Conversation with a WWII Veteran

[Marcus]

Early this morning, having coffee with my 97 year old Uncle, Veteran of WWII, I asked him to relate a story of how he entered the service:
"Early on Sunday morning, I walked down to the local gas station and joined the other regulars on the bench out front - we could watch the town go by and just talk. After a bit, a friend came by in a Ford Coupe, and we decided to go to the Bloody Bucket (a local hangout several miles away). When we arrived, everyone was crowded around a small Sears and Roebuck Silvertone radio - we asked what was going on, and was informed that the Japanese had bombed Pearl Harbor. I looked at my friend, asked, "Where is Pearl Harbor?" He replied, "I don't know, but I think it is in Florida." Two days later, my friend and I decided to enlist together and serve at the same duty station. We went to the recruiting station, and that was the last we saw of each other until we were discharged at the end of the war!"
My Uncle served as a Navigator and Radio Operator, and flew the "Hump" in the CBI Theater........an incredible legacy!
As we all remember that "Day that shall live in infamy" - talk to a veteran and tell him / her how grateful you are for their sacrifices. I ask you this: Enjoying your freedom?? Thank a Vet!

[4t7heaven]

Originally Posted by Marcus

Early this morning, having coffee with my 97 year old Uncle, Veteran of WWII, I asked him to relate a story of how he entered the service:
"Early on Sunday morning, I walked down to the local gas station and joined the other regulars on the bench out front - we could watch the town go by and just talk. After a bit, a friend came by in a Ford Coupe, and we decided to go to the Bloody Bucket (a local hangout several miles away). When we arrived, everyone was crowded around a small Sears and Roebuck Silvertone radio - we asked what was going on, and was informed that the Japanese had bombed Pearl Harbor. I looked at my friend, asked, "Where is Pearl Harbor?" He replied, "I don't know, but I think it is in Florida." Two days later, my friend and I decided to enlist together and serve at the same duty station. We went to the recruiting station, and that was the last we saw of each other until we were discharged at the end of the war!"
My Uncle served as a Navigator and Radio Operator, and flew the "Hump" in the CBI Theater........an incredible legacy!
As we all remember that "Day that shall live in infamy" - talk to a veteran and tell him / her how grateful you are for their sacrifices. I ask you this: Enjoying your freedom?? Thank a Vet!

Great story. Thanks for posting I am the only one on my block that put out a flag today. Makes you sort of sad.

[V8COOPMAN]

Originally Posted by 4t7heaven

Great story. Thanks for posting I am the only one on my block that put out a flag today. Makes you sort of sad.

Same with our block, but ours is out in all it's glory. USA, USA, USA! DD

[RalphM]

Mine flies every day for all those who served!

Interesting my I phone has all kinds of days marked, some of which I had no idea what they were till someone told me, but today is not marked as “ Pearl Harbor Day”.

But my DAV calendar damn sure has it on there!

[JSeery]

"Day that shall live in infamy" didn't last to long for a lot of people. I'm starting to notice the same with 911 and it's much more recent. Seem many have very short memories and to the young generation it is not taught or given any importance. Shame, but the way it is. And my flag flies every day, but then I love history. All history including vehicles!

[V8COOPMAN]

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Originally Posted by RalphM

Mine flies every day for all those who served!

Interesting my I phone has all kinds of days marked, but today is not marked as “ Pearl Harbor Day”.

That's 'cuz most of these folks wouldn't have a clue what "Pearl Harbor Day" is in the first place! DD

[chiefdave]

Make sure that the National Ensign is at half mast today. IAW public law 103-308 the president is required to issue a proclamation requesting flags be lowered, unlike his predecessor our setting president has done so. Did mine then went to the American Legion Post to do the same. Only saw one other that was properly displayed.

[19Fordy]

V8: Sadly, you are so correct. When I was teaching high school the students didn't remember Dec. 7 but, they did remember April 21st, National Weed Day.

[RalphM]

WAIT! There’s a national weed day? And all this time I haven’t been celebrating it! I feel so left out.

Coop man,
That is so true!
I sit in the lunch room at work, and everyone is glued to their phones.
What ever happened to conversation?

[DavidG]

I had a cousin who was on a mine sweeper in Pearl Harbor that day (and survived that day and the war) and another who flew the hump in the CBI theater (and survived along with recurring malaria issues). Without a doubt, the greatest generation.

[al's28/33]

They were brave men who served their duty out of respect for a just cause. God Bless them.

[5lugnuts]

Hey19Fordy, I taught high school until 2004. I had a friend that was chairman of the history dept. and a WWII buff. I asked him how long they spent teaching about WWII. He said less than two weeks, but he did a little more. But then, that was NY. A few friends and I sent a WWII Vet to Washington to see the WWII Memorial a couple of years ago. His daughter accompanied him. He is still alive at 95.

