June 6, 1944

[BP]

My grandfather was in the Army Air Corp in the CBI theater (China, Burma, India). He was a radar / radio tech for B-24s.

My dad went to radio tech school for B-17s, not much of a lifespan for those guys. Thankfully he didn't pass and ended up in Anchorage for most of WW2. He spent the Korean war in Tokyo and most of the Vietnam war in Saudi Arabia with brief stints in Hawaii, Guam and Saipan before retiring in Fort Worth.

[GhostTX]

My Grandpa was a medic and served under Patton. Earned himself a Bronze Star while he was there. Story is he took a truck into enemy fire and retrieved a bunch of wounded.

Only other story I got was he and buddy were stuck behind enemy lines for a bit and were holed up in a basement in some French town. It happened to have a lot of wine, and they figured if they were gonna die or get caught, might as well enjoy the time they had left. So they got blitzed on the fermented grape juice until the Germans left the town.

Other than that, never spoke of the war.

[SS Junk]

My Great Uncle Joe, who was a runner during D-Day and stayed throughout most of the European Theater:


After my dad passed I found this of Joe's and had it framed:

[podman152]

My Grandfather (Gramps) stormed Normandy. The only thing he'd ever talk about when it came to WWII was the French castles. Gramps nearly disowned my Dad when he bought a VW bug in the early 70's. He and the other Johnstown WWII vets got invited to a pre-screening of Saving Private Ryan. He left within the first 5 minutes because it was too real. Gramps passed away in 2002. He was one hell of a guy and I'm very lucky to have him in my life for as long as I did.

[exlude]

I'm continually amazed by the strength of many of the WWII grunts. I don't know if today's Army could handle it. I, like many, would casually bitch about some of the shitty conditions I was in in Afghanistan, but I always had a truck or a FOB to sleep in a night. Somewhere relatively safe. I couldn't imagine the nomadic nature of WWII. I think I'm pretty fuckin' tough, and question my ability to live through a year plus of theater as it stood in WWII.

Whenever I wanted to complain about how I had it, I tried to remember them, remember what they endured and try to stifle my complaining.

[68RR]

Dad served in the 8th Sq, 3rd Attack Group "Grim Reapers" Flew 58 missions as a top turret gunner on B-25's and A-20's in the Southwest Pacific ( New guinea Philippines)

[helosailor]

All of my uncles (6 of 8) that were old enough, served in WW2. All but one served in the Pacific theater (2 Navy, 2 Marines, 1 Army Air Corps). My one uncle that served in Europe, was in the Army Air Corps, and was a gunner on the B-26. Their D-Day started at about 0400 on June 6th, with them launching for what would be a total of 5 missions across the channel, coming back only long enough to refuel and rearm. They were finally able to shut down and rest after sunrise on the 7th. He flew a total of "36.5" missions, being shot down on his 36th mission. He was the only survivor, and was held for 8 months in a Luftstalag. That was all I was ever able to get out of him.
Those men were like super heroes to me growing up. And, of course my Dad, who was just too young for WW2, but was a USMC vet of Korea and Vietnam.

[mstng86]

So I was at the local barber shop a few months back. In walks an older guy, probably in his mid forties. The talk somehow got to veterans, wars, and such. So this guy says his dad is a vet. We all ask from what war. He says Vietnam. So me and the barber start putting dates and years together and say there is no way he was a Vietnam vet. We asked his dad's age an the time still didn't line up. The guy starts to say he wasn't really that sure. We say maybe it was Korea, and he still wasn't sure. He gets on the phone and talks to his mom. His mom proceeds to tell him his dad was in world war 2. Not only that, he was at Pearl Harbor.

How the hell do you go that long as an adult without knowing the details of your fathers service? Especially being a WWII vet.

I thought maybe this guy was bsing us and it turns out his dad also went to the same barber and later on the dad validated.

[sc281]

Started rewatching the pacific tonight

[Sean88gt]

So much balls. My grandpa went in through N. Africa and was eventually captured. He spent 27 months in a prison camp. A rather quiet man, he never met a stranger and was as tough as forged steel, but deeply loved his family. Gone 22 years this month. Really miss the man, the lessons he taught me, the patience that escaped my dad, and the simple life he lived. Oddly enough, I see/talk to him in dreams fairly regularly, only family member I've had that occurrence with.

