Thursday, November 4, 2010

Soldiers Surprising Their Loved Ones: PART ONE

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Robert Charles Schleyer said...

I remember, a long time ago, in 1944 or 1945, when I was around two, or three, years old, and I saw my daddy for the first time.

I was in the living room of the apartment my mother and I lived in. The door swung suddenly open and standing in the portal was this Navy officer, as handsome as Odysseus - his hat, with gold all over it, the sleeves of his coat, ringed in gold bands, his buttons, gold.

I started screaming, "my daddy, my daddy," and then I ran to him. He hoisted me up into his strong arms and held me tightly.

Until this time, I'd never seen him. But every night before I went to sleep I said my "now I lay me down to sleep...if I should die before I wake...I pray the Lord my soul to take"...and I asked God to protect my daddy. Then I looked up at the picture of him that hung over my bed and I told him, "good night." I knew my daddy when I saw him.

Next year I'll be 69. That's as long as he could stand to live.

When he was 69 he put a .38 Cal bullet through his right temple and finally silenced the screams of his burning, drowning men, as his ship, USS Quincy, sunk to the bottom of Iron Bottom Bay, off Savo Island, torpedoed by a Japanese cruiser.

My love and admiration was just not strong enough to help you in your lonely pain.

I am sorry Daddy. I love you. I always will.

Your son, Robert Charles Schleyer

September 22, 2011 at 12:28 AM

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