See the 102-Year-Old WWII Vet the Patriots Honored and Hold Your Manhood Cheap

I mentioned this gentleman only briefly in yesterday’s Knee Jerk Reactions to the Patriots-Packers game. One because there was a lot going on, and two because there wasn’t much known about him besides a brief mention by Al Michaels. That is, until the Pats released this video.

His name is Norman Tache’ of Salem, MA. And not to nitpick the narration, he was a sergeant in the Army Air Corps, the predecessor to the Air Force, and not the regular Army. What no one can disagree on is what a certified badass he is, going this strong at 102, a full 73 years after V-J Day.

Every time I see a guy like this, and there are fewer every day, I can’t help but wish we could go back in time and talk to him. Sgt. Tache’ was born in 1916. Meaning he was 25 or 26 when his country went to war and he went with it. Just barely into adulthood, with a lifetime ahead of him. God knows how many missions he flew, wondering if he’d make it back alive. How many days all those guys watched the sun go down and wondered if they’d live through the night to see it again. And even when they survived the war, they had to be asking themselves if there’d be another, followed by another, since there were 20 million deaths in the First World War and 85 million more in the sequel It makes you wish you could go back and tell him he’s got a future ahead of him. 75 more years or so, and counting. Coming up on eight decades of growing old in relative peace, surrounded by loved ones in a country that reveres him and his comrades who weren’t so fortunate. I’d just like an undoubtedly scared young man back in the 1940s to know that. But unfortunately they had to endure, persevere, and found out for themselves.

With Veteran’s Day weekend coming up, it’s worth mentioning that according to the National WWII Museum, out of the 16 million Americans who served, there are just under 500,000 still with us. And we lose them at a rate of 348 each day. They did nothing less than save the world, so it’s important to appreciate and honor them while we still have the chance.

And for the remaining Norman Tache’s we’re still fortunate to have among us, I don’t have the words to write a tribute worthy of them. But I know a writer who does. So I’ll just steal his. Words that say what all the officially licensed camo sweatshirts the NFL can sell never could. From Shakespeare’s “St. Crispin’s Day” battle speech:

This day is called the feast of Crispian:
He that outlives this day, and comes safe home,
Will stand a tip-toe when the day is named,
And rouse him at the name of Crispian.
He that shall live this day, and see old age,
Will yearly on the vigil feast his neighbours,
And say ‘To-morrow is Saint Crispian:’
Then will he strip his sleeve and show his scars.
And say ‘These wounds I had on Crispin’s day.’
Old men forget: yet all shall be forgot,
But he’ll remember with advantages
What feats he did that day. …
This story shall the good man teach his son;
And Crispin Crispian shall ne’er go by,
From this day to the ending of the world,
But we in it shall be remember’d;
We few, we happy few, we band of brothers. …
And gentlemen in England now a-bed
Shall think themselves accursed they were not here,
And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks
That fought with us upon Saint Crispin’s day.

Godspeed to all who served and sacrificed. And to Sgt. Tache’, see you next year in a Patriots “103” jersey.