Ivantherussian03
05-30-2006, 05:23 PM
I always think of my grandfather this time of year. The 6th of June 1944 was the D-Day for the Normandy Invasion, and the beginning of the end for the Nazis.
My grandfather served from the beginning to the end of the war. He landed in North Africa, then Sicily fighting the whole way. He was pulled out at some point and sent to England, to train for Normandy. He landed at Normandy on the 6th of June, fought through France, and then in into Germany.
Amazingly, he was wounded only 3 times. Some where in Northern France his jeep hit a landmine, killing everyone in it except him. He recieved 3 Bronze Stars for Valor in combat. His DD-214 reads like a history book. I know after the war he spent a considerable amount of time recuperating from shell shock or battle fatigue.
I am always amazed when I think about him. Guys like my grandfather did not usually survive; units like his chewed up men, and spit them as they fought the enemy, taking tremendous losses, replacing the entire unit's manpower 2 or 3 times. From my own experiences I know it was just luck that he survived.
Oddly enough, he passed away in the month of June 58 years years later. I am really unsure how to describe him. The war changed him, or so his wife said. I never knew him really, except toward the end of his life, and we never talked about WWII. According to the family, he never spoke of it. I just have a great amount of respect for him, and his sacrifices, and wanted to share his story.
My grandfather served from the beginning to the end of the war. He landed in North Africa, then Sicily fighting the whole way. He was pulled out at some point and sent to England, to train for Normandy. He landed at Normandy on the 6th of June, fought through France, and then in into Germany.
Amazingly, he was wounded only 3 times. Some where in Northern France his jeep hit a landmine, killing everyone in it except him. He recieved 3 Bronze Stars for Valor in combat. His DD-214 reads like a history book. I know after the war he spent a considerable amount of time recuperating from shell shock or battle fatigue.
I am always amazed when I think about him. Guys like my grandfather did not usually survive; units like his chewed up men, and spit them as they fought the enemy, taking tremendous losses, replacing the entire unit's manpower 2 or 3 times. From my own experiences I know it was just luck that he survived.
Oddly enough, he passed away in the month of June 58 years years later. I am really unsure how to describe him. The war changed him, or so his wife said. I never knew him really, except toward the end of his life, and we never talked about WWII. According to the family, he never spoke of it. I just have a great amount of respect for him, and his sacrifices, and wanted to share his story.