[Marcus]

DavidG: any chance your cousin was in the 1340th ATC?? Uncle John was primarily in Kunming, China (primary duty station), and flew in and out regularly. If so, I wonder if their paths ever crossed.
Chief Dave: Thank you for that timely reminder! Mine flies 24/7 (and is properly illuminated at night). Lowered the Ensign to half-staff at dawn.......and I'll bet no one even noticed, with exception of Uncle John and my wife, who served 21 years in the US Army, retiring as a Major. She and I were (and am) proud soldiers, but the Greatest Generation stands as the example by which we measure ......
1940: As the retired Director of the Eighth Judicial District Drug Court, I can attest to the accuracy of your statement!
RalphM: You will much better enjoy a cup of hot chocolate - at least that won't impair your cognitive abilities!

[DavidG]

Marcus,

Please ask your Uncle John if his paths ever crossed those of Al Kiraly. The odds are long and I don't recall Cousin Al's unit plus I think he was stationed on the India side of the mountains.

[flatford8]

My dad served thru-out the war. He was in Africa and parts of Europe but he wouldn’t talk about it much.....at a young age I learned not to ask.... Mark

[DavidG]

That (reluctance to talk about it) was more common among vets than not.

[A bones]

The war wreaked my parents lives. Though they survived the war. They were always on a course of despair.

I will forever be thankful for the life they, and their cohorts provided.

[FrankWest]

My father was a Marine in the Pacific, engineer , looked for mines with a bayonet.
He saw action on many island in the Pacific including Iwo Jima, toward the end of the war, he was getting ready to be in the invasion force on Japan. They never had to invade because of The Atomic Bombs and Japan's surrender.

[rotorwrench]

To talk about it is kind of like reliving it and many were glad to serve but wouldn't really want to go through it again. My Pop would talk about the guys and the flack and a few other things but he would never talk about losing a member of the crew and what he did to try to save him. Those things were never brought up. He would talk about the crash landing he was in but he didn't know the crew all that well since they had just gone to rotation of pilots. That tactic was halted not long after the crash he was in. The crew that trained together always worked better together than when separated no matter what happened. They were like brothers only closer.

I was blessed to have worked for and with a good many WWII vets. They are all gone now and I sure do miss them. They don't make them like that anymore.

[Graeme / New Zealand]

Dec 7 was yesterday down here in NZ. I always remember it as it's also the date of my wedding anniversary. I'm allowed to forget my wedding anniversary now as the marriage went the way of Pearl ,but I don't being a history nutter particularly when it comes to the two world conflicts. Sadly to future generations it will become less thought about as they will have no contact with "those that went".

GB

[dumb person]

Last old man i took to the R.S.A. (Returned Services Assosiation) was 97, i don't think he likes me but he likes my old car.
He saw a japanese car & mumbled something about how much he doesn't love 'the japs'.
He's got a lot of fight in him for a man that really can't walk anymore.
Too bad they outlawed most of the history in my country and replaced it with mandatory "Hate yourself" stuff.

Originally Posted by V8COOPMAN

The most true thing i have seen today

[FrankWest]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jofuq5JDOuw

[Bored&Stroked]

Just spent a lot of the Thanksgiving Holiday reading a book about D-Day - June 6, 1944. The book covered all the prep, logistics, training, planning and execution . . . what an amazing accomplishment - no amphibious landing has ever come close to it and there were no guarantees that it would work. I thought I knew a bit about it - but this book amazed me from one end to the other.

It also covered a lot of what Germany was doing, had a lot of material about their various Generals and how they attempted to build the Atlantic Sea Wall (and had accomplished a lot) - but nowhere near what was needed. Also, they had no control over the air or sea by the time of D-Day . . . really no way they could win the war by that time. (Along with the stupidity of opening the Eastern Front and going to war with Russia).

As DavidG said - these guys/gals were the Greatest Generation - no question in my mind! Thank you all Vets and your families - freedom is never free! God Bless you all!

[barnstuf]

As a WWII combat veteran of Normandy I enjoyed the original posters story. However the time difference from Hawaii was such that the attack at dawn in Hawaii was about 1 PM in Massachusetts my home state. We got the breaking news of the attack on our radio about 1 PM as we were having Sunday dinner.

[4t7heaven]

Originally Posted by barnstuf

As a WWII combat veteran of Normandy I enjoyed the original posters story. However the time difference from Hawaii was such that the attack at dawn in Hawaii was about 1 PM in Massachusetts my home state. We got the breaking news of the attack on our radio about 1 PM as we were having Sunday dinner.

Thank you for your service, sir. We all owe you one.

