When I was writing my grandmother’s history a few years ago, I learned about two of her family members who were killed in WWII. Each was an only son of immigrants from Sweden. I want to remember them today. It is sad to me that they have no descendants to think of them on Memorial Day.
Pete Johnson’s son, Noble Johnson was killed on March 17, 1945 under the Remagen Bridge in Germany. He was a welder and working underwater to repair a part of the bridge when he was killed. He left behind his parents and a sister named Helen.
The other young man was Cerie’s cousin Harvey Nelson, who came home looking just fine after being wounded in the War. He died suddenly on May 7, 1949 from a piece of shrapnel that dislodged in his body. He was the only child of Judy, the widow of Waldemar Nelson.
It’s sobering to think of their sacrifice and their families’ grief. I can’t visit their graves, but I can write about them and honor their gift.