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Sunday, June 15, 2003     Page: 13A

Our fathers – they may no longer be with us, but they are not forgotten. The
reason or reasons this should be so could go on for pages.
   
We remember him as being the master of the household, the king of his
castle, the ruler, the enforcer, the main wage earner.
    He was the one that laid down the rules of the house, and it was “heaven
help those” who did not abide by the prevailing rules. He’s the one that did
without when things became scarce. He made no complaints.
   
He helped raise his sons and daughters to the best of his abilities, which
were many.
   
As we grew up
   

   
As we matured and absorbed our educations, especially in high school if we
got that far, we sometimes differed with Pop, but we were smart not to make it
obvious or combative for Pop wouldn’t have stood for it.
   
Like the time a prank turned into the local policeman delivering a whack on
the rear with his night stick and when the prankster was brought home by the
policeman, and Pop was informed of the indiscretion and delivered another
whack where it would do the most good with the hopes it wouldn’t happen again.
   
He didn’t contact an attorney and claim police violence toward the
offspring. He meted out family punishment with the hope there wouldn’t be a
repeat.
   
World War II
   

   
During World War II Pop was adverse to seeing at first his sons going off
to the services, but later, the daughters.
   
In many instances, Pop was in uniform during World War I and had faced that
terrible trench war in France. Now, he understood that times had changed in so
far as the weapons of war were of concerned, but he also recognized the
dangers and hazards that any war produces.
   
When the family member was service-bound, Pop attempted to offer advice of
what to do and what not to do while a member of the military. Yet, he was so
proud that his family member was making the welfare of the American ideals as
a primary reason for entering the services.
   
Pop prayed every time he had the opportunity to do so in his house of
worship that the horrible World War I practice of chemical warfare (gas) would
not be utilized because of the aftermath of such a practice.
   
He, himself, had been so affected, and with working in the hard-coal mines,
the rock and coal dust worsened the conditions of the chemically scarred
lungs.
   
Yet, who can forget seeing Pop off to the mines in the early-morning hours
with the ever-present thought that he may never come home again, as fatalities
in the mining industry were many due to the greed and demands of the mine
barons. Safety was not the prime aim of the industry, production was.
   
When Mom packed the lunch pail with a couple of sandwiches, an apple from
the back yard, a nickel pie and probably coffee, she did so with the hopes she
would be packing another lunch the next day.
   
The war
   
Pop read every newspaper and magazine and if lucky enough to have a radio
in the living room, followed the war progress, especially if he knew where his
son or daughter was serving.
   
The same went for those on military duty. They wondered if everything was
OK at home.
   
Pop worked as many hours as he was able to keep the dining room table set.
Even though his penmanship was not the best, he took time to write to his
military servicemen and women to assure them that there was no need for
concern as far as the home front was concerned.
   
Pop also insisted that if anything was needed by those in service, he would
make every effort to provide for their requests.
   
One such thing that comes to mind is that during World War II, only two
pairs of shoes, other than those necessary for particular jobs, were justified
with shoe-ration coupons.
   
While I was in basic Army training and later specialized military
schooling, the GI-issued combat boots just didn’t look right when on pass or
leave. I mentioned to Pop that it would be nice to own a pair of “civvies” for
off duty. Lo and behold, in a short while, a package arrived with the plain
brown shoes without a note or explanation. It didn’t take much thinking to
understand that Pop sacrificed his shoe ration for his kid in the service.
   
As long as I live, I can’t ever forget that unselfish act of providing by
Pop. Those GI-issued plastic razors were horrible to some of us, but, when
explained to Pop, sure as shootin’ there came a heavy package with a
heavy-duty Gillette razor, albeit used. Pop never used a safety razor, always
the straight razor with its honing strop.
   
New from home
   
Pop knew most of my school buddies and their families and always took the
time to forward newspaper articles that concerned them to me.
   
He always wrote cheerful, never complaining letters, when he did write.
Nothing but sunshine, never any dark clouds.
   
On this wonderful day
   

   
Pop, you may not be among the mortals on your day, but you will forever be
in our prayers and in our thoughts for much of you and your ways have been
conveyed and instilled into your offspring.
   
They, even though it is not noticeable, still emulate your teachings and
advice down through each generation. For your many sacrifices and guidance
during our upbringing, our thanks will be eternal and appreciated.
   
There are those among us who, in our own way, often seek the help of Pop,
and I for one do believe he can hear our consternation.
   
Even though he may be gone these many years, he is still alive, if only in
our memories and remembrances.
   
If there were medals that could be awarded to Dad, I am certain one living
room wall could not accommodate the many he amassed when being Dad.
   
A simple murmured “thank you,” and perhaps a recitation of that prayer he
taught you as a young one, will be heard and appreciated. Thanks, Dad!
   
Bill Smith is a Times Leader columnist who writes for and about veterans.
His column appears Sundays. To publish items in Views On Veterans, write to
Bill Smith, c/o Times Leader, 15 N. Main St., Wilkes-Barre, PA 18711-0250.