[Dean Hansen]

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

The best teacher I had in high school was my World History teacher (my senior year was 1959-1960). It wasn't until I attended his funeral a dozen years ago that I learned that he had been in a tank crew fighting across France and then into Germany from June 1944 to May 1945. But he never even mentioned this in the class. He not only taught World History, he had helped make it. Rest in peace, Mr. Ario.

[RalphM]

Originally Posted by barnstuf

As a WWII combat veteran of Normandy I enjoyed the original posters story. However the time difference from Hawaii was such that the attack at dawn in Hawaii was about 1 PM in Massachusetts my home state. We got the breaking news of the attack on our radio about 1 PM as we were having Sunday dinner.

No words can express my gratitude to you and your generation. So I’ll just say Thank You sir!

[50fordcoupeman]

Originally Posted by DavidG

I had a cousin who was on a mine sweeper in Pearl Harbor that day (and survived that day and the war) and another who flew the hump in the CBI theater (and survived along with recurring malaria issues). Without a doubt, the greatest generation.

Yes the greatest generation. My uncles brother was on a ship in Pearl that was bombed. He survived the entire war. My father-in-law was a carrier Hellcat pilot in the south Pacific theater. Shot down twice but also survived the war. I salute all that have ever served in all conflicts!!

[JWL]

My Daddy was in the Army Air Force when I was born in 1942. By the time I was old enough to learn about WWII it was difficult to get much out of Dad in answer to any questions me or my brother would pose. Later, when I was in the Army, Daddy would tell me "the first few years are hardest". And then smile.

America was blessed to have such wonderful men and women available to save our country and several other countries. I wish I would have better expressed my appreciation to my Dad before he died.

[mfirth]

God bless all veterans & those serving now. It is amazing what WW 2 military and folks at places like the Ford Motor Co.who built planes, etc. accomplished and did for this country.
I am blessed to have met Dr. Brown who was a Tuskgee Airman & lives near me in northern Ohio.
God bless the U S A !

[Charlie ny]

Your Honor,
Check out the Email I forwarded to you last night.
Charlie ny

[Frank Miller]

I had a teacher who served in the war. He said he gave up hunting after the war because after humans animals were no challenge. I'm sure there was more to his story but that's what he told us.

[flatford8]

Originally Posted by JWL

My Daddy was in the Army Air Force when I was born in 1942. By the time I was old enough to learn about WWII it was difficult to get much out of Dad in answer to any questions me or my brother would pose. Later, when I was in the Army, Daddy would tell me "the first few years are hardest". And then smile.

America was blessed to have such wonderful men and women available to save our country and several other countries. I wish I would have better expressed my appreciation to my Dad before he died.

Well said!!.....I feel the same.....Mark

[Marcus]

Barnstuf: we all honor you, Sir! Your contributions to our country and way of life can never be repaid!! And you are correct: Uncle John said it was probably around noon or so when they went to the Bloody Bucket ( and I should have explained it was a "honky-tonk" ).
Charlie NY (and anyone else interested): my new email is [email protected].

[Bored&Stroked]

Originally Posted by barnstuf

As a WWII combat veteran of Normandy I enjoyed the original posters story. However the time difference from Hawaii was such that the attack at dawn in Hawaii was about 1 PM in Massachusetts my home state. We got the breaking news of the attack on our radio about 1 PM as we were having Sunday dinner.

Thankyou Sir . . . much appreciate what you've done for this country! What part of the D-Day operation were you involved with and what beach did you come ashore on?

[Bored&Stroked]

My Dad was in WWII in submarines in the Pacific . . . he would sometimes talk about some of their exploits (made your hair stand on end!). I toured a WWII diesel boat like his in SanFran - Holy Crap - can't imagine being submerged and getting depth-charged in that tin can. He passed in 95' - sure miss that man!

IMG_5695.jpg

IMG_5696.jpg

11-11-2017 1-37-27 PM.jpg

[Bored&Stroked]

Hey - for any of you guys that were in or are interested in WWII insignias and patches for different areas of service, checkout 'PopularPatch.com'.

They had patches for my Dad's submarine - nicely done, about 6" x 3" in size, for a totally cheap price of about $10 each. I will use them on some future HotRod project. Would love to make a WWII "belly tanker" race car - painted to mimic a torpedo and Dad's USS Moray submarine insignia. Here is the patch I received - sure looks like a faithful copy of the original artwork image (I posted above):

2019-12-08_12-06-24.jpg

[RalphM]

Originally Posted by Bored&Stroked

My Dad was in WWII in submarines in the Pacific . . . he would sometimes talk about some of their exploits (made your hair stand on end!). I toured a WWII diesel boat like his in SanFran - Holy Crap - can't imagine being submerged and getting depth-charged in that tin can. He passed in 95' - sure miss that man!

