On this day 68 years ago Ernest Melvin Morrison (“Mel” to his family, “Ernie” to his mom) jumped out of a plane and parachuted into France, it was D-Day.
He was my Grandmother’s brother (3 yrs. younger; b. May 11, 1924).
His service company–517th Parachute Infantry, and a member of the 101 screaming eagles, something to be proud of indeed.
Like many, he received a Purple Heart. He fought through the battle of the bulge and the landing in Normandy. At the end of the war he became the driver for General Dick Seitz.
A few years back, his daughter was looking at some pictures on the Internet and saw two men in a Jeep and said “hey, that looks like dad.” The names were “Bill Lewis” “Joe Morrison.” She corrected the info., and found out the picture was taken in Paris where he had driven the General to get married. He was marrying his college sweetheart and Mel had assisted at his wedding.
He died in February 1989 at 64 years old.
Like many young men of his day, he viewed service to the country as a duty and a privilege. I’m sure he was scared, and I can’t even imagine what it was like to be a part of such an invasion in a time of war, but he went anyway. He did what needed to be done, and as a result, Hitler and rest of the evil Socialist forces in Germany were stopped. Freedom was preserved, and life went on in the world.
Take time to stop and think about the uncommon bravery of those who have given their lives in the service of freedom…
Uncle Mel was a great man. We miss him. Thanks for posting this info. Dad