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June 6, 1944
- Thread starter Semper Fi
- Start date
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- Mar 5, 1999
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- 34,096
I've been thinking about it and can't understand how so many had so much guts.
This was a draft time military but they behaved like the best of voluteers.
This was a draft time military but they behaved like the best of voluteers.
- Joined
- Nov 5, 2001
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- 8,969
I've been thinking about this all day. I knew a wonderful man who was a Ranger who climbed up a cliff to knock out a battery on I believe Omaha beach. He never bragged about his role, or even talked about it. I learned about his history at his funeral. Warren was a true man's man. I would have been lucky to have been his grandson, and he made me, and others feel like one. I shot skeet with Warren and came to know him as a friend. I think of him on this day, and know that there are still a number of men like him out there, and my thanks goes out to them. Their numbers are dwindling daily, I don't think we can ever thank them enough for their contributions. God bless our veterans from WWII, and all of our wars for that matter.
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- May 16, 2002
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hail the Glorious Dead.
Keith
Keith
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- Sep 7, 2001
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Good stuff, and thanks to all who went.
- Joined
- Dec 28, 2003
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- 4,793
I've been re-reading about it today. Mostly stories about the pilots that in my opinion had maybe the toughest flying job of the war: the D-Day glider pilots. Imagine being responsible for a bunch of guys that you have to pilot in and land safely in a glider _at night_, down to ground that you can't even see, while 800,000 German troops on the ground shine lights on your slow-ass unmaneuvarable wooden no-protection tub and do their best to shoot the hell out of you! Then put the thing down in almost total darkness in the middle of houses / horses / farms / roads or trees or whatever, without killing everyone, with no ability to go-round, primitive flight controls and lousy trim, while still getting the troops where they're supposed to be! God... !
I've flown enough in perfect weather with gentle crosswinds and super-stable aircraft with no one else to worry about to appreciate what a bi$#h of a job this must have been. Talk about guts!
It's too bad that the new beautiful WWII Memorial was not finished many years ago. I have known several men in their late 70's and early 80's who served, that have passed on in the last few years who would have been very honored to have been able to see that memorial, my late father-in-law among them. He died just last year, and he was a hell of a guy and a great father-in-law. He served in the South Pacific and by the age of 20 had won 3 battle stars for Guadalcanal, Bougainville and Iwo Jima, as well as the Marine Corps medal for heroism, and a Presidential Unit Citation. Of course, since he never talked about it, we didn't find out hardly any of this until he passed away and we went through his belongings.
It would have never occurred to him that he did anything at all special, and he always downplayed his service as being "just what everyone else did", but in my mind he was a real hero and his record speaks for itself.
Regards,
Norm
I've flown enough in perfect weather with gentle crosswinds and super-stable aircraft with no one else to worry about to appreciate what a bi$#h of a job this must have been. Talk about guts!
It's too bad that the new beautiful WWII Memorial was not finished many years ago. I have known several men in their late 70's and early 80's who served, that have passed on in the last few years who would have been very honored to have been able to see that memorial, my late father-in-law among them. He died just last year, and he was a hell of a guy and a great father-in-law. He served in the South Pacific and by the age of 20 had won 3 battle stars for Guadalcanal, Bougainville and Iwo Jima, as well as the Marine Corps medal for heroism, and a Presidential Unit Citation. Of course, since he never talked about it, we didn't find out hardly any of this until he passed away and we went through his belongings.
It would have never occurred to him that he did anything at all special, and he always downplayed his service as being "just what everyone else did", but in my mind he was a real hero and his record speaks for itself.
Regards,
Norm
- Joined
- Sep 11, 2002
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- 3,548
I'm trying to take my great-uncles down to the WW2 memorial this year. None of my relatives were at Normandy, but uncle Jimmy was at Bastogne. It touches my heart whenever I think of the supreme sacrifices my elders made. They have my greatest respect- the warriors, the survivors, those at home who stayed strong and supported the war effort. It was nearly 3 years after the attack on Pearl Harbor and these men were still primed and ready to fight. Now, nearly 3 years since 9/11, I see many Americans already tired of the fight. A different war, but a different time as well. Hopefully the people haven't changed too much.
MacHete
Hair Cropper & Chipmunk Wrangler
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- Apr 7, 2000
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I've posted this link elsewhere before. I don't think it will ever be inappropriate.
http://www.enquirer.com/editions/2002/12/15/loc_vetheroes15.html
The Glenn Grundei in the article was my 5th grade teacher, and is still a family friend. We often worry that kids these days will forget, or never even learn the debt they owe our parent's generation. We need to realize that the seeds of remembrance cannot take root and flourish unless we sow and tend them in the fertile ground of our children's hearts and minds. It is not enough for us to simply remember, we must preserve and perpetuate and strive to be worthy of their sacrifice. I thank God for the dead and dying heroes, and for those who keep them alive for generations to come.
http://www.enquirer.com/editions/2002/12/15/loc_vetheroes15.html
The Glenn Grundei in the article was my 5th grade teacher, and is still a family friend. We often worry that kids these days will forget, or never even learn the debt they owe our parent's generation. We need to realize that the seeds of remembrance cannot take root and flourish unless we sow and tend them in the fertile ground of our children's hearts and minds. It is not enough for us to simply remember, we must preserve and perpetuate and strive to be worthy of their sacrifice. I thank God for the dead and dying heroes, and for those who keep them alive for generations to come.
- Joined
- May 18, 1999
- Messages
- 15,395
I remember my uncles and the pain they were in when they made it home. I remember the ones who were still okay enough to stay in service for many more years with honor. I remember my uncle who died under mysterious circumstances in covert service in Japan many years ago after serving in WW II and thereafter. May the God(s) bless them every one along with all the vets who served in our behalf.