November 11, 2009 10:14 AM
Henry “Mack” Erford was awarded the Purple Heart, Bronze Star and a Star for each major battle fought (he was awarded all five — Omaha Beach, Battle of Marcelle, Northern France, Battle of the Bulge, Germany).
Grandpa enlisted in the Army in June 1942. He rarely spoke of World War II. He didn’t mind talking in general terms about battles he was in or places he’d seen. But Grandpa never wanted to discuss in detail the horrors of war. He spoke of soldiers dealing with severe frostbite and dying of exposure at the Battle of the Bulge. He remembered seeing a Nazi concentration camp. The Germans were trying to cover up their mass murders by burying the dead prisoners in mass graves — with bulldozers. He also remembered his division’s march back to Austria and Germany when the war was over. He said it was amazing to see German soldiers, hands up, surrendering, as many as eight soldiers deep along the sides of the road as the Americans passed by.
My grandpa was clear on one point about his time in the Army. He was absolutely certain that World War II had to be fought. And, after seeing the atrocities over in Europe, he was just as certain he needed to fight. Grandpa understood that sometimes we must fight for justice. He taught us that war is not easy, certainly not pretty, and that it leaves wounds far deeper than a scar on your face. He taught us that we must stand up and fight for what is right and good.
Grandpa always felt it necessary to acknowledge soldiers and their service. Every Memorial Day, he would help put flags on soldiers’ graves. He would be proud to know that someone now does that for him. Veterans were at my grandpa’s funeral to show respect and thankfulness for his service — Something my grandpa had shown to other veterans through his own life but not by shouting it on the rooftops. He quietly honored them and shared his story with his family.
I would like to thank my grandpa for his years of service, not only for the freedom it gave me, but, because of his decision — and countless others’ — to fight in World War II. My husband’s grandparents were liberated from the Nazi concentration camp where they met. They later married and immigrated to America with my mother-in-law in tow. My grandpa would never have imagined that the imprisoned people America was liberating would directly affect his very own granddaughter. But they did.
Not all the lessons of war can be taught from a textbook. I’ve always believed that. I am the granddaughter of a World War II veteran, the niece of a Vietnam veteran and the cousin of an Iraqi war veteran.
I realize that this article is meant to be told in the first person, but my Grandpa, Henry “Mack” Erford, can no longer recount his war days for others. I am blessed to say that my mom and I made sure we knew his war story, and I would like to share it for Grandpa.
