Xmas again

I told Granddad that I was seeing a therapist and he said he was, too, about the war. His eyes teared up a bit and I held his hand and told him it is good to have someone to talk to about it. He agreed. I am glad he is seeing someone, because he is still having bad dreams, 50 years later. Every night around 1am, he starts talking in his sleep, sometimes calmly, sometimes arguing, sometimes commanding, sometimes like he is in pain. Marsha says sometimes the dreaming and talking continues until 4am. That happened a couple times while I was there, and he always slept in later than usual on those days.

In a conversation, I mentioned to him how much I enjoy Japanese art and architecture. His expression changed and he said he hates Japs. I asked why. He said he fought them in the war and he said they were like animals. He told me what they did to the people in China, and what they did to enemy soldiers who were captured. It wasn't pretty. No wonder why he still has bad dreams. I think he still hears the screams of that man in his platoon. He said they had to kill every Jap to get their man back, and when they did, he was dead. Grandad said they shot him once every hour until he bled out. His eyes... Oh poor Granddad, it must have been horrible, for him to still be haunted like that, 50 years later.