Dad fought in the Pacific campaign USMC. Guadalcanal/Bougainville. He wouldn’t tell me what he witnessed. That’s what he said to me “You don’t want to know”.
Of course I did want to know . But he’s gone now and any stories are gone with him.
I think we all know intellectually but unless experienced first hand there is no true comprehension. Hence PTSD and all it’s historic forbearers.
My dad was infantry with Patton’s Third Army...
He never talked about what he saw or did...until...
When I came home from Vietnam, he and went to a quiet place, had some beers and talked about friends we left behind....and cried...
We never talked about it anymore...
My dad was an army surgeon. Wounded at Guadalcanal. He would never speak of it
Guadalcanal was to the Japanese what Stalingrad was to the Germans ...
Same with my Dad.
He would never talk about it.
I only asked once,something told Me once was enough by the look on His face-it wasn’t a mean or scared look. Just a Blank look like I’ve never seen before or after- like He was trying to forget it all.
Wasn’t till after His death I found Discharge Paperwork and a few other things. Did figure out He flew in Europe but not in a Combat role.
Mom wouldn’t tell Me either.
Still I must Thank The Greatest Generation for saving Us from the nazis/japs. Job well done.