America's Greatest Generation

Stephen Ambrose (historian and very popular history writer), I believe, is the man who first called the Americans who were of adults during World War II the “Greatest Generation”. Like many others, he was moved and impressed by their incredible courage, unstoppable optimism, and frank patriotism. I share those feelings, and my parents are members of that Greatest Generation.

Someone who was 25 in 1945 would be 87 years old today, if they are still alive. In not so many more years, America's Greatest Generation won't be here to share their experiences.

Simi L., one of my faithful (and patient!) readers, sent me a link to a tribute to the veterans of World War II, created by a doctor in San Antonio, Texas. He was motivated by observing that his elderly patients often had experiences in their lives that were surprising; he has come to cherish meeting them, however briefly, in his emergency room duties. One example:

There was a frail, elderly woman who reassured my young enlisted medic, trying to start an IV line in her arm. She remained calm and poised, despite her illness and the multiple needle-sticks into her fragile veins. She was what we call a "hard stick." As the medic made another attempt, I noticed a number tattooed across her forearm. I touched it with one finger and looked into her eyes. She simply said, "Auschwitz." Many of later generations would have loudly and openly berated the young medic in his many attempts. How different was the response from this person who'd seen unspeakable suffering.

Do go read (and see) the whole thing…