Comments on: On Memorial Day

By: Jenni

Jenni — Wed, 28 May 2008 16:05:47 +0000

This brought tears to my eyes. This world is just so hard.

By: Amy

Amy — Tue, 27 May 2008 20:50:07 +0000

I really love reading your stuff. It’s great. -Amy

By: Kevin

Kevin — Tue, 27 May 2008 19:16:10 +0000

Thank you for retelling this story. My eyes were not dry as I remembered the gentle man we knew as Grandpa. Hearing his story and listening to his voice tell it is sweet and comforting. What his eyes have seen and heart endured would not be wished on any man. If anything I can also see Nathan a little clearer too. An inextinguishable fire for justice for the marginalized and a compassion and hope that all may be at peace.

By: Sandra Dodd

Sandra Dodd — Tue, 27 May 2008 11:48:16 +0000

P.S. I hope I give most of the information. I will call up on my brothers to fill in or correct any part my story. I have not unpacked the updated version of the book yet.

By: Sandra Dodd

Sandra Dodd — Tue, 27 May 2008 04:01:30 +0000

Several pieces of this story came together after Grandma had written this story. In fact it was at his funeral that we found out much of this story and others. Picking up with the story where he was the last man holding the Browning he would shoot until the last man of his unit was out. When he was finally able to get out as he was leaving he heard one of his friends screaming in pain. His friend had been shot while escaping and Grandpa ran back to get him. As he approached his friend grandpa was shot as well in the hip. He fell on top or near his friend and kept whispering to him to just keep quiet and he would get him out. But his friend was in so much pain he was out of his right mind. The Japanese approached the wounded soldiers, Grandpa played dead and the Japanese shot his friend in the head as Grandpa lay right next to him. He said he could hear them laughing and talking in a language he didn’t understand as they kicked the bodies (I guess to make sure they were dead) while gathering up bodies of soldiers and placing them in a pile. We do not know how long the Japanese stayed or camped at that sight or how long Grandpa had to play dead but we do know he lay among the dead for a few days until the Americans came back for the fallen soldiers. He was 19 years old and he blocked most of this out of his mind. It is somewhere here where his memory would pick back up with the two soldiers helping him up.
I know that my father never talked about war stories it was something that he just didn’t share … but I do remember asking him about his thoughts of war… during the Vietnam era and he looked at me and said that he hated war but he would do it over again for his family and the privilege we have to live in this free country. He was very patriotic. I was totally clueless of the things my father had sacrificed. But I did have two sons that joined the military not because they couldn’t think of something better but because of the legacy their Grandfather gave them…. and to them it would be the most honorable thing they could do.

By: Brandy @ my12hats

Brandy @ my12hats — Tue, 27 May 2008 02:06:43 +0000

I’m so grateful for men like your Grandpa who have given up so much for us. Thank you for the meaningful reminder of the sacrifices that were/are made on our behalf.

By: Chris

Chris — Mon, 26 May 2008 20:57:58 +0000

That is a good story! Thank you for sharing it.