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1. #1
   On October 8th, 2007 at 10:26 pm, dakine said:

   I think I read recently that WWII vets are dying at a rate of almost 1,000 per day. If you know one or meet one, take time out to thank them. Haven’t seen much mention of it here, but just finished watching Ken Burns’ absolutely terrific documentary “The War”. I highly recommend it…I believe it’s currently being rerun on Wednesday nights on PBS.

2. #2
   On October 8th, 2007 at 10:30 pm, zorro said:

   He and Gen’l Doolittle are together again.

   May God rest their Souls.

3. #3
   On October 8th, 2007 at 10:35 pm, T J Green said:

   Absolute heroes all… the original “right stuff” gang.

4. #4
   On October 8th, 2007 at 10:45 pm, Miss Ladybug said:

   Round Rock has a WWII vet out at the ballpark. Joe is one of the ushers. Joe’s birthday is the Fourth of July. He turned 95 this summer. I got a piece of his birthday cake. He’s alone now – his wife passed 25 years ago, IIRC. I got him to talk about his service two seasons ago. He likes to take his photos – of his wife and family – and show them off. I will be very sad when we lose Joe. He can be a little crabby with the misbehaving kids, but who can blame him?

5. #5
   On October 8th, 2007 at 10:49 pm, DesertLover said:

   The Greatest Generation is passing too quickly … I just lost an uncle 2 weeks ago who was a bombardier over both Germany and Italy … he was the last of our family who was in WWII … my father was in D-Day landings at Omaha Beach … we lost him in early 2001 … the rest of my WWII relatives had already passed away before that and they were all decorated members of our military … they were all cut from a different cloth than the people of today … I am sure some of what is going on today hurts them all inside … God bless those that are still with us …

6. #6
   On October 8th, 2007 at 11:07 pm, josetheguerilla said:

   MM, thank you for this story.

   Nolan Herndon, a true American hero from the greatest generation. R.I.P.

7. #7
   On October 8th, 2007 at 11:25 pm, trinitytim said:

   My Dad was a paratrooper who jumped into the Philippines when MacArthur upheld his promise to return. Dad was shot 3 days later and lived with shrapnel in his chest until 2002 when he went to be with the Lord.

   General Doolittle and his crews prepared for their Tokyo mission by practicing bombing runs about 4 miles from where I now live. They used Bomb Island in the middle of Lake Murray as their practice target. One crashed and killed all on board. Last summer, another crashed B-25 was pulled from the bottom of the lake and is now being refurbished. It will be displayed in a museum in Alabama sometime in the next two years.

   The greatest generation is leaving us much too quickly. They are being replaced by what I call the “Me” generation where if it feels good, do it.

   I love all of our military, past and present. Anyone who willingly puts on a uniform and steps into the line of fire to protect this great country is a hero in my book. We are in their debt.

8. #8
   On October 8th, 2007 at 11:28 pm, Marshall Russ said:

   Two weeks ago I drove my mother to see her sister who is ill. My uncle, my mom’s brother-in-law(85 yrs. old)was a top turret gunner of the B-17′s bombing Germany all the way to Berlin. He was telling me how bad the flack got as the German’s were pulling back the air defenses to Berlin as a last ditch effort to defend the city. It was so intense and thick he said you could almost get out and walk on it. He saw some of the jet aircraft the German’s used near the end of the war on those raids over Berlin. He was just a young farm boy from the central valley of California. I said, “I don’t know how you guys did it”. He said,”I don’t either as I think about it now, we didn’t think. We just did it”.
   My father lies in a rest home tonight. He suffered a stroke in June. He will be 88 the 23rd of this month. Dad was a veteran of the Pacific escorting troop transports and chasing Japanese subs “aboard ship” as he would say. When I was little I would ask him if he was scared. He said,”Yes but, we just did it.
   Yes they did.

9. #9
   On October 8th, 2007 at 11:45 pm, skma said:

   Thanks for posting this story, Michelle. Our local VA is home to several WWII vets who are pleased to receive visits from members of the “me generation”. I’d recommend their company to anyone who’s interested in hearing our nation’s history firsthand…and in learning about what pride in our flag and service to our country really mean.

