Memorial Day - The Ultimate Sacrifice

On May 6, 1945, my father made the ultimate sacrifice for myself, my mother, our family and for the United States of America.  He died in action against the German army only one day before they surrendered in Reims, France and only two days before the surrender was ratified in Berlin and Victory in Europe was declared.

Ronald Allen Myers was born in Jackson Michigan on April 2, 1911.  He graduated from Michigan State University in 1938.  He and my mother, Elizabeth Weed, were married on 1/7/39.  He was a Staff Sergeant with the 18^th Infantry, 1^st Division, (The Big Red 1), when he was fatally wounded.  I was a little more than 2 months from my 3^rd birthday when he died.

This photo was taken at one of the many military training camps that my dad was sent to… He couldn’t qualify for officer’s training because he was color blind.  The list of his assigned army bases included: Camp Claiborne LA; Camp Chaffee AR, and Fort Benning GA.  He’s standing on the far right hand side of the photo.

 

SSgt. Ronald A. Myers is buried in Plot E, Row 20, Grave 34 at the Lorraine American Cemetery in St. Avold (Moselle), France.  Because I was so young when he was killed, unfortunately I have no memories of my father.  Still, I can’t help wondering just how different my life would have been if he had survived the war…

The amazing fact is that my dad was only one of the estimated 416,800 Americans who fought and died defending our freedoms in World War II.  While a great evil was defeated in 1945, given the state of the world today, we haven’t learned much…and evil is very much alive.  We’re lucky to live where we do…so let’s pay homage to those who’ve given their lives for us.  God Bless America!