Stories From WW2

[Adonia]

As I have lived my life (now 61) I have gotten to meet a lot of veterans from WW2, so I have started this thread to see if anyone else has some stories from vets of WW2.

I will start with some of the things my Dad experienced in the war. He was a Seabee (122nd NCB) and joined up in 1943. He had come from Montreal Canada to join the Navy, signing up in the state of New Hampshire. Because his father was an American citizen, my Dad was one also, so for him the logical choice was the U.S. Armed Forces. His basic training under Marine Corps DI's took place at Camp Peary, Va. and then it was on to Port Hueneme, California before shipping out to the Pacific.

He said that while there he used to go to the Hollywood Canteen where all the major movie stars of the day would volunteer to serve the troops coffee and donuts and dance with them. I first heard about this one day as we were watching a movie from the 40's and he pointed out the female star and said he had danced with her when he was out in California. He also met many others and his unit was adopted by one of those lovely actresses. He was also part of the naval color guard, going to War Bond rallies and other events in California.

After that, they shipped out to the Pacific, and heended up on some different islands and then New Guinea. While at Hollandia, New Guinea he was detailed to do some work at General McArthur's HQ and he was quite impressed with the place, but did not meet the General. While there, he also saw one of Bob Hope's USO shows.

He then went to the Philippines where he ended up in 1945. While there, he witnessed the Battle of Leyte Gulf (having seen the gun flashes off in the distance), and then met some of the sailors from the doomed USS Indianapolis who were brought to the hospital where he was stationed. He said you never saw such a terrible sight as those men were after having spent over 3 days in the water and the hot Pacific sun.

In 1945 they received notice that their outfit would be in on the invasion of Japan, and needless to say they were quite relieved when the nuclear bombs were dropped. It was then off to Tientsin, China as part of the Marine occupation forces that were sent there and in 1946 he finally arrived stateside, going back to Canada for a couple of years and getting married before settling here in the US. He died at the age of 91 several years ago, and was extremely proud the he was once a US Navy Seabee. "Can Do"!

 

[Salty]

I often watch the AHC (American Heroes) formerly the Military channel

A lot of good shows about WW II in both Theaters.

 

[Adonia]

I often watch the AHC (American Heroes) formerly the Military channel

A lot of good shows about WW II in both Theaters.

I met a WW2 vet at Walmart the other day, he was in the navy on Attack Cargo Ship (AKA) in both the Pacific and Atlantic. I shook his hand and thanked him for his service. Those guys are really going fast now, the man I met was 91.

 

[Salty]

16,112,566 Americans served in the US military during WW II

Currently there are about 1 million WW II Vets are still living
Most of these Vets are in their 90's

About 300 WW II Vets pass away every day

It is estimated that the last WWII vet will pass away by 2036

References and here

 

[church mouse guy]

Needless to say the survivors of the Indianapolis have appeared publically in Indianapolis. They sold books and hats in a bank lobby and it was possible to talk with them. I was sort of in awe and all I could say was thanks.

I have met many veterans. Right after the war, a lot of them did not want to talk about the war. They were hard workers and had a great deal of common sense

 

[Salty]

I have met many veterans. Right after the war, a lot of them did not want to talk about the war. They were hard workers and had a great deal of common sense

That is true of Vets of all wars.

 

[Bible Thumpin n Gun Totin]

I never got the chance to meet him, but my father told me that one of my great uncles on my father's side was a U.S Ranger that took part in D-Day. I seem to recall being told he assaulted some cliff guns at Pointe-Du-Hoc [I think that's how you spell it?]

My grandfather on my mother's side is in his 90s, his memory has been gone for years now, but he served in the U.S Navy in the pacific theater. I believe he was a mechanic of sorts.

 

[Adonia]

Needless to say the survivors of the Indianapolis have appeared publically in Indianapolis. They sold books and hats in a bank lobby and it was possible to talk with them. I was sort of in awe and all I could say was thanks.

I have met many veterans. Right after the war, a lot of them did not want to talk about the war. They were hard workers and had a great deal of common sense

I once talked to a sailor who was on a DE that was part of Taffy 3, a group of Escort carriers that were left with little protection after Halsey went chasing the Japanese Fleet (a feint) to the north. They had only a few Destroyer Escorts and Destroyers as protection for the carriers.

