Tank Busters

I'm Luie's dad (Big Lu) and I have a story I'd like to share. I have a friend at work who I've known for a long time. His name is Joe. I've known Joe longer than Luie has been alive so he knows all about my little guy. When Joe heard about what Luie is going thru he told me this story about when he was in the Italian Army during the late 70's when he was in a unit called The Tank Busters.

The Tank Busters were a special forces unit. Because of the dangers involved in tankbusting, only soldiers who volunteered were in it. Only the bravest and/or craziest soldiers volunteered because The Tank Busters were required to position themselves, undetected, alongside tanks as they drove by. Then just as they were out of the view of the tank driver, they had to run and lay down directly in front of the tank and as it drove over them, they attached a bomb to the underside of it. When the tank passed them they'd get up run and detonate the bomb blowing up the tank. However, if the tank driver was to see them, it would be pancake time for the soldier. Get what I mean? That's why it was so dangerous and only a select few volunteered. Anyway, when you became part of the Tank Busters unit you got a pin with the insignia of the Tank Buster unit, which was a sword with a circle behind it and flames running up the blade of the sword. The sword represented the unit. The circle represented the bomb and the flames represented the bomb exploding. When other units in the Italian Army saw you wearing your pin, they knew that you were not to be messed with because you were one of the Tank Busters and you had to be nuts. Obviously Joe was extremely proud of being part of the Tank Busters. Joe had saved his Tank Busters pin for 30 years! After telling me the story, Joe handed me the pin and told me to give it to Luie. He said that Luie is a soldier and to tell Luie that Uncle Joe would be proud to have him in his unit anyday. That Little Lu is a true Tank Buster! One of the elite.

I had the honor of telling this story to Luie and giving him the pin which he has worn proudly since. Luie is a trooper and the bravest kid I know. I'm very proud of him and how he's dealt with his adversity. I love you Luie. God bless you. Keep on getting better and you'll be home before you know it.

Love,
Your Papi