Dad

The generation that saved the world are being honored all over the world on this 70th Anniversary of D-Day.

My dad and T's dad served proudly, far from the beaches in Normandy. T's dad served in the U.S.Navy on the USS Babbitt, a class of ship informally called a Tincan Destroyer. They patrolled the sea helping to protect Allied vessels and shipping lanes in the cold and icy North Atlantic off Iceland and Ireland. My dad was part of the Army Air Corps, serving in the C.B.I.(China, Burma,India) Theatre, as a part of the U.S. Air Transport Command. He was stationed in Assam, Northern India, a technician who worked on the planes traveling over the Hump. Those planes carried cargo, mail, essential war materials and troops in support of tactical operations in China, including evacuations of the sick and wounded.

They were wonderful fathers, proudest of their families first and then their WWII service. My dad marched as a member of the American Legion in every Memorial Day Parade, along side his dad, a WWI doughboy. He looked forward to his CBI(China Burma India) Roundup Magazine every month, I read everyone as well. I tried to imagine him in India with that monkey he had named Betsey . My brother has a CBI sticker on his truck to this day and I have patches and buttons. We are so proud of these brave young boys, our dads who became men overnight.

Years ago, during a birthday celebration for T's dad, we a gathering of family and our Swedish family here at the house. I will never forget the powerful moment when L embraced Pa, T's dad and emotionally thanked him for his service and for saving Europe.

I am overcome with emotion today for the sacrifices made and endured by that generation. Millions of American & Allied Forces men & women in uniform, virtually every family touched in some way for the war effort, an international collective trying to save the free world. Shared sacrifice. It continues today, we must not forget.

For the Record,
This day came in sunny and bright with fresh green everywhere renewed by the rain.

All hands healthy