[32vfromhell]

So I was at the local barber shop a few months back. In walks an older guy, probably in his mid forties. The talk somehow got to veterans, wars, and such. So this guy says his dad is a vet. We all ask from what war. He says Vietnam. So me and the barber start putting dates and years together and say there is no way he was a Vietnam vet. We asked his dad's age an the time still didn't line up. The guy starts to say he wasn't really that sure. We say maybe it was Korea, and he still wasn't sure. He gets on the phone and talks to his mom. His mom proceeds to tell him his dad was in world war 2. Not only that, he was at Pearl Harbor.

How the hell do you go that long as an adult without knowing the details of your fathers service? Especially being a WWII vet.

I thought maybe this guy was bsing us and it turns out his dad also went to the same barber and later on the dad validated.

Mid forties guy and his dad is at least 87 years old. Hm That is...plausible but a bit odd to be having kids so late in life for that generation.

[SC457A]

Started rewatching the pacific tonight

Band of Brothers my friend. Day of Days myself.

[Broncojohnny]

Mid forties guy and his dad is at least 87 years old. Hm That is...plausible but a bit odd to be having kids so late in life for that generation.

Don't forget that the families were huge back then too. My grandfather on my mom's side came from a family with five kids and that really wasn't unusual. The spread from oldest to youngest was about ten years.

This is my great uncle. Apparently, he didn't put up with any shit:

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=80026371

Frank J. Lawson
Home of record: Oklahoma

Awards and Citations

Silver Star

Awarded for actions during the Korean War

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star (Army Award) to Technical Sergeant Frank J. Lawson (MCSN: 275630), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against an armed enemy while serving with Company A, First Battalion, Fifth Marines, FIRST Marine Division (Reinforced), in action against enemy aggressor forces on Obong-ni Ridge, near Yongsan, Korea, on 17 and 18 August 1950. During the attack on a ridge, the platoon leader of the second platoon was killed. Sergeant Lawson, the platoon sergeant, immediately assumed command of the platoon and continued the attack in a highly aggressive manner. At darkness, having seized a portion of the company objective, Sergeant Lawson was ordered to defend that position for the night. At approximately 0230, 18 August 1950, a severe enemy counterattack was launched against Company A's perimeter of defense. During the ensuing action, intense small arms, automatic, machinegun, hand and rifle grenade fire was directed at the Company position. Sergeant Lawson, wounded painfully in the thigh by machinegun fire during the initial enemy onslaught, continued to move among his men, directing their fires and reforming the line against the attacking enemy. While moving about through this intense fire, he was wounded again by shrapnel in the head, arms, legs and body. Not until the enemy attack was repulsed, would he allow himself to be evacuated. Although badly wounded himself, Sergeant Lawson unselfishly assisted two severely wounded Marines back to the aid station. His outstanding leadership, devotion to duty and heroic actions were an inspiration to his men and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

[Chili]

My Grandpa was a medic and served under Patton. Earned himself a Bronze Star while he was there. Story is he took a truck into enemy fire and retrieved a bunch of wounded.

Only other story I got was he and buddy were stuck behind enemy lines for a bit and were holed up in a basement in some French town. It happened to have a lot of wine, and they figured if they were gonna die or get caught, might as well enjoy the time they had left. So they got blitzed on the fermented grape juice until the Germans left the town.

Other than that, never spoke of the war.

My grandfather was awarded a Bronze Star too, though I don't know the circumstances, and he never shared the story.

[IHaveAMustang]

"Poppy" was one of the crazy ones. 101st Airborne "Screaming Eagles".

Yes, he jumped out of a plane, heavy cloud cover, middle of the night and promptly got lost behind enemy lines.

The only things I ever got out of him was :

1) *sighs*, I don't know how many Germans I killed
2) I hated bushes, they were the worst ambush points along the road.

He received a purple heart for falling off a train...because he was horsing around...lol