Two Soldiers
Two soldiers a generation apart29 total reviews
Comment from BethShelby
It is amazing what you can learn when you do some digging for roots. Even if the original Harold's story comes from what you imagined his short stint in service and an death might have been like you have still imortalized him with your words. I think these brave men deserve no less that have some in wrting about the for future generations to see. This is beautifully written.
reply by the author on 25-Jan-2024
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It is amazing what you can learn when you do some digging for roots. Even if the original Harold's story comes from what you imagined his short stint in service and an death might have been like you have still imortalized him with your words. I think these brave men deserve no less that have some in wrting about the for future generations to see. This is beautifully written.
Comment Written 22-Jan-2024
reply by the author on 25-Jan-2024
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Thank you Beth for your kindness. I appreciate your review. I think it sad that my Dad did not know the man who he was named after.
Mary
Comment from Ulla
You have certainly done a lot of research and I applaud you for writing two compelling true stories both with a sad ending. So many paid with their lives in both wars. All best, Ulla xcx
reply by the author on 24-Jan-2024
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You have certainly done a lot of research and I applaud you for writing two compelling true stories both with a sad ending. So many paid with their lives in both wars. All best, Ulla xcx
Comment Written 21-Jan-2024
reply by the author on 24-Jan-2024
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Thank you Ulla for your kind words.
I think the sad part about is that even my father did not know of Harold's existence.
Mary
Comment from LJbutterfly
The amount of researched truth in this story gave credibility to the fiction portion and made the entire presentation compelling. Both your well written story and author's notes holds the reader's attention.
reply by the author on 24-Jan-2024
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The amount of researched truth in this story gave credibility to the fiction portion and made the entire presentation compelling. Both your well written story and author's notes holds the reader's attention.
Comment Written 20-Jan-2024
reply by the author on 24-Jan-2024
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Thank you for your review. I appreciate your very kind words.
Mary
Comment from Allieas
I wondered if this was based on a true story as I read. You did a good job capturing the essence of what your uncle may have been feeling. War has been the cause of so many sad stories like your uncles. This was a beautiful tribute
reply by the author on 23-Jan-2024
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I wondered if this was based on a true story as I read. You did a good job capturing the essence of what your uncle may have been feeling. War has been the cause of so many sad stories like your uncles. This was a beautiful tribute
Comment Written 20-Jan-2024
reply by the author on 23-Jan-2024
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Thank you Allieas. I appreciate your review and very kind words.
Best wishes,
Mary
Comment from LateBloomer
Hi Mary, your story is well-told. I could relate to your story because my own father joined the army at 16 years old with age-altered documents.
Of note:
Joining was the biggest mistake of my life.
(I do wonder how many men had that same feeling, after-the-fact. My father suffered horrific injuries, but he never expressed regret, but I believe in my heart-of-hearts that many of the enlisted men had regrets.
Who could blame them?)
Also:
It was a chance to see more of the world and help my sister.
(My father joined for the same reason--it was the Great Depression. He joined to send money home to his mother. Just sharing, I knew someone who had joined the Navy in the 1970's. He joined because he was watching all those late night TV commercial about the Navy, and be all that you can be, along with beautiful women surrounding the ship. After he joined, he was sent to sea, and his ship sat in the middle of wherever for almost a year, and there was not a sight of any women--lol, but true.)
And:
I could go to jail or enlist in the Army to fight Hitler.
(That was a choice given by the judge, and many times, it was for the best. However, in today's world, that option is not given. I think it's because 1) you must be a HS graduate to join the military, and 2) so many of the young people are addicted to drugs, and the military will not take them. I can't blame them.)
Mary, your did a good job narrating the story. Well told. Believable.
Keep the blue waters flowing. Margaret ~ LateBloomer
reply by the author on 22-Jan-2024
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Hi Mary, your story is well-told. I could relate to your story because my own father joined the army at 16 years old with age-altered documents.
Of note:
Joining was the biggest mistake of my life.
(I do wonder how many men had that same feeling, after-the-fact. My father suffered horrific injuries, but he never expressed regret, but I believe in my heart-of-hearts that many of the enlisted men had regrets.
Who could blame them?)
Also:
It was a chance to see more of the world and help my sister.
(My father joined for the same reason--it was the Great Depression. He joined to send money home to his mother. Just sharing, I knew someone who had joined the Navy in the 1970's. He joined because he was watching all those late night TV commercial about the Navy, and be all that you can be, along with beautiful women surrounding the ship. After he joined, he was sent to sea, and his ship sat in the middle of wherever for almost a year, and there was not a sight of any women--lol, but true.)
And:
I could go to jail or enlist in the Army to fight Hitler.
(That was a choice given by the judge, and many times, it was for the best. However, in today's world, that option is not given. I think it's because 1) you must be a HS graduate to join the military, and 2) so many of the young people are addicted to drugs, and the military will not take them. I can't blame them.)
Mary, your did a good job narrating the story. Well told. Believable.
Keep the blue waters flowing. Margaret ~ LateBloomer
Comment Written 20-Jan-2024
reply by the author on 22-Jan-2024
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Margaret, I was impressed with your review. It was interesting and thoughtful. You are right about judges giving a choice today. The military would want only those who want to be there rather than a drug addict.
Best wishes,
Mary
Comment from Wayne Fowler
Quite interesting.
World Wars I and II were were horrendously wasteful of human life.
