My grandfather on my mother's side passed away when I️ was young. He lost his legs in WWII, but I️ never knew much more than that, and didn't know if I️ should ask.

My brother is tracking family genealogy and was talking with my grandmother, who is 100 btw! She was telling him all about it, and many other amazing things.

Back in the war, they were never officially instructed to do this, but it was common knowledge amongst the soldiers that if you get hit with missiles or artillery, to throw your rifle as far away as you can, because the pain is so excruciating that it was common for soldiers to shoot themselves to end the pain.

My grandfather was in France at the time, and was resting while leaning against a tank. That tank was hit with an anti-tank missile, blowing the legs off my grandfather. He immediately threw his rifle as far as he could, remembering what he was told. Lying there in pain, he started crawling back to his rifle so that he could shoot himself. By the Grace of God, he wasn't able to make it, so he lived to come home.

I️ remember sitting on his lap when I️ was young, and I miss him so much. He died before I️ got much older. I️ always wondered what had happened, but this just makes me love him and appreciate him so much more.

My other grandfather, on my dad's side, also served. He made a life of it. I️ found out at his funeral a couple years ago about many missions he had never talked about. He was all over during WWII, he was also in Korea, the Philippines, Guam. He was in the Arctic Circle at Camp Century, which was a cover for a project where the US Military was building underground missile silos to defend ourselves against Russia and other forces (turned out that the glaciers shifted too much to make a silo last more than 2 years, so it was abandoned). He even spent time on top the White House as a sniper covering for JFK!

My brother also recently traced our family back to men who fought in the Civil War.

I️ just look back and think about what they have gone through and I️ can't imagine being the men they had to be. I️ am so proud of my family. My dad served in the Air Force, and I️ had the pleasure of serving in the Army, I️ was in Iraq in '04.

I️ don't know what is in store for America, but I️ know we are currently at war, and I️ hope I️ can continue to be the soldier this country needs.

Thanks for reading, I️ just had to share this and I don't know anyone else who would appreciate it.