Thank You
My uncle, William Ralph Gawthrop, Jr., was killed at age 19 just at the end of WWII. I am very proud of him for risking his life to help others. He is buried in the Netherlands American Cemetery in Margraten. I’ve visited his grave a few times, it’s incredibly moving. Here is a piece with illustrations that I wrote about the first time I visited several years ago. I hope to go back again soon.
My heart goes out to all the families of men and women who served and lost their lives to protect others. And I am very grateful for their bravery.
That"s so sad about your uncle. I had a great-uncle Thomas Karl Yankoske, who died 9/27/2018, near the end of WWI. He's buried at the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery in France, which was not known to anyone in the family until I found it out several years ago. But today, I'm thinking more of my Uncle Charlie (Charles Henry Audet), who has been part of my life all my life. He was one of the first American WWII paratroopers, and he survived jumping into North Africa and into Italy, and also survived the Battle of the Bulge. He turned 105 last October, and died THIS AFTERNOON, peacefully, in the presence of family, and had last rites administered by his two priest nephews.
There are no words adequate enough to commemorate his courage and the sacrifice he made. That his parents suffered. That his brothers and sisters felt at his loss for the rest of their lives. That we must honor.
That beautiful young man.🌹
Thank you Liza for sharing his story, and by extension the sacrifice so many made to keep the horror the Nazis promised from us and millions around the world.