On this day, more than 60 years ago, my grandfather, Jose Casares, parachuted into Holland during Operation Market Garden. A veteran of the D-Day parachute assault, Pvt.Casares was well versed in combat against elite German forces such as the infamous Waffen-SS. Unlike the Normandy drop, this was a day time parachute assault right on top of German units that were resting and recovering from Normandy. My grandfather told me that this campaign would be the fiercest and bloodiest of all.
- Your only weapon is your brain, everything else is a tool.
Your grandfather's generation has been called the greatest generation time and time again, but I don't think many of us stop and think about what that actually means. They grew up in the darkest time in US history, in a depression that crippled this country. If that wasn't enough of a test, they went to war and saved, not just our freedom, but most of the world. They went through the horror that that war had to have been. Saw and did things that we can't even imagine. Fought hard and won that war so the world could be safe. Then they came home and led America into the prosperity of the 1950's. If that wasn't enough they stood toe to toe with the USSR through the next few decades. We owe them our way of life. We owe them our thanks. They really are an amazing generation of people.
"Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!"
Us and thousands of people owe him our freedom, in my opinion!
It's God's job to judge the terrorist... It's our mission to arrange the meeting!
Both my grandfather and his brother grew up in east LA. He had nothing but the sense of adventure and wanted to be the "best of the best". The things he endured at the age of 17 - 18 are apparent in the post war photos I have of him = he looks like an old man, cigarette in hand. His cheeks sunken in. The pre-war photos show a smile and cockiness of youth.
- Your only weapon is your brain, everything else is a tool.
[quote="Maverick1"]Us and thousands of people owe him our freedom, in my opinion![/quote]
If you give to a charity please think of giving to one of these two charities. The Naval Special Warfare Foundation or Navy SEAL Warrior Fund.
History is important, specially when it comes to US HISTORY, it is important that we learn about it so we can tell stories like these to our kids, great soory!