A Veteran’s TakeThe Greatest Generations, Part IAs another Veterans Day approaches and the seasons change in our neck of the woods, I hope that people can take a minute to think of all of the men and women who have gone into the service, during war and peace to defend the freedoms so many of us take for granted.One of the greatest groups out there answered the call to service after the attack on Pearl Harbor. Theirs was possibly the greatest military mission ever, period. As technology was progressing, the Germans and the Japanese were amassing the capability to truly take over the world. By the time we entered the war, Britain and Russia had become mere speed bumps to the Germans and we were the only great threat to their desires of world dominance.In recent years, the veterans that undertook this great task have gained the nickname of "The Greatest Generation." I would tend to expand that definition. When you look at the entire country during World War II, there were not too many people that did not contribute to the war effort. The men that left their loved ones to fight the Nazis and the Imperial Japanese had this huge advantage over anyone that has gone after them.The government and the people of the United States had been watching the happenings overseas as the Axis Powers rolled through weaker nations. The warning signs had been there for years as Hitler came to power and began rebuilding the German military and the Japanese had been on mainland Asia for years raping and pillaging the countryside. Then when Hitler unleashed the new Blitzkrieg in Europe in the late 30’s, we were shocked and appalled. We were also sitting back hoping that we would not have to get involved.As a nation we were apprehensive to get involved again. World War I was still fresh in our minds, but, when war was brought to our shores by the pilots of the Imperial Japanese Navy, our nation stood together as one. Those that did not actually go to fight worked in factories that retooled to build the machines of war, bought war bonds, or collected scrap metal. The average citizen had to accept rations of food and the lack of new vehicles, tractors, and other necessities. The people of this country knew that it would take the sacrifice of every man, woman, and child if we wanted to retain the freedoms we so loved. A few years of sacrifice were of little concern for an entire future.All of the people that worked together to win World War II could really be our Greatest Generation. They stood in the face of an overpowering threat and were absolutely determined to stop the aggressors. That generation lost a lot of men in a few years and the financial cost was huge. But they knew the importance of winning that war, and what losing would mean.To be continued:Curtis Hendel Adrian