Theodore Michael Tanin
By: Elizabeth Tanin
I Interviewed my Grandfather, Theodore
Michael Tanin for my World War Veteran Report.I learned a lot of interesting and useful information
about him, for example, what his job was like and
the conditions he was in everyday and how the war
affected him.
Theodore was born on July 19, 1917 in
Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
The war that he was in was World War II. He
entered the war when he was 24 years old (1941) and came back when he
was 27 or 28 years old (1948-49). He was the on the front lines of the U.S.Army.
He was in the D-Day invasion on June 6, 1944. He was a Airborne
Infantry Man (86 Airborne), and his job was to seek out and eliminate the
enemy. His job called for him to kill more before he was killed. His
job=kill.
He was part of the 86 Airborne, which was someone who had
to parachute behind German lines to secure numerous bridges, etc.
Theodore says his most powerful
moment was when he was shot at. He said all he could do was watch
people blow up right in front of your eyes. He also said that the war
changed him because of all the killing of the innocent people.
He said that
there should just be peace....
people should talk first before using
violence.....but we had to invade Germany because the Nazis were killing
innocent Jews.
I started to ask more serious questions as
the interview went along, and this question was one of the hardest I had to
ask; Did you lose any friends while in war? He sighed, but then
responded with a yes. He said the majority of his friends were shot by the
Germans while parachuting onto there territory. But he said that he loved
his job even though it was hard work and the living conditions were
horrible.Theodore said that the food was terrible
because it was all in rations. He also said that they had meat occasionally
and that they always ate canned food.
(K-rationed food is what they called
it.) He said that he lived on a blanket in the mud. It also rained most of the
year and it was very cold at night.
Theodore said that he loved his job and
he enjoyed serving for the U.S.
Army. I enjoyed interviewing my
grandfather; it helped me catch up with him to see how he was doing. On
a final note, he said it was an experience he will never forget and the
memories of joy, sorrow and loss will forever be remembered in his mind.
