The Eyes of a Twenty Year Old

In an effort to stay healthy, Harold Braden began walking with several close friends three or four times a week. He and these friends, many of whom were veterans, would walk, share war stories and then meet for coffee and breakfast at HyVee or another restaurant of their choice. As happens to a group of men in their later years, many of these friends became unable to participate in these weekly outings and several also passed from among us, to the point where only a few were able to participate.

Harold has two brothers and two brothers-in-law who were veterans. Motivated out of his love of history and wanting to share a good story, Harold decided a little over 10 years ago to write a book. He wanted his children and his many nieces and nephews to know what he and their fathers experienced during World War II and the Korean Conflict. He also felt that many of his walking buddies had stories that needed to be told. He spent many hours on the book with the full support of his wife of 54 years, Lucille Braden. His daughter, Melissa Frerking a Vice President at Cerner, recently stepped in and encouraged him to finish the book.

The book, World War II Through the Eyes of a 20 Year Old, is complete and tells the story of Harold's experience and the experience of his brothers, friends and even ancestors in the service of their country. He shares about his early years spent in Utica Missouri, a town near Chillicothe. Harold speaks of his first job with the Social Security Administration, keeping records by hand of the contributions made by workers. It was at this time that the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor and Harold enlisted that May of 1942. He would spend 3 years in the Navy.

In commenting on his service, Harold is quick to point out that he saw little combat and that his brothers and friends are the true heroes, "My older brother John Braden served under Patton and helped rescue a group of paratroopers who were pinned in during the Battle of the Bulge."

"My brother Robert Edward Braden, earned the Bronze Star serving in Korea."

Harold not being one to brag about himself, his son Joe Braden Communications Director of HCA Midwest Division relates, "Even at his age, Dad is still sharp in his memory of the stories and an inspiration to his children and grand children. He has always enjoyed history and we look forward to the book coming out."

Of his walking buddies, Lloyd Barnard, Floyd Dale, Neal Hartnett, Joe Hays, Paul Hoover and Burton Richardson have passed on. He still meets regularly with Jack Barry, Ken Burnett, Mike Medina, Jack Murphy and Bill Whitington for coffee and storytelling.

Recently, Harold and Ken were able to participate in an Honor Flight, www.honorflight.org , a program that pays the way for World War II veterans to fly to Washington DC to see the WWII memorial and many of the other memorials. They fly out and return on the same day.

It was this writer's pleasure to visit with Petty Officer First Class Braden this past week. He shared many stories that are in the book. If you would like to get a copy, he will be having a book signing on November 21 from 1:00 pm to 4:00 at the VFW Hall at 329 South Douglas, Lee's Summit MO. He promises that the Chief's game will be on that day. Copies of the book, World War II Through the Eyes of a 20 Year Old, will be available to be signed by the writer. Copies are $10.00 apiece, with $1.00 from each sale going to Honor Flight, www.honorflight.org.