Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

George William Porter was a great friend to many people. To me, he was my hero, my grandfather and my best friend. I could rely on him to always be there and to me he was My Pappa.

To the Australian Defense Force he was a Navy Man but to his family, he was the soldier who never left anyone on the ground without picking them up and saving them from disaster. Even if that disaster was themselves.

Pappa was a quiet man always stopping to enjoy the quiet moments in life. He was softly spoken yet when he spoke, the whole room listened to what he had to say. He as well respected and loved.

Pappa left the war but the war never left him. As a child I spent a lot of time with my grandparents. I stayed over their place all the time. They were my rock and stable ground. Occasionally when I stayed over I would hear late at night or in the wee hours in the morning my grandmother (Mema) consoling my grandfather Pappa. He would often have nightmares which I was only told were brought on by the war. He often had to be awaken from his sleep with kind words and reassurance that everything was alright.

I didn't understand it during my early years but eventually I was forwarded an opportunity to listen and learn.

From the age of sixteen until nearly eighteen, i lived with Mema and Pappa and eventually I questioned what the commotion was and why Pappa had such dreams. I was told in plain terms, Wars are tragic things. Pappa explained to me his dreams many times that although as a child they didn't make sense, the older I got the more things aligned. He was a brave man always there for family and friends but watched many men fall and die during the war.

Pappa explained that he would often dream of being unable to save a family member from the fate of situations that weren;t real but a mimic of events he had seen during WWII.

From all research and understanding Pappa suffered from PTSD and he was tortured by event that occurred and events that in his mind could occur again but this time, to his family and friends.

Sadly for Pappa's family he was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 1998. THis for Pappa was a saving grace that robbed him of painful memories, calmed PTSD flashbacks yet also deleted some of the happiest moments of his life.

Towards the end, Pappa was often found sitting lost during conversations yet he remembered his family, stayed full of love and spirit. Kindly, it was the pain that was forgotten to him and it was the kindest thing God could have done.

George William Porter, A true Australian, Kind Loving Man and an the Best Friend to stand in your corner. 4th of August 1924 - 22nd of October 2009 but His memory, His Love, Loyalty and Strength soldiers on Forever.