Guy C. Whidden, II is featured today, a 101st Airborne paratrooper who is 94 years old this year who actually completed a “re-jump” in 1994 at the age of 74!
He is pictured on the front cover of his book to the far left. Mr. Whidden published his wartime letters which were carefully saved by his mother, Myrtel Ruttle Whidden. Like my father’s book, Comes A Soldier’s Whisper, Guy’s book, Between The Lines is not a history of war, but his story of experiencing it, a time of vital growth and development in his life.
Having reached his sunset years, he realized the glory of simply being one of an increasingly rare group of World War II survivors. My father passed away in 1999 at the age of 75. It has been very special for me to read BETWEEN THE LINES and Guy’s noted reflections long after his letters were written and his service as a 101st Airborne paratrooper. Although I was able to get to know my father “prewar” and during “wartime” through his letters, it would have been wonderful to have his reflections after so many years passed. But he was only just beginning to open up a few years before passing away.
Guy’s story is a human history of one young man’s life among millions who suffered, endured, died, or survived man’s inhumanity to man. The following is an excerpt from his letter while recovering in a Britain hospital dated September 28, 1944 with his noted reflections below:
Dearest Mom,
I might as well tell you about my wound, as the government is certain to tell you something. I’m in fine shape to begin with-I was hit by Jerry mortar fragments, one piece went through my leg 2 inches above the ankle breaking the tibia and resulting in a compound fracture. Before coming to Britain, I had a cast put on from my toes to halfway between my knee and hip. Yesterday I was given sodium pentothal (something like that) as an anesthetic, and my wounds were sewed up. That’s all there is to it, so now you don’t have to worry.
Guy’s reflections in looking back in 2009:
“I downplayed the extent of my injuries to minimize my parent’s concerns. Actually, the letter home from the government described me as “seriously wounded.” This letter very likely was the one that arrived in advance of the government notice of my injuries. As I recall, I was told by the surgeon that he was going to amputate my leg due to the condition of my wounds 10 days later. My conversation with him is another story. As it turned out, my wishes prevailed. He did suggest that I might have to “bite the bullet.” This was the case because the anesthetic only somewhat deadened the pain.”
Comes A Soldier’s Whisper remembering history and our veterans, one day at a time…
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