A ZW Repost: My Conversation with a World War II Vet: June 6, 2002

[Zomby Woof]

From the archives over at DU Mach I...


A routine visit to the auto dealer for an oil and filter change yesterday yielded a pleasant wrinkle to an otherwise unremarkable day of errands.
At first I was alone in the waiting area, and having exhausted the newspaper, I turned the television over to CNN and the live coverage of the FBI hearings.

Not much more than 20 minutes lapsed when an elderly gentleman, lean and fit, but to my estimate, well into his 80's, sat down in the chair opposite the table between us. After watching the bloviating of various senators as they went head to head with the composed Colleen Rowley, the gentleman remarked in a rather bemused and knowing tone something to the effect that was not too favorable to the FBI brass, and definitely favorable to the opening of a conversation with this friendly fellow.

Now, I admit, I was guarded. Wanting to avoid friction with a stranger that may possess adamantly opposing views, I treaded lightly at first, making sure I kept my first comments within agreeable small talk - yes, the FBI sure is playing CYA and so forth... But I was emboldened to test the waters further with some musings on September 11th itself.

I found myself playing instant connect-the-dots and summarizing why there should be a healthy skepticism about any matters relating to the Bush regime and its reactions to investigations. I was careful and reasoned - and listened just as intently as I spoke; we then embarked on a whirlwind exchange that covered everything from the illegitimacy of Bush, Bush family ties to the Saudis, the Carlyle Group, the nature of our involvement in Afghanistan, the pipeline, the Taliban, the vile contempt for civil liberties and states' rights of John Ashcroft, Enron, and a balanced and generally positive assessment of the legacy of Bill Clinton - contrasting his considerable gifts to his maddening shortcomings, and mutually expressing exasperation at the "blame game" being waged at his expense.

My favorite quote from this gentleman: "Bush better be a one-termer.". He said variations of this 3 or 4 times, with verve and conviction and not without an undercurrent of anger.

And finally, that same anger surfaced noticeably when he spoke contemptously of Bush "strolling among the graves of those at Normandy for a photo opportunity. ".

To which he then divulged: "I was at Omaha Beach, and I will not tolerate such disrespect by a man who never served!".

Suddenly I was filled with awe that I was conversing with a man that had seen things I would never wish on anyone. That I had one of the most enjoyable and intelligent exchanges in recent memory concerning contemporary events; with a man that watched, as he relayed it, "5000 men die and end up in body bags within hours.".

I asked with a touch of quiet reverence, "Were you at D-Day?"

"I was at D-18".

June 24, 1944 to my reckoning.

Then it occurred to me, and I thought out loud, "Today is June 6, and I was about to say..." Then I stopped myself and expressed my admiration for his service. I have met World War II veterans before - my late grandfather's neighbor was a Pearl Harbor survivor - but never before had I thanked a veteran for his service.

The moment was interrupted by the receptionist announcing that my car was ready. I thanked him for the conversation and bade him goodbye.

For those reading this: World War II veterans are diminishing in ranks every single day. If you have the opportunity, do not wait until a holiday or special occasion to thank a veteran; do it now. These people went up against fascism and prevailed. It is a simple and moving gesture.

So I would also like to thank ALL of the veterans at DU, whether they served in wartime or not, for your service is no less distinguished than the man who made my afternoon.

---Zomby

[olddem43]

1. Well said, Zomby

We need to thank every one of them every chance we get. Tomorrow, I am meeting a friend who is Veteran of Gulf War I and has just returned from GW II.

[riverwalker]

2. a nice reminder

thanks. My Dad landed on Utah beach at the end of June 1944. Was captured in Luxumberg on halloween night, and sent to a POW camp 30 miles North of Berlin. He was interrogated by a table full of German Panzer bigshots, and was a POW for 10 months. He talks about that Christmas Eve in the POW camp often. Every friday night they were allowed to listen to a phonograph and the only record they had was Ella Fitzgerald's "Into each life some rain must fall" and Louis Jordan's "GI Jive". He was always against the war in Iraq, like most combat vets I know. After the Abu Ghraib photos came out, I asked him, did you ever see things like that? He said very emphatically: "NO! We were treated as soldiers, always. Maybe not enough food all the time, and cold, but we were always soldiers being held by other soldiers. Hell, they just wanted to go home too, just like us".
Seems the older he gets, the more he needs to talk about his experiences, most soldiers do. If any of you know any veterans, spend some time and listen to history and priceless wisdom.