The Brass tells us it will hasten the end of the war., - oops
of what my dad told me.Ã??Ã? - These can be edited out. It's a nuisance. I have to do it with every post.
Best wishes.
reply by the author on 22-Jan-2024
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Quite interesting.
World Wars I and II were were horrendously wasteful of human life.
The Brass tells us it will hasten the end of the war., - oops
of what my dad told me.Ã??Ã? - These can be edited out. It's a nuisance. I have to do it with every post.
Best wishes.
Comment Written 20-Jan-2024
reply by the author on 22-Jan-2024
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Thank you Wayne, I appreciate your review. I edited it as you noted.
Best wishes,
Mary
Comment from Sandra Stoner-Mitchell
That was a lovely tribute to an uncle you never met. So many died in that war. I've been to France several times and walked around the war cemetarys. The graves go on forever. What struck me most was how clean and tidy they kept the graves, and how quiet it was. I didn't even hear birds singing. It was in some ways quite eerie. If only it had been the war to end all wars, but they are still raging all over the world. Such a waste of a young man's life. I enjoyed reading your story. Sandra xx
reply by the author on 22-Jan-2024
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That was a lovely tribute to an uncle you never met. So many died in that war. I've been to France several times and walked around the war cemetarys. The graves go on forever. What struck me most was how clean and tidy they kept the graves, and how quiet it was. I didn't even hear birds singing. It was in some ways quite eerie. If only it had been the war to end all wars, but they are still raging all over the world. Such a waste of a young man's life. I enjoyed reading your story. Sandra xx
Comment Written 20-Jan-2024
reply by the author on 22-Jan-2024
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Thank you Sandra. I appreciate your comments and review. I am glad you enjoyed reading.
Best wishes,
Mary
Comment from nomi338
As necessary as our leaders have found war to be, the heart-breaking fact is that war has been the prime factor in the slaughter of some of the world's finest young men. Young men who might have changed the world for the better. I believe that is why Satan the Devil provokes warfare. In an effort to prevent the world from becoming the paradise that God intended it to be. The fatality of the story's two young heroes broke my heart. I joined the US air force at 17 in 1960, I could have suffered a similar fate in things had gone differently for me. I thank God that they did not.
reply by the author on 22-Jan-2024
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As necessary as our leaders have found war to be, the heart-breaking fact is that war has been the prime factor in the slaughter of some of the world's finest young men. Young men who might have changed the world for the better. I believe that is why Satan the Devil provokes warfare. In an effort to prevent the world from becoming the paradise that God intended it to be. The fatality of the story's two young heroes broke my heart. I joined the US air force at 17 in 1960, I could have suffered a similar fate in things had gone differently for me. I thank God that they did not.
Comment Written 20-Jan-2024
reply by the author on 22-Jan-2024
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Thank you for your very kind and thoughtful review. I truly appreciate it. I feel for Harold in that my dad did not know the man whose name he carried even existed.
Mary
Comment from Sally Law
This is really powerful, my friend. I would be submitting this to the local historical society. Coming from a military family, I understand the pressures put on young men to serve in the military regardless of their political or religious persuasion. Back then, a man was thought to be a coward if he didn't step forward for God and country. My five brothers felt it during Vietnam War years. Steve, of whom I've written about in stories and poems, the most recent post was a poem, "Nobody in Vietnam" from 2023; was a Green Beret and survived three tours of duty. He returned to the states in the 1973 with cancer-related Agent Orange exposure. It eventually took his life. For Steve, soldering was his life and he gave himself to it. Not everyone has the calling, or the mental/physical/emotional toolbox for it, but my brother did.
Thank you again for sharing. My condolences in your collective losses.
Sal xoxo
reply by the author on 22-Jan-2024
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This is really powerful, my friend. I would be submitting this to the local historical society. Coming from a military family, I understand the pressures put on young men to serve in the military regardless of their political or religious persuasion. Back then, a man was thought to be a coward if he didn't step forward for God and country. My five brothers felt it during Vietnam War years. Steve, of whom I've written about in stories and poems, the most recent post was a poem, "Nobody in Vietnam" from 2023; was a Green Beret and survived three tours of duty. He returned to the states in the 1973 with cancer-related Agent Orange exposure. It eventually took his life. For Steve, soldering was his life and he gave himself to it. Not everyone has the calling, or the mental/physical/emotional toolbox for it, but my brother did.
Thank you again for sharing. My condolences in your collective losses.
Sal xoxo
Comment Written 20-Jan-2024
reply by the author on 22-Jan-2024
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Thank you, Sally, for your kind review. I am so sorry for your brother Steve and all he went through. Regardless of how one feels about the justification of war, these soldiers fought with honor and need to be remembered for their sacrifice.
Mary
Comment from Jacob1395
This is a really emotional piece. During both world wars, there was so much desire in people to do their bit for their country and freedom, but I do wonder if many regretted their choice to go to war once they got there. A well written piece, I really enjoyed reading it.
reply by the author on 22-Jan-2024
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This is a really emotional piece. During both world wars, there was so much desire in people to do their bit for their country and freedom, but I do wonder if many regretted their choice to go to war once they got there. A well written piece, I really enjoyed reading it.
Comment Written 20-Jan-2024
reply by the author on 22-Jan-2024
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Thank you Jacob for taking the time to read my post. I appreciate your review.
Mary