Personal Narrative: My Great-Grandpa Served In World War I

Most people can relate the word “home” to one area where they grew up and made memories. Unlike most people, I called many places home. Growing up in a military family was an arduous task which had great impacts, both positive and negative, on my life. It shaped me into the person I am today. A person with a laundry list of flaws and imperfections, yet has learned to love herself.

There are so many history stories in history books and on the internet, but the source from people who were actually there is so much better than reading the nonsense. It’s better to hear stories from people who have actually lived and witnessed it rather than just read stories about it. Most students listen better than they read. When you listen to stuff, it sticks in our mind way longer than looking at a book trying to figure out what’s going on. Veterans are an example of this. They tell us stories about the times they were in the training and when they battled, if they did or have already. They have always been an important part of our nation’s history, present, and future. Everyone who went into the military or is currently planning to join has or will have a story to tell. It will be a part of them that they will always remember, the good times and the bad times. So many veterans love telling all the experiences they have witnessed. Thinking of it, it’s not a bad thing; it’s a great thing to be able to say they were actually there. Many students ask what the training is like when they first join the military, although it’s really tough, many still consider going, some even make the commitment to join right after they graduate. Those who do make it, the commitment, are the reason our nation’s history and future is how it is and how

The desire of serving in the military was deeply rooted in my younger self. At the age of fourteen, I immigrated into the U.S. to reunite with my father. Thanks for the governmental funds toward low socioeconomic families, I am beyond grateful for receiving food stamps, obtaining student loans, and getting work-study benefits for

He had this look on his face like he was trying to remember and after a couple minutes, he answered, “I was born in 1928, and I was lucky compared to some. We were farmers, and while things were tight we came out better than many. God provided what we needed, and after things started looking better he started blessing us with even more.” My grandpa continued to tell me how those first 11 years or so of his life taught him to use everything sparingly, be smart about what you throw away, and if it isn’t broken you don’t need a new one. These lessons he learned during that time didn’t disappear. To this day, he still thinks about it and remembers the tougher times and remembers how bad the world can get. Then, going with the second question I had he continued on about how with the Depression ending there was a new problem to take its place, World War II. At first, he only heard about the war, the U.S. wasn’t that involved, but even so, everyone was working. “Donations were sent, shops needed extra help, anyone who was old enough and able-bodied was waiting for the day they’d be called up. In ‘41, when Pearl Harbor was attacked, that’s when it got bad. The U.S. joined the battle, and local men were going to war. At the time, you had to be 21 to be drafted, but with there having been an attack on U.S. it was lowered to 18. I was 13 or 14 at this time. I didn’t turn 18 until ‘45. By that time we had won, but I still signed up. I was sent to Japan in ‘46, and it was bad.” My grandpa didn’t go much further than that, but he said that every person did what they had to, everyone worked together, everyone supported. He says that he’ll never forget what some of the aftereffects were of the war and that it’s not something you can fall asleep after and just forget. The last event I inquired about was the 1969 Moon landing of Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin. My grandpa said

I am proud to say that both my grandma and grandpa served in the military. The experiences that they have had are invaluable to learn about. Their stories keep the service they have done alive and helps to enrich others about what serving the country is like. They do not glout about their service, but are humbled to have been able to make a contribution to the nation’s security. If not for my grandpa’s service, I would not be here today as he met my grandma through it. I respect his service and sacrifice for the country of today.

He worked under constant fire to help save lives and through his courage, many Americans were able to go home and see their families after the war. Another example of courage is the story of Joe Foss, A Marine Pilot who single-handedly shot down 26 enemy planes during his time and once had to swim for twelve hours in order to be rescued by American Forces. He was back in the air a few days later. Many of his friends used to say that he had "all the balls of any man who walked the earth." The courage he showed after going through such an ordeal like the one he went through exemplifies the type of individual that makes up the "greatest generation". Courage was a virtue that was found in most if not all of the men who fought for our country in Vietnam.

