Many of my patients (VA Hospital) are WWII Vets. I find common traits among them. Those that endured some of the most horrific battles and also performed acts of great courage and honor are the most humble and gracious men you meet in the hospital. Although they may not personally know the Vet sitting next to them in a waiting room they treat each other like brothers. They do no brag about what they did and will commonly act like it was nothing.
One of my patients was a Bataan Death March survivor. I asked permission from him to ask him questions about the march and imprisonment. He graciously gave me permission. I asked him what was the difference in those that survived and those that did not. His answer was, “when you gave up you died.” I also asked him what keep him going. He said that, “that each day he lived was the only way he had of defying the Japanese.” One of his meds was changed and he went to the pharmacy to get it filled. I closed the door to the clinic and shut it down and went to the pharmacy and filled it myself and brought it to him. I said to him that he should not have to wait for anything as he has waited long enough. He graciously thanked me and shook my hand.
I am humbled by these old men. They were and are giants among men. We owe our freedom to these great men and we owe them our respect and help. They saved us.
Beautiful post. Thank you.
“When you gave up you died.” Words to live by.