tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5385418418066719739.post3287007598362895062..comments2017-06-22T14:25:26.722-04:00Comments on My Back Pages: Memorial Day... My Personal SorrowOld jarheadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17352950909511401450noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5385418418066719739.post-10102141077995019562014-05-24T22:05:41.067-04:002014-05-24T22:05:41.067-04:00Thank you, Patty. I have been wanting to write thi...Thank you, Patty. I have been wanting to write this for a while. I wanted to honor my father, both for how hard he worked raising his large family, and his determination during WWII to help bring the war to an end and avenge what Hitler and Hirohito did. While others bragged about what they did, even exaggerating, he was silent until the last year of his life, and I was too busy at the time to listen, to my eternal regret and shame. He has been gone now 33 years. He died on the Friday before Mother's Day, May 9, 1981. I never got a chance to say goodbye. This, then, is my goodbye and my tribute to him.Old jarheadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17352950909511401450noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5385418418066719739.post-27743352079277802432014-05-24T21:59:55.879-04:002014-05-24T21:59:55.879-04:00Thank you, Bernie, for your comment and your story...Thank you, Bernie, for your comment and your story. You are a truly good person. Bless you.<br />Old jarheadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17352950909511401450noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5385418418066719739.post-85799471261639911132014-05-24T20:32:11.332-04:002014-05-24T20:32:11.332-04:00It's not just you, John, many of us share in a...It's not just you, John, many of us share in a similar guilt of not listening, not asking and taking for granted that someone in our lives will be there when we're ready.<br /><br />As Bernie stated, you father probably talked to someone and, while he did reach out to share with you, that arm's-length wall of emotional separation between the both of you made it difficult for you to drop your guard...and listen. It's okay. Really it is, because, you're sharing what you do remember, here and now. Think about how sad it would be if you remembered nothing, worse yet, never cared enough to ever ask your father about the war experiences you did become familiar with.<br /><br />You give your father great honor, right here, with all the words and pain that you relate concerning his life and yours; a true fool would not have your capacity to express their sorrow or feel guilty, about anything. Pattyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00983686239033756332noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5385418418066719739.post-51598160215421309342014-05-24T06:00:52.004-04:002014-05-24T06:00:52.004-04:00My grandfather did not discuss the war with his so...My grandfather did not discuss the war with his sons until his last days. He was in hospital and knew he was very sick. It wasn't easy listening but he unburdened himself. If you did not listen to your father, it is likely that someone did. Sometimes, the act of speaking is more important than who receives the information. I travel a lot by bus as I can't drive. Many elderly people have talked to me over the years and I listen, even to this day. I am happy to lend an ear, it's the least I can do. Thanks for reminding me why John xAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13279233169556489144noreply@blogger.com