Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => Aces High General Discussion => Topic started by: bobtom on February 07, 2008, 03:54:43 PM
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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
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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.
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My father and mom's dad both served. Grandfather lost a leg retiring as a BG. Dad mustered out as a Lieutenant JG.
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Also my great-grandfathers brother lost his life to a land mine. I do not know what unit he was in.
bobtom
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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.
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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.
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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
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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.
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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
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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.
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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.
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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
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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.
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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.
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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. (http://img262.imageshack.us/img262/8759/scan18jg8.th.jpg) (http://img262.imageshack.us/my.php?image=scan18jg8.jpg)
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If I remember everything correctly, my great grandfather joined the 6th Missouri volunteers during the Spanish-American war. He had only been in America a few years when he joined. I don't know what he did or where he went during that time. Died in the early 30's in St. Louis.
My grand father was in the Army during WWI. I think with an Infantry Company from St. Louis (my hometown) stationed at Jefferson Barracks for initial training. He passed away of pneumonia in 1944. I believe he was 48.
My father served with the 25th Infantry during WWII in the phillipines. He was a truck driver but was utilized in the tank destroyer unit in Luzon. Can't recall what unit as he never spoke of his service. My grand mother pretty much told me most of this.
I served with VMFA 115, MAG 12, 1st MAW. RF4Bs were my babies. I was an engine mechanic but cross trained as a plane captain (brown shirt). After my discharge in 1973, I joined the Army as a tank mechanic until I medically retired with cancer in 1989.
My oldest son was with the 81st airborne in both afghanistan and iraq as an infantryman. He now is with MI as an interogator at fort huachuka az.
My youngest son was with the 101st airborne and served in iraq as a medic. He is now working for a county ambulance service as a paramedic.
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I have a good bit of family history courtesy of a wealthy aunt who hired a researcher to dig up the roots.
My paternal great, great grand uncle Tyler resided outside Bedford Va. He joined the Confederate Army. He eventually attained the rank of Major, commanding the Bedford Light Artillery, Alexander's Battalion, Longstreet's Corps, Army of Northern Virginia. He fought at most of the major battles in the east, including Gettysburg and The Wilderness. He survived the war and later went west to California (1870s). I was able to obtain a pile of material from the National Archives, including things as mundane as requisitions for fodder and ammo for their revolvers.
On my mother's side, my great, great grandfather Carl was a member of the 68th Pennsylvania Regiment, Graham's First Brigade, Birney's First Division, Sickle's Third Corps, Army of the Potomac. He fought at Chancellorsville and Gettysburg, where he was wounded. He survived the wound and returned to his unit later 1863. He managed to survive the war.
Ironically, my great great grand uncle's artillery battery was engaged with my great great grandfather's regiment, when the whole of Graham's Brigade stormed the Peach Orchard. The Bedford Light Artillery was deployed in the orchard. Defending against a counter-attack, great great grandpa Carl was struck by a rifle ball that passed through his calf without hitting bone. He was helped to the rear and tended to in a field hospital behind Little Round Top. The Bedford Light Artillery was withdrawn across the Emmitsburg pike after sunset on July 2nd. It remained there next day, providing artillery support for "Pickett's Charge".
Carl's grandson, my grandfather John, served with the 28th Pennsylvania National Guard, which became the 28th Infantry Division. Deployed to France in 1917 he fought in the Meuse-Argonne, Champagne-Marne and Aisne-Marne campaigns. He was wounded by German artillery and spent the last weeks of the war in a hospital recovering.
My father served in the ETO in the 307th Field Artillery, 78th Infantry Division. He managed to survive the war uninjured.
My uncle Joe (mom's sister's husband) served aboard the USS Bennett, a Fletcher class destroyer. The Bennett earned 9 engagement flags.
My uncle Jim (my father's sister's husband) went through pilot training with the USAAF in 1942. He was assigned as a flight instructor in 1943, but wangled a transfer in June of 1945. He was assigned to fly a P-51, joining the 45th FS of the 15th FG at Iwo Jima in late June of 1945.
My regards,
Widewing
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Very cool WW. Ironic indeed re: family on both sides. Makes you wonder just how often that must have happened.
Back on topic, from the few years I was able to know my uncle on the earth, and what I could glean from my father:
My uncle served in PTO, WW2 aboard destroyers. He recounted to my father that he had been blown off two, spending considerable time in the drink. The only one I've been able to track down was his service aboard the Fletcher class USS Mullany DD-528.
The only time I ever heard him talk directly to me about the war was in a quite bemused manner, recounting how they hated the Japanese subs so much that in the event they could catch one close on the surface or force it up, they preferred ramming them to most other methods of disposal. Can anyone verify that as an actual tactic?
In any case Uncle P. Montgomery.
