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Jean Prescott's avatar

You old softie! The photos are wonderful. Thank your lucky stars you still have yours. The one of your dad with his GI buddies sparks a memory of an uncle who was among the crew of one of those huge lumbering aircraft of WWII. We've lived through some truly memorable historical events. Thanks for sharing.

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Leland Katz's avatar

Harry Truman saved my dad’s life when he dropped the bomb ending the war while my dad was on a troopship on his way to what would have been the invasion of the Japanese main islands.

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Jean Prescott's avatar

Wow! Talk about close calls. We never know how close we come to be squashed like a bug until after we aren't and all is done. I really don't care anything about seeing nuclear war, but my chances grow with each passing day, I believe. Radiation poisoning is a truly painful way to go, isn't it? My imagination running away with me....take care of yourself, Lee, and I'll try to do the same.

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Leland Katz's avatar

Dad had trained as a combat engineer. The unit he was assigned to had been scheduled to go in ahead of the first wave to blow up the tank traps on the beaches. As for me . . .

STANDING ALERT

Hoarfrost on contact,

his breath hung in cold air. 

Frozen fingers fumbled safety wires

on the Mark 7 atomic bomb.

In the bomb bay too, 

The 23 year-old first lieutenant 

14 months on active duty.

A nuclear weapons alert duty officer,

The Cuban missile crisis just done. 

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marjorie saltzberg's avatar

Your photos and comments made me cry. I loved them very much!!

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Leland Katz's avatar

Sorry you cried. Glad you loved them.

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Dr. Deborah Hall's avatar

Leland,

We see the deep love

of a father

in these photos of your son.

And we feel

that same deep love

in your father.

It is tender

so moving and lovely

how you honor

both your father

and your son

on Father's Day.

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Leland Katz's avatar

They both deserve it. Thank you.

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