FORGIVENESS

My father served in the Army oversees during WWII in the battle for Okinawa

My father served in the Army oversees during WWII in the battle for Okinawa. He never really discussed any details of the war until a month before he died in 2007. It was then that I understood what he had to live with everyday of his life. The images that left indelible scars that he carried alone. He was the lone survivor of his platoon. He had been hit with shrapnel in both legs. But his life was saved when a soldier in a tank saw him crawling and threw a rope out to him. He was able to hang onto that rope until they cleared the gunfire. He then was transported to an Army field office. The Friday before he died, I came to visit and noticed he was very troubled. I could see the sadness and fear in his eyes and I asked what was wrong. It was then he asked, "Do you think God will ever forgive me for all the lives of the men, women and children that I took?" I told him that God loved him and if he would only ask forgiveness, God will listen. On that day, my Dad said he was sorry and he loved me very much. He was sorry for so many things left unsaid and unfinished. It was then that I told him that Mom would be waiting for him when he was ready to go to his heavenly home. He died February 13, 2007. All active news articles