On 8 May 1945, World War II Victory in Europe by the Allied Forces of France, the United States, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and Britain came to the world. This V-E Day began the end of fascist nazi domination.
The humiliation, terror, displacement, bombings, torture, incarcerations, starvation, murders and massacres in Albania, Belgium, Belarus, Britian, Crimea, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, East Prussia, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungry, Italy, Lativia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Neatherlands, North Africa, Norway, Poland, Romania, Sweden, Ukraine and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics were ending.
Millions of lives were lost. The millions who lived, suffered irreparable mental and physical harm. In November 1944, my Dad was among the wounded United States Army soldiers who fought in Germany. Dad was the scout for his platoon. Having been raised on a Jackson County Iowa farm, he knew how to use a shotgun and rifle. He was the fourth born on the farm of 11 children and the first son of Kathyrine (Mc Carthy) Regan and John C. Regan, Sr.. Dad became John Jr.. Their farm had the usual outhouse, no electricity until the late 1920’s, and lots of chores for 11 children.
There was plowing with horses, planting of a huge garden, putting up (canning) fruit, vegetables, and beef. Baking consisted of making everything from scratch, bread, rolls, pies, soups, cookies and more. They even grew their own yeast. All this contributed to my Dad and his siblings each having a strong character, work ethic, and tight family perseverance. They had grit, and passed it along to their children.
On 18 November 1942, two weeks after my Dad turned 21 years old, he entered active service in the United States Army. He trained at Camp Dodge in Polk County Iowa. He spent 22 months at the Savanna, Illinois Army Depot loading bombs. 12 September 1944 as a PFC in the Infantry, Dad shipped out to the European Theater Of Operations/ETO. He moved across France.
On 18 November 1944, Dad was scouting through a forest in western Germany. German soldiers led by a nazi saw him. They knew he would go back and bring his platoon through, and he did. Fighting ensued. Dad was shot by the nazi through the left calf. The Germans were captured, made to carry Dad on a liter as he held their four rifles on his chest.
Dad was taken to an Allied field hospital in Belgium then airlifted to Britain. The medical personnel there recommended amputation. A female doctor came along and said she could save this man’s leg, and she did. For 13 months Dad recuperated and spent V-E day still in a British hospital. In mid December 1945 he was allowed to board the USS Lake Champlain to return home.
He arrived at a Dubuque, Iowa bus stop on Christmas Day 1945 where he was warmly greeted by his parents and siblings. He met my mother the following year at a candy store in Dubuque.
On 18 November 1947 they were married at a small rural church on a gravel road in Dubuque County. Six children later, the tradition of a large garden, an out house, and putting up vegetables continued.
I recently related this story to an audience. Three other children of WW II Veterans told their fathers’ stories as well. To honor those who have bravely served, it is our duty to speak of their experiences. Those of us who came after the Greatest Generation, must tell younger people what it was like for our parents. Not just what happened to my Dad and his comrades in Europe, the Pacific, and elsewhere, but of the sacrifices made by my Mom, her parents, relatives, neighbors, and all on the homefront.
Over 1,300 WW II U.S. Military Veterans die every day. There are only approximately 66,000 remaining.
V-E Day, 8 May 2025, to me means remembering my Dad’s hardships and the friends he lost plus my Mom’s contributions to making sure those fighting had what they needed. Never again must this type of brutal world-wide encompassing war engulf us. We must keep our history close and repeatedly enlighten others of what we know. It is our duty. Our parents did their duty. Now it’s our turn.
Molly Regan
Daughter, WW II Veteran
7 May 2025