My good friend died this week.

[KenfromCanada]

A very good friend of mine and my family died this week, he was 90 and a WWII vet. He missed the D-Day landings by two weeks and spent the rest of the war as a machine gunner on the front lines. He was a 17 year old golf pro before he signed up to go overseas. He was the youngest male in his family and thus didn't have to sign up. He made it into Belgium on the German border before the war ended. Myself and my family got to know him when my parents bought the golf course back in 1987. He took me under his wing and tried to teach me the golf swing and the nuances of the short game. I am sure that I frustrated him more than any German shooting at him did. We became very close and spent many hours golfing on the course together. He talked to me about the war always when I asked him about it, both good and bad stories. Told me how scared he was crossing the Atlantic with explosions going off non stop it seemed until he got to England. It didn't get better as he got to the continent to spend the next 18 months on the front lines. He to his amazement survived the war and had a family, retired and enjoyed life, or so I thought. I always knew that he was tourmented by his time in the service, but I as I leanrned about PTSD, he suffered his whole life from it as did many returning servicemen. He died a private man who suffered with mental anguish from serving his country as part of the Greatest Generation. His wife stopped into my wifes store after the funeral and said that she was happy that he was no longer suffering and that he felt that he should have died overseas and had been living on borrowed time all these years.

Take care my friend, you're at peace now.

[IronEagle]

Sorry for your loss. May he rest in peace.

[KenfromCanada]

Thanks brother. Glad to have had the opportunity to know Roger. He made my life better I hope that I had a positive affect on his life.

[IronEagle]

Thanks brother. Glad to have had the opportunity to know Roger. He made my life better I hope that I had a positive affect on his life.

It's always hard to lose someone close to you. I think that may be the thing that sucks must about getting older. Imagine how many friends your friend knew that passed away before he passed away.

My thoughts are with you and Roger's family.

[BigSlizz]

Very sorry to hear that, Ken.

[Loki]

Sorry for the loss, Ken. And it's good if he's finally at peace.

[Ground_Meat]

Quite a story. Sorry for your loss, Ken.

[Dan Drives a Van]

So sorry for the loss. Appreciate you sharing your friend's difficulties. So many suffer in silence. It's a testament to their strength. You're a good man to raise awareness.

[thegodfather]

A very good friend of mine and my family died this week, he was 90 and a WWII vet. He missed the D-Day landings by two weeks and spent the rest of the war as a machine gunner on the front lines. He was a 17 year old golf pro before he signed up to go overseas. He was the youngest male in his family and thus didn't have to sign up. He made it into Belgium on the German border before the war ended. Myself and my family got to know him when my parents bought the golf course back in 1987. He took me under his wing and tried to teach me the golf swing and the nuances of the short game. I am sure that I frustrated him more than any German shooting at him did. We became very close and spent many hours golfing on the course together. He talked to me about the war always when I asked him about it, both good and bad stories. Told me how scared he was crossing the Atlantic with explosions going off non stop it seemed until he got to England. It didn't get better as he got to the continent to spend the next 18 months on the front lines. He to his amazement survived the war and had a family, retired and enjoyed life, or so I thought. I always knew that he was tourmented by his time in the service, but I as I leanrned about PTSD, he suffered his whole life from it as did many returning servicemen. He died a private man who suffered with mental anguish from serving his country as part of the Greatest Generation. His wife stopped into my wifes store after the funeral and said that she was happy that he was no longer suffering and that he felt that he should have died overseas and had been living on borrowed time all these years.

Take care my friend, you're at peace now.

Sorry to hear the passing of your friend and WWII Vet. May he RIP.

[headknocker]

Sorry for your loss. Thanks for sharing.

[Drama Queen]

Amazing story and thank you for sharing it. So much grace, respect, dignity and civility is lost when a member of that generation leaves us. RIP

[Eagle In Ohio]

My condolences, Ken

Amazing story, and amazing group of soldiers who sacrificed in that war.

[Irish George]

that sucks...sorry for your loss

A very good friend of mine and my family died this week, he was 90 and a WWII vet. He missed the D-Day landings by two weeks and spent the rest of the war as a machine gunner on the front lines. He was a 17 year old golf pro before he signed up to go overseas. He was the youngest male in his family and thus didn't have to sign up. He made it into Belgium on the German border before the war ended. Myself and my family got to know him when my parents bought the golf course back in 1987. He took me under his wing and tried to teach me the golf swing and the nuances of the short game. I am sure that I frustrated him more than any German shooting at him did. We became very close and spent many hours golfing on the course together. He talked to me about the war always when I asked him about it, both good and bad stories. Told me how scared he was crossing the Atlantic with explosions going off non stop it seemed until he got to England. It didn't get better as he got to the continent to spend the next 18 months on the front lines. He to his amazement survived the war and had a family, retired and enjoyed life, or so I thought. I always knew that he was tourmented by his time in the service, but I as I leanrned about PTSD, he suffered his whole life from it as did many returning servicemen. He died a private man who suffered with mental anguish from serving his country as part of the Greatest Generation. His wife stopped into my wifes store after the funeral and said that she was happy that he was no longer suffering and that he felt that he should have died overseas and had been living on borrowed time all these years.

Take care my friend, you're at peace now.

that is truly the greatest generation. they are dying off now at a staggering rate. We have to celebrate, as you have, the time and the wisdom we shared with these amazing men and women.

Great tribute, Ken.

[TRENT]

Sound like a great Guy,,so much has changed since he was a young man

all he imparted on you and others, sounds like a good friend,,very srry for your loss but it is time to celebrate a Life!

[D Leff]

Thanks for sharing that Ken, sorry for your loss.