Nows and Forevers

D-Day was 79 years ago today, and one of the most important days of the life of my grandfather, US Army 1st Lt. Edward A. Gough. The next day marked the start of his nine months in or near the front lines.

That’s a source of pride for my family, yet I hardly think that extraordinary. It’s called The Greatest Generation for a reason. He knew why he was there and what he had to do. And he fully committed to the harrowing and deadly work.

He left us pages he wrote about it and a reel to reel recording. I have several of the books he had read of D-Day to V-E Day, and his notes in the margin about what he saw. He was proud and humble of the part he played, kept in contact with families in France and Belgium who he worked with, and he and my grandmother visited them several times.

We can look back with sorrow and anger at things our country has done that hasn’t lived up to its ideals. But there are Americans, many, in early graves all over France and here in the US who gave all not just for their country but for the victims of war. They died not abstractly trying to save innocents by fighting in the war, which is amazing enough, but literally trying to save them from peril.