I work with a woman whose father passed away last weekend. She knew that he had been in the Army and thought he had been to war, but he never spoke of it. At his funeral much was made of this man's Korean War experience and the fact that he had received a Purple Heart. Part of his story was that all in his platoon perished, but him. A retired Army captain and I immediately went to speak to our co-worker; she spoke in hushed tones as she told us what she had recently learned about what her father had endured.
My request from the group is one for all of us children, grown daughters in particular, who have failed to ask our fathers about their war experiences before it was too late. Can you offer any words on behalf of your soldier/brother? What have you told your kids? There is a particular ache of loneliness and desperation for those of us who feel that we missed a lifetime of opportunities to help ease the pain for our fathers, or at least make the past hardships worth the struggle. Instead we are left with more memories of "Can I borrow...” than "Thanks."
On behalf of a grateful daughter.
Beth Cullom
Reply to: bethcullom@alum.calberkeley.org