I noticed your new avatar was the 4th Infantry Division patch. I saw you were honoring the 4th ID. I thought you were a Navy man.
*********************** "He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog. You are his life, his love, his leader. He will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart. You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion." - Anonymous
Hi Raven, My Dad served in WWII as a combat infantryman in the Ivy Division. Had a full ride to the University of Michigan after high school but had to work on the railroad to support his parents. Could have gotten a deferment from the military since he worked on the railroad, but saw his duty and did it. Landed on Utah Beach on D-Day, wounded twice in Germany, Bronze Star (not that he cared about medals)and something like 5 campaigns in all. Got out after his time as a staff sergeant. He died last May and I have been missing him a great deal lately. One of his high school buddies who also served in the 4th ID with him told me at the funeral that Dad should have been awarded the Silver Star for leading a large contingent of troops (perhaps company-sized) out of a potential massacre after the officers had been killed. Said Dad saved his a$$ and those of many others.I learned nearly all of this at his funeral, and we were close --but he did not talk about combat, and he did not talk about himself. So this is my silly little way to acknowledge his contribution to the world and my family. They don't make 'em like that any more.
This message has been edited. Last edited by: dan speece,
dear dan, saw your post. my father was also in the 4th in ww2, discharged as either staff or tech sgt. utah beach, st. lo, the bulge, etc. also was wounded and came home on a hospital ship, which i think he said was named the "dogwood". also received the bronze star.
he never talked about his experiences, but would definitely today be receiving disability for ptsd in addition to the effects of his wounds. unfortunately, ptsd was not really a factor in disability awards in those days.
most likely our fathers knew each other, at least in passing. in fact, my middle name is after a friend of his who relieved him early on guard duty and was killed by incoming fire.
the experiences of these guys sometimes makes me feel guilty that i was lucky enough to avoid nam and spend my military time in germany working regular shift hours, drinking bier, and eating bratwurst.
i see that you're in potomac. i have a son in p.g. county and a daughter in d.c., causing me to be in the area on occassion. maybe a herf would be in order sometime.
Posts: 46 | Location: seminole, fl, usa | Registered: January 07, 2004
Hi Joe, Yes, a herf would most definitely be in order. I'll put my email back in my profile so let me know when you are inbound.
A few years ago my Dad's best friend from childhood (who served in the USN during WWII and who I am named after) talked him into going and seeing "Saving Private Ryan." He really regretted that decision, said it was way too realistic and that he would have left but his friend wanted to see it. But it really brought up a lot of terrible memories. I don't know how those guys got through it.
a great flick. realism to the max, esp the first 30 minutes. saw it w/ my daughter -- really upset her that people had to go through that. i'll keep you in mind on my next trip north, but won't be for a few months since everyone's coming south for christmas. anyway it's too cold to smoke in maryland (outside smoker) this time of year, so where's the incentive to travel. was in your area thanksgiving week and could only managed one cigar while tailgating b4 the redskins/raiders game. the rest of the week, rainy, snowy, and too miserably cold for this florida resident.
Posts: 46 | Location: seminole, fl, usa | Registered: January 07, 2004
Dan, My father was also in WWII, and didn't like to talk about the war. Like you, I found out about a lot of the things that he had done in the war from his old friends while at his funeral. It's strange. It was almost like being introduced to a whole new person. After hearing these fasinating stories about him, I was sadned that he had never told me himself. I guess he had his reasons. One thing that I am positive of, Men like your father and mine; they don't make'em like that anymore.
"Disfigured and shunned by society, he turned to the tranquil seclusion of cigar collecting."
Posts: 1118 | Location: Houma, LA | Registered: June 04, 2004
Originally posted by dan speece: Hi Raven, My Dad served in WWII as a combat infantryman in the Ivy Division. Had a full ride to the University of Michigan after high school but had to work on the railroad to support his parents. Could have gotten a deferment from the military since he worked on the railroad, but saw his duty and did it. Landed on Utah Beach on D-Day, wounded twice in Germany, Bronze Star (not that he cared about medals)and something like 5 campaigns in all. Got out after his time as a staff sergeant. He died last May and I have been missing him a great deal lately. One of his high school buddies who also served in the 4th ID with him told me at the funeral that Dad should have been awarded the Silver Star for leading a large contingent of troops (perhaps company-sized) out of a potential massacre after the officers had been killed. Said Dad saved his a$$ and those of many others.I learned nearly all of this at his funeral, and we were close --but he did not talk about combat, and he did not talk about himself. So this is my silly little way to acknowledge his contribution to the world and my family. They don't make 'em like that any more.
Dan, I know you must be proud of him. Its not silly to show you acknowledge his contribution. I think its great you think this much about what he did in WWII.
*********************** "He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog. You are his life, his love, his leader. He will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart. You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion." - Anonymous
Its really something about the WWII generation. Dan,I think its great that you honor your dad. My father was trained to clear mines on the beaches for invasions. Right before they shipped off, he was held back since he had been going to college in psychology. None of the other men made it back. My dad worked in the U.S. in the psychiatric ward with the men coming off the front line. Later, he worked with men getting artificial arms and legs. When I was a kid, I never understood why he had a dislike for my little models of tanks and military stuff. He never wanted to have anything to do with guns. Now he is 87 and doesn't have long to go. I sure am proud of him and am amazed at the guts that men had back then, or in any war.
My Dad was to young for WWII since he was born in 1936. And to young for Korean war. He served in the USAF as an M.D. for 5 years and got out in 1967. His father was drafted for WWI and was at the reception station when the war ended and was sent home then when WWII roled around he was to old for the draft. My Mother's father served on a destroyer in the Navy during WWII. He joined the Army National Guard after the war then got called up for Korea and served as an Infantry rifleman in Korea with the Army National Guard. I was in the same Guard unit he was in during the Korean war for a couple of years. This same Alabama National Guard unit is now serving in Iraq. When I was in that unit our First Sergeant and his son served togather in this unit. Our first Sergeant's father served in that unit in the Korean war and in WWII. His father served in that unit during WWI and his father served in this same unit during the Cival War when it fought against the North as part of the Confederate Army. Many Army National Guard units especialy in small towns have several generations that served in the same unit.
*********************** "He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog. You are his life, his love, his leader. He will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart. You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion." - Anonymous