Although it’s been hard for my brother, Louis, my mother, Emma, my dad, Charles, and me, we have been enduring many hardships after this great war. Louis is only five, my mother’s thirty-eight, my dad’s thirty-nine, and I’m thirteen. Even though it ended almost a year ago, it still has some great effects on us. Some have had some positive effects, but they’ve mostly been bad. The Great War had not completely end in 1918.

Nobody seems to know the truth about bigfoot only me. From recently hacked top top secret information from the pentagon you will find out about how this amazing creature came to be.

Approaching the age of fourteen, my mother told me stories of my Grandpa Creg. My grandfather, a Vietnam War Veteran, World War II War veteran, and recipient of a purple heart, fought courageously for the United States of America. One of

I felt I needed to help with World War 1. I got the flu and was not able to leave for Europe. The war ended before I recovered. They did call me though, and offered me a job as an ambulance driver. My mom signed my passport for my dad and herself. She told me she thought that if she didn’t sign, I’d run off anyway. Bless my mom. Once I got to England, they started driver’s training with me, although I’m sixteen. I didn’t think that driving would actually be doing so much. My crew says I have the best looking ambulance because I have sketched all my cartoons on the sides of it. I just couldn’t stop drawing! They say I’m also the best tour guide. I’ve sent a few drawings home of Parisian street scenes and political cartoons home for the high

I live in Great Britain with my family. We are a small family. I have my amazing and caring mother, Cedder Rose Rowland, and my little sister, Sequoia. My mother is going through a difficult struggle at the moment. It has not been long since the death of my father and we all are not coping well. It is April 9, 1919 and class was hard for me today. We had to discuss the war, but it is so hard for me to talk about it since my father passed. We discussed the battle of Arras. The battle my father died in. It was October of 1914 and the French army attempted an attack on the Western Front where the German forces laid. The French moved through Arras and Lens, but had to withdraw after the German counter attack. The French army kept Arras, but the Germans kept control of Lens. After this we discussed many other battles in class, but none as memorable to me as the battle of Arras.

It was 1918, my brother and I were planning a party for my dad who is getting back from the great war. He was supposed to get back around noon. My mom was at work, she was starting to get very frustrated, because there is currently a huge inflation, which is causing the companies to reduce their wages. It also started to raise our price on the house which is really losing us money. We might have to live on the streets soon at this pace. If our dad is alive, he will bring money to pay off expenses and buy more food. Although if he is dead, then we might be living on the streets soon. One of the main things that changed from the war is that I have seen a lot more African American people. I think they have been migrated from other countries,

How are you doing? I have written this letter to answer your question about all the people here and why we are all here. Honestly, I’m not entirely sure why we are all here or why. However, I did hear a couple of soldiers talking about how we are different from you. I’m not really sure what that means yet, though, but I’m sure I’ll find out soon enough. As far as I can tell, my life before I came here was very similar to yours now. I had a normal house, I had many friends, and my dad even fought in WWI. Until one day, everything changed, and I ended up here along with everyone else.

Serving in the military has been a proud tradition in my family. Both of my grandfathers served in the military. My grandpa Richard served in the Army Air Corps flying bombers during World War II, and my grandpa Ron was a parachute rigger while in the Navy during Vietnam. They both impressed on me the positive effect military service has had on their lives and communicated that they believed choosing to join up was one of the best decisions they ever made. They were both deeply patriotic men who believed that it was an honor and a duty to defend our country in times of conflict. It is now my turn to follow in their footsteps and step up to the challenges that face our nation.

I have an abundance of grotesque, yet, barely visible memories of childhood. However, no breathtaking family trips, no unique family togetherness that taught a moral lesson, no abnormal holidays. We still ate family meals together, but most often the children and adults lived in different worlds. When I needed comforting or wanted the best of both worlds, I could turn to my Grandpa.