Brian

I have spent the last few days going through your story of a young soldier's journey from Sword Beach to your wounding and recovery. I shall continue to search out your other postings here on the forum, and eventually read them all.

I want to thank you for sharing your story with us. Your tale was grounded and touching. The view of a simple soldier with the good fortune to have experienced much and survived. The humble ramblings of a man brave enough to admit his fear and strong enough to honestly share his experiences when so many others only repress them. I have wondered at the unimaginable horrors you have tried to describe, fought back tears at your poetry, laughed with you in your moments of humor, triumphed with you in your recovery, and thanked God for the dedication and sacrifice of yourself, your unit, and those like you in the effort to make the world a better place.

I want to thank you for your service to your country and to the Allied cause. There were many who fulfilled their obligation in the huge effort that was the Allied victory in WWII, you sir were one of the people at the cutting edge of the point of the spear. Your efforts and your mate's sacrifices can never be sufficiently appreciated. Thank you. [img]graemlins/vc.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/vc.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/salute.gif[/img]

There have been many comments in the forum about the way the current youth are ignorant of what your generation went through to secure their freedoms. I hope that your generation can look at that as your greatest tribute. The very fact that these spoiled pampered young people can parade around in their self-absorbed frivillous lives is because of your efforts. When you were making your way accross France, Belgium and Holland the few children you saw there could never have imagined the prosperous lives their children and grandchildren live because of the efforts of those like yourself. I do hope that enough of them will remember though. Remember so that it doesn't have to happen again. There will always be tyrants and despots in the world. May all the future generations remember to keep them from getting into positions of power where they can drag the flowers of a generation's youth together to try and destroy each other.

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PEOPLE SLEEP PEACEABLY IN THEIR BEDS AT NIGHT ONLY BECAUSE ROUGH MEN STAND READY TO DO VIOLENCE ON THEIR BEHALF. GEORGE ORWELL