The War Years
2
"The year was 1939, and the war had just begun. I was a young, hot blooded boy at the time, barely outta my teens, and I wanted in on the action. I didn't make good choices at that time. American wasn't involved in the war yet. I couldn't wait for it to get involved in the war. I wanted the action, the glory, the valor. I was born the last year of World War 1, and had heard everyone talking about the amazing feats of the soldiers... I wanted this, more than I'd ever wanted anything in my life. When America opened the doors to list men who wanted to be on the front lines, should the country need defense, or to join in the war, I was one of the first in line..."
1939
"War has broken out in Europe!" The radios everywhere blared, in every language. Gerard was barely 21 at the time, still helping his mother out at home. His younger brother, Mikey, was just finishing his last year of high school.
The world was far from perfect, and was crawling out of the Great Depression. Gerard grew up hearing tales of the Depression, and about the first World War, and as a child, his head was filled with tales of the glory days. Those were the tales he like to hear best from his father, who had fought in the war, as well as hid grandfather, and one of his uncles.
Gerard had seen the medals, and wanted to earn some for himself. He had seen the uniforms, and the pictures of the men dressed formally, about to march. He saw the way everyone treated these men, with so much respect, and honor. He could quote the stories word for word. But now, he wanted to experience it for himself. He wanted to have his own stories to tell his kids, and grand-kids. So it was no surprise that when America needed a reserve to fight, should the war cross the ocean, Gerard was one of the first to join.
His mother pleaded with him not to go, saying she couldn't bear to lose her oldest son. He said he'd be fine, and that he highly doubted America would get drawn into a European war, somewhat woefully. Even so, that did not assuage her fears. She asked him not to do it, because if he did, then Mikey would, because he'd always looked up to his brother. She said she couldn't lose both her children. He said he'd make sure that his brother didn't join. Eventually, she hit him a low blow, asking what would happen if he were to die, how would she feel?
"Ma, nothin's gonna happen." He said.
He couldn't have been further from the truth when he said that.
1939
"War has broken out in Europe!" The radios everywhere blared, in every language. Gerard was barely 21 at the time, still helping his mother out at home. His younger brother, Mikey, was just finishing his last year of high school.
The world was far from perfect, and was crawling out of the Great Depression. Gerard grew up hearing tales of the Depression, and about the first World War, and as a child, his head was filled with tales of the glory days. Those were the tales he like to hear best from his father, who had fought in the war, as well as hid grandfather, and one of his uncles.
Gerard had seen the medals, and wanted to earn some for himself. He had seen the uniforms, and the pictures of the men dressed formally, about to march. He saw the way everyone treated these men, with so much respect, and honor. He could quote the stories word for word. But now, he wanted to experience it for himself. He wanted to have his own stories to tell his kids, and grand-kids. So it was no surprise that when America needed a reserve to fight, should the war cross the ocean, Gerard was one of the first to join.
His mother pleaded with him not to go, saying she couldn't bear to lose her oldest son. He said he'd be fine, and that he highly doubted America would get drawn into a European war, somewhat woefully. Even so, that did not assuage her fears. She asked him not to do it, because if he did, then Mikey would, because he'd always looked up to his brother. She said she couldn't lose both her children. He said he'd make sure that his brother didn't join. Eventually, she hit him a low blow, asking what would happen if he were to die, how would she feel?
"Ma, nothin's gonna happen." He said.
He couldn't have been further from the truth when he said that.
11/7/12