My Dad

[Irishonly]

First and foremost, my dad was my dad. He was a hard drinking, living and loving Irishman. He had an open heart.

My dad was a WWII vet. He would never talk about the war and I think he would be surprised that I knew anything about his service. Two of his childhood friends would come over to visit. After I was sent to bed and the wives separated into their own group they would talk. They didn't know I would sneak out of bed, crouch and listen. I learned my dad hated war.

My dad became active in the VFW. I thought he was going to have a heart attack when he found out that I was going to my first antiwar protest but he didn't. The longer Nam went on the more he thought it was immoral. He explained student deferments to my friends and cousins. When my cousin insisted he was going to follow the family tradition and go into the service he accepted it although he was worried. When my cousin was killed less than 24 hours after he landed in Nam I will never forget my uncle and dad crying. I don't think either of them ever stood completely straight again.

While my dad was president of the VFW he gave back to the community. They distributed food to the needy, gave toys (more than at Christmastime) did bike safety for the kids and always tried to do more.

I lost my dad in 85. When I got back home I lost count of how many vets came up to me and shook my hand. My dad passed away visiting me and my husband. I felt so guilty until they told me it was all he could talk about for weeks. I still miss him.

[xchrom]

1. ...

:patriot:

[yellerpup]

2. Lovely tribute to a deserving father.

You were lucky to have him. Thank you for sharing your memories. :kick: & Rec.

[abbeyco]

3. Thank you for your post

My Dad sounds a lot like yours - never wanted to talk about WWII or Korea until he was with a group of "his" guys. Ditto with the VFW work - but not to the level of your Dad's involvement; I support them still today because of what I've seen them do in my community.

My Dad passed in 2005 at 80 and I miss him more today than the day he died and always spend time on Veteran's Day reflecting on him, his service, and that of the millions of our service men and women.

A thank you to all Veterans for your service and a :hug: to you today, Irishonly.

:patriot:

[Irishonly]

8. You dad sounds like mine

I still support the VFW also. It's hard not to have your parents.

[DreamSmoker]

4. He was bigger than life

I had the honor to meet this Man (Bob) and got to know him..
He fought for us in W.W.II...
I still remember the Day he visited his WW Friend Tommy who was dying and still struggling with Alcohol..
I picked up on the special Bond these two Old Soldiers had for each other...
Its never left me since...

They are both gone now but will always live in my heart..
And a very special thanks to Bob for without him..
I would have never met my wife...

[lunatica]

5. Thanks for sharing this

[snacker]

6. I think my Dad...

would have been great friends with your Dad. My dad, a WWII vet and lifelong Democrat, hated war also. He spent his life doing community service as a volunteer fireman, and passed away of a massive heart attack while fighting a fire twenty years ago. I still miss him terribly.

My dad wouldn't allow me go to the anti-war protest in Washington, DC...I still remember how angry I was at him, but I know that he was concerned about my safety, not my anti-war stance.

I also lost a cousin during the Vietnam War. The sadness in our house lingered for years, and I could read the pain on my dad's face and in his eyes.

It's strange to think that perhaps my dad and your dad crossed paths somewhere while fighting a war long ago and far away. Now, here we are, two strangers missing them...

[Irishonly]

7. They may have

If they had crossed paths I am sure they would have been friends. We are strangers with a common bond.