Fallen Soldiers and Heroes

5th Army, 45th Division, 179 Infantry WWII Naples, Italy My uncle Wayne was a wire sergeant for the US Army during WWII. Until recently, my uncle was an album of photographs and a few letters in a box. He was getting ready to come home when he was killed in a Jeep accident. He died 11 years before I was born and the pain of losing him was so great, my grandmother and my mom (his sister) rarely discussed him. (My grandmother died in 1966 and my mom in 1991.) I now know what a hero he was in his time. Although he was only 22 years old when he died, I have found out through letters I recently came across that he and my grandmother exchanged, and letters that were sent to my grandmother from friends and comrades that he not only loved his country and his family but he also loved the Lord. In the last letter my grandmother wrote to him (which was returned with 'deceased" written across the front) she reminded him to "keep your little cross with you always. (Connect) it on your dog tags so you can't lose it. I love you. Love always, Mother". She sent the letter July 24, 1944 but he died on July 19th with his cross on his dog tags. The sacrifice for them both was great but I know I will see them both in heaven someday. The attached photograph was the one my grandmother said that "it looked like he was looking up to heaven."