WWII relatives

[bobtom]

This is a thread where you can post about your relatives who served in any of the US's wars (ignore the title)


My great grandfather served in the 266 FA (field artillery) battalion. He landed in normandy (after the beach head had been established). His battalion fought in the battle of the bulge and fought into germany. He had to stay for a year after the war had ended to guard bridges against sabotage. Also the 266th used the largest mobile artillery of the US army, the 240mm.


bobtom

[SuBWaYCH]

One of my 3 grandfathers served with the 100 Infantry Division. He was a "replacement" and served as a combat medic. He passed away in August of 2006.

One of my other grandfathers, who is 82 and living strong, Saw major action in the Ardennes forest and the Battle of the Bulge. Not sure on the unit he served with tough.

[Hap]

My father and mom's dad both served.  Grandfather lost a leg retiring as a BG.  Dad mustered out as a Lieutenant JG.

[bobtom]

Also my great-grandfathers brother lost his life to a land mine. I do not know what unit  he was in.



bobtom

[palef]

My Grandfather joined the Royal Navy in 1939 and served as a Steward then Cook on HMS Nelson. He was selected for the only RN Commando unit formed in WWII for the attempted defense of Norway (54,000 men were landed in Norway. Thanks to the German approach to combined ops they defeated 4 divisions of combat troops with 17,000 men) in 1940, while the Nelson was laid up after having her bow removed by a torpedo.

After the abortive defense of Norway (Only two from 238 men of his unit left Norway 4 continuous days of shelling and bombing and a direct order from Hitler to execute "Churchill's Commandos" didn't give much of a chance. Aandlesnes gets barely a mention in any Allied history) he went back to the Nelson, serving once again in the Galley, on every Mediterranean convoy until 1943.

He then transferred to HMS Ceylon in late 1943 and went to - Ceylon. There he transferred to Z Force (SBS - Boat equaivalent of the SAS) and served as a tactical logistics W/O until 1946, with one of his major achievements being recon for the Palembang refinery raid, the last FAA FLeet action of WWII. His other great achievement was never catching Malaria. Mosquitos avoid people who are drunk, so he stayed drunk on Arik, a Ceylonese Coconut milk spirit, for three years. He missed his 25th birthday because he was in an alcoholic stupour in a ditch. He also missed a Watch he was leading, whihc is why he was rumbled.

Died March 2005.

[Masherbrum]

My grandfather Charles Freuchtel served in the USMC, 6th Division Micronesia from 1943-1946.    He was in the first wave of Guam right out of boot camp.   He lost his best friend from boot on the way to shore.   He turned down a Purple Heart carrying him ashore under fire.   He also went to Okinawa and then the Occupation of China.  

He hated China the worst.   The Japanese wouldn't "surrender" and would keep on fighting.   He went from 6th gunner, to the gunner in one day North of Tsingtao.

He passed away in March of 1998.   He was the finest gentleman I have ever known.   If I can be just 25% of what he was, I've done well.    

<> Grandpa, I miss you.

[Redlegs]

My great uncle was a survivor of the Bataan Death March. He was a radioman/gunner on a B17 stationed in the Philippines. His plane was bombed on the ground at Clarke Air Base. He is living in Utah. But, I have never gotten to meet him.  http://www.ucg.org/un/un0201/enduring.htm

I am also a relative of one of "Pattons Pimps." He was an Artillery Officer in Patton's Army. I cannot remember his name though.

I also might be a relative of Manfred Meurer. A German Night Fighter Ace of WWII. In 130 combat missions he collected 65 victories. He was killed on January 21-22 1944 when his He-219 collided with a Lancaster over Berlin. Both planes suffered total losses.  http://www.luftwaffe.cz/meurer.html

[Masherbrum]

Originally posted by Redlegs
My great uncle was a survivor of the Bataan Death March. He was a radioman/gunner on a B17 stationed in the Philippines. His plane was bombed on the ground at Clarke Air Base. He is living in Utah. But, I have never gotten to meet him.  http://www.ucg.org/un/un0201/enduring.htm

I am also a relative of one of "Pattons Pimps." He was an Artillery Officer in Patton's Army. I cannot remember his name though.

I also might be a relative of Manfred Meurer. A German Night Fighter Ace of WWII. In 130 combat missions he collected 65 victories. He was killed on January 21-22 1944 when his He-219 collided with a Lancaster over Berlin. Both planes suffered total losses.  http://www.luftwaffe.cz/meurer.html

You should make it a point to see your Great-Uncle.

