War Wounds

Wilson Joseph Pruiett
September 3, 1925-September 28, 2005

This week, I've had two very vivid dreams about my grandaddy, Wilson Joseph Pruiett. Grandaddy was a World War II hero. He joined the Navy and served on the Wasp from November-December 1943. Then he was transferred to the USS Santee. He was in the invasions of Palau, New Guinea, Morotai, Guam and the Philippines.

On October 25, 1944, during the Battle of the Leyte Gulf, the Japanese deployed kamikaze (“divine wind”) suicide bombers against American warships for the first time. Grandaddy was struck when the plane hit the hangar deck.

A piece of shrapnel (pictured below) took out his right eye and eyelid and cut through his nose. He also got a slug in his chest, three slugs below his left knee, and one pound piece of shrapnel in his right leg.

He was in many hospitals and endured many surgeries. His cast went from his toes to his armpits. On May 26, 1946, he received honorable discharge from the Navy. He received many medals and ribbons including the purple heart.

This morning, thanks to these dreams I've had, I've been thinking about how brave Grandaddy was. Also, it occurred to me that he never complained. He never felt self-pity. And my husband Bill and I were talking just two days ago about the fact that Grandaddy always made us laugh. He was so funny and had no filter at all. And he didn't give a crap what anyone thought because he was who he was.

The greatest thing about him was his love for God and his family. That love endures long past his death. It runs profoundly through us all. He didn't need his eye to be able to see God's truth. That was something he lived each day.

In my own life in recent years, I've often felt like I've been at war. Our family has been struck by extremely difficult life circumstances that have left us feeling deeply wounded. My "kamikaze" has left me feeling like I have a mental/emotional limp and missing eye, but I would like to be like Grandaddy. I'd like to get up and move forward and live a victorious and abundant life anyway.

Thank you, Grandaddy, for your example of strength in the midst of pain. Thank you for your faithfulness and genuine spirit. I look forward to seeing you in our Heavenly Home again where you are surely running along the streets of gold with two beautiful eyes and a heart filled with peace, love, and joy. XOXOXOXO

The shrapnel from the kamikaze
that struck my grandaddy