My father fought Nazis in World War II. How dare they march in Nashville in 2024

Eighty years ago, in the winter of 1944, a U.S. soldier engaged in a firefight in the woods of France was shot in the head. The soldier, just a boy of 17, had lied about his age to enlist in the war in Europe.

Though the enemy wore German uniforms, the fight was against a virulent ultranationalist movement called fascism. The fascist movement sought to cleanse their country of “outsiders,” people that typically did not comport with some genetic feature, usually race.

The boy in the forest, my Dad, by the grace of God, survived; 480,000 other U.S. soldiers did not. 

For decades, the word Nazi was considered the embodiment of evil. A monstrous chapter in humanity’s slow shuffle toward progress.

The boy is now an old man. He has trouble remembering and speaking. But the scar remains. So do the multiple Purple Hearts.

Nazis marched in Nashville.Blame a growing collective ignorance that we must reverse

He is lucky in one respect. He has not had to watch his beloved Republican Party begin its long stumble and embrace of the ideas he bled to defeat. 

On Saturday, a group of masked American Nazis proudly marched through downtown Nashville.

There are very few soldiers of the great war left. Suppose they saw Americans marching in  support of the very ideas they gave so much to defeat? Would they stand by quietly taking videos? Would they shrug and acquiesce?

No 17-year-old boy was shot in the head by the fascists that marched yesterday.

That comes later.

But only if we do nothing.

Will Maguire, Nashville 37211

Agree or disagree? Or have a view on another topic entirely? Send a letter of 250 words or fewer to letters@tennessean.com. Include your full name, city/town, ZIP and contact information for verification. Thanks for adding to the public conversation.