"While growing up here many years ago, my brother, Alan, and I idolized Paul Rosasco, the World War II veteran who lived on the corner of our street. With rapt attention, we'd thrill to hear his stories of danger and high adventure in the South Pacific and would pester him to tell us more. Now that Alan and I are much older, we understand that those stories back then were softened for young ears and actually came from tough memories of a brutal war. We've since heard the unvarnished version and have learned more about the injuries our neighbor suffered and about all the friends he lost. For that reason, and because of the life he lived in recent years, we actually came to admire him even more. " A World War II hero then and now - Field Notes - msnbc.com
