Military’s all in the family

I was in the back seat of a cold car when two people dressed in white jumped in and started hugging everyone. Mother tells me it was her brother and sister, coming home from the Navy. I was probably 4 or 5 years old. That’s my first memory of veterans.

Uncle Arthur was in the company liberating Buchenwald. He told me about the sickening sights he wouldn’t forget. Uncle Harm, gunner on the USS Missouri: Running from a shower, he put a towel around his waist when they were attacked. He was on ship as Hirohito surrendered.

Uncle Carl was hesitant to talk about his naval experience. Studying World War II in my high school, I asked if he would talk to us. He told me he would tell me, and only me just once, and I should never ask him about it again. He gave me graphic descriptions as the Japanese sunk his ship. He was a survivor of the USS Indianapolis. Uncle Carl’s son, cousin Tommy, was a helicopter gunner in Vietnam. Both Carl and Tommy received Purple Hearts.

My aunt, Jo, a Navy WAVE, served as a payroll officer in Florida. Never married, she suffered with Alzheimer’s and I was proud to be her caregiver in her last years.

My father Tony served as an MP in Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., until the military discovered he had only one eye. Somehow, he passed the entry level eye test as his record shows 20/20 vision.

My brother-in-law, Rod, had boots on the ground in Vietnam as his Iowa Army National Guard was activated. A fine family man, we’re happy he returned to us.

The last family veteran is my husband, Dean. He was drafted and I was pregnant. He didn’t go to Canada, he didn’t protest; he accepted the responsibility. A short trip to Vietnam, he was sent to Thailand as he was screened for a Pentagon security clearance.

I am proud of my family and their service to our country.

SANDY JOHANSEN

Hot Springs Village

Heroes all, they join the ranks of innumerable veterans through history, distinguished perhaps not by specific individual actions, but by readiness to serve in whatever capacity necessary, not knowing what they would sacrifice, but nonetheless supported by country and family. DENNIS A. BERRY

Bryant