Cyrene Slegona and Morgan Zipf-Meister

Cyrene Slegona (CS) introduces her father, Frank, and shares his service branch and early life.

CS talks about Frank being drafted in 1942 and discloses that he never should have been drafted. He was unable to tell his wife and mother that he was leaving.

CS details Frank’s service and how his early experiences as a great digger came in handy during the war.

CS recalls how the War continued to affect their lives. She discusses her father's triggers and how they impacted the family.

CS's father left the Army after badly injuring his back from the digging and foxholes.

CS asserts her father’s sense of responsibility and duty. He cared a lot about the men he was fighting with but was also very aware of the humanity of the German soldiers. CS shares a time when her dad took over a family's home. The soldiers took up a collection of the goods they had and left it on the family's porch. The wife of the family home they took over came back with a cake.

CS reads letters from dad shared about a Thanksgiving meal he prepared and shared.

CS tells that her mother and father wrote during the war, but he insisted all be burned except one. He affirmed his commitment and appreciation of life, his wife and children.

CS recalls her mom's thoughts about young marriage and life while her husband was away.