Attachment 415155

Attachment 415156

Attachment 415157

I toured one of those World War II Diesel Electric Submarines as well. I can’t imagine being in one of those, takes a special kind of man. I don’t think I could do it. Thank God for men like your Dad that did!

[Bored&Stroked]

Originally Posted by RalphM

I toured one of those World War II Diesel Electric Submarines as well. I can’t imagine being in one of those, takes a special kind of man. I don’t think I could do it. Thank God for men like your Dad that did!

Even back then, it was a part of the Navy that was quite selective - they had various skills and personality tests in order for them to "help you" select that area of service. My Dad told a story where at the end of basic training, you were supposed to have a couple "choices" - to request which branch/area you wanted to serve in.

There were only a few guys left at this point - you might say the select few the Navy had their eyes on for Submarine service.

The DI stood in front of the guys and shouted "Boys the United States Government has a special deal going on today - all of you are lucky to qualify. The deal is if you can take a Landing Craft (LC) to shore and back three times, we will GIVE it to you and your service will be done. OR, you can go into the submarine service. Thought I'd mention, we've not given away any LCs as of yet!".

Needless to say, all those guys went into the submarine service . . . .

[frnkeore]

Well, I'm glad to hear the the Navy, at least gave there guys choices. I was drafted, into the Army, 3 days before my 21st Bday, in 1965.

I can't remember getting any choices on anything

Oh, I forgot, I guess I did have a choice whether or not to go see Bob Hope

[frnkeore]

On a more somber note, I was created by WWII. My dad was to old to be drafted and met my mom, in a motor pool, going to the Long beach, ship yards.

In my moms later years, she married a man, that I was proud to call my step father. He was a wonderful guy and decorated Captain, in the 91st Inf. He lost a eye, the day after he landed at Normandy.

[1948F-1Pickup]

I was in the Navy for 25 years, got out in 2010 as an O-4.
I'm not even fit to tie the shoes of those guys that served during WWII.
Met a really old gentlemen at the bank one day sporting a ballcap with a ship hull number and class I did not recognize. He was a crew member of a civilian ocean tug during WWII that had been USN commissioned and militarized. (like the tug in the Curious Case of Benjamin Button movie)
The gentlemen mentioned that not too many of the folks he went to sea with had survived that type of service. I was surprised that I even got to meet one.
Living history in that man and mind-boggling sacrifice for that group.

[bobwellsnoveltyshop]

Thought someone might want to see this picture. The minesweeper I was stationed on was just pulling in the Pear Harbor coming back from Viet Nam and I saw these planes above us??? They were making the movie Tora- Tora -Tora .

[Tinker]

I fly mine everyday also.

[Karl]

Originally Posted by rotorwrench

To talk about it is kind of like reliving it and many were glad to serve but wouldn't really want to go through it again. My Pop would talk about the guys and the flack and a few other things but he would never talk about losing a member of the crew and what he did to try to save him. Those things were never brought up. He would talk about the crash landing he was in but he didn't know the crew all that well since they had just gone to rotation of pilots. That tactic was halted not long after the crash he was in. The crew that trained together always worked better together than when separated no matter what happened. They were like brothers only closer.

I was blessed to have worked for and with a good many WWII vets. They are all gone now and I sure do miss them. They don't make them like that anymore.

I agree when I started my medical training World War One Vets were not uncommon now they are all gone . World War 2 vets are now rare I have a new patient who is 98 and was torpedoed in Sydney Harbour when the Japanese got midget submarines in there -He still suffers pain from the injuries. When I was able to talk to him about the attack and how the subs followed the Manley Ferry in and were trying to sink the USS Chicago but got his tender by mistake -he couldn't believe that someone knew about it!
Sad because as has been said previously if we forget our history we are destined to repeat it !

[Frank Miller]

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

"Sad because as has been said previously if we forget our history we are destined to repeat it !"

Or someone will try and rewrite it.

[Seth Swoboda]

Thanks for sharing that with us Marcus. So many of these memories are leaving us as the WWII vets pass.

[Ol' Ron]

The commander of our local VFW , was running the liberty launch when the Japs struck. They spen all day picking sailors out of the water. He couldn't believe the damage they done. Bu the made it thru the war.

[FrankWest]

Originally Posted by FrankWest

My father was a Marine in the Pacific, engineer , looked for mines with a bayonet.
He saw action on many island in the Pacific including Iwo Jima, toward the end of the war, he was getting ready to be in the invasion force on Japan. They never had to invade because of The Atomic Bombs and Japan's surrender.

The Japs were terrified of the new President because of his name
TRU-MAN

And their worst fears proved to be right.

[Tinker]

...