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Author Topic: Ask a WWII vet a question.  (Read 555 times)

Offline Jayhawk

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Ask a WWII vet a question.
« on: February 12, 2011, 04:05:47 PM »
So here is the deal, my grandpa joined the Navy when he was 17 and was stationed on a carrier during WWII.  Unfortunately, that is about all I know about his time in the service.  Hopefully, tomorrow I will sit down with him and get a chance to hear his stories.  If possible, I'd like to record it and save it for the future.

So, I've started a list of some basic questions.  What questions would you ask?

Thanks
-Jayhawk
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Offline Melvin

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Re: Ask a WWII vet a question.
« Reply #1 on: February 12, 2011, 04:08:22 PM »
What did you do for the first six months after the war was over?
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Offline trax1

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Re: Ask a WWII vet a question.
« Reply #2 on: February 12, 2011, 05:37:37 PM »
What was the most intense moment of the war for him?
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Offline mbailey

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Re: Ask a WWII vet a question.
« Reply #3 on: February 12, 2011, 06:08:34 PM »
What carrier and when did he join it........With that info, you'll be able to find out all the locations and actions he was in. :salute
« Last Edit: February 12, 2011, 06:10:24 PM by mbailey »
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Offline fbWldcat

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Re: Ask a WWII vet a question.
« Reply #4 on: February 12, 2011, 06:17:32 PM »
Who were his buddies and what were they all assigned to do? Are they still around? If so, you can also maybe go to them for more info.

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Offline LLogann

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Re: Ask a WWII vet a question.
« Reply #5 on: February 12, 2011, 07:08:05 PM »
Have sex with as many pacific islander's as possible!!!!!!

Quote from: Melvin on February 12, 2011, 04:08:22 PM
What did you do for the first six months after the war was over?




If anybody says different, they dont know many vets.   :salute
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Offline Wildcat1

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Re: Ask a WWII vet a question.
« Reply #6 on: February 12, 2011, 07:28:59 PM »
what was the news of the Japanese surrender like for your ship?

did you ever re-unite with your old shipmates?

above all, what were you thinking of most on the train home?
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Offline 68ZooM

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Re: Ask a WWII vet a question.
« Reply #7 on: February 12, 2011, 07:36:20 PM »
i would ask. what he did and ask in great detail, any fond memories he had of shipmates, the pranks they might have did to each other, ask him about the combat times if hes willing to talk about that, his thoughts during war and after it was over, your Grandpa and Grandma are a wealth of info on your families past, make great use of your time with him while you have it  :salute
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Offline ROX

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Re: Ask a WWII vet a question.
« Reply #8 on: February 13, 2011, 01:07:57 PM »
My father-in-law was at D-Day (second wave) and then saw service all the way to Hurtigen Forest.  He had two daughters and never talked about the war to them.  Vietnam was going on and he always changed the channel on the news when the kids were in the room.

About 4 years ago the Arkansas PBS station interviewed a bunch of WWII combat vets for a special documentary and he was one of the interviewees.  They interviewed him twice and it was about 45 minutes long each time. 

You could tell that he was answering questions about things he had not told anyone about in over 60 years.
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Offline F22RaptorDude

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Re: Ask a WWII vet a question.
« Reply #9 on: February 13, 2011, 05:59:19 PM »
My Great Grandfather was a tank commander in world war II, Always knew how to cheer me up. We shared a unique thirst for history, Sadly he was diagnosed with Cancer and passed away before i could get all of his storys recorded. But a Surprise, he knew he was going to die, and on Christmas last year he left me his World War II History guide, I'm very emotional talking about it.  Miss You Grandpa, i'm so proud  :salute
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Offline Simaril

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Re: Ask a WWII vet a question.
« Reply #10 on: February 13, 2011, 06:23:49 PM »
This may be the beginning of a process, or it may be your only opportunity to gather stories that could otherwise be lost. Do it right!

Here are some places to pick up tips about how to organize your time:

ORAL HISTORY GUIDELINES from national WW2 museum
http://www.nationalww2museum.org/education/for-students/oral-history-guidelines.html
http://www.nationalww2museum.org/exhibitions/oral-history-guidelines.html
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Offline wgmount

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Re: Ask a WWII vet a question.
« Reply #11 on: February 13, 2011, 07:03:15 PM »
Tell him you love him.
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Offline Delirium

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Re: Ask a WWII vet a question.
« Reply #12 on: February 13, 2011, 07:21:41 PM »
Ask him what he thinks of today's generation enjoying games based on the experiences he lived through.

I'm not being sarcastic. I had asked a 'B17 series' test pilot and combat commander with pancreatic cancrt what he thought years ago before he died and he said it was comforting to know it wouldn't be forgotten.
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Offline Tyrannis

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Re: Ask a WWII vet a question.
« Reply #13 on: February 13, 2011, 07:46:28 PM »
ask him if any kamikazes ever took shots at his ship.

and what his ship was supposed to do in the event of a submarine spotting.
 :salute
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