The events of that day I will never completely understand. A day just like any other for so many in the world, and yet for some it was a routine life of hard labor and mistreatment. On this day my father had already been a prisoner for over two years in a Japanese POW camp. It was D-Day and allied forces were storming the beaches of France.
My dad told me a story of a Japanese guard in which I will never forget. I don't believe he remembered the exact day but I don't think it really matters.
Because prisoners were rationed to only two meals (watered down rice was the staple) a day, prisoners were always in search of food, literally anything that looked edible. But if you got caught you can most likely be beaten or get the butt of a rifle to your tailbone.
I don't remember what exactly the food item was, but my dad said a Japanese prison guard seen him pick up that edible from the ground but he purposefully looked the other way. It saved him a beating and possibly his life.
As American troops were storming the beaches of Normandy it would be a trickle affect of liberation through Europe and Asia. It would take over two years and the lives of thousands of American soldiers before my father would be set free.
My dad had always, always been grateful living in this country we call America and never took for granted the thousands of Americans that laid down their lives.
War is horrible and its confusing. An enemy that can kill and yet show compassion. Thousands crossing seas to the aid of a stranger and set him and many others free.
I clearly remember this from dad "The war is over"
I took this to heart. Let us forgive our enemies, let us remember those who sacrificed their lives and above all be thankful to God. If our Creator can die and forgive us of our sins certainly we can do the same for our enemies.
On behalf of my dad, once again thank you to all his American liberators and the surviving families.
God bless America.
Comments