The photo inset is a sketch of a paratrooper operating his radio, just as my dad did as a 101st Airborne paratrooper with the 502nd PIR, Hq in WWII.
His collection of wartime letters written and now preserved in COMES A Soldier’s Whisper contain sentiments that resonate with all soldiers. He would write on May 27, 1945:
“I’ve been through all that some of my buddies have. Yet some of them have children and those points were enough to carry them over. Oh well, that’s Army for you. I’ll at least get a furlough if I should go to the Pacific. Right now, don’t worry about me. I’m safe and having a good rest. Oh yes, I haven’t gotten a cluster for my Purple Heart yet from Bastogne. If and when I do, that will give me the 85 points. However, somebody messed up the records, and I probably won’t get it. It’s really my fault. At the time, I wasn’t interested in any darn old cluster for anything. I just wanted to get away from there or go nuts.”
“Now that my mail isn’t censored, I can tell you how and when I was wounded in Holland. I’ll make it brief. It was September 22, 1944, near St. Oedennrode, Holland, at a forward observation post. I was very tired that morning and didn’t have to go as I hadn’t slept for 48 hours. However, the day before, the British had given tank support, and we also had it for that morning. We kicked the hell out of them the day before. The Colonel asked if I was to be his radio operator that morning, and I said yes, I wanted to be in on it. He was a hell of a swell guy. Anyway, just as the attack had gotten under way, there was a devil of an explosion over our heads. That’s about all I remembered for 48 hours. When I came to my senses, I thought my leg was gone. That’s one terrible feeling. I think a million things must have flashed through my head at once. I probably shouldn’t have told you this. But you’ve asked several times, and I couldn’t then. The same shell killed two and wounded five. I guess it was quite a mess, not as bad as some I’ve seen though.”
Dad went on to receive the cluster (worn with multiple Purple Hearts) for his Purple Heart for D-Day and Bastogne battles in the European battle campaigns and the Bronze Star Medal for his radio communications during battle. He served under Colonel Cole, Colonel Michaelis and Colonel Chappuis.
“I think scars are like battle wounds – beautiful, in a way. They show what you’ve been through and how strong you are for coming out of it.”
~ Demi Lovato
If you want an amazing Christmas gift to take your parents or grandparents back in time, to an era, as Tom Brokaw so aptly referred to them, as the Greatest Generation, COMES A SOLDIER’S WHISPER is a great collection of letters leading to love, honor and sacrifice, available It is a “feel good” and patriotic book and shows sentiments that resonate with our soldiers of today. Available at Amazon and Barnes and Noble.
Remembering our history one day at a time…
Jenny Tharp La Sala
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www.ComesASoldiersWhisper.com
