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In High School I took a vocational class in Printing. I learned how to set type on a Linotype Machine. It was a high paying blue collar job, and I became good at it. Much later I would become an owner in a type setting company.
There were veterans from WWII working in my company that I came to admire and trust. Most of them carried the scars of war both physically and mentally. I want to tell you about some of them.
Bob was in the First Marine Division and landed at Guadalcanal to take Henderson field so the Air Force could land planes and fight from there. The enemy cut their supply line and they ran out of everything. Bob was forced to eat raw fish for weeks and said: “I can never eat fish again, cooked or not.”
Bob walked with a limp and carried shrapnel in his legs. He was the only veteran that would talk about his experiences. I once brought a photo book to work on the Guadalcanal Landing, and Bob was quick to tell me about his part in it. The downside came with his mood swings. He would have periods of anger over the smallest remarks. I, and the others knew to allow him space and time for recovery. Bob was a good man put into a terrible war. He died young, in his forties. Just sat down on the floor and died, I still miss him.
Les was a Linotype operator, and a Medic in WWII. He landed with the troops on Iwo Jima. He would say very little about his war experiences. He did mention that he saw them raise the American Flag on Mount Suribachi. Les said: “the flag they raised was very small, not like the one you see in the Memorial.”
Les was quite and withdrawn, but like Bob, could get angry over small things. Les helped me in my early day of typesetting while working for another company. When I got my own company I hired him to work for me. He was my teacher for running and fixing the Linotype Machine. I learned a lot from Les.
Shirley (male) said almost nothing about his war experiences. I did learn he caught Malaria in the jungles of Borneo, and still took medicine. He was really quite and withdrawn. Spent his time “marking up” jobs for the plant and avoiding conversations with others.
I have always had great respect for the veterans of foreign wars. They forever deserve our thanks and gratitude.
© 2019, Lekatt. All rights reserved.
After WWII was over the solders came home. My mother was careful, and warned us kids not to bother them. She seemed afraid of them. But there was a former solder living in our neighborhood named Claude. He would play with us and seemed safe enough though my mother disapproved.
Claude was a former Ranger in the service. He did not talk about his war experiences, but was quick to tell us the large dimple in his cheek was due to an enemy bullet flying into one side and out the other. He remarked: “wish my mouth had been open, wouldn’t have lost my teeth.”
We mostly played “hide and seek” or “tag” with Claude. We could never catch him. When we got close once, I saw him grasp the rain downspout on his house, climb it, run across the roof, and jump to the ground on the other side leaving us far behind.
Later I learned Claude was a deeply spiritual person. I think that made a big difference in how he managed to endure the horrors of war. He later moved away and we heard he became a successful businessman.
As I grew older and joined the work-a-day world, I would meet other veterans who didn’t fare as well as Claude. Veterans that carried mental as well as physical scars with them for the rest of their lives. That will be a future post on the War.
© 2019, Lekatt. All rights reserved.
I grew up during World War II, in all the ways a person can. The mood was sober and concentrated, but people were friendly for the most part. Military people were held in high esteem. They got the free meals and the best seats, no one complained. Their lives were on the line for us and we knew it. Solders with their thumbs up on the highway were never passed, and usually taken straight to their destination. It was a far different world than today.
I helped my brother throw a morning newspaper route. Then, in the evenings get out my little red wagon, and collect newspapers, metal, especially aluminum to take to school where there was a large bin to hold them. They were picked up and recycled for the war effort.
It was not uncommon the see a Jeep with two uniformed officers driving down our street. Everyone knew that another family was receiving a Gold Star and news of the loss of a loved one. I also collected money for recent Gold Star families for a wreath to put on their door. Most everyone did something for the war effort. The whole country felt the weight of the war.
I post this for Veterans Day on November 11, to remind us of the sacrifices of military people who willingly lay down their lives for us and the cause of freedom. May we never allow anyone to attack our system of Constitutional Law.
Veterans Day November 11.
© 2019, Lekatt. All rights reserved.
New Year’s Eve Day, 1987, I was in a rear end collision which resulted in my NDE.
But first let me say that I was pulled up and out of the body before the moment of impact! While out of the body, I was just floating around the scene, enjoying a new perspective which can not be seen from our earthly view. My life at the time was pretty confining so I was really enjoying the new found freedom!
Soon, I felt myself being pulled into what I later came to realize was the tunnel. Still, I was just happy go lucky enjoying the experience. I somehow pushed against the sides and knew that it was an area that had “sides”. Soon, I began to see a bright light at the upward opening of this tunnel. As I noticed this, I also saw some “sparks” of that light floating down to meet me.
Then I came into an open area with no bounds that was super bright. Still being the curious artist that I am, I started looking around and up. Above me I saw the most beautiful opening. You could compare it to overlapping clouds with an open area near the edge. But the “clouds” were the most brilliant white/blue. I now am amazed that I could look at it as my eyes are very sensitive to the light. At the opening the “clouds” were lined with the most beautiful color you can imagine. If I put a color to it, I would say that the trim around the opening was a silver/gold but darker, not as brilliant nor as transcendent/airy as the opening.
In the opening was my visual concept of the kindest, most God like, figure that I can muster. (A jovial monk.) He gazed at me for a moment and instantly we were together “standing” at a nonvisible begining of the combined energy of All. I knew that He, and the energy knew, that I was there and I felt the most complete Love possible. It was Love plus! I knew in an instant that all that I ever was and ever would be was known, not only known, but Loved and accepted. (I say Loved and accepted only that doesn’t do it justice!)
This became a part of me instantly, and once it did my conceptualization of “God” directed me downward and to the left. There was a HUGE “Jesus” stepping out of some clouds. He faced me and there became a creation panel in front of Him. He was using what I now identify as laser beams, and within the creation panel were mathematical forms. I knew that this meant that he was creating the events of the world and my life.
Then I went down more through a forest and came out near a cave. I think that the “ladies” who took me through the forest were my Grandmother and Aunt. Next to the cave was my deceased Son. He directed my attention into the cave and I could see a wizard deep in the cave. I entered and I feel that this cave was semi-circular down. It came out on a landing, a dirt type landing next to a river or body of water. The wizard became an oarsman who pulled a boat up to the bank and bid me enter.
As we neared the landing across the river, I was told that I must go back! Believe me, they knew what they were doing getting me in the middle of stream to tell me that I had to go back!!
By the time that we got to the shore, pulled the canoe up and I was half-way up the embankment, I turned around and said, “It is going to be OK.” Then I finished my climb, made a right hand turn and awoke strapped down in the X-Ray room of the hospital.
I had not returned to my body enough to feel that I was strapped down. I could only see a green haze as my glasses were off. I only knew that I was alone and couldn’t move and couldn’t see anything! I bet that they heard my screams on the 3rd floor of the hospital.
S.D.
© 2019, Lekatt. All rights reserved.
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