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My Great Uncle was captured in the Battle of the Bulge by the SS. He was one of the fortunate ones not executed, but he did lose a foot to frostbite resulting from being marched to a prison camp for several days in the bitter cold. He never had a chance to put on his shoes when the attack began. He was a POW until he was liberated in 1945.
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My Dad flew PBY's in Philippines, ended up as Lt. Comdr. Never talked of it much. He flew DC3's for a living for some years after that, ultimately had a career in FAA in northern VA
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Yea sadly i never met either of my grandfathers....both died before i was born.
But i really would have liked to meet the 1 who was in the Battle of Anzio.
Rollie "Buddy" Snell.
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My father served in Viet Nam as a firefighter/EMT.
Here is a picture for the base paper that was taken of him when he was there. He served on the HH43B Husky rescue chopper.
About three years ago, he shared his experience in some detail with my kids and I. Not a dry eye in the room as we went through the photos that he had from there. I had scanned in all of the photos that he took throughout his career, and we showed them on our projector at home.
(http://photos.therealfootball.com/B0601.jpg)
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My grandpa ~ jug stud:
(http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd34/momof3terrors/gamache_al-1.jpg)
AL GAMACHE, born July 11,1924 in Holyoke, Massachusetts. He attended Baltimore Polytechnic High School, the University of Baltimore, Eastern New Mexico University, Phoenix College and graduate management school at the University of Pittsburgh.
He is a graduate of Aviation Cadet Class 44-B, Aloe AAB, Victoria, Texas. After training in the P-47 at Goldsboro and Bluthenthal, he joined the 73rd Fighter Squadron, 318th Fighter Group in the Central Pacific. He flew escort and interdiction missions in the P-47D and N. The group kept the bypassed Marianas Islands neutralized with the routes extending as far south as Truk and as far north as Pagan Island. When the Group moved into the Okinawa area, Ie Shima, the target and escort area extended into Kyushu and on to Tokyo.
After WWII he flew P-47 s with the 104th Fighter Squadron (MDANG) until recalled to active duty during the Korean War. His total time in the P-47 amounts to 997 hours, of which 254 were combat hours. He continued in the service assigned to fighter assignments and staff duties until his retirement in 1971.
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My Granddad flew the 'cats (wild, hell and even bear) in the PTO. Two kills, though I never learned that till after he had passed. Only story I ever really heard about his experiences, since he didn't talk about it much, was a CV landing in a Hellcat he made after getting shot up to the point where he had a hole in his wing big enough to crawl thru. After the war he went on to the pentagon and eventually became the XO then CO of the NROTC program at Villanova. He retired a Captain, passed in '93 and is buried in Arlington National Cemetary a couple graves over from Renee Gagnon, one of the Iwo Jima flag raisers.
Dad and uncle flew during 'nam, Dad in an A-6 and uncle in an A-1 or A-4 (having a brain fart, can't remember which...) Uncle saw combat but Dad didn't, as his carrier was tasked to the Med to protect the Suez canal... Lucky for me, 'cause during liberty on Malta he met my Mom...
oh, and to all the old heads in this thread... :D
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My father served....
356 BG based in Grafton underwood England in 1945
Flying B 17 Gs as a navigator.
Shot down over Liepsig March 17 1945.
Ships name was Dark Terror..... Pow till Wars end.
Ended his service retiring his commission as a Capt. USAF
He is 86 yrs old and still works every day and is as healthy as can be.
Don't get him started if you don't want the stories. Personaly I can't get enough!
Thats it!
>>S<< froger
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My grandad flew c47s for the 9th air force. D-Day, Market Garden etc.
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My Great grandfather on my dad's side was in the U.S. Cavalry, his unit was the first on Hiroshima after the bomb
My Great Great Uncle on my Mom's side served in the U.S. Navy, he was stationed on the U.S.S. Arizona during the Pearl Harbor attacks, he survived
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Great Uncle, was in the 8th Air Force 94th Bombardment Group out of England in WWII, I believe 16 Total missions with the 8th as a waist gunner on a B-17. 3 Missions to Berlin.
His whole crew transfered to the 15th Air Force, 483rd Bombardment Group, 840th Bomber Squadron. Plane went down when he was on his 47th mission (if I remember correctly-1/2 credit for missions out of Italy) on July 30th 1944. Captured in Hungary. Crew was gathered and put on a truck. At some point the German soldiers protected my uncle and his crew from Hungarian civilains who were trying to hurt them. Spent time in Stalag Luft IV until the whole camp was broken up into smaller groups and moved from the camp. They were marched around the country in what my uncle called the "Black March" he told me before he passed he remembered seeing ME 262's during the march as the passed by an airfield.
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oh forgot, great great etc uncle was a confederate general in the Civil War John B Gordon.
