out to be a girl!'

lol- I read my dad's diary from the war- He was a gorgeous farmboy with a veneer of cool; he carried big band records in his kit bag to take to the dances they set up for the sailors everywhere, and one time ended up dating "the most gorgeous girl he ever saw" in Russia, teaching her the latest dances, all on the down low; they had to sneak around because she was only supposed to be dating officers, not common sailors. I suggested the obvious explanation..But he refuses to believe that was probably because she was a spy ;) such a romantic..

OTOH, there was the girl in England, when he asked "May I have this dance?"
She said; "Yes, you can have this dance, and the next, and the one after that- but you can't dance with me! \o/

[tabaqui]

Heeeee! Oh my - your Dad sounds like a fun kinda guy. :)

My dad was in the field - i'm going to suppose with some Marines, since he was Navy - and there were wounded US and German soldiers. So he and another couple medics and some German medics were treating them, and then they decided to trade - German chocolate for sulpha powder. Apparently, German sulpha powder, for wounds, was very coarse, and they craved the fine US stuff. So they trade, and Dad and crew are walking away, and he turns to wave at the German medic, and the medic takes off their helmet and...all this long blonde hair tumbles down! A woman! I loved that story.

Also the story of hopping in a jeep to go to some French town or other to party and finding out halfway there it was still behind German lines.

Yeah, still have my mom. Don't see her often enough, but yes.
*teeny sniffle*
*hugs*

[randomstasis.livejournal.com]

That's an awesome story- I think it's so important to remember that in any war, while we're all home "hating the enemy" our soldiers are meeting them on all kinds of terms.

And so.."finding out halfway it was still behind German lines..." AND!!! then what? lol

[tabaqui]

Yeah, that's what always bugged me so much about people going 'just bomb (insert country name) back to the stone age!!'

Uh, no. There are always civilians who are not part of the 'master plan', as it were. There are always soldiers who are fighting but don't wish to be. It's never black and white, and we can't blindly hate. It leads to so much misery.

And then...they turned around and drove back to the beach! Heh. They were sorta shocked they'd been about to run into German troops, but they *did* get some time jaunting about, so they still had fun. Whoever told them must have thought they were totally nuts.

[roxymissrose.livejournal.com]

Thanks for posting this, beloved.

I think it's true for most of us--our dads only told us the funny stories, or really super-sanitized the bad ones.

I love this picture of your dad--it's so evocative of the era, I think. :)

[tabaqui]

Thanks, bb. I think that the bad was something to be endured, and nothing you wanted to dwell on - life was too good, especially considering the times they grew up in.

Yeah, it's a favorite of mine, as well.
*smooch*

[smilla02.livejournal.com]

Thanks for sharing your dad's story. ♥!

[tabaqui]

Thanks for reading. :)

[twilightofmagic.livejournal.com]

Well said, Tabaqui. I sometimes see people disputing wearing a poppy as being in support of war. I see it as honouring young men and women in the services like your father and mine who was in Normandy a couple of days after the first wave. My mother says he suffered from bad dreams for years afterwards before the trauma became known as PTSD. How young your father looks. All those young men and now women as well sent into harm's way, generation after generation.

[tabaqui]

Yes! It's nothing to do with supporting war - i've been against, and actively protested - every war we've been in since i was old enough to know about them.

It's all about the sacrifices made in times of dire need, and the freedoms gained with the blood and tears of a brave few.

He *was* so very young. They all are. Too young for what they're doing.
*hugs*

[mickeym.livejournal.com]

Thank you for sharing this, and many thanks to your family for their service.

*hugs*

[tabaqui]

Thank you so much, bb.
*smooch*

[jujukittychick.livejournal.com]

thanks for sharing that. my grandfather ran away from home and joined the merchant marines, he said he paid some hobo to sign a doc saying he was legal (he was underage at the time). He later went on to join the navy after that, and then later the air force. He said he was off the shores of Japan when they dropped the bomb, he never mentioned anything other than that. My dad was a navy medic in Vietnam, he would share a couple stories now and then. His dad retired from the coast guard.

i believe no matter what your stand in politics is, or what you think of your current leader, you have to support your soldiers, they're just doing their jobs, but unlike the rest of us, they put their lives on the line to do it and receive very little in the way of thanks for it.

[tabaqui]

Wow, a lot of adventures! Funny how boys would go off to join up, do anything to serve, even actors and singers and things and now...nobody even thinks twice about an of-age actor not joining the military. Not that i think they all should, but isn't it funny how perceptions change....

I believe the same. I have physically, vocally, and via mail/email/petitions protested every war since the Gulf war, and argued against the earlier ones with whomever would listen. I loathe the thought of war. But if our military is engaged, then I'm going to support those men and women. I want them *home*, but i also want them to be taken care of, and remembered, and appreciated for their service.

[ruric.livejournal.com]

Love that pic of your dad and his story!

[tabaqui]

Thank you!
:)

[missus-grace.livejournal.com]

Much love to you and your family as you remember the bravery and duty of your father and uncles.

[tabaqui]

Thank you so much!

[innie_darling]

I'm glad to know his story.

[tabaqui]

Thank you, bb. I'm glad you read it. :)

[blackrabbit42.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much for sharing this touching recollection of your Dad.

My brother was a Marine Officer KIA in Iraq. He wrote one of those letters..."If you are reading this, it means I didn't make it back". One of the things he asked us to do in his memory is to honor veterans, because we can't imagine what they have been through. I'm so glad to see you and so many other posters here chiming in support.

Love to you all.

[tabaqui]

Thank you for reading! My flist my be a little tired of my yearly homage to my dad, but he has made me proud - and made me strive to be a good person - all my life.