My father was in one of the earliest waves to land at that hellhole called Omaha Beach. My mother was in the naval group that broke down the Japanese code leading ultimately to the shooting down Admiral Yamamoto's plane. Neither talked very much about their involvement in the war, but I fear the significance of their contributions, and those of so many more are increasingly lost on the general populace, especially students needing safe spaces, coloring books etc.
Pearl Harbor
- Thread starter zappaa
- Start date
MADHAT1 that was great, never heard that before, thanks for posting.
I scheduled a trip to DC specifically when an honor flight was scheduled. I witnessed the ceremony and applauded loudly when they got off the bus at the WWII Memorial. It was a touching event to witness. I commend your brother for doing this. My one regret is not getting my father to see the WWII memorial before he passed.
Getting choked up some from your story. When my father passed, I was good until taps, which always gets me, but I lost it when my uncle, a fellow WWII veteran stop over my fathers grave for a moment and saluted him.
My Dad served in the Army. Joined in 43 as a 18 y/o private. Served under Patton and was with him just outside Berlin at the final days of the war.
At just under 20 y/o he finished the war with field promotion to sargeant a bronze star and 2 Purple Hearts.
I only heard him talk of the war twice. Both times were when a war buddy was visiting. They would laugh a lot as they would swap stories but the haunt in their eyes was unmistakable. As kids, we hung on every word. Only as we got a little older did it really sink in of what they saw, did and endured as teenagers.
At just under 20 y/o he finished the war with field promotion to sargeant a bronze star and 2 Purple Hearts.
I only heard him talk of the war twice. Both times were when a war buddy was visiting. They would laugh a lot as they would swap stories but the haunt in their eyes was unmistakable. As kids, we hung on every word. Only as we got a little older did it really sink in of what they saw, did and endured as teenagers.
My dad was only a ground pounder but when they handed me the flag with the "Thanks of a grateful nation" I cried like a baby.
phs73rc77gsm83
" Shortly afterwards my father joined the air force where he became a navigator of a B-29 in the Pacific theater."
It wasn't the Air Force back then it was called the Army Air Corps. My dad was stationed in England as part of the ground crew for the 8th Corp of B-17's that flew missions over France and Germany and now consists of the B-2 stealth bombers. My uncle served in the Pacific on a supply ship that serviced subs and had left Pearl the day before the attack. Thank all for their service back then and to those serving now may you come home safe.
" Shortly afterwards my father joined the air force where he became a navigator of a B-29 in the Pacific theater."
It wasn't the Air Force back then it was called the Army Air Corps. My dad was stationed in England as part of the ground crew for the 8th Corp of B-17's that flew missions over France and Germany and now consists of the B-2 stealth bombers. My uncle served in the Pacific on a supply ship that serviced subs and had left Pearl the day before the attack. Thank all for their service back then and to those serving now may you come home safe.
My dad accomplished a great deal in his life.
3 MVP awards, 10 times a world champion, 18 consecutive all-star game appearances and marrying my mom.
The most proud he ever was was when he received the Lone Sailer Award in Washington for recognition of his service to the country in Normandy, Italy and North Africa.
3 MVP awards, 10 times a world champion, 18 consecutive all-star game appearances and marrying my mom.
The most proud he ever was was when he received the Lone Sailer Award in Washington for recognition of his service to the country in Normandy, Italy and North Africa.
My grandfather when he volunteered for service they asked him if he had any trade skills he had built and maintained bridges in civilian life as a welder in Jersey City. He was assigned to the relatively new Seabees and off he went to the Pacific campaign. 'There he mainly built runway strips, supply bases and fueling facilities.
He used to tell me a lot of stories, he said he thought he was just going over there to build stuff. He never thought it would be in the middle of unsecured islands, with fighting still happening around them. The Navy told them they wouldn't start building until the islands were secured. He said it made him learn how to weld faster and one handed, so he could hold a gun in the other.
He used to tell me a lot of stories, he said he thought he was just going over there to build stuff. He never thought it would be in the middle of unsecured islands, with fighting still happening around them. The Navy told them they wouldn't start building until the islands were secured. He said it made him learn how to weld faster and one handed, so he could hold a gun in the other.
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Yes, you're right, it was the Army Air Corps. I have his jacket that I wear occasionally that indicates as such. My sloppiness in calling it the Air Force.
Zap, you forgot one. He had you as his son. Thanks for starting this thread. God Bless.
I know it out of respect to the men of Pearl Harbor but you should never feel the need to say only. Bless
My uncle landed in France 2 days after DDay and served through the end of the war in Europe. When I was about 10 and my brother 12 we were at his house and my mother (his sister) was bugging him to tell us about his time during the war. He got upset, left the the house, and went out into the woods and wouldn't come back to the house until after we left.
