Dubie…
I guess he would be quite a bit over 100 if he were alive today. A common man. Made his living in the Indiana limestone quarries. He wasn’t afraid of hard work. Fell in love, married young, it was war time.
James Lloyd McCammon, “Dubie” to his buddies and family, was a loyal father and husband. It wasn’t long, though, until his name was called. He left behind his wife and little girl to join his squadron and fellow soldiers to fight for his country in Italy.
When the war was over, Dubie came back to many unknowns. Things had changed, he had changed. Many of his buddies didn’t return home with him. He was on the front line, and he saw things that most men never spoke of again.
He received a purple heart for his heroism. He and countless thousands of other heroes just like him that we are eternally indebted to.
But life goes on…
What happens inside of a man who gives all for his country and when he comes home is expected to be “normal” again? Some men are never “normal”. They appear to be on the outside, but inside they die a slow death. What they experienced, what they went through, the things they had to do are forever etched in their minds and 70+ years ago there was no help, no treatment, no support for men like Dubie.
He withdrew. After work he came home and would sit in front of the television, watch a John Wayne or an old war movie, smoke way too many Lucky Strikes, have a Falstaff, maybe two. Go to bed early. Repeat the pattern the next day.
As the years went by, he became more and more of a recluse. Once he retired? He only went out of the house for one more occasion…my sister’s wedding.
Dubie was my grandfather. He was a veteran.
This is his story.
It needs to be told. He died of lung cancer, untreated, afraid, sitting in his house just waiting. We couldn’t even get him to go to the hospital until he collapsed.
I was the only one with my grandfather when he died. My family had all been taking turns and my mother and grandmother were finally convinced to get some rest. Papaw Dubie was comatose but we were convinced he heard us, so, of course we talked to him.
Around midnight, I told him I was stepping outside to get a drink and would be right back. While I was gone, he slipped quietly into eternity. The nurse told me he was waiting on me to leave. I think she was right. He never wanted to be in the way; he would want to leave quietly, just the way he came in.
But I wanted people to know, Papaw. I wanted them to know the good things you did, how hard you worked, how much you loved, how patient, how kindhearted you were.
And millions more just like you, whose stories need to be told.
My grandfather was the only Veteran in my immediate family. He has been gone a while and yes, I know the difference between Memorial Day and Veterans Day (smile). But he was a Veteran and even though he struggled with PTSD before it had a name, he was a hero who served, and in spite of the difficulties, he would have done it all over again.
On this Veterans Day we salute and say, “Thank you” to all of those who have served our great country in the Armed Forces. America is safer and stronger because of you.
Oh Mindy, so sorry to hear that about your grandfather! I can’t believe you still are blessed to have him with you! I give honor to him and his service to our country. ♥ Thank you for sharing that with me. Blessings to you and your family in this difficult time.
Thank you Anita, appreciate you stopping by and taking the time to comment. We need to honor the veterans when we can. ♥
Hi Candace Jo, I found your story through #TellHisStory.
Thanks so much for sharing this deeply touching story of your precious grandfather. It was such a blessing and honour to read about what he meant to you.
Anita
Thanks, Candace Jo. I think all us moms got a little teary with that one. Please stop by next week as I will share reflections on the empty nest one year later…Blessings…
Precious memories. My 95 year old grandfather, a veteran also, was just transferred yesterday from hospital to nursing home after a hip fracture and overall is not doing well so this post tugs at my heart. Praying God’s peace and love surround and uplift you.
Thank you…absolutely loved your post about your boys today. Brought tears to my eyes! ♥
What a touching story…thanks for sharing. Visiting from Jennifer’s…Blessings to you…
Thank you for sharing the life of your poor grandfather. How hard it is for our war heroes! :^) patsy
Thank you, so much sacrifice, so true. We will never know what they went through! He had a brother-in-law that went with him but did not return and he grieved over that as well. I know he blamed himself for that although it was not his fault in any way. So many sad stories. We need to continue to honor our veterans and our soldiers! Thank you for visiting! Blessings…
Oh, you have said so much in these words. His story needed to be told for it is the story of others too. We need to be reminded that there are special people in our lives who need to be remembered in ways unknown. Or keep memories alive of ones who went before us who fought to keep OUR freedom and now they are gone as your Dubie. I am grateful to have come by here today for I have some recollecting to do of my own. May the love of Christ pour over you this day. Caring through Christ, ~ linda
Thank you Karrilee. So happy to know we have Grandpa’s in common and that this was an honor for yours as well. It is sad that they didn’t get support and help, and maybe there was more than we knew about. They were proud too, I’m not sure he would have accepted help. Thank you so much for coming over and and visiting today!! Blessings to you friend! Please come back again! ♥
Coming from you I appreciate that so very much! He was a troubled but yet very kind soul…so very sad that he never found the help that he needed and deserved. Thank you for taking time to comment. Blessings to you for #TellHisStory!
