Courage

[Roverron]

Originally Posted by JimF4M1s

I could never share my three tours experiences with children. It would scare them and they wouldn't understand anyway. After 42 years I have told my wife of 44 years very little.
I still get together with two guys who were on boats with me. We don't talk about it when we are together. But we enjoy being together, knowing we'd do anything for each other.
Some things are just better left unsaid.

Jim, i'd only say one thing and that is if nothing else to make a video record of your experiences. At some point in their lives, your kids will want to know; I wish my dad had done that (it would have been just a written account) and my mom did do that (I treasure her video of her WWII experience) and now I'm sharing that with my sons and granddaughter.
Ron

[Snipersnest]

My Dad never really talked about his experiences, but I did get bits and pieces listening to family members while growing up. The one story that stood out was when he was with the 3rd Armored Infantry. He was riding in a half-track with his comrades when a German tank approached them from the rear. The driver bailed out leaving everyone behind, and it was every man for himself. My Dad slipped out the side and ran for a high wall by a farm. He hopped the wall and landed in a huge pile of manure, where he remained hidden. He was the only survivor of the group. So, I guess literally speaking, if it weren't for a pile of sh!t, I wouldn't be here. When I got back from Nam, he asked me if I saw any action and I told him yes. We never spoke another word about it again, but he and I exchanged that "knowing look" when the news had reports of the war on the evening telecasts.