On March 18, I lost my hero. My father Steven was a proud veteran of the U.S. Air Force and Army. While I was honored to know him, he never had the chance to know another extraordinary hero in my family: his own father.
Sgt. Allen F. Langille was killed in action during World War II when my father was only 3 years old. I never truly knew my grandfather’s incredible story until I came across a Purple Heart when I was snooping in my parents’ bedroom one day. The story of how he earned two Purple Hearts, a Bronze Star, and a Distinguished Service Cross is truly remarkable.
Along with the awards, I discovered a letter from Gen. George S. Patton addressed to my grandmother. It outlined the heroic actions Allen took after being separated from his platoon in Sicily, Italy.
Allen led a group of men that came under heavy fire. With shrapnel lodged in his back, he procured a rocket launcher and scored a direct hit against the enemy.
When confronted by an S.S. soldier, rather than surrender, he didn’t back down. According to the letter from Patton, he “belabored and disposed” of the soldier with his helmet. That’s a nice way of saying, he killed the man with his bare hands.
I could never imagine what it must have been like for her to receive that news, but many mothers, wives and families of our brave servicemen and women have. All Americans owe a debt of gratitude to them. Allen’s story gives resounding meaning to this verse of “America the Beautiful”:
O beautiful for heroes proved
In liberating strife. Who more than self their country lovedAnd mercy more than life! This Memorial Day, we should not only honor those who gave everything in service to our great country, but continue to share their stories and give voice to the heroes who can no longer speak for themselves.
