A Seafire

[Paul S.]

My grandfather's generation fought WWI and my father's generation fought WWII. Growing up, I met and learned from men of both generations - an ALH veteran of Beersheba, Diggers who had served in the trenches in France, my twice wounded Highlander grand-dad, teachers who had served in all branches during WWII, my ex-gunner dad, his mates, my ex-RAF Fighter Command godfather who flew Spitfires and Mosquitos, the ex-sailor bloke next door who witnessed D-Day from the deck a destroyer and countless others who role-modeled and molded their sons, my generation and me. Now, well past 60 myself, I truly appreciate what they did and the gifts they gave me growing up, and for making me the man I am.

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[browningautorifle]

My grandfather's generation fought WWI and my father's generation fought WWII.

Me too.

[Beerhunter]

Just remember that "The First of the Few" ("Spitfire" in the US) like "The Imitation Game" is not history, it is a movie.

(I am lucky enough to work on the site where they developed those iconic Supermarine fighters.)

[HOOKED ON HISTORY]

Me too.

Make that three.

[Bob Womack]

Seeing England about to be besieged, my uncle from East Tennessee ran across the border to Canada, joined the Royal Canadian Air Force, trained to become a pilot, and transitioned into Spitfires at Hawarden, Flintshire. His papers posting him to the RAF Eagle Squadron were being processed when he was killed in a training accident. The family has kept his medals and the letter from the King.

My father, also a land-locked East Tennessean, vacationed on the Florida coast in 1940 and went out on the dunes at night to watch the explosions from American merchantmen being torpedoed by German subs before any declaration of war. He joined Naval ROTC in high school. Upon graduation, despite wearing glasses, he ingeniously faked his way through the medical sorting system right up to the last screening for Officer Candidate School, trying for Sub training. Once they figured out what he was doing he went on to work at Chicago Naval pier as an enlisted Navy man... and scored at the top of his training regiment at the rifle range.

Bob

[25-5]

I was born between VE Day and VJ Day. I have kept the values taught to me by the Greatest Generation. My uncle was a "Hump" pilot in the CBI theater of the war.
I tried desperately to pass those values on to my children. Only some of them became part of their lives. A failure on my part.
Sending them to college was the biggest mistake value wise.

[browningautorifle]

A failure on my part.

You're too hard on yourself. The only person you're in control of thought-wise is yourself...you can only hope the others turn out OK.

[HOOKED ON HISTORY]

Sending them to college was the biggest mistake value wise.

You are in good company.

It seems as though college is no longer a place to be challenged to think for yourself it is a place to be taught what to think.

The problem with our parents/grandparents values is that that road is up hill all the way.
Today it is the easy road. Everybody gets a trophy.