10. #10
    On October 9th, 2007 at 12:23 am, DesertLover said:

    Marshall Russ

    My prayers are with you and your father …

11. #11
    On October 9th, 2007 at 12:58 am, PowWow said:

    I’m always saddened to see a member of that generation go. My father was infantry WW2. He passed at 41, 40 years ago. I still have his medals. One thing I’ve always kept.
    My mother’s “friend” is also a vet of that war. He’s 86 years young. Or so I like to think. I speak to him every day. He kind of became a second father to me ten years after my dad passed. I watched some of the recent PBS series with him. It was like having a personal narrator.

12. #12
    On October 9th, 2007 at 1:16 am, Jim M. said:

    TAPS for another warrior passing from this world.

    While the sacrifice and valor of these men were indeed noteworthy, I would not go so far as to say that such men and women can no longer be found.

    Just take a look at those men and women in uniform today. They are all VOLUNTEERS. They certainly are not in it for the money, nor the fame. They serve just like those did in WWII – for love of Country; to stand against those that would imperil our freedoms; to protect their families, friends neighbors and fellow citizens; and to show the world that men and women of character, honor, integrity and courage are ready to make the ultimate sacrifice in the name of liberty and freedom, God and Country.

    I retired almost 10 years ago, and I cannot convey strongly enough how very proud I am of all of our men and women in uniform today. If I could (and I gave it a hell of a try), I would be there with them today.

    Code Pink? How ironic, that they would be among the first to lose their heads under the very type of Islamic rule we are battling today.

13. #13
    On October 9th, 2007 at 1:33 am, nbarry said:

    My father was a civilian Sea Bee in Alaska after he was classified 4-F when he tried to enlist in the navy as a submariner. His brother served in the navy as a shakedown crewman in U-boat-infested waters in the Atlantic sailing on most types of large warships and later served as a reservist during the Korean War.

    At the beginning of this year, I lost a dear friend more than 20 years older than me who was a B-25 gunner in “MacArthur’s air force”. He served in New Guinea, the Philippines, Okinawa and in the postwar occupation of Japan. Toward the end of his life, he discovered that the Pentagon had screwed up his service record and he straightened it out with the help of the VA, collecting a bunch of medals in the process.

    Funny thing, none of them saw themselves as heroes, only as ordinary guys trying to do their duties. History sees things differently and so do I.

14. #14
    On October 9th, 2007 at 1:45 am, georgej said:

    Nolan Herndon, blessed be his memory.

15. #15
    On October 9th, 2007 at 7:21 am, Lindsay said:

    Thanks, Michelle. I am flying to see my Daddy this weekend (WW2 Marine, South Pacific Theater). God bless these men who are dying at 1000/day; and always bless our troops today in Iraq and Afghanistan.

    I also saw the PBS Ken Burns special and learned a lot of the sacrifice of the greatest generation at war and at home.

    I have always felt the current war has not engaged the American people because we do not sacrifice for the war except in small ways. Our President did not ask it of us and I think he should have. Small sacrifices to remind us of our soldiers: rationing/conserving gas to have the Arabs take notice; or prayers for the troops at specific times,—-not war bonds or saving scrap metal, or rationing sugar or butter as in WW2—but some type of sacrifice to engage the American people in more ways than “supporting the troops” by saying the words only. I have written soldiers and Marines, and contributed to causes, but still don’t feel it is ever enough. Actually, I know it will never be enough for all our military do so we can sleep safely at night.

16. #16
    On October 9th, 2007 at 8:32 am, WORK949 said:

    My father served in the China-Burma-India Theater under General “Vinegar” Joe Stillwell, from Jaunary 1944 to the end of the war. He was in five combat engagements in the jungles of Burma.

    His older brother, my uncle, was a navigator bomabrdier on B-17s and flew during the raids over the Ploesti oil fields in Romania.

    They’re both gone.

    Mom sold War Bonds and was an air-raid warden in her neighborhood while dad was over-seas. She’s gone, too. Life is greatly diminished without them. They were all heroes.

17. #17
    On October 9th, 2007 at 8:48 am, JohnnyD said:

    Thanks Michelle.

    I will once again say a quiet prayer for him and other who gave Europe and Japan freedom.
    
    Our Father…

18. #18
    On October 9th, 2007 at 8:56 am, dannavy85 said:

    Another warrior has reported to Val Hallah.

