Aces High Bulletin Board

General Forums => The O' Club => Topic started by: BFOOT1 on July 22, 2014, 09:10:44 PM

Title: WWII Vet and personal friend
Post by: BFOOT1 on July 22, 2014, 09:10:44 PM: (http://i1294.photobucket.com/albums/b618/ZachWood12/image_zpseb369c9b.jpeg) (http://s1294.photobucket.com/user/ZachWood12/media/image_zpseb369c9b.jpeg.html)

This my friends is Mr. Gene Thomas, who is my personal friend and a WWII Vet of the 101st Airborne Division, 506th PIR, 1st Battalion, Able Company. I met Gene two years ago at a WWII Symposium when I was a freshman at Appalachian State. Gene jumped on D-Day fought through Normandy, jumped into Holland and survived at Bastonge. He was a guard at Nuremburg and he also fought with the 2nd Infantry Division in Korea. Gene has two purple hearts, two Bronze stars, a silver star, and a Presidential Unit Citation. Gene lives only 30 minutes away from Boone, NC in Avery County. Just a quick story about how Gene and I first met, I walk into the building of this symposium and there 60-70 vets seated and standing along this hallway in the Broyhill Center. There are paintings hanging up honoring the soldiers, and the vets have tables setup with frames and all their medals, awards, unit patches, and dog tags. Well several other vets have their souvenirs set out, and one guy in particular, another close friend named Sam Wotherspoon, has anything you can think of. Sam served in the 3rd Infantry Division alongside Audie Murphy. Anyways Sam has the Nazi Flag he got off a panzer tank that's probably 45in by 20in, and on this flag are the different medals and buttons he got off of German soldiers. Sam will just hand me stuff and say "Here ya go buddy have a gift." He's handed me Hitler Youth pins, different pins and an Iron Cross First Class. But back to my story so I talk to Sam about what he did and he's amazed about the information I know about the war, so he puts his arm around me and says, "Follow me son." I gladly obey and he takes me to this paratrooper and says, "Hey Gene check this kid out, he knows about everything we did over there." I ask him what regiment he was a part of and he says "506th, Able Company Mortar Man."

When Gene said Able Company I started thinking and I had recently just finished Don Burgett's book Curahee, so I asked, "Sir, you wouldn't happen to be Gene Thomas would you?" He replies, "How the hell did you know my name?" and I told him I just finished reading a book about him and Don and he was so impressed and overjoyed that a young man knew who he was. We talked awhile and I got their numbers, and we went out to eat the following week. Well these guys invited me to come to their WWII Roundtable meetings on the first Friday of each month. I've been to every single one since August of 2012 and tonight at a Dinner with the Vets they made me an official member of their Roundtable. One of the running jokes that they all kid me about is that in my previous life I was either a paratrooper or pilot during the war, and they get a kick out of that joke too. But tonight those guys and gals told me something that really stuck to me. They told me that I was one of the finest young men they've ever met and it was an honor for them to be in my presence. They said that everytime they see me, I put a smile on their faces and they know I will listen and devour every word that they tell me. I teared up a little tonight because these guys told me in a way I was one of them and that they look at me like a son. It was one of the biggest honors I've ever received in my opinion and something I'll never forget.

If any of you guys are ever in Boone I'd love for you guys to meet some of the vets we have, they are very humble and very fun to be around, they love meeting people interested in what they did over there. Let me know if any of y'all are ever up here, and I'll let you guys meet some of these guys and gals. :salute
Title: Re: WWII Vet and personal friend
Post by: Dichotomy on July 22, 2014, 10:47:19 PM: :salute awesome thanks for sharing
Title: Re: WWII Vet and personal friend
Post by: Brooke on July 22, 2014, 10:53:46 PM: Way to go, Bfoot! If I were around your area, I definitely would take you up on your kind offer and take all of you out to dinner. <S>!
Title: Re: WWII Vet and personal friend
Post by: Masherbrum on July 22, 2014, 11:21:06 PM: Good on you! Thanks for sharing. :salute
Title: Re: WWII Vet and personal friend
Post by: Zoney on July 23, 2014, 01:23:31 AM: BFoot you are one lucky bastard. Well done.

