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By Scott Mercer Focus on Scugog “It’s different when you hear it from someone who was there,” George Emmer- son says after | express my lifelong inter- est in World War II. Our eyes lock briefly in a knowing but wordless exchange. | understand. My WWII was sanitized, even the most graphic documentaries. In movies, | knew the hero would retum from his mission unscathed, whatever the odds. But George’s war was real. He never knew if the next day would, indeed, be his last. Thankfully, George mmerson’s three years in Europe ended in perfect health, and he returned to Port Perry to join his father's insurance brokerage. Now 92, but showing few signs of it, George remembers the war's events — mai World War II altered the course of George Emmerson’s life... as it did thousands of other young men of his generation. Like many young men of his generation, George Emmerson felt the tug of patriotism and a thirst for adventure with the outbreak of World War II. “1 also wanted to gain life experi- ence, greater ‘worldliness.’ I joined the Dental Corps as what you'd now calla dental assistant. Spent a year in Canada ny now 70-odd years distant — with a clarity one would expect for memories of last week's happenings. No question, World War Il altered the course of George Em- merson’s life. It did interrupt his career path, yet left him better prepared to eventually assume those responsibilities. It matured him quickly. Indirectly, it even led to his marriage, which remains vibrant decades later. And it left him with wealth of unique experi- ences, some fond, others painful. The names of the world leaders who directed the conflict’s events — their motivations, deeds, and fates — are familiar to anyone who's cracked a history book. But in truth, unrecorded histories — the day to day actions of, {iterally, millions of soldiers like George Emmerson — determined the outcome. That was George’s war. before heading overseas.” In England, he exchanged his dental assignment for a posting in the Transport Corps. “There were 10 of us in our outfit. We ran missions to pick up and or deliver goods, men, hardware, driving a variety of heavy military vehicles. “But initially, we were sent to a water course where we learned to drive large trucks through neck-high pond water. That would prepare us when D-Day came, to ane through rough seas onto dry Please turn to page 34 278 Queen Street Port Perry VLU14 CHET HONOURING OUR VETERANS Te » JP REMEMBRANCE D FOCUS - NOVEMBER 2014 33