D-Day and WWII Veterans Close To Us Thread

[OrangeUte]

I have been thinking this morning about my two grandfathers, who both served in WWII. neither landed at Normandy, but they both served. I have so much appreciation for members of the military and the incredible things they do with dedication and hard work.

My paternal grandfather was a plumber and plumbing union organizer. he was 35 years old and was had hearing difficulties when he was drafted into the Navy. He served for 2 years as part of the occupation force in Japan, and visited places like Nagasaki and Hiroshima as well as Tokyo. He never saw any combat, since he was still in training when the Enola Gay dropped. I appreciate that he departed his wife and 2 young sons (my dad and his older brother) and spent two years away serving his country. He had tried to enlist at the outset of the war but was turned away because of his hearing trouble. by the time he was drafted, they were getting more desperate.

My maternal grandfather was a dentist and anesthesiologist. He was active in the Utah Guard and was called up and promoted to Brigadier General. He oversaw the Dental Corp in Europe and was away from my grandmother and their 3 daughters (my mom and her two younger sisters) for almost 3 years with only one visit home during that time. He was incredibly dedicated to his service, and always proud that he was part of the war effort. Supposedly he used to decline to talk about whose teeth he worked on, since he may have worked on Ike's... He went to his grave on that one. Corny, but part of the family lore.

How about your family members/friends/loved ones who served in that war and were part of that great generation. I feel like a better person for understanding, from a young age, the uniqueness of my grandparents' generation. These were very inspiring people from the recruit all of the way up to the top ranks.

[thesaint258]

My maternal grandfather did go to Europe, but after D-Day. He was drafted, and he was also a practical joker. This got him on the wrong side of his drill sergeant, who would always tell him that he couldn't wait to get him in Europe. Well, my grandpa applied to OCS at the end of training and was accepted, further angering his sergeant. My grandpa trained the glider pilots who landed at Sicily, Normanday, Arnhem, and the Rhine. Sometime after Normandy, he was sent to Europe, but he never talked about what happened there.

My paternal grandfather flew B-17s in the Army Air Corps. He was shot down over Germany, and held in Stalag Luft III (after the events in The Great Escape) for three years. He doesn't talk about it much either, but his wife convinced him to do a fireside when he was in town once, so he and two other men with whom he was imprisoned talked about their experiences. That's the only time I've heard him talk about what happened. Interestingly enough, they were still trying to tunnel out. Last weekend Stalag 17 was on, and he commented that the beds they had were the same as in the movie. By the time they were moved, his bed was held up by strings because they used the slats to shore up the tunnel they were building.

Both of my grandfathers were incredibly thankful for Patton. My mom's dad because Patton moved so fast, he didn't really have to fight, and my dad's dad because Patton's army freed them.

Both of them are my heroes, and they're part of the reason I've been trying so hard to get into the JAG Corps.

[happyone]

My Grandfathers were too old to serve in WW II and my father was too young. I do have some uncles who were in the Navy in the Pacific and one of my great uncles was in the army in the South Pacific and later in Korea. My father also said he has a cousin who jumped into Normandy with the 101st, but I never met him.

My youngest daughter was interviewing my father a couple of months ago and he said one the things he was proud of was that there has been a member of his family in the military continously since he enlisted in the National Guard as a high school jr in 1953, that is if you count ROTC.

[byu71]

My Dad did serve in WWII. He was in the Army Air Force and went into France and Germany after D Day. He wasn't a pilot, but went in and built runways. It hasn't been until later in life that he talks about the War much at all. Mostly he talks about Patton and how Patton would bust their chops to make sure things got done. He liked Patton.

He stayed with the AF reserves and got to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.

I tell him now and then how much I appreciate what he has done for me and his country in WWII. He says thanks and smiles.

[Uncle Ted]

My Dad did serve in WWII. He was in the Army Air Force and went into France and Germany after D Day. He wasn't a pilot, but went in and built runways. It hasn't been until later in life that he talks about the War much at all. Mostly he talks about Patton and how Patton would bust their chops to make sure things got done. He liked Patton.

He stayed with the AF reserves and got to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.

I tell him now and then how much I appreciate what he has done for me and his country in WWII. He says thanks and smiles.

My Dad also served in WWII in the Army Air Corps. He was a P-51 mechanic. After D Day he was assigned to an airfield in Germany (I don't recall which one). He helped the engineers with testing the Messerschmitt Me 262 jet and drove the firetruck to put out the fire when there was a crash. My Dad passed away when I was in college but I recall he also liked Patton.

[mtnbiker]

My dad and two uncles were in WWII. Dad had very poor eyesight and was initially sent to engineer school or somesuch at Texas A&M, but then the army just threw them all into the infantry. He was an ammunition carrier, and said it was almost impossible to walk with the heavy packs & ammo (he was 6' and about 135 lbs at the time). While in France, he was wounded in the top of the head by an armor piercing round - helmet had entrance and exit holes. The army docs did experiments to see if the skull bone would grow back; it never did, and he had a dent on the top of his head after that. When they were operating, his brain kept giving little shocks to the doctors. My dad was awake during the operation, and didn't appreciate them inviting the others there to get their jollies at his expense.

