WW II Veterans

Old NFO has a wonderful “Greatest Generation” post up now.

http://oldnfo.org/2013/08/02/the-brandy-no-one-wanted-to-drink/

This made me think about someone I know who is of the “Greatest Generation”, now 88, and in a hospice. The question is, how do you honor a man who has a remarkable war record, and is a despicable lifelong pedophile?

 Please, this is not to imply any of the Doolittle Raiders fall into this category.

This man was a sailor. His war started at Pearl Harbor (wounded). Two more Purple Hearts followed with a final, fourth Purple Heart, as one of the wounded on the USS Franklin 19 March 1945.

This man married one of my aunts and was a fixture at family gatherings over the years. His pedophile activity was either well hidden, or ignored.  His brother in law veterans deferred to him. We nephews were in awe. The nieces, not so much, as he, over the years, molested some of them. Then when he  started with the third generation, he was stopped, prosecuted, and jailed because of one courageous mother who didn’t back down.

The turmoil this caused affected many people. His sons and his wife suffered the most by the disclosure. The relationships among cousins, and the denial of the facts by more than one person in the extended family, still impact our relationships.  Too many were willing to let him continue rather than let the situation become public knowledge. That attitude caused a considerable loss of respect, love, and affection among family members that continues today. It makes for some awkward moments, especially at funerals.

How does one honor his service while not excusing his behavior? The easy answer is to hate the sin, and love the sinner. Sorry, I can’t do that. I envision a firing squad instead. Some directly involved family members would rather see boiling oil and fire ants. A firing squad is too easy a way out.

Yes, we haven’t evolved far from our pagan Celtic roots.