The Man In Charge

When my grandfather, George Floyd Byer, served in World War I, he began as a cook and eventually became the chief cook, essentially the man in charge. He was highly respected by all the men under his command. In fact, he and his men had such a great rapport that they even enjoyed spending their leave time together. While it was common for men on leave to socialize with other members of their unit, they rarely interacted with those above them. Nevertheless, Grandpa’s men didn’t seem to mind at all. Perhaps it was simply different back then.

Whether a person is excited about being stationed in another country or not, it is a good opportunity to see the world. Even in World War I, when it was not quite as easy to get to so many places, they could still see the towns around them, and like my grandfather, sometimes they get to see a castle in France. This was the case when my grandfather and some of his men went on leave. I don’t know how much of the castle they got to see, but they were able to say that they had been to one, and that is a very cool thing in the World War I days.

My grandfather, a highly respected man both in the military and out of it, is difficult for me to envision in the military. He was a gentle man, much like my father, and it’s hard to imagine my father in the military either. Neither of them seemed like someone who could possibly kill another person. I suppose that war is simply different. It’s a life-or-death situation where you have to do what you have to do to survive and protect your fellow soldiers. I can easily imagine my grandfather and my father doing that. They were both honorable men, and while killing a human being is something neither would ever do for no good reason, when it comes to protecting their family or their comrades, they did what they had to do.

Knowing how loyal my grandfather was to his men, I can completely understand why they respected him so much. He was kind and caring, not just to his family, but to his men as well. Men who are far away from home during a war are definitely dealing with a lot of emotions. It’s comforting to have someone in charge who can understand how you feel and provide advice when needed. That’s exactly how my grandfather was. Today is the 133rd anniversary of my Grandpa Byer’s birth. I wish he could still be with us. I miss him dearly. Happy birthday in Heaven, Grandpa. We love you.