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Grandfather was a Hungarian Pilot defending hungary against Russians while flying 109s, not sure much details other then because of his pilot skills he was drafted as a fighter pilot to defend budapest, not sure on the unit either, knew he flew 109g6 and 109g14. Unfortunally what I do know, my grandfather and father excaped hungary in 1956 and left Russian controlled areas to Canada, then USA. He still lives today, but in extremely bad shape, been bed ridden for 2 years now.
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My Father was a career military man, Artillery, served for 2 tours in Vietnam with 108th field battery 4th Feild regiment.
My ex Father in-law flew typhoons. I do not remember the unit. He passed away back in 1993.
My Grandfather Trained pilots with the RAAF in Early WWII. It was from him and his that I got my initial love of flying. I still have his flying helmet. He passed away when I was young, I do not recall the date.
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My dad uncle was the army in June of 1941. he was inducted into the Army Air Corp 803rd Engineer Brigade. In October of 1941, he was shipped to the Philippine Islands. He became a P.O.W. of the Japanese in May of 1942 survived the Bataan Death March to Camp O Donnell Prison then to Cabanatuan Prison. Walter was sent to Pusan, Korea, via Hell Ship Tottori Mara, then to Hoten (Mukden) Prison in Manchuria. He was liberated in August, 1945. and discharged from the service in May, 1946, and awarded the Bronze Star for Valor.
My grandfather was a MP in 9n battion, 3 rd Army. He was around Patton most of the time. He served north africa, sicily, italy, normany, north france and the rhine. His unit also libriate death march. We still have pix of the death camp that he took.
Wife uncle was in the army. fought in the battle of the boulge. He and a captin hide in a farm house in the attic for three days. The germans where using the farm as a post. On the third day, a German officer went to the attic for a smoke and found them. He was sent to Stab 9A prison camp. It was a mixture of americns, russians, brits and italiens. Since he is a voger german and speake fluent german, he was ranked third in commoan in the camp. The germans let him go to a near by villege to do some work. All the people in the villege and german gurds treated him like a friend. when the camp was liborated, the commanding german officer handed his hand gun to him.
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Not a relative but interesting. We bought an old home and while researching the original family, I found out that their son died in Stadkil Germany in 45. He was with the 87th infantry. From what I could find, I believe they took part in the battle of the Bulge. His name was 1st Lt J. Dillard Green.
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My grandfather lost his right leg at normandy, the only thing he would talk about was being in the hospital for rehabilitation. The experience was so overwhelming for him that he couldn't watch a war movie or documentary. He died in 1981, I was only 14 at the time, and I wish I could have learned more about his experience. My grandmother said he almost drowned getting to the beach, and he was shot just getting out of the water.
Joe Licia, gone but not forgotten.
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WWI
Two great great uncles that served with the Royal Newfoundland Regiment - Michael and Patrick (they're somewhere here in this picture I'm told)
(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cc/Newfoundland_Regiment.jpg/800px-Newfoundland_Regiment.jpg)
[From Wikipedia & the Royal Newfoundland Regiment]
On July 1, 1916, the first day of the Battle of the Somme in World War I 801 soldiers of the 1st Newfoundland Regiment rose from the British trenches and went into battle at Beaumont-Hamel, nine kilometres north of Albert in France. The next day, only 69 men answered the regimental roll call: 255 were dead, 386 were wounded, and 91 were listed as missing. Every officer who had gone over the top was either wounded or dead.
Michael and Paddy were killed on that day. They were 18 and 19.
WWII
Grandfather (mom's side) - worked as a Quartermaster with the Royal Navy Coast Guard in Newfoundland - primarily searching for U-Boats and rescuing passengers from sunk ships off the Atlantic. Lots of great stories on how they would be rescuing people from life boats and U-Boats would fire torpedoes at them - sometimes forced to leave the people in the boats for a few hours until it was safe to do so. Many died of exposure waiting to be rescued.
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My Granmother's cousins and uncles all fought in WWI, none survived. Everyone of them died in the needless attacks on enemy lines.
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My grandfather on my dad's side served in the U.S. Coast Guard in WWII.
My grandfather on my mom's side served in the Army in the Korean War. He was stationed in some base far from the frontlines and he guarded a mail post. All of my great uncles served in the Korean War. I don't know what they did though. My U.S. History teacher also fought in Korea. My Science teacher flew F-4 Phantoms in Vietnam. He was stationed on Okinawa so he never saw any action. My sixth grade English and Literature teacher flew C-5 Galaxys (I think) in the Air Force.
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My grandfather never told me in what unit he served, probably because I never asked him, but he told me a lot of stories.
He drove around a high ranking offiver (donīt know the name) in a Horch limo early in the war, probably in Belgium and France, where he saw the remains of the retreated British Army which drove itīs trucks into the water so that their serviceman could walk on them to the evacuation ships.
He always told me how much food and stuff the Brits left behind.
