Where to start ?? 

My dad was like many dads, when we were growing up, in that he was a WWII vet.  He risked his life and his future to fight in a war that was to keep the world free from the insanity of Fascism and Imperialism.  We didn't understand it when were young and could not offer them the honor they so rightly deserved.  We just took for granted that all men were as honorable as that greatest generation who knew what was right and needed.  My dad was different than others as well.  He was a professional fighter and taugt me to fight and to stand for what I believed.  I guess he knew from the life he had lived I would need it to get by in this life.  I didn't always appreciate what he did, I thought he was a hard case for no reason at times.  But I sure appreciate him now. 

I remember when the country elected Reagan my dad said it was the beginning of the end for our great nation.  He couldn't understand how people would vote for an actor, who had never been to war, did a lousy job as the Govenor of CA, and wasn't anything but a paid shill for the corporate masters.  I didn't see it like that then, although I sure did prettty quickly after Reagan took office.

My dad was in the Navy and took part in the invasion of Okinowa as part of the screening vessels against the Kamikaze atttacks. his ship was hit and he also had to put up with the typhoon that tore the bow of his ship off, they barely made it back to Ulithi for repairs.  He had also run convoy duty in the Atlantic, he has passed over the equator twice and was a member of the King Neptune club- I believe that is what he called it-. 

After that my dad came home and started working and got married to my mom.  They got me, and later my brother.  I didn't know it until just last week, but my dad started going to church when I came along.  He took me to church every Sunday whether my mom went or not.  The reason I didn't know it was it stopped when I was to young to remember.  But it shows me he had a faith, one he didn't throw in everyones face, but that he was seeking.   My dad was a hard working man whose work ethics he passed down to his sons.  You go to work and earn your way, you help those who need help and are weaker than you, but you don't let a man live in laziness. 

My dad was Democrat after Eisenhower.  I remember talking to him and him explaining the way the world wwould have been screwed up if the Germans and Japanese had succeeded in their plans, and he always warned us to watch out for the rise of Fascism again.  He and I didn't agree when I was young, I was more conservative than him.  Yet when it came to Patriotism he had the war experience to show how he stood up, that was something he threw in the face of many conservatives later on.  He would hear of the draft evaders from Nam and call them pansies who didn't deserve to live in America.  Was it any wonder that I enlisted for Nam ??  LOL  When we buried my cousin, I was already in the service and was going to Nam within 3 months.  He didn't say much, he just squeezed my hand and said come home safe your mom will miss you if you don't. 

I wrote them and my brother and told them not to worrry, the whole time I was over there.  They didn't even know I had been wounded until I got home and they saw the scars.  No reason to worry them. :~)) :~))

My dad and I didn't talk much about the war, except he disagreed with me when I said it was a waste of lives if we weren't going to be allowed to win in Nam.  Later on he understood what I meant. 

My first father in law had lost 40 % of his hearing in North Africa when a German '88 shell landed next to his fox hole and exploded.  But he went on to keep fighting up to and including the batttle of Monte Cassino in Italy after which they shipped him home on a medical discharge, he couldn't hear out of his left ear and his right one had only 10% capacity hearing left. 

When I got married and had my daughters, you'd have thought they were his.  He was so proud of them, he only had sons.  He used to tell everyone his son blessed him with beauty in his old age. ;~));~))  He and I used to argue, and I'd get mad, because he didn't see things the way I did.  That was my immaturity showing.  I'm close the the same age he died at and looking back, I'd have to say my dad sure was smart, as were the dads of the greatest generation they knew the cost of freedom and paid the price for us.

So for all you WWII vets out there still living I thank you from the bottom of my heart.  I wish you a happy dads day, and I offer up a Hand Salute !!!! 

May God bless and watch over all of you.

For the rest of us dads out here, have a happy dads day as well.  Remember the children we raise are the future, teach them to love and respect each other.

Comments are welcome.  Just please don't atttack the commentors.