To serve in the military is to be a good American. My grandfathers on my mother and father’s side both served time in the U.S. Navy. However my grandfather on my father’s side left me his pilot’s helmet as monument to all of the good things he believed I would go on to do. My grandfather was born to two German Immigrants who arrived in New York City in 1927. At the current time the U.S. was in the middle of the Great Depression and my great grandfather had to work hard to provide for his family and joined the order of the Free Masons as well. During WWII, my grandfather´s family faced discrimination because the country was at war with Germany and people saw them as the enemy. In the 1950´s my grandfather decided to join the military to avoid being drafted into the Korean War. If he volunteered rather than being drafted then he could choose what branch he wanted to serve in. He joined the Navy. He trained hard to be a pilot tasked with hunting submarines. He never saw active combat but as a result of his hard work he worked his way up the ranks to reach the rank of Captain. Many years later, when my grandfather died he left me his helmet as something for me to have to remember the idea that to get what you want in life takes determination. On the day of his death my grandfather told everyone he had a dream, that he was getting into a plane and getting prepared to take off. His last words were ¨Wheels up¨


 

– Danny Renter

Relationship:  Great-grandchild of im/migrant or more Great-grandchild of im/migrant or more