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Here is a picture of my Dad carrying his carbine. It was taken sometime during the first week of September, 1944. He was a FO for the 47th reg of the 9th Infantry Division but was frequently assigned to other units, as needed. He says he was in the advance group that first crossed the Siegfried Line into Germany.
At 93, he's still around to share stories but he's in poor health and beginning to fade.
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo.../sept44v-1.jpg
these are the "GUYS", i WOULD LOVE TO TALK WITH THIS GENTLEMAN
Just curious, why these guys and not Korea or Viet Nam combat vets?Quote:
Originally Posted by duggaboy
All these guys are the "GUYS"!
Jim, I would really like to hear about your three tours in Nam. You guys were the forgotten hero’s and I appreciate all our vets (as all of us do here). At least the other war hero’s (all who served are heroes in my book) did not have Jane Fonda to contend with. I was too young for Korea and too old (married with a son) for Nam.
Thank you for your service to our country, just hope we can keep it and those that fought and lost lives or wounded were not for nothing.
Nice photo... thanks to your dad for his service.
You 'Nam veterans should note that you have never been forgotten by todays young warriors. The attached patch is still worn by some crewmen in AC-130 Specter gunships.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Hooks
Hooks,
I was just making fun of him talking about the "Greatest Generation". As you I feel anyone who served, whether it involved combat or not, deserves our respect. Both my Granddads, Dad, both Uncles served in WW2. And one of my best friends was a WW2 fighter pilot. Unfortunately all but one is now gone. I have heard some great stories from them.
My three tours were on Assault Craft 1968, 69,70. I like talking about all the different guns we shot, and that's about it. The other stuff we usually only talk about with each other at our yearly memorial for the guys we lost. It's held on Coronado, at our base.
Most people do not know the hardships military families go through. Low pay, gone away from home and family (holidays and birthdays being the worst times), extensions right before you were to come home, stress, lost friends, bad memories. All this between the ages of 18-22. I know some guys and gals are older, but most are young. My era came home with PTSD, diseases from chemical spray, and some addicted to drugs.
Then got yelled at and spit on at the airport. Those hecklers were stupid. Unlike WW2 where men came home on ships that took months and had time to unwind. All three of my return trips were from my river boat to Da Nang, to Japan to Calif, all in 12 to 15 hours. We didn't have the time to unwind. Instinct had you reaching to your upper chest for your K Bar which of course we were not wearing. Good thing for the Krishna's and other hippies at the airports. We were just glad to be back home.
There is no such thing as a good war.
Jim
Personally, I don't care for that "Greatest Generation" term. Not saying that generation isn't great, but greatest? What I'm trying to say is, given the same world threat, I believe that ANY American generation, past AND present, would stand up, just the same. :cheers:
And the guys and gals that fought the "dirty wars" after WWII need to be remembered equally. All performed equally well, despite the factors that started the conflict.
Afterall, 'ya fight for the loved ones at home, your buddy in the foxhole beside you, and the country we all love. :thup:
Thanks to all vets, past and present. :clap::clap::clap:
I got on a Freedom Bird in Saignon and was home 18 hours later. Hassled by Customs jerks in Honolulu, no job and simply everybody thought I was a crazy baby killer. Boy, Greatest Generation gets it all. I am glad the guys coming home today don't have to go through that bull.
Jim,
I did my time in the bluewater Navy, but was too young for Korea, and too old for Nam.
I've always felt that both the Korean vets and the Viet Nam vets got the short end of the stick by so many in this country. A classic case of shooting the messenger. The folks doing their duty certainly did not deserve the treatment they received.
All those citizens who put themselves in harms way deserve our respect whether we agree with the issues or not. You and all the others certainly have mine.
Regards,
John
I appreciate the above posted comments. And I especially appreciate and respect everyone who put on a uniform to serve their country.
But I posted this picture to celebrate WW2 vets and carbines, not to start a discussion about the short shift the Korean and Viet Nam vets received.
Thanks for staying on topic.
Any idea of how old your Father was when he was in?
I recall reading somewhere that the average age for a combat soldier in WWII was 26.
That number changed to 19 for Viet Nam.
Just did the math, Your Father was about 28.
I enjoy the smile he's wearing......
Charlie-painter777
You're pretty close.
He was born December 1917 and volunteered for the draft in January 1941, thinking he'd do his one year stint and be done. Wrong!
He first action was in the Anglo-American landings in North Africa. Then Sicily and Normandy. He was severely wounded earning a third Purple Heart, about a month after this photo was taken when he drive his jeep over a Teller mine. Spent 3 months in the hospital and then volunteered to return because he wanted "to see the whole thing through". Finished the war at the Elbe river, where he met the Russians for the first time.
Was one of the first nineteen soldiers rotated home because of high "points", having only a few less than Audie Murphy. There is a story about him in action at Normandy in Ernie Pyle's book "Brave Men".
He was considered "the old man" of his team at the age of 26.
Very interesting post.
Thank you and your Father
Charlie
P.S. could you post his name?
Or PM me with it, if your not comfortable posting it.
I'd love to read up on it.
In less than a year the "Greatest Generation" went from civilian production to war production. They had car companies making tanks and airplanes, sewing maching companies making pistols, office machine companies making rifles to name a few. Most everyone in the country sacrificed for the war effort and women for the first time worked "MENS" jobs for the war effort.
I don't beleive that todays manufacturers could match those feats in that short of time. Yes they do deserve the the name "The Greatest Generation"
Just my 2 cents
Quote:
Originally Posted by Brasidas
Great Story about you Dad. Enjoyed the pic as well.
A Michigan gal hard at work at the Robert Irwin plant fitting stocks........Quote:
Originally Posted by TDH
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...9/03/001-1.jpg
My dad wasn't even supposed to go. He was married, already had two kids, and was thirty working for the US Post Office. Someone at the draftboard must have been ticked off at him, and he was sent anyway. He went without complaint or protest. Even in retrospect, he did not complain. He said it was his duty. If I remember right, he had stops on Okinawa and Saipan (after the action, of course) before he went home. While still on Iwo, they offered him a commission to stay in (me was an E-6 in a Master Sgts' position). He declined, as the war was over and his job was done. They offered him a commission again during Korea, but by then he had three kids and me on the way.
I read every one of Ernie Pyle's bookd when in high school and couldn't put them down once I started one. Looks like it's time to read them again.Quote:
Originally Posted by Brasidas
Thanks for sharing and thank your father for his service.
Came home twice myself - last time just after '68 Tet. The "homecommings" were far and away the worst times of my life.Quote:
Originally Posted by Calif-Steve