Darrell,
Jan Mokrzycki (xuegxaw@CSV.WARWICK.AC.UK)
Sat, 19 Oct 1996 13:37:35 +0100
Thank you very much for your contribution to Memories.
It is moving, exceptionally well written and makes one
stop and think.
Your father, judging from his letter you quoted, like
you was a highly sensitive and articulate person. On
such people war must have a tremendous effect.
Somewhere in man there exists this fighting instinct, a
primitive one, but one which civilising influences have
had little effect on. This drive to subdue, to conquer,
to show one's own superiority allows many to leave
battlefields relatively unscased. But the more
sensitive, more intelligent amongst us are often not so
lucky.They can identify with the suffering caused in
war situations and become casualties themselves.
I was lucky, the battlefield that was Europe during the
2nd world war rolled all around me and over me, a mere
child at that time. It was probably my youth and the
imagined status of invulnarability which the very young
have which allowed me to emerge relatively (I think)
undamaged.
I hope your search will allow you to fully understand
your father, and make you all into a loving family
unit.
With best wishes, yours very sincerely,
Jan Mokrzycki.