My Papa joined the army in the late 1930"s serving at what is now Westover Air Force Base in MA. His job was to work on the planes, one day while working a piece of metal flew into his eye. Unconscious he was taken to Walter Reed. He lost his eye, had a severe brain infection they didn't think he would survive, he was put in the back while they waited for his impending death. Suddenly after a month he woke up just fine, stayed there awhile longer, got a glass eye. He was so positive despite his injury they asked him to help another depressed soldier with a similar injury, and that's just what he did. After returning home he married my Granny in January 1941, they were married 60 years! Shortly after being married he was called up for the draft to fight in WWII. Standing in a line of 100 soldiers one of the commanders recognized him and said "Hey LeBlanc don't you have a glass eye" he answered yes and was told he was unsuited for combat. I think he always felt guilty another man took his place. Those 100 soldiers where on one of the boats that stormed the beaches of Normandy on D Day, of those 100 only 5 survived. If not for losing his eye he likely would have been killed that day. Later my Grandparents devoted their lives to the DAV in Massachusetts, they both served as commanders for many years in their hometown and at the state level. I attended many of those functions and proudly marched in many parades with them. They signed the family up to be lifetime members of the DAV. I am proud of them for all they did and a proud lifetime member of the DAV.

Debra Stiles
Palmer, MA