Is it because I'm getting old and soft....
- Thread starter cranberry
- Start date
handbanana
Member
Originally Posted by reefraff
http:///forum/post/3273030
My uncle was in Patton's 3rd army. When I was young he talked about the experience a little but the older he got the less he would talk about it. He finally got to the point where he said he didn't even want to think about it.
Same here, I learned a little bit from my gramps when I was young. But when I got old enough to understand things a little better he stopped talking about it altogether.
My mom showed me his journals he kept when I was 14 and I understand why it was not a big discussion topic.
http:///forum/post/3273030
My uncle was in Patton's 3rd army. When I was young he talked about the experience a little but the older he got the less he would talk about it. He finally got to the point where he said he didn't even want to think about it.
Same here, I learned a little bit from my gramps when I was young. But when I got old enough to understand things a little better he stopped talking about it altogether.
My mom showed me his journals he kept when I was 14 and I understand why it was not a big discussion topic.
reefraff
Active Member
One of the most fascinating talks I ever heard was from a guy who was in Army intelligence during WWII and Korea. The stuff he knew and was able to explain about was mind boggling. I find the the guys who just signed up, went and did the job then left the service really didn't want to talk too much about WWII but the guys from later wars seemed more open about it. Changing times I guess.
florida joe
Well-Known Member
American soldiers sacrifice so much,
All for the freedom of our country.
Leaving their families and heading off to war,
Not knowing what the future holds.
Working day and night
Determined to stay strong.
Watching friends be killed every day
Letters from home inspiring them to keep fighting
So little is given to them
Although there is little to do,
For those who have died in war
We can still remember
Remember all the men who have died.
Remember all the battles fought
Remember all the tears families cried
Remember it was freedom the soldiers brought
To this very day soldiers are under-appreciated
Veterans Day is the day
For the dead, living, and fighting soldiers
To be remembered
All for the freedom of our country.
Leaving their families and heading off to war,
Not knowing what the future holds.
Working day and night
Determined to stay strong.
Watching friends be killed every day
Letters from home inspiring them to keep fighting
So little is given to them
Although there is little to do,
For those who have died in war
We can still remember
Remember all the men who have died.
Remember all the battles fought
Remember all the tears families cried
Remember it was freedom the soldiers brought
To this very day soldiers are under-appreciated
Veterans Day is the day
For the dead, living, and fighting soldiers
To be remembered
handbanana
Member
Originally Posted by reefraff
http:///forum/post/3273104
One of the most fascinating talks I ever heard was from a guy who was in Army intelligence during WWII and Korea. The stuff he knew and was able to explain about was mind boggling. I find the the guys who just signed up, went and did the job then left the service really didn't want to talk too much about WWII but the guys from later wars seemed more open about it. Changing times I guess.
I think it also depends on your experences while serving. My gramps was drafted and served an extra 2 years invoulentairaly. He was Liberated by the russians after their captors left them locked up and fled. He remained in a cell for 3 days alone without any food or whatnot. He doesnt like to talk about the things he's seen or done. Only examples like " a person can survive on a 1/4" of spam a day. that kind of thing.
But My friends father was a vietnam sniper and he wont talk about anything. not even the weather in that country. Hates everything asian and has a real problem with the video games we play. IE modern warfare.
Its weird. Different times. Different wars. I had a few Vets from our current conflict in school with me and they told all. Some times you couldnt shut them up.
I found it fascinating listing to them. Espacially the IED guys. They have balls!
http:///forum/post/3273104
One of the most fascinating talks I ever heard was from a guy who was in Army intelligence during WWII and Korea. The stuff he knew and was able to explain about was mind boggling. I find the the guys who just signed up, went and did the job then left the service really didn't want to talk too much about WWII but the guys from later wars seemed more open about it. Changing times I guess.
I think it also depends on your experences while serving. My gramps was drafted and served an extra 2 years invoulentairaly. He was Liberated by the russians after their captors left them locked up and fled. He remained in a cell for 3 days alone without any food or whatnot. He doesnt like to talk about the things he's seen or done. Only examples like " a person can survive on a 1/4" of spam a day. that kind of thing.
But My friends father was a vietnam sniper and he wont talk about anything. not even the weather in that country. Hates everything asian and has a real problem with the video games we play. IE modern warfare.
Its weird. Different times. Different wars. I had a few Vets from our current conflict in school with me and they told all. Some times you couldnt shut them up.
I found it fascinating listing to them. Espacially the IED guys. They have balls!
reefraff
Active Member
Originally Posted by Handbanana
http:///forum/post/3273113
I think it also depends on your experences while serving. My gramps was drafted and served an extra 2 years invoulentairaly. He was Liberated by the russians after their captors left them locked up and fled. He remained in a cell for 3 days alone without any food or whatnot. He doesnt like to talk about the things he's seen or done. Only examples like " a person can survive on a 1/4" of spam a day. that kind of thing.
But My friends father was a vietnam sniper and he wont talk about anything. not even the weather in that country. Hates everything asian and has a real problem with the video games we play. IE modern warfare.
Its weird. Different times. Different wars. I had a few Vets from our current conflict in school with me and they told all. Some times you couldnt shut them up.
I found it fascinating listing to them. Espacially the IED guys. They have balls!
The folks I knew from the Vietnam war didn't mind talking at all. One guy my mom dated for a while told me he wished they would have given him more bullets, said we wouldn't have had so many of them over here, this was about the time of the boat people. I was about 15 at the time and was able to understand some of the stuff this guy was talking about were war crimes or close to it. He's the one who told me the stuff the winter warrior project (John Kerry's Ghengis Khan claims) were a bunch of crap. I figured someone who admitted to doing some of the stuff he did wouldn't lie about something like that.