[angelsandair]

My Grandfather served in the 45th division all through the war (as i recall) he was in k company dont remember the batallion though. When the Battle of Anzio broke out, his company was guarding the main road in which like 3 or 4 german divisions went through. 2 of his good friends got the medal of honor and out of like 250-300 people in his company, him and 17 others walked out of it unhurt. And about 50-60 all in all survived. My uncle served in the pacific from 1943-1944, he fought at Saipan in the 27th infantry division, he got shot 4 times and was sent to a field hospital, they though he was gonna die so they just set him in the back with the dead, that night, japanese raiders killed EVERYONE inside the tent but left the area where the dead were alone. He was very lucky. And my half/step grandfather piloted p-51s during ww2. He nearly got his arm blown off by flack. He flew by a horse drawn wagon thinking it was friendly, a 20mm shot out and shot off half of his upper arm off, he nearly bled to death while trying to land. i think thats all i really know of my relatives in WW2.
My dad served in the army from 1978-1986 and again from 1990-1993, he re-wrote how causualties should be identified, and how their families should be informed when he worked at the pentagon. I think thats pretty much it.


~~1pLUs44

[wooly15]

Grandfather was a SSGT in the Army during the war.  He was in New Guinea, got sick and transfered out.  Never saw any action, but thats not really a bad thing.  My wife's great uncle was an aviation electrician in the navy...not sure where he went but I think he joined just as the war ended.  He worked on F8F's.

[angelsandair]

Originally posted by Redlegs
My great uncle was a survivor of the Bataan Death March. He was a radioman/gunner on a B17 stationed in the Philippines. His plane was bombed on the ground at Clarke Air Base. He is living in Utah. But, I have never gotten to meet him.  http://www.ucg.org/un/un0201/enduring.htm

I am also a relative of one of "Pattons Pimps." He was an Artillery Officer in Patton's Army. I cannot remember his name though.

I also might be a relative of Manfred Meurer. A German Night Fighter Ace of WWII. In 130 combat missions he collected 65 victories. He was killed on January 21-22 1944 when his He-219 collided with a Lancaster over Berlin. Both planes suffered total losses.  http://www.luftwaffe.cz/meurer.html

O my grandfather met patton too. I dont know if he did anything regarding movies or books or papers. maybe.

[crims]

Nice Thread   My dad landed on Normandy on day 1 or 2 not sure. He did land as a Private. By the time he was in Paris he was a Staff-Sargent. I know he did make into Berlin but not sure when. He never talked about "The War" except when just before he died. He passed away about 3 months after we talked. So im not sure what Unit he was in.


One Very Proud Son

Tom "Crims" Brophy

479th Raiders FG

[angelsandair]

Originally posted by SuBWaYCH
One of my 3 grandfathers served with the 100 Infantry Division. He was a "replacement" and served as a combat medic. He passed away in August of 2006.

One of my other grandfathers, who is 82 and living strong, Saw major action in the Ardennes forest and the Battle of the Bulge. Not sure on the unit he served with tough.

My geography teacher's dad served in Bastogne, he got captured after he fired all of his ammo onto advancing germans. got hit by shrapenel, frostbite, and was sent to a concentration camp as i recall.

[SkyRock]

my uncle Harry died in vietnam.  He was a soldier turned medic after his first tour.  He was killed mothers day, 1968:


SISK
 HARRY DUNCAN
  RA-14797849
 SSG*PP
 24
 2/16/44
 SINGLE
 HUNTSVILLE
 AL
 5/12/68
 HOSTILE, DIED
 MULTIPLE FRAGMENTATION WOUNDS
 QUANG TIN
 CAUCASIAN
 
He would earn 2 purple hearts and the bronze star before he fell. RIP

I have a suitcase full of letters he wrote my grandmother from the front.  He was wounded in his first tour from ak-47 fire that hit him in the groin and ended his ability to produce offspring, which helped him with his decision to return to the front lines.  My dad told me that Harry would have horrific nightmares almost every night he was back and just couldn't integrate back to a normal civilian existence. On his second return, he was sent to a special operations base outside of Hue to help defend/hold the base until all the documents and materials/men could be evacuated.  During the overrun, a buddy was hit outside of their bunker and he went out to help provide medical attention.  He was killed by mortar/rocket and small arms fire.  He was listed as MIA for the longest which did not set well with my grandmother.  It took 3 years for my grandmother to get his body back home.  During this time she wrote several high-ups to get info including ladybird johnson.(I have these letters as well.  My grandmother was tortured by her loss and not knowing, and was never the same.  He was finally brought home in May of '71 in a closed casket.  My grandmother died one month later of a broken heart at age 50.
 

 I also had a great uncle who was killed in france in 1918, but it is now believed he died of the flu that killed soo many that year.  Francis Swann.

[lyric1]

My father was with the 2nd/11th AIF in the Australain Army that is a picture of him left he served from 1939 to 1945. He was in the middle east at first against the Vichy French that were pro German & The Italians then the Germans & his unit was sent to New Guinea & he was on the Kokada trail fighting the Japanese.  He joined the army again for the Korean war. My grand father was in the first world war & was at a place called Gallipoli. If you have seen the movie by that name with Mel Gibson that is the battle. The picture is of him in Egypt.