One of those survivors is a man named Jim Lavelle,a man who certainly knew where to be where the action is:He's the police officer handcuffed to Lee Harvey Oswald when the latter was shot and killed by Jack Ruby.
God bless America and to those who gave the ultimate sacrifice so we can live free.
Amazing thread. Thank you to all who have shared your personal stories. It is such an important reminder to us all what America is all about, and how many people stepped forward to defend our country, our freedom, and our way of life. The greatest generation really embodied the words spoken many years later by JFK at his inauguration-
"And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you — ask what you can do for your country."
"And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you — ask what you can do for your country."
Told this story before.
My dad enlisted in the Army right after the attack. Went on to fight in North Africa and Sicily before being in the assault on Monte Cassino. Left his left eye on that hilltop. Received the Purple Heart and Bronze Star. Was evacuated to the states to Valley Forge Military Hospital. My mom and a friend went to the hospital to visit someone and my mom and dad met. A few weeks later they were married in the hospital chapel.
Dad never really recovered mentally or physically from the experience and died at the age of 47.
It's thrilling to read all of these stories that everyone is sharing. Sadly as mentioned before in another thread the news will only commemorate the day by showing some old men tossing a wreath into the water somewhere in a 30 second spot. Thanks to all who sacrificed so much, even sacrificed all, to save freedom from the brutality that was the Axis. That dedication to sacrifice is still carried on by your armed services today.
My dad enlisted in the Army right after the attack. Went on to fight in North Africa and Sicily before being in the assault on Monte Cassino. Left his left eye on that hilltop. Received the Purple Heart and Bronze Star. Was evacuated to the states to Valley Forge Military Hospital. My mom and a friend went to the hospital to visit someone and my mom and dad met. A few weeks later they were married in the hospital chapel.
Dad never really recovered mentally or physically from the experience and died at the age of 47.
It's thrilling to read all of these stories that everyone is sharing. Sadly as mentioned before in another thread the news will only commemorate the day by showing some old men tossing a wreath into the water somewhere in a 30 second spot. Thanks to all who sacrificed so much, even sacrificed all, to save freedom from the brutality that was the Axis. That dedication to sacrifice is still carried on by your armed services today.
Exactly, it's not what you did its that you did. There were all kinds of duties and services that needed to be done. God bless the greatest generation.
Pop fought on Iwo Jima (Bronze Star). They bathed in the ocean with corpses all around them. They slept on the beach in the open without cover or shelter. Japs blasted them all night with artillery fire. A shell landed only a few feet from him, thank God it was a dud. Hours and hours of his war experience was recorded by Rutgers for the WWII archives.
Good point. Everyone should look into registering their family members that fought in WWII in the WWII Memorial registry. They should not be forgotten.
My late Dad's brother was already in the Navy when WWII began and had been for a few years. -He actually lied about his age to get in during the mid '30's. Those were Depression days, and being in the service was a way to have a steady job as well as serve his country.
Peter, (that was his name), was a Radioman 1st Class aboard the heavy cruiser USS Houston, CA-30, which was FDR's favorite ship. The President traveled many times aboard the Houston when going on official trips abroad.
Peter's ship was involved in a vicious battle with the Japanese early on in the war, though it's not one of the more well-known ones. The encounter has come to be known as the "Battle of Sunda Strait", and took place between the islands of Java and Sumatra.
The Houston, and the accompanying HMAS Perth, unexpectedly ran into a major Japanese task force in Sunda Strait on the night of February 28, 1942. Although immensely outnumbered and outgunned, the Houston and Perth put up a valiant fight for hours before both were finally sunk some time after midnight on March 1, 1942. -The Perth lost 375 men, the Houston, 696...one of whom was my Dad's brother, Peter.
My father never talked much about it. I think it was just too painful for him to discuss. But I know he felt that his brother died a hero, and he was absolutely correct in that feeling.
God Bless the "Greatest Generation". -We all owe them more than can ever be repaid.
Peter, (that was his name), was a Radioman 1st Class aboard the heavy cruiser USS Houston, CA-30, which was FDR's favorite ship. The President traveled many times aboard the Houston when going on official trips abroad.
Peter's ship was involved in a vicious battle with the Japanese early on in the war, though it's not one of the more well-known ones. The encounter has come to be known as the "Battle of Sunda Strait", and took place between the islands of Java and Sumatra.
The Houston, and the accompanying HMAS Perth, unexpectedly ran into a major Japanese task force in Sunda Strait on the night of February 28, 1942. Although immensely outnumbered and outgunned, the Houston and Perth put up a valiant fight for hours before both were finally sunk some time after midnight on March 1, 1942. -The Perth lost 375 men, the Houston, 696...one of whom was my Dad's brother, Peter.
