My father was a very difficult man to understand. He cared but had a hard time showing it. As a youngster he coached me in Little League as well as organizing winter basketball. He attended all of my sporting events as a youngster as well as my high school basketball games. He didn't attend my high school or college graduation. He didn't attend my wedding. I could never understand why but I accepted him for who he was. I had many conversations with him about many different topics. I always enjoyed our conversations and it is one of my greatest losses in not being able to talk to him. My father's life was shaped by growing up in the Great Depression as well as being a soldier in World War II. He didn't tell us any war stories even when we asked him about his Purple Heart. We knew that he had shrapnel in his face and body. We knew that he was blind for a while but he always said he received the medal because he cut his hand on a beer can. When the book The Greatest Generation came out I read it and I had a conversation with him. My father was in his late 70's and it was the first time he talked to me about the war. He stated that his group was trapped in a forest near Germany and they were running out of ammunition. My father's body and voice changed as he told the story and it was obvious that he was reliving the experience. Imagine a 23 year old knowing that he would soon be dead. The enemy was closing in and they had no chance. My father was physically shaking in telling that a P51 Mustang arrived and opened up a path for the soldiers to escape.
My father received the Purple Heart, a Bronze Star and he told a story that his Lieutenant recommended him for the Silver Star but my father refused for he felt that another soldier was more worthy of that medal. In reading about his 5th Division it was one of the most decorated divisions because of all of the action they saw. They were the first division to arrive at the border of Germany. My father told me that the were not allowed to proceed into Germany because the higher ups wanted General Montgomery's men to be first so my father's group waited for the British to arrive.
My father was my hero for I always knew that he would be there for me if I needed him. He didn't express his love by verbalizing it but it was always known by me that he did love his family.
When my father's valve near his heart started to fail he was rushed to the hospital. I was called and arrived at the hospital around noon. The valve was leaking fluid into his abdomen and he was being given morphine to help with the pain. I knew that his time was short and I decided to stay with him overnight. All of my siblings and family came during the day and then my father and me were alone. He had requested that the morphine be stopped around 5 pm. We talked a little and then he was tired and he fell asleep. I too fell asleep but I was awakened by a noise at 3 am. It was the last breath of my father as he died very peacefully. I whispered to him how much I loved him. I notified the nurse and then went to his room for my good bye. I called my brothers and sister to tell them about his passing. I had made a decision to drive to my family's home to tell my mother. As I arrived and entered the living room my mother knew what had happened. Then the family dog looked up to the ceiling area near the door to the bedroom and started to bark. A very strange feeling came over me and I felt as if dad was checking up on the love of his life.
My father received the Purple Heart, a Bronze Star and he told a story that his Lieutenant recommended him for the Silver Star but my father refused for he felt that another soldier was more worthy of that medal. In reading about his 5th Division it was one of the most decorated divisions because of all of the action they saw. They were the first division to arrive at the border of Germany. My father told me that the were not allowed to proceed into Germany because the higher ups wanted General Montgomery's men to be first so my father's group waited for the British to arrive.
My father was my hero for I always knew that he would be there for me if I needed him. He didn't express his love by verbalizing it but it was always known by me that he did love his family.
When my father's valve near his heart started to fail he was rushed to the hospital. I was called and arrived at the hospital around noon. The valve was leaking fluid into his abdomen and he was being given morphine to help with the pain. I knew that his time was short and I decided to stay with him overnight. All of my siblings and family came during the day and then my father and me were alone. He had requested that the morphine be stopped around 5 pm. We talked a little and then he was tired and he fell asleep. I too fell asleep but I was awakened by a noise at 3 am. It was the last breath of my father as he died very peacefully. I whispered to him how much I loved him. I notified the nurse and then went to his room for my good bye. I called my brothers and sister to tell them about his passing. I had made a decision to drive to my family's home to tell my mother. As I arrived and entered the living room my mother knew what had happened. Then the family dog looked up to the ceiling area near the door to the bedroom and started to bark. A very strange feeling came over me and I felt as if dad was checking up on the love of his life.
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