Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Thank you Grandpa.....

Being it is Vetrans Day and so many of you did such a nice job at posting about your familys... I want to be a copy cat - is that ok? Can I be a copy cat for this post?? Thanks, I'll pay you back with dirty diapers ok?!

My grandpa is the most loveing, self sacrificing, dedicated, under appreciated, hard working, dependable, never thinks of himself man that I have ever met. Grandpa was born in a farm house outside of a small town of less than 200 people. He farmed with his folks until WWII and then he enlisted. When the war was over, he returned to work in the box factory that was the life of this small town. Grandpa was a sergant in the US Army and was one of the famous Jungleers division of the war. He served in the Pacific theater and saw so much that it was always hard for him to talk about it. He was the leader of his platoon, self apointed medic, grave digger and point man. My grandma told me that he apointed himself to dig the graves because he was responsible for his men.... He was also the medic in his unit, he is the most comforting man you could ever meet. When I was little you always went to grandpa when you got hurt, he carried bandaids in his wallet - a far cry from the pack he used to help his boys on the battlefield. Not until later in my life have I realized why he was the one that we would go to, he knew what to do. He also would scout for the platoon and put himself in danger before he put his men out there - he is just that kind of person. Some of the battles he fought in were - Quadal canal, Biak, the Phillipean Islands, Japan, New Guine and several others. He had Malaria, jungle rot on his feet, fly bites, disintary and they still fought for thier lives.

My grandpa is one of the most important people in my life. He is not a loud man nor is he arrogant, nor boastful. He is quiet, yet fun loving and is always there if you need him - without fail. Grandpa has a type of dimentia now, not alzheimers because he does remember us when he feels like talking. He keeps his eyes closed most of the time and will only answer questions, but can not carry on a conversation. My granny takes complete care of him, she is 81 and he is 84. We all pitch in as much as we can to help her, but she is just a BIT independant. She doesnt want us to see grandpy unclothed, for fear of his dignity - that is love.

Grandpy always took care of us kids. He ran us to school functions, rollar skating ( he would bring along a Lois Lamour book, sit and wait for us 4hrs till skating was over) shopping, work and anywhere else we needed to be. I am going to put a video on here for you to see that even in his failing state he is still trying to comfort those in need. Milk Dud was fussing and we set him in grandpys lap - the ever giving man that he is tryed to reach through his clouded mind and tried to gently shush him....

I hope you all have a person in your life like my grandpy - He is a wonderful man and I miss him terribly. Thank all of those vetrans who so deserve our respect and most of all our time to care for them after all they have done for us.

Happy Vetrans Day

11 comments:

Karen Deborah said...

The Dud has some lungs! God bless your granpappy and tell him thank you.

Far Side of Fifty said...

Heidi, Thanks for sharing your Grandpa with us! :)

Jocelyn said...

I never had a grandpa really, I would have given anyting to have a great grandpa like yours. How lucky you are! thank you for sharing him with us and tel lhim thank you so much for his sacrifice.

Unknown said...

heidi - thank you for sharing your story about your grandpa. You are one lucky lady, and your grandpa one lucky man. thank you

Robin said...

I hope you know how lucky you are to have a man like that in your life. He sounds like the sweetest most caring man in the world. Thanks for sharing him with us.

Suzanne said...

Thanks for telling the story of your grandpy. He was such a wonderful and patient man, just the perfect personality to be a grandpa. I love the video with Milk Dud crying his lungs out.

- Suzanne, the Farmer's Wife

Mrs. Mom said...

Dammit Heidi, you got me in tears here.

Thanks for sharing Grampy with us though....

Love you guys.

WudWerkr said...

we have talked about grampy before , nice to finally meet him. All my gramps are long gone away so enjoy him ... and since none of the otheres have ever heard it , i will mention.

Its funny to see " Grumpy takin care of "Grampy

roflmbo

Tina Marie the Willow Witch said...

Like your tribute as well! If it was not for men like our grandfathers we might be speaking a diffrent language.

spanki said...

how sweet! thanks to all that fight for my freedom!!
how do you get the video, with your camera, or a video camera???

Take a Deep Breath said...

What a kind man!