My Dad and I took the boys on a Trail Life scouting adventure this weekend. Full of heavy metal…it was worth the trip, heat and dust. Lots of good stories behind these vehicles, but the most important story is the last photo..

See 25 years ago I met my future Grandfather-in-law for the first time. He and his twin brother were ambulance drivers for hospitals supporting First Army in the drive towards Aachen. Granddad did not talk to anyone about what went on there for as long as anyone could remember. When I met him I had just driven the roads of his old resupply route as an Army Captain doing a self created staff ride.

So we talked. I knew this was his vehicle, and we talked about the tree lined roads he drove. I talked about the engine as well and how it handled. We were just making small talk, but then I asked him about the long throw on the manual transmission. I asked him how was it to work on the mud and snow. His eyes locked on mine and the real stories came out. Soon the family surrounded the two of us to hear stories never heard before.

In those few moments I became part of the family. So every time I see those Dodge 3/4 ton Ambulances, I smile and remember the soldier hero Granddad of 1944-1945 bouncing across Belgium and Germany to save lives of injured men.