“My father was a Sergeant in the US army during the Korean War. I don't have all the details, (but this is what I know). He enlisted to serve his Country as many young men did. He fought on the front line. He had many stories he told over the years, accompanied by many nightmares and cold sweats. During those years, men did not seek counseling so he got through his ptsd as best he could. One story that stuck out to me was him relaying how he was chest down in rice paddies in a do or die situation with the "enemy", when to his shock he came face to face, or body to body, 100 yards out with a young North Korean man. They both positioned their machine guns directly at each other. In that instant of time, he saw his life pass before him. No time to think, however, and as strange as it seems, he was reluctant to shoot the "enemy". In his pause, he noticed that the young man he faced was also frozen. It seemed to last for many minutes, but in that instant of time, neither shot their weapons. Instead, they held their fire. The young Korean was first to move away, doubling back towards the direction he came. My father did the same and never spoke of the encounter again, (except to his loved ones when back safely among us). I have often wondered how many times this happened during that war, or any of the other wars. My father went on to shoot many enemies as he was instructed to do. However, he was indeed haunted by war during the rest of his life. Was he a coward? Or was he a hero? Or was he just a very young man in an extreme circumstance he really didn't even understand? I know for myself I love and stand for our Country, but I do not believe in War. I looked up to my father; proud, honest and to me, always very courageous. Rest in Peace Daddy, aka Mr. Gene Grant, my hero!

I love you!”