My father never talked much about it. I think it was just too painful for him to discuss. But I know he felt that his brother died a hero, and he was absolutely correct in that feeling.
God Bless the "Greatest Generation". -We all owe them more than can ever be repaid.
The story and pictures that get me the most are the ones of the veterans at the changing of the guard at the tomb of the unknown. They bring them in their wheelchairs right down on the plaza where the tomb is, just off to the side. The relief commander and the sentinels passed right in front of them. If you have ever seen the ceremony is is quite somber and moving. To have those old WWII veterans down on the plaza, almost as part of the ceremony, was so poignant.
My brother's first Honor Flight he served as the guardian for his father-in-law, the man who served with our own father at Pearl harbor during the Korean war. (They both served during WWI but not together.) After the changing of the guard ceremony an active duty Navy Captain came up to his father-in-law, who was wearing his Commander's cap, came to attention and saluted him. My brother just lost it. It was then he deicided to volunteer as the Flight Surgeon for the remaining trips.
Been to Arlington many times, actually saw a great documentary about Arlington on TV. But to see what you described at the tomb of the unknowns must have been something to witness.
Audie Murphy's grave marker is close to the amphitheater by the tomb of the unknowns also, just across the "street", Audie was the most decorated soldier in WWII. Past his marker is the Mast of the Maine (Remember the Maine). I believe also around there is the challenger astronaut's marker.
My mom's dad was a Navy Seabee in the pacific.... at that time, you were given one can of beer per day as a reward after working all day. My grandfather's brother was a Marine, and they hadn't seen each other for over 2 years while they were stationed in the south pacific. Through letters they discovered would both overlap and be on the same island at the same time for about a 3 day period... all the Seabees my grandfather worked with knew this. My grandfather was an irish Brooklyn, New Yorker who enjoyed a good time (and still does, owns a bar and still bartends at 95 years old). The Seabees my grandfather worked with all saved their daily beer for one week straight, didn't drink it, and when my grandfather and his brother finally got together, they gave him about 18 beers for him and his brother to enjoy... and sure enough they stayed up all night drinking beer together on some some small island in the middle of nowhere. My grandfather always loves telling that story... but for obvious reasons, not many others.
My Dad's dad was a paratrooper in the 101st AB, Fox Company. He was an original Toccoa man, joined up in 1942. He jumped in Normandy, Holland, and was wounded in action and almost lost his leg in Bastogne. He never spoke of the war, except to say how damn cold it was in Bastogne.
Greatest generation without a doubt.
My Dad's dad was a paratrooper in the 101st AB, Fox Company. He was an original Toccoa man, joined up in 1942. He jumped in Normandy, Holland, and was wounded in action and almost lost his leg in Bastogne. He never spoke of the war, except to say how damn cold it was in Bastogne.
Greatest generation without a doubt.
My Great Uncle was a Seabee in the Pacific. Never talked about the war except for his "scrip" story.
Another Great Uncle, U.S. Army, was a Colonel in Europe. Helped keep The Red Ball Express rolling along to supply the troops. Never talked about the war. Drank all the time to get through his days after the war.
My wife's grandfather, U.S. Army Pvt., was in the Ardennes in December, 1944. His division was in the direct path of the German assault. His division was obliterated. He survived. Never talked about the war. Drank all the time to get through his days after the war.
I pray they are all at peace.
Another Great Uncle, U.S. Army, was a Colonel in Europe. Helped keep The Red Ball Express rolling along to supply the troops. Never talked about the war. Drank all the time to get through his days after the war.
My wife's grandfather, U.S. Army Pvt., was in the Ardennes in December, 1944. His division was in the direct path of the German assault. His division was obliterated. He survived. Never talked about the war. Drank all the time to get through his days after the war.
I pray they are all at peace.
My dad was in the Seabeas in the Pacific also, as you can probably tell by my avatar.
Love your avatar my grandfather had a jacket with a patch just like that, except his had the other legs holding tools and the machine gun. He also served in the Pacific in the Seabees. He was a welder.
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Great thread. My wife's father, Will Weinberg, former RU prof in Labor Relations, just happened to be in the same Company as famous war hero, Audie Murphy. He has some amazing stories from those days - the two links below include some of them - the first is a video of a 5-minute speech he gave last year during a ceremony in DC and the second is a book on B Company, called Dogface Soldiers, in which he's quoted extensively. He's 95 and still kicking...
https://books.google.com/books?id=n...=onepage&q=audie murphy will weinberg&f=false
https://books.google.com/books?id=n...=onepage&q=audie murphy will weinberg&f=false
I remember contacting my cousin (for my Uncle who served in Italy and the North African campaign) when that registry first came out.