My dad's brother had been in Germany on a mission, but was pulled out before the war. He was immediately put into the intelligence corps.

My dad's brother-in-law was a B-17 pilot, and flew 31 missions from about May to July, 1944. A year or so before he died, he wrote about a few of his more hair-raising experiences.

[Color Me Badd Fan]

My wife's grandpa flew a P-51 Mustangs over Europe. He accompanied B-17s on bombing runs. The casualty rate for B-17 crews was pretty high, I'm not so sure about guys running the Mustangs. They had to ward off other fighters, but I'm not sure if they had to deal with all the flak and the anti-aircraft artillery like the bombers did. Then again, they were so close to the bombers that they had to have dealt with quite a bit.

One of my grandfathers was too old. The other one was Merchant Marine in the Pacific during WWII. My dad is old enough to remember my grandmother driving him to the train station and then sobbing as he jumped on the train to San Francisco where they sent off a large portion of the troops going to the Pacific.

[FN Phat]

My paternal grandfather served in the Pacific Islands with the Army. He rarely talked about his experiences in the war but when he did it was very emotional and inspiring. One of the "life lessons" that he learned from the war was humility. He grew up in Southeast Idaho on a ranch, shooting any and everything. All through out boot camp he was known as the best shot around. On the ship ride to the islands there was a marksmanship competition with the upper brass of the ship and the grunts. My grandpa quickly moved to the top and found himself and a commanding officer shooting for the rights of the besh shot on board. He won. Fast forward a few months and they are pinned down by the japanese that are shooting down a mountain side from heavy cover. The CO remembered my grandpa's shooting and turned my him into a sniper. He never talked about any of his doings as such but has mentioned that he can remember each and every one of them as if it was yesterday. I lived with my grandpa near the end of his life, while I took care of his farm. I can remember him yelling and screaming in his sleep. Him waking up in a cold sweat, some 55+ years later, with fear in his eyes. He claimed that the best day in his life was when a piece of a mortor shell ripped off half of his jaw and embedded metal into his skull (that same metal remained in his head until he passed) and sent him home. He saw horrible things and witnessed many deaths, some of which he was on the other side of the rifle. He loved the men he served with with all of his heart. I am in awe of those that can sacrifice so much for their country.

[myboynoah]

My father's older cousin was a Ranger on D-day and was later killed in Germany during the Battle of the Buldge. He is buried at the Luxembourg American Cemetary and Memorial. The American Battle Monuments Commission folks really treat you well if you are visiting the gravesite of a relative.

[Bo Diddley]

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80 year anniversary of the D-Day landing. Tom Jones gives a moving performance in honor of his grandfather who actually died in WWI.

[BigPiney]

This is a story about my 2nd cousin (I think). He is the 1st cousin once removed of my dad.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Fep9QogUM0&ab

[YOhio]

D-Day is one of my favorite unofficial American holidays. Just pure fearlessness, bravery, gumption, and mettle to advance a righteous cause.

You are men who in your “lives fought for life . . . and left the vivid air signed with your honor.”

[tooblue]

My wife and I traveled to parts of Europe we had never visited earlier this spring. As a part of our trip, we went to Belgium to visit and dedicate the grave of her uncle (my wife's father turns 95 this year) ...

Filght Officer A.G. S was a navigator on a Halifax Bomber during WWII. His plane was shot down over Belgium. Disobeying German orders to not burry allied war dead, local residents found his body and buried him in the church cemetery. After the war, his remains were moved to a commonwealth war cemetery.

Heverlee War Cemetery is in a beautiful part of Belgium—it reminded us of the countryside where we live. The cemetery is small, but well maintained. The back edge is ringed by a hedge of flowering plants that were just blossoming. A rosebush has been planted next to flight officer A.G. S's grave between another grave marker.

There were bicyclists, families and several other people out walking with their dogs. There are several hiking and walking trails through the woods in the area. A couple of times, bicycle teams passed by on one of the paved paths that criss cross in front of the cemetery.

It is a peaceful, calm and beautiful place with old trees. It is also very secluded and there were myriad birds singing all around us.

It was very hard for my wife and I to keep our composure. We started crying from the moment we pulled up and parked to the moment we found his grave marker. There is great reverence in this place. It is very much hollowed ground and we were blessed to come here and dedicate A.G.S's final resting place.

warcemetary.jpg

[Bo Diddley]

D-Day is one of my favorite unofficial American holidays. Just pure fearlessness, bravery, gumption, and mettle to advance a righteous cause.

I had no concept of time when I was younger. I always thought WWII was ancient history. I'm just a little younger now than were some of the soldiers that fought in D-Day at the time of this speech.

[Bo Diddley]

This is a story about my 2nd cousin (I think). He is the 1st cousin once removed of my dad.

Thanks for sharing that. I love hearing these stories. Your family's connection to France is a good fit.