My dad fought in WW2. I wish that I would have had more insight to ask him questions, like the guy in this video. Notice how humble and the respect he had for his team mates. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PTck52FZj9Q
My dad was a WWll vet also . He never got to go to any of the reunions . But he kept in touch with old first sergeant, because they were good buddies . When my dad died the reunion was going on and we called his first sergeant, and he announced the dad's death . He told us later that there wasn't a dry eye in my dad's company . I went to one of the reunions after my dad died and met the men my dad served with , one told me if it weren't for my dad , he'd been dead . I never had to pay for a thing at the reunion , they paid for it .
When my dad retired and my mother died, he move to NC so he could be close to his old unit. When he was in his eighties, he fell and busted his head. Instead of calling 911, he walked to his friends house miles away. When he was in the VA, he told the young doctor working on him, that he would give anything to have a picture of his own unit. A few days later, he handed my dad a folder with an unclassified stamp and full of pictures. These fine men, WW2, veterans have given us so much, put it all on the line and asked nothing for it.
My Dad was in the US Navy , WWII, Gunners Mate, in the Pacific Theater . His ship was LCI 981L, he and his ship made 7 amphibious landings earning 5 battle stars. He and his ship were at the landings at Leyte Gulf, and was there at the Battle of Leyte Gulf, the largest naval battle in history. Absolutely ,”the greatest generation.”
My father was in the 32nd Red Arrow division that went to the Pacific. He went over on a troop transport that was involved with the battle of Midway in May of 1942. He came home and was discharged in October of 1945. He had 7 of the 6 month over seas duty badges on his W 11 uniform.
Great video, getting to be very few left to tell the story. Out of all the friends and family I had that fought in WW2 I can only think of one that is still with us. I only just met him a couple years ago doing an ADC job. Turned out he actually knew my family well and lived with my aunt and uncle (who had also served) for a while after returning home. Oldest daughter and I sat and visited with him several times after finishing up the skunk job and I am glad to say we got the chance to hear his story. Had 3 uncles and a Grandfather serve in WW2. All but one uncle came home, but they were tight lipped and never spoke of what they experienced.
My dad was a marine and his company’s sharp shooter, he never talked much about what he went through but he did sometimes talk about some of the funny things that happened such as his commanding officer trying some captured rations he thought were nuts only to be told they were dryer grasshoppers
It wasn’t till he was gone that I heard some of the other stories such as his position being overrun and his surviving behind the Japanese lines and being declared dead, my grandmother was actually notified he had been killed
Dad was also one of the first into japan after its surrender and was pulled from his unit to act as interpreter because he spoke Japanese where among other things he took part in some of the war crimes trials
Dad was sick most of my childhood and died young at 54 from service related injuries, but I never once heard him complain or (This word is unacceptable on Trapperman) about it, and more then once he went out of his way to help other vets that were having a hard time at the VA were he spent a lot of his time due to his health problems
He was also one of the most deadly people I have ever meet, I once watched him send a group of hippy war protesters packing with a single stare and a few words
My dad fought in WW2. I wish that I would have had more insight to ask him questions, like the guy in this video. Notice how humble and the respect he had for his team mates. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PTck52FZj9Q