We Went to War

I was born in the middle of World War II. My father did not fight - he drew schematics of radar installations, and so was deferred as necessary to the war effort at home. When we moved to New England from New York, my liberal, pacifist father became close friends with a man who worked as an electric company lineman, and who had been an aircraft tail gunner in the Pacific Theater. He (my father's friend) never spoke of his experiences, and although he was a member of the American Legion, he never took part in their parades or memorial celebrations. He was embarrassed by them, and by what he thought was the puffed up phoniness of the participants. The guys who were there and really saw what happened don't celebrate, he said.

I had a long drive this morning and was glad to catch this on the radio. My Grandfather was in the Pacific on the USS Alabama. He spoke very little about his service but when he did I dont think I could hear enough. The stories were a highlight of my youth. Thanks for the book. I cant wait to get a copy.