The Unforgettable Journey of a War Hero: A Love Letter to My Father

Every father has a unique story to tell, a life filled with love, challenges, and memories. My father's tale is one that is both extraordinary and heartbreaking. It is a story of a man who served his nation and endured the unimaginable, only to return home and carry the scars of war for the rest of his life.

The Man in Uniform

My father, John Woodbridge Herring, was a sensitive and intellectual man who loved reading and language. His natural temperament seemed well suited to a career as an English professor. However, just as millions of other young men who were entering adulthood, he received a draft call to serve in the Army.

In the summer of 1944, my dad was married to my mom and had one child, my older brother. By this time, finding able men to serve in battle was a top priority. My dad faced the daunting task of deciding whether to be drafted or to join the Navy to avoid the Army. At the end of 1944, he joined the Navy, taking his place in the Administrative office of the Navy in Memphis, Tennessee. My mother and brother were able to join him there, but I, the third child, was yet to be born, three years later.

A Hero on D-Day

The war took my father to Europe, where he fought bravely on D-Day at Normandy. He spent time in foxholes with his buddies, many of whom were blown away beside him in the relentless combat. His bravery was recognized when he received two Purple Hearts and an award for bravery under dire circumstances. Unfortunately, the traumas of war followed him back home.

War takes many lives in many ways, and while my father returned home, he could not escape the memory of D-Day. He lived with “shell shock” – a term that was widely used prior to the modern definition of PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder). This condition brought many challenges for him, and his life after the war was marked by its effects.

Life After the War

After the war, my father spent the rest of his life dealing with the physical and psychological scars he carried. When he finally came home, he returned to the life he had before the war, but it was a life forever changed. My father lived a long and fulfilling life until 1996, when he passed away at the age of 88 on their Wedding Anniversary, Columbus Day.

A Life Well Lived

My parents were married for 66 years, and I am proud of the man my father was. He fought for his country, sacrificed his personal life, and carried the burdens of war. He was still there, beneath the military decorations on his chest, in the quiet dignity of his later years.

While I don’t send photos of my family to random strangers, there are many stories to be shared about the brave men and women who served and the loved ones they left behind. These stories remind us of the sacrifices made and the resilience of the human spirit.

So, to all the fathers who have served, thank you for your service. To my father, John Woodbridge Herring, may your memory forever be honored.