Remembering my Dad on Father's Day

Some years it hits harder than others. Time doesn't necessarily 'heal all wounds'. I suppose it helps, but depending on our frame of reference at the time, some years it is easier to bear. This isn't one of them.

My dad died of a heart attack when he was 46. He lived through active duty in World War !! and the Korean War, then returned home to teach calculus at an engineering school in West Virginia. He had several heart attacks before the fatal one in November of 1963, 20 days before the assassination of President Kennedy. My mother, brother and I moved away from the Kanawha River, mountains, and a college town to central PA. I called it 'cement city' and felt displaced and separated. My heart was broken. 

Recently I made a new friend, Howard, who gave me a clearer picture of the war and the experience of my dad, and other veteran's service to our country. He shared this on "D" day.

"Today is "D". On 6 June 1944 the war turned in favor of the Allies. If today never happened, most people believe that we would all be speaking German now instead of English.
This country was preparing for an invasion. There were air raid practices every night; factories were camouflaged to look like villages; even German submarines came into the upper part of the Chesapeake Bay; food was rationed and hard to get. But on "D" day, thanks to the sacrifices of our men serving in the Armed Forces, all of this started to change. It took a few years but it did change.
Those of us living in this area should be particularly proud because the invasion at Normandy was spearheaded, primarily, by the 29th Division, which was comprised mostly of men from Pa., Md., Va. and D.C. and trained in Maryland before being sent to Scotland before the invasion.
So let's don't forget the importance of 6 June 1944 and how it effects our lives, and maybe we could take a little time and say a prayer for those who didn't survive that day."

After reading this, I called my brother to ask if my dad had ever mentioned where he was on June 6, 1944, or if there has been any mention of the Korean War. Mother said he was very different when he returned from service. Of course. But that is all we knew and neither of them are here to ask.

Most of my memories of my dad are associated his support for my unique perception of the world, my frustration with what i later learned was 'Dumbing Us Down' education, and his creative approach to teaching.. There are stories through out this site that are more uplifting, and as the day goes on, I'll try to shift to lighter memories. But right now, over a half a century later, my heart is heavy, and I miss him.