Thank God mom didn't keep him around too long.
http:///forum/post/3273113
I think it also depends on your experences while serving. My gramps was drafted and served an extra 2 years invoulentairaly. He was Liberated by the russians after their captors left them locked up and fled. He remained in a cell for 3 days alone without any food or whatnot. He doesnt like to talk about the things he's seen or done. Only examples like " a person can survive on a 1/4" of spam a day. that kind of thing.
But My friends father was a vietnam sniper and he wont talk about anything. not even the weather in that country. Hates everything asian and has a real problem with the video games we play. IE modern warfare.
Its weird. Different times. Different wars. I had a few Vets from our current conflict in school with me and they told all. Some times you couldnt shut them up.
I found it fascinating listing to them. Espacially the IED guys. They have balls!
The folks I knew from the Vietnam war didn't mind talking at all. One guy my mom dated for a while told me he wished they would have given him more bullets, said we wouldn't have had so many of them over here, this was about the time of the boat people. I was about 15 at the time and was able to understand some of the stuff this guy was talking about were war crimes or close to it. He's the one who told me the stuff the winter warrior project (John Kerry's Ghengis Khan claims) were a bunch of crap. I figured someone who admitted to doing some of the stuff he did wouldn't lie about something like that.
Thank God mom didn't keep him around too long.
ironeagle2006
Active Member
Few years ago when going thru some of my parents stuff I found my namesakes WWII Diary. I am named after him and he was a Ball turret Gunner on a B-24. He went into detail on his missions his First entry was the Plesoti raid and he went AT LEAST I COULD SHOOT BACK AT THEM. He went to further describe his missions including one were he attacked his IN-Laws Honetown since he had just gotten married before coming overseas. He stated I hope our bombs were on target and we did not kill any of my wifes relatives if so I am a dead man. He also survived his tour did 30 missions in a B-24 in the ETO and then came home. I wish like hell I could have met him but he died in 1971 4 years before I was born.
My other grandfather that was in WWII was in the Pacific on LST 399 and he was in Every Major landing from the Canal to Okinawa. He never really wanted to talk about the war but one time I got him to talk about it. He was like I was one of the happiest men alive when Truman gave the order to drop the Atomic bombs on Japan. His ship was scheduled in the First wave of the Invasion of Japan and he knows he would have been killed. Think about it every plane ship and Suicide Torpedo all aimed to stop the invision and your ship is the first wave. The estimates are that 90% of the first waves ships and men would have been killed. 2 Bombs stopped it from happening.
My other grandfather that was in WWII was in the Pacific on LST 399 and he was in Every Major landing from the Canal to Okinawa. He never really wanted to talk about the war but one time I got him to talk about it. He was like I was one of the happiest men alive when Truman gave the order to drop the Atomic bombs on Japan. His ship was scheduled in the First wave of the Invasion of Japan and he knows he would have been killed. Think about it every plane ship and Suicide Torpedo all aimed to stop the invision and your ship is the first wave. The estimates are that 90% of the first waves ships and men would have been killed. 2 Bombs stopped it from happening.
scottnlisa
Member
On this day I support the troops for doing there job that they are assigned but I will NEVER EVER support the war that mosted served in. Our kids are fighting right now a war that should not have happened but did unfortonately.
S
saxman
Guest
personally, i like to think that as we get a bit of age on us, we also gain a certain amount of wisdom, and that wisdom includes not taking so many things (and people) for granted. it's hard to NOT consider those who serve or have served our country, much less to appreciate the sacrifices that have been made on our behalf, regardless of whether or not the war happens to be "popular". this is also true when the hostilities have been initiated due to poor judgment on the part of our politicians.
oscardeuce
Active Member
Originally Posted by scottnlisa
http:///forum/post/3274376
On this day I support the troops for doing there job that they are assigned but I will NEVER EVER support the war that mosted served in. Our kids are fighting right now a war that should not have happened but did unfortonately.
So... you blame America for the Islamic Terrorists?
I was flying 25 feet off the wing of a B-17 in formation over the grave of a WWII B-17 flight engineer/top turret gunner. He was my friend. When the AT-6 in the 3rd position pulled up and flew west it was very had for me to hold position asmy eyes seemed to have fooged up.
I gave a ride to a widow and daughter of an aviator killed in action. We we in the same type of aircraft he was killed in, and his daughter carried his dog tags.
We have dome 3-4 other missing man flights. I find them very hard whether I knew the patriot or not.
I salute all the fallen, rest in peace, and know your tradition is being carried back to the shores of Tripoli.
http:///forum/post/3274376
On this day I support the troops for doing there job that they are assigned but I will NEVER EVER support the war that mosted served in. Our kids are fighting right now a war that should not have happened but did unfortonately.
So... you blame America for the Islamic Terrorists?
I was flying 25 feet off the wing of a B-17 in formation over the grave of a WWII B-17 flight engineer/top turret gunner. He was my friend. When the AT-6 in the 3rd position pulled up and flew west it was very had for me to hold position asmy eyes seemed to have fooged up.
I gave a ride to a widow and daughter of an aviator killed in action. We we in the same type of aircraft he was killed in, and his daughter carried his dog tags.
We have dome 3-4 other missing man flights. I find them very hard whether I knew the patriot or not.
I salute all the fallen, rest in peace, and know your tradition is being carried back to the shores of Tripoli.