BTW you don't really look all that big.
Title: Re: WWII Vet and personal friend
Post by: zack1234 on July 23, 2014, 01:31:32 AM: Awesome :)
Title: Re: WWII Vet and personal friend
Post by: BFOOT1 on July 23, 2014, 07:05:54 AM: Thanks guys! And all bigfoots come in many shapes and sizes :D
Title: Re: WWII Vet and personal friend
Post by: WWhiskey on July 23, 2014, 07:47:22 AM: :salute
Title: Re: WWII Vet and personal friend
Post by: rabbidrabbit on July 23, 2014, 02:51:45 PM: nice
Title: Re: WWII Vet and personal friend
Post by: Puma44 on July 23, 2014, 03:44:06 PM: Good on ya, Bfoot! These guys are a wealth of information and great stories. This is my 93 year old WWII Vet friend who is simply priceless.

(http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac270/puma44/9824052aaf36317039ce10b2ab9941ac_zpse312a992.jpg)
Title: Re: WWII Vet and personal friend
Post by: BFOOT1 on July 23, 2014, 04:14:25 PM: Quote from: Puma44 on July 23, 2014, 03:44:06 PM
Good on ya, Bfoot! These guys are a wealth of information and great stories. This is my 93 year old WWII Vet friend who is simply priceless.

(http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac270/puma44/9824052aaf36317039ce10b2ab9941ac_zpse312a992.jpg)
What's his story??? I'd love to hear it!
Title: Re: WWII Vet and personal friend
Post by: Scherf on July 23, 2014, 06:06:01 PM: :salute
Title: Re: WWII Vet and personal friend
Post by: WEZEL on July 23, 2014, 06:13:59 PM: :salute
Title: Re: WWII Vet and personal friend
Post by: Obie303 on July 23, 2014, 07:50:18 PM: Way to go. I'm sure it means a lot to the vets as well. :salute
Title: Re: WWII Vet and personal friend
Post by: 68ZooM on July 23, 2014, 07:58:22 PM: that's great stuff right there :salute if anyone ever has a chance to talk to a World War 2 veteran take the time and sit down listen to them or just shake their hand and thank them for their service.
Title: Re: WWII Vet and personal friend
Post by: uptown on July 23, 2014, 08:11:32 PM: What a honor it must be to know a gentleman such as Mr. Thomas. A true American badass hero in anybody's book. :salute
Title: Re: WWII Vet and personal friend
Post by: Dichotomy on July 23, 2014, 08:30:23 PM: Quote from: 68ZooM on July 23, 2014, 07:58:22 PM
that's great stuff right there :salute if anyone ever has a chance to talk to a World War 2 veteran take the time and sit down listen to them or just shake their hand and thank them for their service.