He remembers his ship getting the order to charge the Japanese cruisers that were attacking them and the next thing after all the shooting craziness of the battle he is waking up in the ocean severely wounded. There is some good video available of this that shows the Japanese shells landing around the carriers. I believe one of the skippers of our defending/attacking ships got the Medal of Honor that day - posthumously. What bravery! They certainly did their duty according to the best traditions of the U.S. Navy

 

[Baptist Believer]

I once talked to a sailor who was on a DE that was part of Taffy 3, a group of Escort carriers that were left with little protection after Halsey went chasing the Japanese Fleet (a feint) to the north. They had only a few Destroyer Escorts and Destroyers as protection for the carriers.

He remembers his ship getting the order to charge the Japanese cruisers that were attacking them and the next thing after all the shooting craziness of the battle he is waking up in the ocean severely wounded. There is some good video available of this that shows the Japanese shells landing around the carriers. I believe one of the skippers of our defending/attacking ships got the Medal of Honor that day - posthumously. What bravery! They certainly did their duty according to the best traditions of the U.S. Navy

That's an amazing story of courage, and one of Halsey's greatest blunders. Halsey wanted the carriers, even though the Japanese had very few pilots at that phase of the war, but they knew Halsey would probably take the bait.

I wish I could have heard that man's story with you.

 

[Adonia]

That's an amazing story of courage, and one of Halsey's greatest blunders. Halsey wanted the carriers, even though the Japanese had very few pilots at that phase of the war, but they knew Halsey would probably take the bait.

I wish I could have heard that man's story with you.

One thing about Halsey is that he was a fighter and the Japanese rightly determined what he would do. The ships in Taffey 3 were lucky that they survived, as it was only the fact that the Japanese warships at a certain point withdrew from the battle even though they outnumbered our forces. When our little ships went after their big ones it was quite a surprise for the enemy and I read that the Japanese Force commander looked on our counterattack with great respect.

I met that former sailor at a business where I was picking up some freight. I noticed he was an older man and struck up a conversation with him and the talk eventually got to the military. I told him my Dad had been in the Navy and then he asked me if I had ever heard of the Taffey 3 story and I replied in the affirmative. He then told me about his experience in a matter of fact way. He said he was scared as hell and was glad to have survived the sinking of his ship as most of his fellow crewmen perished. I remember I shook his hand and said it was an honor to meet him.

My father was in the same general area at the time. He was based on the island of Samar in the Philippines near where the battle took place.

 

[Baptist Believer]

My father was in the same general area at the time. He was based on the island of Samar in the Philippines near where the battle took place.

My father was blind in one eye, so they didn't want him in combat. Instead he served at a U.S. Army surgical hospital in Fiji, where they put the wounded back together from all over the South Pacific. He was a Technical Sergeant overseeing the surgical suite.

He passed away in 2005.

 

[Adonia]

My father was blind in one eye, so they didn't want him in combat. Instead he served at a U.S. Army surgical hospital in Fiji, where they put the wounded back together from all over the South Pacific. He was a Technical Sergeant overseeing the surgical suite.

He passed away in 2005.

A more important job there never was. I can't imagine what it must have been like seeing those young soldiers coming back all mangled from the battlefield day in and day out. As a Seabee, my Dad was a Carpenters Mate and was involved in building the hospitals in the South Pacific. He passed on in 2013.

 

[Baptist Believer]

A more important job there never was. I can't imagine what it must have been like seeing those young soldiers coming back all mangled from the battlefield day in and day out.

My father was particularly haunted by the burn victims they received. They had some who were burned as part of the consequence of handling fuel and such, but many were burned in combat - I assume flamethrowers - and as part of the air and sea war.

After the war, he worked in an oil refinery where they wanted him on the ambulance crew as a side responsibility. He knew, through his experience during the war, which burn victims were likely to recover and which ones would not based on their wounds.

As a young boy, I was a little freaked out by a kid in the neighborhood who had been severely burned in a fire. He was disfigured on one side of his face and apparently had been burned down one side of his body since his arm and leg was also heavily scarred. My father noticed that I avoided him and has a long talk with me about what happens to people who are burned and how much courage it takes for them to try to live their lives normally when people gawk at them or avoid them. He did not scold me at all, but asked me to be as brave as that other boy and look past his appearance and figure out who he is as a person.

