Colby, Kansas | headerpuncher - 11/10/2015 21:38
Had a cousin that stayed home during WW2 on an ag deferment and really worked his butt off not only on his farm but helped everybody in the neighborhood. Was the only able bodied young man around. Help was impossible to find and food was very important to the troops. Some of his classmates and people in the community looked down on him for this. He came down with MS and spent 40 years as pretty helpless cripple. Had some veterans say to me, "serves him right for not serving." This always bothered me as I thought he worked just as hard as they did to accomplish the goal.
Its funny you mention that, my paternal grandfather did not serve in WW2, in recent years he has recounted that it was not a particularly pleasant experience for the young men left here to keep the farms running either. Lack of supplies and repairs, trying to run the ground of several people with less labor, equipment, everything, and as you mentioned at times the guys remaining were treated/viewed downright poorly, didn't matter if it was due to ag deferment, medical etc., they were viewed as "not doing their part". I wouldn't say he's bitter, but you can tell it still stings.
Certainly not my (or I would say my granddad's) intent to downplay our veterans, especially today. But the monumental effort it took during WWII required sacrifices be made by all, something I'm afraid might not happen today.
Edited by LHaag 11/11/2015 23:29
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