Interviewed by:

Cameron MacMartin and Jared Cashman

"When you're in combat it, You're all in the same boat, and, you like each other, you have too!
You're depending on them sometimes, for your life!"
~ Dana Eldridge (08:20)

Dana Eldridge's Story:

Dana Eldridge was born on Cape Cod in 1932, just like any other "Cape Codder" he had a very open life style. His early childhood had him exploring around the cape, usually around Chatham. He lived a fairly normal childhood, he got good grades in school and graduated high school. He decided to go to college as he graduated. Unfortunately for him, the Korean war was raging on sadly for him, he was drafted into the Korean War in the 45th division (infantry) that would serve in the front lines of the Korean War. He described being drafted as a hand reaching out from the forest, and slowly pulling him into it. He described the Korean war as one of the worst experiences he's had in his life. While he served he described some of the most awful sites he had ever seen. Blown off limbs, scattered torsos, his friends and commander die in front of him. Even through all the things he had seen, he still prevailed and served his country valiantly. After the war, Dana returned home and stayed with his family. Once done he went back to college and graduated from the University Of Massachusetts. Once graduating he married his wife and decided to live in a nestled house in Orleans, Massachusetts. Following his marriage and graduation, Dana learned about his Great, Great, Great, Great Grandfather, Ebenezer Smalley, who served in the Civil war. Once learning about Ebenezer, Dana decided to write a book off of Ebenezer's war story, which he learned about from letters to home which Ebenezer wrote. While writing the book, Dana actually decided to change it and write the book titled. "A Cape Cod Kinship" Which tells the story of Ebenezer's and Dana's service and both wars. This is merely one of the few books that Dana had Written about Cape Cod. Dana Eldridge was a true hero who never gave up, and fought for his country valiantly.