My grandfather, Edward McNamara from Lexington Massachusetts served with the 101st Regiment (Medical company), 26th Yankee Division in the first world war. He seldom talked about it, and when he did it was a terrible memory which haunted him. But I will always remember his smile when he told me how at 11:00 A.M. on 11th November the guns stopped and he and his friends knew they would live, knew they had survived.
And as this date is now called Veterans Day I say thank you to my father in law, Aldrich Stevens who served in the 3rd Ranger Battalion (Darby's Rangers) in the Second World War. He joined the Rangers in North Africa, and took part in the invasion of both Sicily and Italy. He could not take part in the Anzio landing because of his wounds so missed the Battle of Cisterna. Like my grandfather he too was haunted by the memories of what he saw, experienced and especialy those he lost.
I remember their sacrifices and hope both have found peace.
We must not forget...
ReplyDeleteMy grandfather served in on the western front in throughout WW1 and survived. His brother was killed on the 1 July 1916. They are not forgotten.
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