All of us grandchildren, I'm sure, treasure our copies of these memoirs. My copy has become dog-eared from being lent out to friends, all of whom have been impressed with the powerful story, simply told, with a surprising dose of Grandpa's humor.
Although I remember Grandpa showing me the medals he earned as a soldier, and although he loved to tell his grandchildren stories, I don't remember him ever talking about his war experiences in any detail. It is as though after writing these pages, he had less of a need to retell his story. As we approach the 80th anniversary of these events, I hope that the story can be shared with another generation.
I created computer text files of the booklet a few years ago, by scanning Tom's edition. It was my intention to reformat the booklet to include some pictures and maps. I printed a few copies, but a press run never materialized. With the explosion of internet useage in the past few years, I considered that an HTML version may be a good way to give people an opportunity to experience this story.
Grandpa's picture now graces the introductory page. This particular photo, with its unusual lighting, seems to me to have an eerie presence about it. I hope that the photos and the maps that have been added make the experiences related here even more real to readers who may not have known Grandpa Dermody.
-Dave 1997