While Pearl Harbor was indeed an infamous day, I am most grateful for all of the Americans who rose to the occasion and insured there was a United States for Dad and his family to come to.
Safe journeys to Mrs. Sven and O’Furnijur Teh Youngest.
A blessed Sabbath, Gerbil Nation!
Good morning Fatwa!
Safe travels for Mrs. Sven.
Teh Younger has finals this week -- fun times!
We have a liquidamber tree in the backyard that is being removed on Wednesday -- the roots have gone under the foundation and are cracking the front patio and possibly causing drain problems. The leaves on this tree don’t normally turn color until late December -- early January. This year it has decided that it should start behaving like a normal tree. It is more colorful than ever and the backyard is covered in a carpet of beautiful autumn leaves. I think the tree knows that it’s done for.
My father joined the Army at 17 and fought in the Pacific island hopping campaigns. He drove an amphibious tank so he was with the first waves hitting the beaches. Their tanks were bulky and poorly armored so they normally just helped secure the beaches and the Shermans or other land tanks went inland with the troops once landed but if the land tanks could not get ashore in time they would go in as they were the only support the troops would have. He saw and fought in some terrible fighting and I often reflect on what my big concerns were at that point in my life. He was marked for life by the experiences but he remained the man I respected and considered a model of honor and what a man should be.
After the war he had seniority over many older men because of his years in combat but he and many other younger men volunteered to stay in occupied Japan so that family men with less time could return to their families. He picked up an appreciation of the Japanese during that time that he passed along to us. Although he saw terrible things in war he did not hate the Japanese and often showed us his respect for their culture. He did despise the barbaric things he saw their soldiers do in war but I think he considered that the sickness of the leadership acting on the militaristic nature of the culture. I don’t know if he would have had that perspective had he not spent the time there. He talked more of the civilians he got to know in the Philippians and Japan then he did of the war. It was not until his later years he seemed more comfortable speaking of his war experiences.
I have never had any trouble understanding the expression “the greatest generation”, I just thought of my father.
While Pearl Harbor was indeed an infamous day, I am most grateful for all of the Americans who rose to the occasion and insured there was a United States for Dad and his family to come to.
Safe journeys to Mrs. Sven and O’Furnijur Teh Youngest.
BBL.
A blessed Sabbath, Gerbil Nation!
Good morning Fatwa!
Safe travels for Mrs. Sven.
Teh Younger has finals this week -- fun times!
We have a liquidamber tree in the backyard that is being removed on Wednesday -- the roots have gone under the foundation and are cracking the front patio and possibly causing drain problems. The leaves on this tree don’t normally turn color until late December -- early January. This year it has decided that it should start behaving like a normal tree. It is more colorful than ever and the backyard is covered in a carpet of beautiful autumn leaves. I think the tree knows that it’s done for.
My father joined the Army at 17 and fought in the Pacific island hopping campaigns. He drove an amphibious tank so he was with the first waves hitting the beaches. Their tanks were bulky and poorly armored so they normally just helped secure the beaches and the Shermans or other land tanks went inland with the troops once landed but if the land tanks could not get ashore in time they would go in as they were the only support the troops would have. He saw and fought in some terrible fighting and I often reflect on what my big concerns were at that point in my life. He was marked for life by the experiences but he remained the man I respected and considered a model of honor and what a man should be.
After the war he had seniority over many older men because of his years in combat but he and many other younger men volunteered to stay in occupied Japan so that family men with less time could return to their families. He picked up an appreciation of the Japanese during that time that he passed along to us. Although he saw terrible things in war he did not hate the Japanese and often showed us his respect for their culture. He did despise the barbaric things he saw their soldiers do in war but I think he considered that the sickness of the leadership acting on the militaristic nature of the culture. I don’t know if he would have had that perspective had he not spent the time there. He talked more of the civilians he got to know in the Philippians and Japan then he did of the war. It was not until his later years he seemed more comfortable speaking of his war experiences.
I have never had any trouble understanding the expression “the greatest generation”, I just thought of my father.
Well said, Mac.
Thanks for sharing that, Mac.
Thanks for posting that, Mac
Talked to Mrs Sven; she arrived safely and is baffled by this cold white wet stuff floating down from above.
T’anks for the update, Sven.
Hope Mrs. Svens accommodations are well-heated.
Goin’ down to 34ºF here tonight; rest of the week will have even colder nights. Feh.