My father was old enough to be my grandpa, but that's what made him a great dad. By the time I was born, he'd already lived through so many ups and downs that nothing ruffled him. Born in 1911, Dad was an eighth-grade dropout who'd lived through the Great Depression, fought in World War II, and worked in New York's Garment District. AdvertisementI wish he was around to spend time with my kidsBut here's what's awful about having an old dad: He died before his grandkids got to know him. He was 81 in a veterans' hospital hospital when my first child was born.

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Persons: he'd, didn't, Dad, who'd, hadn't, Harpaz, Beth Harpaz, He'd Organizations: Service, Business, Garment, Army, 101st Airborne Division, Operation Market, Hitler Locations: New, Armentières, Charleston, Buzzy's, France, Belgium, Holland