You’ve outdone yourself, my friend. What a beautiful, touching story.
I am visiting from TellHisStory and wow… did this ever make me miss my own Grandpa – a WW2/Purple Heart vet as well. An amazing man… like yours. And this made me oh so thankful that now we know a little more and there is help available… at least it is an option now. I love how this so honored your Papaw!
So much sacrifice for our freedom…for those who didn’t/don’t come home and those the did/do. Thankful for Dubie.
So true Hazel, I wonder if it is enough today…Thank you for the opportunity at Tell Me A Story! I so enjoyed your husband’s writings as well! He is a wonderful storyteller too! What a blessing of so many years together. My Sweetheart and I are halfway there… 🙂 Blessings to you and your family. ♥
Beautiful Joanne! Thank you for your kind comments. I have always been curious of that time period. I guess it is because of the many tragedies and heartaches. The loss of so many lives and the separation of families. It tears at my heart. Thank you for stopping by today. ♥
Thank you Joanne…I have many memories of “his memories”. He loved to talk about the countries and places he had seen but not so much about anything else. 🙁 I loved your story about Stella! So sweet! What a doll she is! You are blessed. Thank you for stopping by my friend. ♥
This was a heart-toucher. I sure understood. My parents were involved in WWII, but not on the usual military issues. I was born 2 months after the V-E event in May, 1945, and about 5 weeks before the V-J day in August. And I saw, in one way or another, what people went through. I’m so pleased that your family kindly blessed and encouraged your grandpa. That’s a truly GOOD thing.
Thank you for sharing your tribute to your wonderful grandfather here at “Tell Me a Story.” He was a hard worker and loved his family and wanted to provide for them. He gave sacrificially to his children and loved ones. In the wars as always there are men who see too much and experience things they would never do as a civilian, and in past days, there was no help for them emotionally. Today there is help, but I wonder if it is enough.
Thank you Mrs. H. For stopping by today. Their stories need to be told because they would seldom tell them. Heroes everyone. Blessings to you friend and your family.
Tears here. My grandfather has a similar story. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you Mom…love the picture of you and Mamaw. When the prompt came up of the word “Story” this was the first thing that came to my mind. Could be because it was 11:30 at night and pain was keeping me awake, lol. But I do think of him a lot and this seemed like a way to finally say the “goodbye” I never got to say. Glad you liked it. Yep, rather have the eyes than the nose. 🙂 Love you. ♥
This just brought tears! Thank you so much Candace, Dad would have been real proud of you, for telling his story. I don’t think any of us realized, how sad he was. I know he never talked about the bad times, friends he lost. Sad. But he did love to tell us about other countries he had seen.
By the way you do have his eyes. You and your brother J.D.
Candace Jo,
I just read your story about how you came to be called Candace Jo. I loved reading the story. Thank you for e-mailing me. We have something in common about using ‘other’ names. Smile!
I also loved reading about your wonderful Grandfather. What a blessing it was for you to be with him shortly before his passing.
Blessings!
Sue
You tell a wonderful story!
Thanks
Angie
http://www.godsgrowinggarden.com/
Thank you Denise! Blessings to you dear friend!
Thank you so much Jenna. So kind of you to write! I have not had a good day on the blog today with the Bluehost crash so I appreciate the few that found their way to my site 🙂 Thank you for your kind words, I agree with you, I don’t know how our wonderful veterans returned to “normal” life. They are truly heroes! Blessings!
Thank you friend! I have always had a heart for the veterans, although I can never fully comprehend all they have gone through. All I can do is honor them. I appreciate you stopping by!! ♥
How sweet are you!! Thanks, and you are right, I do have his eyes, and his belly!! In his later years he had quite a belly!! LOL! And I have my grandmother’s nose! 🙂 Thank you Miss Amy for your sweet comments, love you!
I love this!! A beautiful tribute!! You have his eyes. He would be very proud of you!!
What an incredibly beautiful tribute to your grandfather. It brought tears to my eyes. My heart aches for the veterans who return home and who have to deal with the horrors they have witnessed, or loss and pains they have suffered.
Wow, what a beautiful story. Honestly, veterans really do break my heart. Having to see and experience what they do, and expected to come back and have some sense of “normalcy” blows my mind. I just don’t see how it could be possible.
I’m so sorry that he passed away, but understand that his quiet passing was just the way it should have been. This was beautifully written, and I’m so glad I came by from Five Minute Friday.
Such a wonderful post.