Happy Veterans Day to the two greatest veterans I ever knew...
My grandfather and father.
Grandpa served on the Beaches of Normandy during World War II. He loved Patton, despised Douglas MaCarthur and was about the goddamn greatest, proudest, truest American you'd ever meet.
He was born to a single mother, raised by three extraordinary women (his mother, grandmother and aunt), married my amazing grandmother and had four daughters of his own. After the war, and a short career in the military, Grandpa came home and became a precinct captain for the Democratic Party and a junior high, then high school, biology and science teacher.
Grandpa was proud of his service. Proud of his country. He died in 2002 just shy of his 80th birthday - which, coincidentally, took place on December 7th. He was 19 years old when Pearl Harbor was bombed, celebrating his birthday skiing up at Alta here in Utah.
He played high school football for East High in Salt Lake City and attended Utah State University. He loved football, food and cursing.
Dad served in the 101st Airborne during the Vietnam War. He lived a far more difficult life, but ultimately settled down when he returned home from war, married my mom and had two kids he loved unconditionally. Unlike my grandpa, he rarely spoke of his time at war. He didn't mention the horrors or the nightmares. Not to me, at least. He did to my mom. But not to me.
In 2010, I lost Dad. He died from complications due to Agent Orange. He made it out of Vietnam alive, but 40 years later, the war caught up to him and he left this world 57 years young.
I miss him terribly. Every single day, in fact.
I miss 'em both.
They were the two most important men in my life. I wouldn't be who I am without them. I'd like to think I made 'em proud, but I know, knowing what they fought through and dealt with during war, that I am not worthy of even sharing their blood. But I do and I hope, every day, I live up to the legacy they forged.
Two amazing heroes among millions of others who proudly, and strongly, served their country.
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