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Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,666
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,666 |
Both of mine (both have passed) served in World War II.
One was a navigator on B-24's, 9th, then 15th AF's. Was a guest of the Germans for over a year. Learned of his daughter's (my mom's) birth whilst a POW.
The other was dog-face infantry - 91st Division. Staged in North Africa, landed on Sicily, moved to mainland Italy, and then walked to the French border.
They may have crossed paths, albeit unknowingly. During an offensive on the Italian mainland, the one grandpa's B-24 group "softened" some German defenses prior to my other grandpa's division assaulting those positions.
I'm becoming more tolerant of intolerant people.
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Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 19,269
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 19,269 |
I didn't answer in my previous posts. WWl France,Infantry.
Be afraid,be VERY VERY afraid ad triarios redisse My Buddy eh76 speaks authentic Frontier Gibberish!
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Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 24,566 Likes: 1
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 24,566 Likes: 1 |
Mine fought in the Spanish American war launching slow 45-70 bullets from a Trapdoor Springfield at Cubans...
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Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 2,483
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 2,483 |
WWI infantry - fought in the trenches in France.
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Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 2,913
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 2,913 |
Dad was a B-17 pilot in WW-II, based in England. He was involved in the fire-bomb raids on Dresden. For the rest of his life he regretted the higher-ups decision to carry out those raids that late in the war, and that he had to participate. If anyone knows not of what I speak, google the fire-bombing of Dresden.
I served 7 years in the Marine Corps in the '70s and never got shot at.
God Bless all veterans for their service, especially the war veterans.
The info you posted up regarding what your father was involved with in WWII provided for quite the history lesson. I had not known of the fire-bombing of Dresden. That was quite the carnage. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bombing_of_Dresden_in_World_War_III can certainly understand his perspective on the situation. A tough mental burden for one to have and carry for the rest of his life. My mother told me that she knew a lot of refugees who perished in the Dresden firebombings. Dresden had been declared a free city - that is, no military installations or munition plants, so no defenses. I understand that it was a very beautiful city. Many refugees from Eastern Europe fleeing the commies wound up in Germany, many in Dresden and got killed for their effort. Not one of America's shining moments but understandable.
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Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 28,202
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 28,202 |
SeaBee, radio operator on Guam.
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Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 427
Campfire Member
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Campfire Member
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 427 |
the one im named after enlisted in 1934, out in 1966. colonel, us army, retired. lost him in november. 2 weeks before his 99th bday. he did a bit of everything.
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Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2,484
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2,484 |
Lots of cool stories you guys shared. I had lots of family in the wars but I've always liked this picture of my great-papaw.
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Joined: May 2004
Posts: 56,150 Likes: 11
Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 56,150 Likes: 11 |
I am..........disturbed.
Concerning the difference between man and the jackass: some observers hold that there isn't any. But this wrongs the jackass. -Twain
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Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 5,659
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 5,659 |
Grand Dad was a mechanic in the Navy.
"Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure, than to take rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy much nor suffer much" Teddy Roosevelt
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Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 619
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 619 |
My grandfather volunteered for the Army Airforce in WWII. He went through pilot training for about 2/3rds of the training. According to him, the AA decided it had enough pilots to win the war and cut the bottom 90%. Off to gunner school he went. He served 35 missions over Europe in late 44, early 45 as a tail gunner in a B-17. 487th BG, 837th squadron. They were shot-up over Hamburg on their 17th mission and limped back to England smoking. The plane was totaled and they spent the remainder of their tour as a back-up crew borrowing planes. After his tour the AA asked him to retrain for B-29s to be sent to the Pacific. He told them no. He was assigned to train new crews in Pensacola. He was the only trainer who wouldn't take off his parachute. The base commander finally asked him what his problem was and he told him he hated flying. As he put it, those planes aren't as safe as you think. The base commander made him the base PT instructor. He'd lead the base in PT in the morning and then drive his Jeep to the officer's club to drink the rest of the day (He was a SSGT but they overlooked him due to his combat experience.) After the war, the AA asked him to finish his pilot training. As you might guess, he told them to [bleep] off. He's the good looking guy in the backrow, far right.
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 12,630
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 12,630 |
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