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grandfather. “Mom-mom, didn’t you say that your father was a soldier with the cavalry in World War I?” “Yes, Collin. He never talked about the war, but my Uncle Guilio told me stories about it. My father served under General Jack Pershing and was caught behind enemy lines at Chateau Thierry. Under cover of darkness he and two companions made it back to the U.S. line, dodging German soldiers throughout the night. My uncle said that the three men were lucky to have escaped capture, but I like to think they were clever and brave.” The “clever and brave” story is not mine "Diane in San Antonio...her father's daughter"
to tell nor was it my uncle’s. Still, we tell it
anyway. How my father lay still, face-down in the mud, pretending to be dead. How he waited until the sounds of German voices faded into the woods before inching his way forward towards escape. How he met two other soldiers trying to get to the American line to resume fighting. How they returned to duty and served honorably until Armistice Day. My uncle told me all of these stories. I believe every one. “There’s lots of things that aren’t lies, honey, that aren’t exactly true either.”
Diane Esolen Dougherty is a retired teacher from the Coatesville Area School District where she also served as Department Chair in English. She is a teacher consultant for PAWLP and lives in Downingtown with her husband Joe. In her spare time she enjoys spending time with her children and grandchildren.