A Tribute to Veterans

Last night I had the honor of attending a tribute for our veterans at Fresno State University in Fresno, California. This is a program that the university has been doing for the last seven semesters to tell the story of veterans who have defended our freedoms. Students enrolled in the Oral History class interview two veterans and write their histories to become part of the permanent record in the university library. Over three hundred have been interviewed to date.

My father was one of nine World War II veterans that were interviewed and honored last evening. Since there are not too many World War II vets left, it is a special honor to be with them. There were veterans from every branch of service and in each of the theaters of war represented.

My father joined the army before World War II began for the United States in 1940. He became part of the Army’s Horse Calvary stationed in Texas and Louisiana. When war was finally declared against Japan after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, my father was sent to Australia to fight the Japanese. The first combat zone his unit was sent to was New Guinea. His job was driving a bull dozer, clearing the way for trucks and artillery.

After New Guinea was liberated, my father’s unit was sent to the Philippines where he spent most of his combat time. One of the richest memories he has is that of helping to liberate prisoners from a Japanese prison where political prisoners were held. To this day, he remembers the looks of gratitude on the faces of those liberated.

On one occasion his lieutenant ordered him and others into a suicide mission where snipers would have picked them off like sitting ducks. He asked the lieutenant permission to wait for the soldiers who were on their way and whose mission it was to clear the snipers. The lieutenant refused and ordered him forward. My dad disobeyed and was court-martialed. However, his captain went to bat for him, and he was exonerated a couple of months later, and the lieutenant lost his command and was shipped out.

Later, my dad was part of the peacekeeping troops sent to Japan after the signing of the surrender. My father spent six years in the military and almost three of those in the war. At one time he had two brothers and a brother-in-law all in the war at the same time. His mother once sent him an apple stack cake that arrived all the way to the Philippines. He was able to get one piece after all his buddies had a piece.

We who love this country and appreciate our freedom owe a debt to these men who served in a war that seemed endless. Two mad men who became deranged dictators with two fierce armies decided to take control of the world at the same time. Had it not been for the courage and sacrifice of our World War II veterans, we would not have our precious freedom we so freely enjoy today. This is one of the reasons we are unwilling to give in to an administration, such as this present president offers, which continually encroaches on our religious and political liberties.