Unfortunately, that boy left school shortly afterward, but that compassionate life lesson stuck with me. Only when I was in college did I find out that my father had taken significant time each week to sit with the bedridden elderly, bathing and shaving the faces of the men, and helping people in the community. He did it so quietly, that I only knew he was up to something when he wasn't home during the day on his days off. But God knows.

As a Seabee, my Dad was a Carpenters Mate and was involved in building the hospitals in the South Pacific.

Also a hugely important job. He probably built most of the permanent structures my father's hospital unit used.

 

[Adonia]

My father was particularly haunted by the burn victims they received. They had some who were burned as part of the consequence of handling fuel and such, but many were burned in combat - I assume flamethrowers - and as part of the air and sea war.

After the war, he worked in an oil refinery where they wanted him on the ambulance crew as a side responsibility. He knew, through his experience during the war, which burn victims were likely to recover and which ones would not based on their wounds.

As a young boy, I was a little freaked out by a kid in the neighborhood who had been severely burned in a fire. He was disfigured on one side of his face and apparently had been burned down one side of his body since his arm and leg was also heavily scarred. My father noticed that I avoided him and has a long talk with me about what happens to people who are burned and how much courage it takes for them to try to live their lives normally when people gawk at them or avoid them. He did not scold me at all, but asked me to be as brave as that other boy and look past his appearance and figure out who he is as a person.

Unfortunately, that boy left school shortly afterward, but that compassionate life lesson stuck with me. Only when I was in college did I find out that my father had taken significant time each week to sit with the bedridden elderly, bathing and shaving the faces of the men, and helping people in the community. He did it so quietly, that I only knew he was up to something when he wasn't home during the day on his days off. But God knows.


Also a hugely important job. He probably built most of the permanent structures my father's hospital unit used.

Wow, your Dad sure had a lot of compassion for others, and wisdom to boot. The way he counseled you to look at that injured boy says a whole lot about him. During his time in the war I bet he must have had some deep conversations with those wounded men, as he tried to help them come to grips with their injuries.

In his own way, my Dad helped others also. I remember as a kid he built a ramp for the old lady down the street after she lost her legs due to diabetes so she could get in and out of your else. He also used to help a man who was somewhat "slow" by giving hiring him as a helper as he worked on the house. My father lived the "Can Do" Seabee motto and did everything himself from plumbing, to roofing, to laying cement - he could and did do it all.

 

[tyndale1946]

That is true of Vets of all wars.

Dad came from Texas and did his boot at MCRD in San Diego... From there he joined the War as a Howitzer Artillery Man at battles in Saipan Tinian and Guadalcanal... After the War he returned to San Diego where he married a young lady who had previous met upon leaving... They were married and settled in San Diego as many other vets settled here... The Navy is here and the Marines are too... I was raised in this military city... Was there for 57 years... The Midway is anchored here too... Did my boot here just like my Dad at MCRD then went to a place called Vietnam... I love to hear war stories but in San Diego you can see it and feel it... Brother Glen

 

[David Kent]

I can't relay any stories from relatives as my dad had such poor eyesight he could not go into the armed forces but was put into the fire service where he served in the stores. Two uncles on my mum's side were both in government service so were exempted. One was in the Home Guard, and I once saw him with a rifle.

My own memories of the war. We lived in Stockwell London at the beginning of the war and I was told that in an air raid, I used to grab my baby sister and drag her under the stairs.

We later moved to Caterham where we were a couple of miles from Kenley aerodrome which was a wartime fighter base and under constant attack. We were even nearer to the Guards Barracks about 100 yards away.

I used to walk home for lunch, but one day our headmistress said there was a new German weapon called a flying bomb. It was very dangerous and anyone going home to lunch could stay to school lunch. I was more worried about what my mum would say if I didn't come home for lunch than I was of the German bomb.

We saw many of those bombs passing over, they had the nick names of doodlebug and Buzz Bomb. One time my mum, my sister and I were watching one, when the engine cut out right over our house. We dashed to our shelter. When the engine stopped they went into a steep dive and then exploded. However although we heard many others exploding, we didn't hear an explosion from that one. Perhaps it glided on somewhere. There were stories that the resistance sometime put sandbags in them, but seeing that they were built in concentration camps that seems unlikely.

 

[tyndale1946]

I can't relay any stories from relatives as my dad had such poor eyesight he could not go into the armed forces but was put into the fire service where he served in the stores. Two uncles on my mum's side were both in government service so were exempted. One was in the Home Guard, and I once saw him with a rifle.

