{{cquote|America's first line of defense was our home-front. They went out and killed other people's enemies on the battlefield, and in the process became America's heroes. I was living with one of them.
The following short story is by young former Infantry Private Vernon D. Hughes, Jr. who served in the United States Army during World War II. Private Hughes' short story takes place during World War II as he was returning to his hometown after having served in the combat zone in Italy.
The time is 1943 and Hughes' first few days back home in Washington, D.C. are spent visiting with his family. Upon returning home, he meets a soldier who had been in the hospital with him during the war. The soldier had fought in the war since he had just turned 18, and was now older than Hughes was.
Hughes spoke with the young soldier about his experiences, and shared some of his own. The soldier also spoke about his hometown, the city where he had been born and raised. They talked about the brave soldiers who fought to protect his city, and the other cities they had defended. They shared memories of how the soldiers lived and their roles in the war.
In his talks with the young soldier, Hughes realized that the soldier had been just a child when the war started. He had only turned 18, and Hughes had been in Italy since early 1944.
Hughes made a promise to himself to do everything he could to not only get back into the war, but to make it home in time to see his family again, like the young soldier he had met.
A mere few months later, Hughes found himself in the combat zone once more. It was also 1943 and the time was ripe for battle once again. He found himself on the front lines in Italy. He felt a sense of pride, and shared his experiences with the young soldier. He found himself talking with a soldier who had been his age when the war began, and had watched him grow up, and see him become a young man.
On the eve of D-Day in 1944, Hughes found himself on Omaha Beach. They were in the landing craft going in. "There was noise all around us. We were all scared." They could hear bullets flying overhead.
Hughes was sure that there was no way that they could survive this mission, but when they got to the beach, the men were ready. They were briefed by the team leaders about the upcoming be359ba680
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