This is my father-in-law, Jacob Buchbinder, may he rest in peace. He
graduated from medical school at age 21 and went on to his internship
and residency at Knickerbocker Hospital in New York City. When FDR gave
his Day of Infamy
speech on December 8, 1941, all of the members of my father-in-law's
residency training program raced to sign up to fight the Evil Axis. He
watched as his classmates were inducted, wondering why he hadn't been
called up. He returned to the draft office and demanded to know why they
hadn't contacted him. The reason? After a thorough search of the
office, they found his folder had fallen behind the file cabinet. And,
at last he was called to go to war in Biloxi, Mississippi where he cared
for injured returning soldiers.
After attending Officer Candidate School, my brother served in Vietnam
with the U.S. Army Special Forces. He has a Purple Heart, a Bronze Star,
and a harrowing tale that would have turned out with him not returning
home alive had it not been for his driver racing back to retrieve him
from a suddenly empty village. He still sleeps poorly and has shrapnel
embedded in his flesh.
My father served in the Army in Europe and was injured. He returned, not
only with that injury, but also with what would come to be known as
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). He spent years of his life in St.
Elizabeth's Mental Hospital in Washington, D.C. being treated for
paranoid schizophrenia. His untreated PTSD contributed to his alcoholism
and death at the age of 52.
My ancestor, William Chenault, Senior served in the Revolutionary War,
as did a number of my other ancestors. I am a card-carrying member of
the Daughters of the American Revolution and
an Honorary Regent, meaning I served as the leader of the Baltimore
Chapter, DAR for six years. The DAR is dedicated to promoting
patriotism, preserving American history, and securing America's future
through better education for children.
My ancestor and family members came home--not all healthy, but they came
home. Many who serve do not. And many ethnic groups, African Americans
and Native Americans, in particular--have not received the recognition
they deserve for their heroism. On this day, let us remember all
our Veterans for their courage, honor, and sacrifice for our country. It
is the least we can do to thank them for allowing us to sleep
peacefully at night in our dry, warm beds while they endure cold, heat,
mud, dust, bad food, and the hourly threat of injuries and death.
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