WWII Vets What A Generation

[mso489]

My dad was a minesweeper skipper in the Philippines during WWII, and his brother was a landing craft skipper

at Tarawa, the first big amphibious U.S. landing when we were just learning how to do this, and the learning

cost a lot of lives. Late in life, in his 80's, two of my dad's closer friends were a Japanese couple who invited

him over for the tea ceremony and sushimi. Time had changed him and them. Probably both knew their

prejudices, but saw the self-destructive aspect of cultivating them. I heard a special forces guy on a plane

talking to the man beside him about his work in Afghanistan, explaining that most of his adversaries were

convinced that they were protecting their families and way of life. He was wise way beyond his years, and had

gone to that scary edge where he could see both sides. He no longer was at target practice with "the bad guys."
This isn't in any way to understand, explain or condone genocide or the horrors of war. It's serious work to avoid

these. I'm also a veteran.

 

[flakyjakey]

My late dad was an engineer in the merchant navy in WW 11. His ship, "HMV Georgic", was used as a troop carrier and heavily bombed in Cairo harbour - he told me it was 'interesting' to be trapped in the engine room! Despite being badly damaged, the Georgic was refitted, but never quite the same again. She had a corrugated appearance and 'wheezed' as she steamed - she was then affectionately known as "The Iron Lung" !! LOL

 

[tbradsim1]

My Father enlisted in the Navy after Pearl Harbor, they found out he was a master welder like Roths daddy and was sent west to work on seceret projects, his brother served in the Army and went from Africa to Germany where he was wounded and sent to England. He never talked to anyone about his experience, after comeing home in early 60s, serving on the ground in the Asian theather I went and lived with my Grandparents on the farm. One Sunday he came for dinner, afterward he asked me to walk the field . He opened up to me saying when he was wounded in Germany he had to stay in a hole with water to his chest, dead German with him, pinned down by sniper fire for 2 days and nights. Now I knew why he seemed off somewhat, he went on to be a good body m an at a local dealership. My Grandfather had to use German labor to get his rice in, was not happy that his son was over there and he had to feed those workers, The world is a very complicated place, stories galore.

 

[teufelhund]

Thanks for the post Cajun; just bringing this to my attention made my day a bit brighter even if the bickering on this post did not. Have a blessed day and hopefully we won't have to entertain this shutdown stupidity much longer.

 

[tarak]

Thanks for sharing stories of your brave family members. I try to regularly remember that many paid much.

 

[mrenglish]

My grandfather on my moms side served with the Navy in the Pacific. He was in communications and would talk a lot about what went on. My grandfather on my dads side served in Europe and survived the Omaha landing. He did not feel ill will towards the regular German troops, they were just doing what he was doing, called on to fight for his country. Now the Nazis were another story, but the average soldier (Wermacht), he said, were just regular fellas like he was.

 

[seanlamb63]

Here's a good story, from my Wife’s Grandfather. He just passed, but before he did he shared a story with me that I would never forget. He was in the Navy and served in the Pacific on the USS Currituck AV-7. At the battle of Leyte his ship fell under heavy fire. A few months prior his Mother died, and while under fire and walking through the ship he said her heard her voice say " Carl come here," so he naturally walked toward the voice. Right then a Japanese torpedo hit the side of the ship just feet from where he was standing. Luckily he was on the other side of the bulk head door and managed to get out with only minimal damage. Call it luck, call it a premonition, call it what you will, either way the man saw it all and was involved in one of the major Naval battles of WWII.

 

[pipeherman]

@Duckfat- seems like that was aimed at me. I hope you are not calling me a Nazi Sympathiser. Nazi Sympathisers by definition are those who justify what had happened in the concentration camps and what was done towards the independent militias and Political Prisoners. If anything I have clearly stated that I am against that and only in support of the average soldier who had served his country like any other American, Brit, Pole, Czech, Soviet, Frenchman. Took part in war, but certainly not in any form of war crime. It is also noteworthy to mention that I have been here for 2 weeks and have started 3 topics, none of which have been deleted. I said that I was not going to reply to this thread, but when there seems to be an obvious attack against me which is factually obtuse and definitely slander; I’m afraid I will do.

 

[captainsousie]

Good to hear that Bradley. Thanks for posting it. I'll honor your request and stay on topic for this one, it would be a shame to see it closed too.
My grandfather on my dad's side was in Guadalcanal and it took a lot from him. He was proud of his service and even though he passed a decade ago, I would like to think he would have joined in with the group today. And to anybody thinking otherwise, don't underestimate old guys who want to get something done.

 

[instymp]

Sean..+1 about how most Germans had to fight, Most people don't know that. My Grandmothers 2nd. cousin was "The desert Fox"

My Dad fought & flew, instructed in 2, even did the Rhine crossing in gliders plus troop transport in & out. Had gonads way bigger than mine.

Bradley.. Thank You Sir for mentioning this, I thought it was friggin Fantastic.

BTW, I have Poles in my family today.

 

[flmason]

My father served in the Navy in WWII. I am proud of his service. I hoped to follow in is footsteps but was denied as a result of disability.
Since I can not serve, I am very proud of all who give their all to protect our lands and freedoms.

 

[smeigs]

That is amazing! Glad to see that some people still have the USA fight in them!

 

[rmason]

Disregarding the fights in this thread, the WWII Generation is the only generation that deserves the title of the Greatest Generation.

~Ron

 

[tbradsim1]

10 yrs later my Son who was in the 82nd Airborne jumped with the old timers. I watched on TV, when they marched thru St Maire Eglise the people threw flowers, ran and kissed them, I was in my easy chair crying like a baby. Payback thru my son.

 

[pstlpkr]

Thanks to all of our Veterans.

Thank you for your service to our Country, my Family, and me.
Thread closed.