19. #19
    On October 9th, 2007 at 9:03 am, jrlingreenbay said:

    First off, God Bless all who have served, especially those whom you all have written about, Fathers, Brothers, Uncles, Friends, etc..

    My Father served in the 5th Marines, from Camp Pendleton in 1944, to Iwo Jima, Marshall Islands, Mariannas Islands, Saipan, Tinian, and finally Nagasaki, only several weeks after the dropping of the Atomic Bomb.

    Men of his generation served – and served with their hearts and minds. I feel a sense of pride each and every time I see a Veteran from that era.

    On a side note – the saddest part of the whole Doolittle saga is that they got that lib piece of garbage Alec Baldwin to play him in the movie Pearl Harbor…. What a disgrace.

20. #20
    On October 9th, 2007 at 9:23 am, sfrvn said:

    My father was also a Bombardier/Navigator on B-17s in the Pacific Theater. Like so many of that generation he was a quiet humble man who had very little to say about his experiences. Most of what I know comes from letters he wrote home and copies of documents he kept, including how he got his Purple Heart. Coincidentially, he was stationed on Okinawa at the end of the war, and I was stationed there for awhile before Viet Nam. It was nice to be able to have that in common and it opened up a dialogue for us.

    Dad died 27 years ago, the second of 4 brothers were all WW II veterans to die. Only one brother survives today.

    They were definitely the greatest generation, but I see the makings of another great generation in our military of today.

21. #21
    On October 9th, 2007 at 9:45 am, Marshall Russ said:

    DesertLover. Thank you.
    It would be nice to see this thread continue as a tribute to all those who fought for our freedom ,liberty and peace.

22. #22
    On October 9th, 2007 at 10:16 am, trinitytim said:

    World War II (Korea) — Definaely The Greatest Generation. Heroes in combat who returned to build a nation worthy of their blood. I thank God for these men who found no sacrifice to be too great.

    Rest in Peace Heroes.

    Vietnam Veterans — A second Greatest Generation. I served with some of the bravest kids (18-21) I have ever known. 58,000+ heroes who did not return. We answered the call of our nation and returned to an ungrateful, belligerent, selfish country; not the country built by our fathers. May God bless the famiiies of the names inscribed on that wall.

    Welcome Home all Vietnam vets

    Gulf War and the War on Terror — America’s latest “Greatest Generation”. I love these young people who jumped at the chance to defend my country. I wonder what country they will find upon their return. Will it be the country of my father or the country of appeasement.

    We will never forget you

    “For those who have fought for it, freedom has a taste the protected will never know” (oldwardogs.com)

23. #23
    On October 9th, 2007 at 11:59 am, On-my-soap-box said:

    A real American hero. He is the kind of man I would have liked to have had as a father.

    We need congressmen/senators like this – men with backbone.

24. #24
    On October 9th, 2007 at 12:14 pm, pressto said:

    It is a shame they don’t bother to even teach about this in schools now.

25. #25
    On October 9th, 2007 at 12:23 pm, dakine said:

    pressto, I know many schools show The Civil War (another amazing Ken Burns documentary) as a supplemental learning tool when teaching American History, and I suspect that “The War” will ultimately be used in a similar manner. My 4 boys all watched it, and were absolutely transfixed and awe-inspired by these guys.

26. #26
    On October 9th, 2007 at 12:46 pm, Jerry said:

    These were men to be proud of, brave, decent, and self sacrificing.

27. #27
    On October 9th, 2007 at 12:53 pm, terrig said:

    I read this this morning in the Augusta Chronicle. I am also saddened by his passing. A true hero.
    Trinity Tim,I know you served during a difficult time. I remember my cousin’s speaking of the way they were treated when they returned home and I have to wonder if we’ll see a return of that kind of welcome within a few years. I pray not.
    Pressto, when I taught I always made sure that we spent a lot of time on WW 2. There are a few good ones left who do teach this but more often than not they’ve had it like I did and just can’t do it anymore (and I also had a disabled child in 03 and haven’t been back in a classroom since). The Admin. will make problems for you if you dare to go outside the boundry of what the book has (the latest has only one chapter generally) and the rest is spent on the wonders of the Great Society, the Hippies, etc.

