Post

Solarampa wrote:

I have returned from hibernation from the RMB. While not being on NS that much I learned that my great-grandfather was an absolute chad. He served in WWII in the Air Force, was a Lieutenant Colonel, flew 14 missions, commanded over 600 men, took control of over 300 planes after the other two leads had to drop back, on that same mission when he returned he thought he was going to be court-marshaled, and was married to my great-grandmother for 61 years. Any more questions about him?

Impressive. I would be proud.

I myself don't have much information about my great-grandparents, presumably because of the effect of the Spanish Civil War (families often want to avoid the topic even today). All I have from one of my great-grandfather is an audio of him singing one of the songs he wrote in his freetime (despite having no formal education at all). The audio is some sort of family treasure. Another of my great-grandfathers died from a smoking-related illness, and that's also all I know from him. Other family members from their generation fled to Brazil during or right after the Civil War and still live there. I know of a relative who fled to France with her children only to be caught by the Nazis, who executed them. Another one stayed in Spain and despite supporting the Republican side, but was spared through his connections to the church (which almost completely supported Franco).

I was able to meet two of my great-grandmothers, though not enough to ask them many questions about their life. One died just short of her 102nd anniversary.