My own memories of the war. We lived in Stockwell London at the beginning of the war and I was told that in an air raid, I used to grab my baby sister and drag her under the stairs.

We later moved to Caterham where we were a couple of miles from Kenley aerodrome which was a wartime fighter base and under constant attack. We were even nearer to the Guards Barracks about 100 yards away.

I used to walk home for lunch, but one day our headmistress said there was a new German weapon called a flying bomb. It was very dangerous and anyone going home to lunch could stay to school lunch. I was more worried about what my mum would say if I didn't come home for lunch than I was of the German bomb.

We saw many of those bombs passing over, they had the nick names of doodlebug and Buzz Bomb. One time my mum, my sister and I were watching one, when the engine cut out right over our house. We dashed to our shelter. When the engine stopped they went into a steep dive and then exploded. However although we heard many others exploding, we didn't hear an explosion from that one. Perhaps it glided on somewhere. There were stories that the resistance sometime put sandbags in them, but seeing that they were built in concentration camps that seems unlikely.

I remember seeing movies of Buzz bombs over London and the Blitzkrieg... Talk about hell on earth... Sometime we think we had it bad but on the other side of the pond, others were getting their share too... Lest we forget WW 2 had an effect on the world... Let us never forget the foreign vets... Brother Glen

 

[Adonia]

I can't relay any stories from relatives as my dad had such poor eyesight he could not go into the armed forces but was put into the fire service where he served in the stores. Two uncles on my mum's side were both in government service so were exempted. One was in the Home Guard, and I once saw him with a rifle.

My own memories of the war. We lived in Stockwell London at the beginning of the war and I was told that in an air raid, I used to grab my baby sister and drag her under the stairs.

We later moved to Caterham where we were a couple of miles from Kenley aerodrome which was a wartime fighter base and under constant attack. We were even nearer to the Guards Barracks about 100 yards away.

I used to walk home for lunch, but one day our headmistress said there was a new German weapon called a flying bomb. It was very dangerous and anyone going home to lunch could stay to school lunch. I was more worried about what my mum would say if I didn't come home for lunch than I was of the German bomb.

We saw many of those bombs passing over, they had the nick names of doodlebug and Buzz Bomb. One time my mum, my sister and I were watching one, when the engine cut out right over our house. We dashed to our shelter. When the engine stopped they went into a steep dive and then exploded. However although we heard many others exploding, we didn't hear an explosion from that one. Perhaps it glided on somewhere. There were stories that the resistance sometime put sandbags in them, but seeing that they were built in concentration camps that seems unlikely.

Wow, you were right on the front lines and didn't even leave home! No doubt about it, you Brits went through the thick of it during the Battle of Britain, but came out of it stronger and with confidence to fight on until victory. You also had a great leader in Mr. Churchill, he saw what was coming and tried to warn others in the government but it had to take the shock of the Polish invasion to finally wake the others up and then Britain responded. I was fascinated at the great friendship between your PM and our President, they did indeed work well together. Thanks for your response and it is nice to hear from someone who went through it.

 

[David Kent]

Both sets of my grandparents lived in inner London London. Maternal in Southwark. My grandmother was a WW1 widow and lived in an apartment block. They were bombed in the beginning of the war. They were evacuatated to Morden in South London. (My gran and my aunt) My grandmother would never go to the air raid shelter (granddad tried to get her to leave London and live with relatives in Oxfordshire, but she always refused. One evening a friend convinced gran to go to the shelter. That evening their block was destroyed by a flying bomb. I was about 6 and my dad took me to see the block and I can remember seeing two walls down and all the floors hanging down. My dad had a piano on the top floor and some of the people got his piano down. These days health and safety would not allow anyone anywhere near.

War was declared on 3rd September 1939. We were my mum and myself were evacuated to a village called Tarring Nevill in Sussex on the 6th September. My mum was expecting my sister at the time. My Aunt and my cousins, Winnie (6) and Peter, about 1 month were billeted in the same farm. Winnie had her 6th birthday in the fields with cakes and orange squash. My sister was born in Hove while we were there.

This period was called the phony war, and we were back in London in time for the blitz.

 

[Matt Black]

Mt grandfather served in Bomber Command in the Pathfinder Squadron as a navigator (he liked maps, which I've inherited from him). Their job was to drop flares on the German targets to guide the Lancasters to them.