Another of the Greatest Generation Passes Away

Bill giving his service medals to my son as a birthday gift.

It with a sad heart I say this, but Bill Peebles, the WWII vet I wrote about who gave Jeremy his service medals, passed away yesterday morning. His health and strength deteriorated rapidly after I first posted about him (you can read it here in the archives) . Due to his weakness, he was never able to tell Jeremy all the stories he wanted to tell about his adventures during the war, which has really saddened Jeremy. So we once again have to mourn the loss of a good man and friend who will be missed.

For us, Bill is the fourth death since last April, when my father died at age 70. Then our great friend and neighbor George, who Jeremy had dubbed his "Granddad South," suddenly died while swimming. George was 64, a pastor and hospital chaplain. Then in November, Teddy Rushing died from an IED while serving in Afghanistan. Teddy had been Jeremy's school and youth group friend for several years. Teddy was the first kid to befriend Jeremy when Jeremy was new at the school. Teddy was only a few years older than Jeremy, and Teddy's death hit Jeremy very hard. And now Bill has passed. The upcoming WWII reenactment will feel a bit lonelier this year. Sigh. It has been a difficult several months for us.