Thomas R. McGeehan

Out of the many people who have helped me become a better person by following their example, my grandpa is one that stands out as a hero in my mind. He is one of the most remarkable people in my life for many reasons. Even though my grandpa lives in Pennsylvania, visiting him in the summer and keeping in touch on the telephone have kept our relationship very close.

My grandpa is a World War II veteran. He was a cadet at Kings Point, the United States Merchant Marine Military Academy. When he was nineteen, he was sent to sea to serve on the S.S. Jeremiah O'Brien. This was part of his training and preparation to become an officer. My grandpa served at D-day in Normandy, France on June 6, 1944, which was the largest military invasion in the history of mankind. He made eleven trips across the English Channel, bringing troops and weapons to the French Coast. In doing this he not only affected my life, but in a small way, the lives of many people in our country.

When he returned to Kings Point, he continued his education and graduated. He got married, and he and my grandmother moved to Pennsylvania where they had seven children, including my mother.

My grandpa is a hero because he has always been very hardworking, ambitious, versatile, family oriented, and a faithful and devout Catholic. He sets a good example for me by being polite to everyone, always doing the right thing, and being very knowledgeable in almost all subjects, though his favorite is history. He reads constantly, and he is always teaching me new things. He owns many books and frequently quizzes me about these books and asks me questions about history. Although he is very intellectual, he is also humorous and loves to tease me. He is a well-rounded person who enjoys history, humor, and spending time with his family.

My grandpa is a hero for so many reasons, not only for saving a life, but for showing me how to be a good person and always being there for me. My grandpa may not be considered a hero to people around the world, but he is definitely considered a hero to me!