Adkins A. Z. - You Cant Get Much Closer Than This: Combat with the 80th Blue Ridge Division in World War II Europe

F or Christmas 1984, my dad gave me a 200-page three-ring binder titled A World War II Diary. I didnt know he had kept a diary of his service, so it came as something of a surprise. Of course, I knew he had served in the infantry during WWII, but little else. And then in 1984 I was holding a day-by-day account of the most tumultuous time of his life.

Like many sons of World War II veterans, I grew up hearing occasional war stories and learned enough to know what a good job our soldiers had done. But like so many other veterans, my father did not talk much about the blood, the death, and what hurt the mostthe loss of his men and his buddies.

I think this diary helped him bring a little more closure in his personal struggle to put the war far behind him. He was proud of his service for his country and proud of his accomplishments. Although he was awarded the Bronze Star, he never considered himself a hero. The heroes were the ones who didnt come home, he once told me. Ive heard that same phrase time and time again from many veterans.

When my parents were first married, my mother placed all his medals in a display case. I remember asking my dad once about them.

Which is your favorite?

Without hesitation he pointed to the Combat Infantry Badge. That one.

His answer surprised me. Why that one and not the Bronze Star?

Because being in the infantry, on the front linesyou cant get much closer than that.

At the time I thought he meant closer to the war. But as Ive grown older, with a family of my own, I know now what he really meant. He was telling me you cant get much closer to your buddies; you cant get much closer to your own fears; and you cant get much closer to God.

There are many people who contributed to helping me complete my dads WWII journal. Without their help and encouragement, this would remain a memoir on my bookshelf forever.

Id like to thank Eric Hammel, my first editor who found me and provided me with much needed patience and guidance with the first draft. I also owe a debt of gratitude to Theodore P. Savas, who continued the editorial process with suggestions and thoughts to help round out the story, and to my publisher, David Farnsworth, of Casemate Publishing.

Jane Yates, archivist at The Citadel, was instrumental in helping me research archives and news events at The Citadel during the Pearl Harbor attack, which allowed me to describe the culture and attitudes of cadets during my dads years at the Citadel.

When I read James Bradleys book Flags of Our Fathers, I felt so many obvious parallels between his relationship with his dad and my relationship with mineI knew I had to finish this project.

My deepest gratitude is due my patient, devoted, and loving wife Becky, who kept encouraging me to finish this labor of love; and to my own children, Evelyn and Jared, who keep my humble and down to earth. I also need to thank my sister, Anne, who provided me with a plethora of facts about our dad I had not previously known.

Finally, I think my dad would like me to thank his parents, A. Z. and Lois, and his sisters Hazel and Lois, who kept him close to their hearts and to the Almighty Creator who watched over him in battle. I know hed also sincerely thank his 80th Infantry Division buddies who fought and died through those tumultuous months treading through the snow, the mud, and the blood, and enduring the most miserable conditions imaginable. And I know he would say, God Bless America!

Andrew Z. Adkins III
Gainesville, Florida