Independence Day 2025
On December 8, 1950 my grandfather received a letter. As he would tell the story, it began this way, “Greeting: Having submitted yourself to a Local Board composed of your neighbors for the purpose of determining your availability for training and service in the armed forces of the United States, you are hereby notified that you have now been selected for training and service in the Army.” Family story has it that Grandpa’s response to this draft notice was, “I need better neighbors.” Grandpa spent two years in Korea. He commented that he’d never been colder in his life - which is saying something coming from a farm boy from Waverly. The episode of MASH where they’re all fighting over a pair of long johns would have been true to the freezing Korea experience. But better neighbors and frigid winters aside, Grandpa was always proud of his service. Although he was not enthusiastic to report, he had military honors at his funeral. My grandpa’s relationship with the Army was complicated, as...