I have Elizabeth Black’s portrait of my father, Mathew Gradetsky, done in September 1944, He passed away at 83 in 2002. One of the great events of my life was accompanying my dad on a trip in 1999 through France retracing the steps of the 314th. It was a major event in my father’s life, too. Here is what I wrote about him after his passing. Matt Gradet: Son – brother – husband – father – grandfather – accountant – fierce poker player – ravenous reader – bookbinder – Redskins fan – golfer – joke teller – artist – theatre goer – traveler – walker – soldier. ----- Howard Gradet, Los Angeles, California, May 19, 2023.