re: Lest we forget.... VJ Day 75 Years Ago

I completely agree with you. And this is always something that gets argued around this time each year.

Pretty personal for me. My grandfather served in the Pacific. Was wounded twice serving aboard the USS Crescent City. His ship was relegated to ferrying wounded from each campaign by 1945. But would have no doubt been involved in Operation Downfall, had it occurred.

One of the great blessings of my life was ministering to the elderly in assisted living facility. One of the residents was a 92 year former WWII Navy pilot. He flew fighter aircraft off the deck of the U.S.S. Yorktown II. After all those years he was still cocky. He knew he was the best of the best. He spent his days in his room mourning the loss of his wife. She was a smoker......he didn't like cigarettes.

I took my granddaughter to meet him. I wanted her to meet an authentic hero. She was working on a history project for her school. It was part of the schools Veterans Day celebration. My Navy Pilot pal agreed to an interview and we pounced on the chance.

I was truly blessed. God Bless that generation. I hate to see them leave us.

My uncle died in the Pacific — Navy torpedo bomber pilot — in 1943 and my mom hated those “damn Japs” until the day she died. They were lucky she wasn’t in charge of strategic bombing.