Late in the war he drove Opel Blitz supply trucks (he was a bakerman and was responsible for the rations) in Yugoslavia and Greece. He also was a driver for the SDKfZ251 with mounted Quad AA which was used to shoot not only at convoy strafers, but at suspected Partisans in the Balkan mountains.
Once they where ambushed by british tanks, his Opel was killed in one shot, so was his comrad. He also remembered being strafed by the "Gabelschwanzteufel" (German nickname for P38s).
Wish I knew more but he died in 95.
As you may have found out by now he was member of the german army. Sorry to hijack this posting but maybe it was interesting enough to read.
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Nothing wrong with German army stories - I only wish we had more of them.
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Originally posted by chase4
My Granmother's cousins and uncles all fought in WWI, none survived. Everyone of them died in the needless attacks on enemy lines.
Needless attacks????
They did not die in vain.
Harp00n
This thread is about family members that served in WW2.... your family member served so your story is not a hijack. Axis or Allies, we'd all like to hear the stories.
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On my mothers side,I had relatives that fought on both sides during the Civil War.My grandmother Robinson came from Kentucky and this was very common.I'm fairly ancient myself,so the details are vague.One was a Union officer,and one story I recall was a Confederate dying from wounds,after being left at a farm house because he couldn't go on.
My father was with the 43rd Coast Artillery Corp in WWI.I've tried to research his outfit,but I've had little luck.I can recall his stories of real large guns,shooting a long ways.My father passed away in 1970.
My brother was with the 36th Infantry division,155th field artillery battalion during WWII.His unit was in action in Italy,southern France and on up into Germany.He survived the war,but died in 1950 as he was struck by vehicle while walking alongside the road.
I broke the families tradition of being in the Army,and being artillerymen.I joined the Marine Corps,and I was a grunt packing a rifle.I hope my service was in keeping with my families tradition of serving are country honorably.
IronDog
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Uncle (died in 87) was in the army and went to North Africa, but the fighting had already stopped. He was wounded in the back while in Italy.
Great Uncle (died in 97) was in the navy and had 2 ships sink while serving on them. Supposedly he spent a few days in the brig for shooting at a Japanese pilot coming down in a chute. I could see him doing something like that.
Great Uncle (still alive) He hardly ever talks about his experiences in the army and he will not watch a war movie. A while back he told me he drove a jeep off a LC during D-Day landings. I see him a couple times a week.
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My father served in the US Army from 1942 till wars end.
He served in North Africa, landed at Sicily and at Anzio.
He was awarded a Bronze Star along with the Combat Badge which at that time meant he spent at least 1200 straight hours on the front lines at some or more then one occaision.
He is now 86 years Old and plays 27 holes of Golf a week.
I love and respect him dearly.
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Hey Was talking to my sister and she recalls that are dads picture was in TIME back in the 40's he was Eating his meal out of his helmet. Anyone know how I could look up an Old copy. I looked online but they only seam to have the Covers posted.
Thanks Crims
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I had a grandfather who served in Army as a medic with the 35 infantry and took part in the Battle of the Bulge. Unfortunately I always told as child that we were not to ask himabout his time served during the war because it was too traumatic for him. So I never did even try. He past away last June.
I also had an uncle who I know served in the Army Air Corp. Unfortunately I did not develope my interest in WWII history until several years after his death in 1998. But Iam pretty sure he told me that he flew in B-17's and not quite as sure but I think he may have said that he flew in them (but this was when I was in high school which was about 17 years ago).
Wish Ihad asked more and been more willing to listen then. Young and Dumb then I guess
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My father served first in the infantry during WWII although he didn't talk about it much. Once his service was over, he re-enlisted in the Merchant Marines, where he was an anti-aircraft gunner.
I've still got one complete round, minus the gunpowder, that he brought home with him. I don't know what size it is but it's stamped with the numbers 42 and 659 on the bottom of the casing. The shell (slug) itself is about 3 1/4" long, brass tipped steel and is very heavy for it's size.
Also, one of my brothers was an Army Medic in Korea.
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Had a Great Uncle who was KIA on Jul 6th 1944. He was part of the 5th Army advance against 4 Divisions of dug in German Troops in Italy.
Prior to that my Great Great Grandfather served in the Pennsylvania 42nd Regiment, Elk County Rifles aka "The Bucktail Regiment". He survived (obviously) loosing an eye, taking a wound to the neck and then taken prisioner at the "Battle" of Fredricksburg. Battle is in quotes because it was really a Northern debacle rather than a battle.
He was part of a prisoner exchange and was mustered out in Jul 1863.
Softail
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Originally posted by Redlegs
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.
His name is Col. Carl Hutton. He was the the Divisional Artillery Commander for the 2nd Armoured Division.
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My grandfather was in the 873rd Engineer Avn. Bn., Stationed in the Pacific
(http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x311/archywood/b4.jpg)