WW II Vet

[Bell]

I had several Uncles from both sides of the family in WWII. Uncle Carroll should never have gone to war. As he got older, in his sixties and seventies, he'd sit on the porch in his rocking chair and cry. He never mentioned details but he'd talk of the terrible things war did to men and the horrible things he'd seen. His memories eventually killed him. He was one of the saddest men I've ever known.

[IEDmagnet]

I had several Uncles from both sides of the family in WWII. Uncle Carroll should never have gone to war. As he got older, in his sixties and seventies, he'd sit on the porch in his rocking chair and cry. He never mentioned details but he'd talk of the terrible things war did to men and the horrible things he'd seen. His memories eventually killed him. He was one of the saddest men I've ever known.

...and yet he still answered the call. A million times better than the majority of these sad sacks waiting on someone else to stand up.



I am grateful for men like him... both of my Grandfathers fought in the Pacific. One Marine, the other Army. The only thing either of them ever said is war is hell. They were right.

[Old All American]

I had an uncle who ran off and joined the Navy at sixteen (managed to make it on his second try); was at Tarawa bringing in ammo for the Marines, then managed to get into the UDT Teams they formed shortly thereafter and finished the war as a frogman in the Pacific. By VJ Day he'd been at war for almost three years but still wasn't able to legally drink a toast to the victory. He never settled down. I don't know how many divorces he went through, the family stopped trying to count - don't even know how many cousins I have scattered across the country. He built up numerous businesses wherever he went from scratch, then get bored and move off to some other place to start over. It was only years later after I'd served myself that we sat down one night and he began sharing some of his memories - I guess he had to tell someone. I'll never forget the haunted look in his eyes as he describe the bodies of Marines at Tarawa and the sharks and other fish coming up to feed. He wasn't even seventeen yet.

He died in 2004 and I often think about him and miss him. I went on a trip with him moving his business from St. Louis to Nevada one time, it was an adventure of a lifetime. The world seems a bit empty without him. I think the world is a much better place for that particular generation having lived, and will be somehow diminished when the last leaves it.

[Catwoman76]

What's that supposed to mean?? She was a great and standup woman. (At least looking from this side of the water!)

Hehe, distance makes the heart grow fonder?????? !!!!!! but you should of put this on the Comedy/funnies section :D

[Har]

...and yet he still answered the call. A million times better than the majority of these sad sacks waiting on someone else to stand up.

I so would like to put this in another thread. I said the same thing only 2 hours ago at a neighbor's kid.

[IEDmagnet]

I so would like to put this in another thread. I said the same thing only 2 hours ago at a neighbor's kid.

Go for it Brother.

[Har]

Go for it Brother.

Copy.
First I was going to say "roger that", but that's not your name.
This weekend.
Good copy over.