28. #28
    On October 9th, 2007 at 1:11 pm, trinitytim said:

    terrig…

    I don’t think it will ever get that bad again, at least I hope not and I pledge to do my part to not let that happen.

    It’s a shame you can’t get back into the classroom because it sounds like you are exactly the kind of person I would like teaching my grandkids. BTW, I put good teachers like you in the same category as our troops.

29. #29
    On October 9th, 2007 at 1:39 pm, feebiebabe said:

    Dakine:

    post #1 – absolute 100% agreement.

30. #30
    On October 9th, 2007 at 3:55 pm, JohnHolliday said:

    My father flew 30 missions with the 91st Bomb Group, 323rd Squadron, in B-17s over Germany from JAN ’45 – APR ’45. Three as co-pilot and 27 as pilot. The war ended before his 35 mission tour was over. He was just a farm boy from Arkansas that wanted to fly a B-17. My Mom was home with my oldest brother (1 year old) and pregnant with my sister when my Dad was stationed in England.

    He used to talk about some wild missions. He too saw the ME-262 jets working over the bomb group in front of his. One ME-262 got 3 bombers on one pass. That sobered everyone quick. Their saving grace were the P-51 Mustangs. Without the P-51s those bomber boys were just meat on the table to the Luftwaffe.

    I lost my Dad in ’93 and my Mom in ’06. Greatest Generation is exactly right. Walking into Target one day I met a member of the 101st Airborne that fought at Bastogne. I was so dumbstruck all I could say was “Thank you.” To this day, I always take the time to say “Thank You” to anyone in uniform or any veteran I see.

    Thanks Dad, for everything.

31. #31
    On October 9th, 2007 at 3:57 pm, Bulldog said:

    This story will be part of my Current Events at school tomorrow.Diana West in The Death of the Grown-Up talks about the lengthy articles WWII vets get in the British media in the obits,telling about their service etc. I think that speaks volumes. These men and women were the greatest!

32. #32
    On October 9th, 2007 at 7:29 pm, Boomer said:

    I really hate to see the passing of these American heroes. The Doolittle raid has always amazed me in the daring and just plan guts while somehow pulling it off to poke Imperial Japan in the eye. The allies were giving ground everywhere and this raid provided a demoralized country a spark of hope that if they worked together they just might win this thing. A spirit this country desperately needs today in its citizens.

    Being a former Air Force aviator I am very familiar with the normal risk of flying operations to include aerial refueling of aircraft, which can get really scare especially in the weather or at night. I just can’t imagine flying a medium bomber off the deck of a small aircraft carrier. Thank God this country had the men and women that won WWII and that he has graced us with a much smaller population of American’s willing to voluntarily risk everything so we can sleep safe in our beds tonight.

33. #33
    On November 10th, 2007 at 12:17 am, Marshall Russ said:

    Farewell.
    I wanted to leave this goodbye here with the other veterans of the Great War. My family and I buried our veteran today at the Veteran’s Memorial Cemetery. I said in an early posting that dad had had a stroke and he was recuperating in a rest home. He suffered several bouts of pneumonia and other infections and never could seem to get any strength back. On Oct. 11th just before his 88th birthday dad died.
    Dad was a young man from a small mid-western town when he went out to the west coast in 1939 to join the Coast Guard. He was drawn to the sea. He was aboard ship stationed in Seattle when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. His ship began escorting troop transports and submarine patrol from Long Beach to Alaska. He said many times how dark and quiet it was on the ocean at night watching and listening for the enemy. Also how terrifying it was at times but, he and the other young men of his cut did their job unwaveringly.
    Dad was young for a chief but, I’m sure they saw his leadership qualities and he advanced rapidly. He married our mother,also from a small town in the mid-west during the war in 1943. She was a “rosie the riveter” working for Boeing when they met. They had been married for 64 years when he passed. After the war he went into the trades and was an electrician for 45 yrs. He was a Mason, Scottish Rite and stood with mother in Eastern Star. He was a real people person and would often strike up conversations with people he didn’t know as if they had been friends for years. He was a devoted husband to our mother and devoted loving father. Words fail now to describe how proud of his service to his country and his life I am.
    So, my dad, goodbye. I will miss you and will love you forever.