Berthal Hartman was a medic in WWII, going through the hardest hit areas of Europe in times of crucial and overwhelming loss on Allied forces. He was Jewish, and ended up stationed in former Nazi occupied France until 1946. He loved animals, especially dogs. While in France he befriended a beautiful dog who was sadly run over by a careless civilian. He tried to save the dog, but couldn’t. And of all the losses he suffered in the war, he always said the dog was the hardest—the last loss of a friend. He was an amazing, warm, funny guy. And great looking, too!

This man was my grandpa, and I miss him terribly. Here’s to you, grandpa Bud. :)