My Dad and I might have had our disagreements, but one thing I knew for sure: he was part of “The Greatest Generation.” In 1944, at 18, he joined the army “to beat those Nazis,” as he wrote in a letter from boot camp to his sister, my favorite Aunt Audrey. He was a paratrooper in the 101st Airborne Division and landed in France the day after D-Day. At the Battle of Bastogne (Belgium), his unit faced a huge German offensive (The Battle of the Bulge). The massive German Army eventually surrounded his unit for six days until Patton’s 3rd Armored Division finally broke through on December 26th. It was a freezing, cloudy Christmas, and Allied planes could not drop food or supplies. Later, he marched across Germany and even witnessed the horrors of a concentration camp they liberated before reaching Berlin. He had nightmares for many years about the things he saw in the war. When my wife and I traveled across Germany five years ago, it was a strange feeling to realize I was journeying in areas and communities he had walked through some seventy-five years before.
So, why should you vote for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz for my Dad? Well, it is not just for my Dad, but maybe yours, your grandpa, or your great-grandpa. Perhaps even your Mom, grandma, or great-grandma. My Mom was an army nurse near the end of the war. At age 16 (he lied about his age), my wife’s Dad became a bombardier in the Army Air Corps on B-17s flying out of English bases. It’s for anyone who was a veteran of WWII. The reason is simple: they were fighting against Hitler, Nazism, Antisemitism, and Fascism.
Twelve million two hundred nine thousand two hundred thirty-eight (12,209,238) Allied men and women soldiers, sailors, and airmen died in the war. Another 55 million civilians were killed on the Allied side. These are staggering numbers. Additionally, millions more were wounded, many permanently disabled. My Uncle Don survived the Bataan Death March in the Philippines and spent years underground in a salt mine in a Japanese Prison Camp. He weighed 98 pounds when he was liberated. These are staggering sacrifices.
We have long known Donald Trump’s weird admiration for dictators (Russia’s Vladimir Putin, North Korea’s Kim Jong Un, China’s Xi Jinping, and Hungary’s Viktor Orban) because he talks about it. However, this past week, his autocratic views became even more crystal clear. General Mark Milley, former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs under Donald Trump, stated Trump “was a fascist to the core” and “is the most dangerous person to our country.” Trump’s former chief of staff, Marine General John Kelley, agreed Trump was an authoritarian and a fascist who praised Hitler and wished his generals were more like Hitler’s generals so they would follow his orders. (This shows Trump’s complete ignorance of history as Hitler’s generals were terrible Antisemites who committed numerous war and genocide crimes. They also attempted to assassinate Hitler more than once.) He even said Hitler did some good things. Numerous White House staff have supported Milley and Kelley, stating they witnessed these and similar statements as well. Milley and Kelley are revered, conservative Four-Star Generals who are among a group of generals and admirals who worked for Trump and have now denounced him. People who know them state they are known for their honesty, nonpolitical philosophy, and adherence to military codes of ethics.
Upon hearing these generals and Trump’s own fascist statements in recent weeks and months, I was struck by how he dishonors our war dead, my Dad, and our other veterans of WWII. More than twelve million made the ultimate sacrifice fighting for freedom and democracy. Think about it. My Dad was 18 when he carried a rifle into his first battle. At one point, a spent bullet hit him in the heart, causing a small burn on his chest. What were you doing when you were 18? Moreover, he was not a “sucker” and “loser” as General Kelley (a Gold Star father) recalled that Donald Trump called soldiers, disabled veterans, war dead, and war heroes like John McCain.
If you care at all about our country and her 248-year fight to maintain freedom, there is only one election choice. Kamala Harris, Tim Walz, and the senators and representatives who honor our freedom and democratic traditions. Don’t let my father’s fight and my wife’s father’s fight against Hitler, Nazis, Antisemitism, and Fascism be in vain. We are not a country for dictators but for leaders who respect all of us and the rule of law. Get out and vote!
Blessings,
Tom
Rev. Dr. Tom Norris
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