Vetrans Day, DAD

Veterans Day, My Dad.

In Memory:

Father was a paratrooper, grenadier WWII. 

On D-day his company was dropped behind enemy lines.

He had told me about finding gliders undamaged, full

of men all dead, and not a mark on them.

He was certain it was a poison gas, and caused

close to instantaneousness death. As most were

still strapped in the Gliders.

The US and Germans both denied using gas 

officially.

He jumped both in Italy and France.

He had a scar right between his eyes.

Occasional a very small piece of shrapnel would

work its way out of his eye orbit years

after the war?

At the time I was maybe six, thought it was 

disgusting, told him to throw it away.

The Germans had painted some flat

rocks to look like water, and had them

zeroed in.

When the platoon went to get water

all were killed but three.

Dad said he could hear some men

moaning and the Germans would 

shoot them, he had a minor wound 

between the eyes, shrapnel, but

a lot of blood, so he just played dead,

as the German patrol swept over them.

Two other guys did the same.

He was incorrectly reported as 

Killed in action, his mother and 

father were heart broken, but

a week later he sent them a post

card telling them he was alive.

It must have been a great celebration.

Dad was back in action in short order.

In Italy the killing had gotten to him,

He would go out on lone patrols,

and come back and report how many

Germans he had shot.

His Co. was skeptical and said they

hadn't see any Germans in days.

So how could he be killing Germans?

Dads reply " I didn't say they were

live, I just said I shot Germans."

He had been shooting dead Germans.

As stress relief, he got a brief furlough.

Mental adjustment.

Now days they probably would have had

him up on charges.

Dad was always modest and quiet,

and sometimes bull headed,

seldom talked about the War,

Once in a While when we were out

fishing on the lake alone.

He didn't like me to ask questions,

I just listened, and remembered.

He was a great shot, on the run

after deer or standing still, and

an excellent tracker.

Very sharp eyes.

That shrapnel was a God send.

Kept his vision and saved his life,

wish I'd kept it.

Gerald

Son

For all the Troops Past, Present and Future.

.