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| My Grandpa, WWII |
This day of remembrance has been observed since the end of World War I. It's observed on November 11 to recall the official end of World War I on that date in 1918 (hostilities formally ended "at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918 with the German signing of the Armistice).
Remembrance Day has always been a very important date for our family, as my grandfather is a World War II veteran. While we remember those men and women who served and continue to serve our country during times of war, conflict and peace, my family has always said a special 'thank you' for the survival of my grandpa.
When I was a young child, I knew never to ask my grandpa about the war. If he chose to sit and remember, that was okay, but asking was not.
Sometimes he did tell me stories. He told me of one night when he was sitting beside a commanding officer. The man light a cigarette and moments later was shot in the face. My grandpa said that as the blood (and other matter from the head) splattered all over his face, he knew he would never smoke again.
Another time, he and a fellow soldier were supposed to be on the lookout while the rest of their troop slept. But they were both exhausted and fell asleep at their post. Just by chance, they woke up to see opposing soldiers closing in on their sleeping troop. My grandpa and his partner jumped up and without a second thought, ran up behind the soldiers, screaming and making as much noise as they could. The soldiers thought it was an ambush and took off. My grandpa's troop lived thanks to his bravery that night.
From his stories, it sounds like my grandpa spent most of the war cold, hungry and tired. It seems like a miracle that he was able to function. And to think, he lied about being old enough to get in to the army. I guess he grew up fast.
After hearing just a few of his stories, I have no idea how any soldier is expected to return from war to our neat little world. How can anyone come back from that and not experience posttraumatic stress disorder? How can anyone come back from that and expect to fit right back into a "normal" world?
Today as I remember those men and women who served and continue to serve our country, I also want to acknowledge the challenges many of them must face in dealing with mental illness and posttraumatic stress disorder. Many of these individuals have been to hell and back. One day of remembrance a year just isn't enough.
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The reason I love the Rambo movie series is that it portrays the lifetime of challenges that combat veterans face. Life is still about survival even after all that danger lets up. And the three virtues that Rambo needed for survival were courage, endurance, and loyalty. And the problems remain at the end of each movie.
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