There are two brave men I always think about on Veteran’s Day. Both were fairly simple men who worked hard all their lives and left little behind in a material sense. Both married young and remained married to their first and only wife until death. Each had two children who grew up to be reasonably responsible adults. And each served his country in the Second World War, leaving home at a young age for the battles in the Pacific, uncertain of when – or if – they would come home.
Chet Fair was my dad. He was a naval officer. And I’m proud of how he served our country. John Esposito was my father-in-law. I’m proud of him, as well.
Chet and John came from the John Wayne school of manhood. Frankly, I know very little of the details of their war experience other than it was long and hard. Neither bragged of his accomplishments. Neither complained about the sacrifice of time, comfort or security.
I doubt anyone thought of these two average men as heroes. But they were. And so are millions of others we honor today.
