Ordinary men, doing extraordinary things.
Our Veterans endure many events that change them and history. Holidays, such as this are to remember them, and their valor. God have Mercy on their souls.
My Great Uncle was wounded & captured at Anzio. He rarely talked about it, BUT when he first returned home after the War was over he was interviewed by the local paper...thankfully, my Grandmother kept a copy.
After he was taken prisoner, he and others were eventually put on a train to be taken to a German camp. As they traveled through Italy, sympathetic women would hand them food through the open windows. Of course, the young men eagerly reached out to take it. Until a guard shot a woman point blank in the head to “teach them a lesson.”
Later, as prisoners, they were given gruel and potatoes...barely enough to sustain them, of course. However, a couple of the younger guards who were on duty at night would bring them chickens.
I always found it fascinating that the two things he specifically mentioned had to do with food...similar to your Uncle mentioning how hungry they were rather often in his account. Puts things into perspective as we all plan our picnics for later today does it not?