Welcome to the Daughters of D-Day Blog
We invite all daughters and sons of World War II combat veterans to join us in a discussion about our father's war. In fact, you don't need to be a daughter or son to join in the conversation and tell us what you think. Please feel free to comment on any of the posts and to give us your perspective and feedback.
posted by Ilene at 2:24 PM
10 Comments:
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Hi, I am a proud daughter of a D Day World War II vetern.. He was with the 101st Airborne Divison. He just passed away about 6 weeks ago at the age of 85. He was so proud to be a soldier in this war. He had some great stories and of course sad ones. But he was a real hero in every sense of the word..He was awarded the Purple Heart and many many other war medals. I am so proud of what he accomplished in his life. He was a great father and a great man and very proud to serve his country.. His name was Troy H.Decker..The love of all his daughters. He is our Hero!!
Thanks for your comment and sorry about your dad's passing.
As I was researching information on the 508th PIR, I found this site. I cried to know that there are other daughters searching as I am. I am mourning the recent loss of my father whose service in WWII in the 508th PIR, 82nd Airborne was central in his life. He, too, rarely talked about it, but I am reading now the hundreds of letters he wrote my mother during the war years. I work frequently in Europe - in some of the same places where my father was - and tomorrow I am making my first visit to Nijmegen, NL, an important site for him.
My father was 82nd Airborne in the 505. He also was at Nijemgen and proud of being a paratrooper. Thanks for your post.
Last sunday I spent the day in Nijmegen, the site of the liberation of Holland. I knew from my father that it was both the most difficult part of his time in Europe as well as the most rewarding. A few miles outside of Nijmegen is the National Bevrijdingsmuseum 1944-1945 (National Liberation Museum 1944-1945). It sites on the site where the 82nd Airborne landed. It is an outstanding experience. I came away having gained a real practical understanding of what I learned was called Operation Market Garden. I recommend it to anyone searching for a better understanding of what it was like for his or her father. I was completely unprepared, though, for the emotion that the place triggered. As a docent was outlining the mission of the museum, she pointed to a very large painted panoramic mural of hundreds upon hundreds of paratroopers floating in the sky and said "and these, of course, were our heros." I told her that one of them was my father and with that the emotion was overwhelming. Attached to the museum is a memorial to all that died. The museum felt like a personal tribute to our dads.
You might be interested in a documentary titled Son of War, done by a son of a WWII veteran who retraced his father's path through Europe during the war. Information is at kudo productions.
well my father served in the navy during world war two we lost him january 28 2007. God bless him what a strong man did see combat off okinowa, uss long and uss lunga point I did get a chance to see pearl harbor this october wow just a sober feeling.
I just finished reading "Soldier from the war returning" author Prof Thomas Childers. Thats where I saw mention of this site.
The comment from one of the interviewed adult children that "we were POW's too" struck me immediately. My memories of my father are not happy.. I've heard he was a bit of a hell raiser as a teen. He didn't have the chance to
get past that before he was into the Army and European theater battles. After reading this book, I feel a bit gentler in my assessment tho I know even if he was alive today I would still keep a safe distance. His violence towards my mom and the deprivation we all went thru shaped my sisters and I. I realize now that my hyper startle reflex and anxiety at loud sounds and voices are my own forms of PTSD. My grandson is currently in the Navy and I pray he never goes thru the horrors of battle. God bless all our service people and hope this war on terror can end somehow....
thank you and your parents for their outstanding contribution to our freedom at much cost to themselves. However, I disagree with the statistic only 25% saw combat. maybe 25% survived of those that saw combat survived. If you read any narratives you will see how many died right in front of a survivor. Also, the government is not known for their truthfulness regarding our losses at that time.
Whatever the reason for PTSD, the war, the depression, life in general it impacts no doubt. My life with my father was no different then yours, he didn't serve but the problems were the same. I loved him and forgave him because I learned what he had been through. I hope that the forgiveness and understanding reaches your hearts as well. Know at least your father's issues came from a fight for our freedom and take pride and comfort in that. I look forward to reading your book
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