[Yoda]

My Dad also served in North Africa (Army) and was also in Sicily, as well as landing at Anzio.

...The only time I ever saw my father cry was when he described to my brother and me (as little boys) what it was like to walk through the water that had now turned red and see dozens of bodies floating around him as he scrambled to the beach. Told us stories of men vomiting intermittently through the night before an invasion or quietly weeping---certain that they would be killed the next day.

...Alzheimers has now taken its toll on his 90 year old mind, and I feel deep remorse that I never got to take him to the WW II Memorial in Washington, D.C. But my brother and I knew he was our hero even before a monument was built.

At age 20, my Uncle Bennett landed with the first wave of U.S. Marines on Iwo Jima.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Iwo_Jima

In fierce action lasting 35 days from the inital assault to the final Japanese charge, the Allied forces suffered 27,909 casualties, with 6,825 killed in action. The number of American casualties was greater than the total Allied casualties on D-Day (estimated at 10,000). Of the over 21,000 Japanese soldiers, 20,703 died and 216 were captured during the battle. It was combat in the most rigorous circumstance imaginable -- often hand-to-hand -- and always to the death.

Over a quarter of the Medals of Honor awarded to Marines in World War II were given for conduct in the invasion of Iwo Jima. The Marines, both active duty and reservists, were commended with 24 Medals of Honor. An additional five Medals of Honor were bestowed upon five Navy servicemen and reservists.

Uncle Bennett survived and went on to build a successful oil business in Houston, Texas. He fathered six children -- all girls -- and named the last one Bennette.



He never talked of the war.

Never.

But even as a child, I noticed he had an odd habit: He was always changing his socks, usually about a half dozen times a day.

"Why?" I asked my Dad. "Why does Uncle Bennett do that?"

"Because, at Iwo Jima, his socks were always wet, and now he must keep them dry."