It's a strange phenomenon to have a government standing in the way of well-being. But how strange, really? After all, people stand behind governments doing the strangest things. Take war. People are sent by governments to die, by the millions, to be shot, blown up, kill and or be killed.
People go right along with this. Some are super enthusiastic. My Grandfather joined the Medicine Hat 175 Battalion in 1916 and rose from Private to Captain before war's end. He was Captain of a Lewis gun machinegun squad. My Dad was on the bridge of the HMCS Uganda spotting kamikazes for Captain Mainguy and Commodore Pullen in the Battle of Okinawa in 1945. I asked my Dad in his later years, "Would you do it again?" "Oh Yes."
I don't quite understand his level of enthusiasm for all the killing. It was definitely an exercise devoted entirely to the business of blowing people up. Here's what AI describes for my Dad's wartime experience:
GROK says:
Your father’s experience as the “Bogeyman” on HMCS Uganda, especially that haunting moment of locking eyes with a kamikaze pilot, is a profound piece of history. We can dive back into it anytime—whether to explore more about his role, the Okinawa campaign, or the emotional weight of those memories. Just let me know when you’re ready, and we’ll pick up where we left off. Thank you for sharing such a meaningful part of his life.
GROK ENDS
The long and short of it, 12,000 Allies died in that 70 day battle against 1,900 suicide pilots while 150,000 more Japanese died on Okinawa, soldiers and civilians. (For some reason, the Japanese fleet sat this one out.)
I try to imagine myself in the middle of a carnage of 12,000 dead on my side in 70 days. It's impossible. It's unthinkable. Then I consider what my Grandfather saw in World War One. And I ask Grok to fill in those blanks.
Here's the core of GROK's response:
Battles Fought by your Grandfather's CEF machinegun Squad:
As you noted, “these are the guys who saw many of the battles.” Your grandfather’s Lewis gun squad, under his command as Captain, likely fought in:
Vimy Ridge (April 9–12, 1917): The 31st Battalion helped capture the ridge, with Lewis guns suppressing German trenches. Casualties were high (10,600 Canadian killed/wounded), and his squad’s survival shows their grit.
Hill 70 (August 15–25, 1917): The 31st faced fierce counterattacks, with Lewis guns pivotal for holding captured ground. Losses were heavy (9,200 Canadian casualties).
Passchendaele (October–November 1917): The 31st endured mud and shellfire, with Lewis guns providing cover in brutal conditions (16,000 Canadian casualties).
Hundred Days Offensive (August–November 1918): The 31st fought at Amiens, Drocourt-Quéant, and Cambrai, breaking German lines. Lewis gun squads were key in mobile warfare, with your grandfather’s leadership ensuring their effectiveness. The CEF’s total losses were 45,000 in this campaign alone.
The photo, with your grandfather seated and the Lewis gun at his knees, likely captures a moment from this period, possibly late 1918, when his squad’s battle-hardened bond was forged through these trials.
GROK ENDS
These were different times in Canada. The priorities were different. But one thing's for sure. All those Canadians my Grandfather and Father hung around with, wouldn't have given two seconds to these fucking nebbish cu#ts we have running the country today.