and whip out your phone and record it if they'll talk. The more we preserve the better
Title: Re: WWII Vet and personal friend
Post by: BFOOT1 on July 23, 2014, 08:46:53 PM: Quote from: uptown on July 23, 2014, 08:11:32 PM
What a honor it must be to know a gentleman such as Mr. Thomas. A true American badass hero in anybody's book. :salute
He's a badass along with all the other vets! They are living history we just have to open their books and devour everything we can.
Title: Re: WWII Vet and personal friend
Post by: Wagger on August 17, 2014, 11:29:40 PM: I am glad you took time to know our history and of those who gave so much. It is a gift many will never know. I lived with a WWII Veteran. My father flew 30 missions over Europe with the 8th Air Force. He never really talked about it. I wish he had lived longer so I might have know some of what he went through. Tell you friend God Bless him from a Veteran who also remembers what he did and thanks him for his service.
Title: Re: WWII Vet and personal friend
Post by: Curval on August 18, 2014, 08:26:05 AM: Great story. Well done.
Title: Re: WWII Vet and personal friend
Post by: BFOOT1 on July 21, 2015, 02:21:24 PM: Sad news, Gene passed away in his sleep last Sunday. I'm deeply saddened by his passing but I did get to contact Donald Burgett and informed him of Gene's passing. Don told me to call him back because he'd love to talk to me about the war and what not. Even though Gene's passing hit hard, and his door closes another one open with Mr. Burgett. I'm very excited to talk with him as well :salute
Title: Re: WWII Vet and personal friend
Post by: JOACH1M on July 21, 2015, 02:26:58 PM: Quote from: BFOOT1 on July 21, 2015, 02:21:24 PM
Sad news, Gene passed away in his sleep last Sunday. I'm deeply saddened by his passing but I did get to contact Donald Burgett and informed him of Gene's passing. Don told me to call him back because he'd love to talk to me about the war and what not. Even though Gene's passing hit hard, and his door closes another one open with Mr. Burgett. I'm very excited to talk with him as well :salute
sorry to hear about the loss of a friend and great man. May he rest in peace. :salute
Title: Re: WWII Vet and personal friend
Post by: BFOOT1 on July 21, 2015, 02:30:53 PM: Quote from: JOACH1M on July 21, 2015, 02:26:58 PM
sorry to hear about the loss of a friend and great man. May he rest in peace. :salute
Thanks Jo :salute
Title: Re: WWII Vet and personal friend
Post by: PR3D4TOR on July 21, 2015, 04:29:03 PM: How wonderful! I envy you! :cheers:
Title: Re: WWII Vet and personal friend
Post by: BFOOT1 on July 21, 2015, 04:51:38 PM: Quote from: PR3D4TOR on July 21, 2015, 04:29:03 PM
How wonderful! I envy you! :cheers:
Thanks man, it's sad news but yet exciting at the same time. I'm actually thinking of writing a book about the guys in my area, just talking about the guys who don't make the headlines.
Title: Re: WWII Vet and personal friend
Post by: TOMCAT21 on July 21, 2015, 05:22:50 PM: :salute
Title: Re: WWII Vet and personal friend
Post by: PR3D4TOR on July 21, 2015, 05:32:34 PM: Oh... Sorry for your loss Bfoot. Previous post was in response to your original post. Didn't notice until now... :(
Title: Re: WWII Vet and personal friend
Post by: guncrasher on July 21, 2015, 05:48:12 PM: :salute

semp
Title: Re: WWII Vet and personal friend
Post by: Maverick on July 22, 2015, 09:37:37 AM: Another old soldier goes home to be with his buddies. Don't mourn his passing, just be glad folks like him lived and till live today. :salute
Title: Re: WWII Vet and personal friend
Post by: craz07 on July 22, 2015, 09:56:39 AM: here here :salute
Title: Re: WWII Vet and personal friend
Post by: Dichotomy on July 22, 2015, 10:27:56 AM: Quote from: BFOOT1 on July 21, 2015, 02:21:24 PM
Sad news, Gene passed away in his sleep last Sunday. I'm deeply saddened by his passing but I did get to contact Donald Burgett and informed him of Gene's passing. Don told me to call him back because he'd love to talk to me about the war and what not. Even though Gene's passing hit hard, and his door closes another one open with Mr. Burgett. I'm very excited to talk with him as well :salute

Condolences to you and his loved ones from Julie and I.

RIP Gene

:salute
Title: Re: WWII Vet and personal friend
Post by: BFOOT1 on July 22, 2015, 10:58:22 AM: Quote from: Dichotomy on July 22, 2015, 10:27:56 AM
Condolences to you and his loved ones from Julie and I.

RIP Gene

:salute
Thanks guys that means a lot. This is the best community I've ever been apart of :salute
Title: Re: WWII Vet and personal friend
Post by: Obie303 on July 24, 2015, 07:47:16 PM: My condolences. I'm sure your friendship made a great impression on Gene before he passed. The men (and women) who served may not feel like hero's, but they are. Remembering those friendships will ensure their sacrifices and service will go on forever. :salute

Obie
Title: Re: WWII Vet and personal friend
Post by: bacon8tr on July 25, 2015, 10:57:54 PM: :salute