[cripplecreek]

Since my grandfathers death in 2000 I've started to find out about some pretty amazing things he did during the battle of the bulge.

Up untill just a few years ago I thought his greatest acomplishment was growing the longest beard for a July 4th contest. Now I know that he was twice wounded as he dragged wounded buddies to cover and lost the hearing in one ear due to an incomming artillary round landing nearly on top of him. Just last week my grandmother told me that grandad also lost 4 toes to frostbite during that winter.

BTW my grandmother was in the WAVES herself.

Also interesting were both my great grandfathers actions during WW1. Both had ran away and lied their way to europe when they were 15 or 16 years old.

[OldFriend]

The honor and integrity with which the veterans lived their lives after the war is highlighted by the fact that they never considered themselves heroes but simply doing their duty to their country.

We owe them our undying gratitude for their sacrifices.