Powerful remembrance:
Powerful remembrance:
Amen My Brother. The dreams still haunt me after being retired for over 30 years.My Grandfather rests in Memphis, TN.
Only after my Father returned from Vietnam could they truly understand one another. Likewise, the chasm between my little Brother and our Father was finally bridged after his first of three tours in Iraq and Kuwait.
I cannot fathom that bond of War Fighters, but 20 years of L.E. have left me with my own "issues".
GotRDid.
View attachment 1183470
What a great memory. Thank you for sharing. There are lots of Veterans here who can appreciate the sacrifice of those who served in the past, present and regrettably the future. We'll never forget them.All -
My Dad volunteered to join the Air Corps before Pearl Harbor happened.
Was in training from Aug 1941 - Nov 1943. At age 25, piloted his B-25 and crew across the South Atlantic, transiting towards his assigned base in Corsica. Found himself in Casablanca, Christmas Day ‘43.
Flew his first combat mission 12 Feb ‘ 44. 7 of his combat missions included going past Mt Vesuvius while it was in full eruption Mar 1944.
Pop flew a mission over Anzio Beach head 22 May ‘44, and the Battle of Anzio ended 05 Jun. That was the day before “D”- Day . 05 Jun was my Dad’s 26th birthday, and he flew 2 sorties that day...... his 51st and 52 missions over Rieti and Orvieto, Italy. He was not tasked for a mission June 6th, but was back in ariel combat 07 Jun.
The requirement was to fly 70 missions before being allowed to rotate out of combat flying, and return State-side. For mission 68, his unit was tasked to destroy a bridge @ Avignon France 06 Aug ‘44. Heavy flak put 12 holes in his plane.
For his 69th mission, his unit was AGAIN tasked to bomb a bridge @ heavily defended Avignon France 07 Aug ‘55. Intense flak blew a hole the size of a card table through the right wing of his B-25J, which was named
“ Hoosier Gal “ in honor of my mom-to-be back home. With instruments damaged and his Rt engine knocked out ( twin engine medium bomber ), Pop had to fly the 440mi back across the Mediterranean on one engine.... using “ dead reckoning “ to find Corsica; and make an emergency landing.
08 Aug 1944 Pop was assigned his last combat mission. And for the third day straight, sent right back to Avignon, for his 70th mission. In his log book he noted that his gunner got one ME-109, and his ship had
“ numerous holes “. Pop finished the war as an instructor pilot on B-25s.
Colon cancer accomplished what the Jerries could not, and God called Pop home 28Feb 1987. He’s been gone 1/2 of my life, but was with us for most of my 37yr Military career as an aircraft mechanic.
I can’t say enough, about “ The Greatest Generation “ !!!
With regards,
357Mag
bozo, My Great uncle Donald was in the Bataan Death March. He was bayoneted three times for stopping to help guys that had fallen. He told a lot of stories over the years of their struggles and until they day he passed away,he wouldn`t eat rice or fish. And hated Japs! Jeff He fixed them,he lived to be 96yrs.old.Wow!... what an amazing story!.... anyone who could watch that and not get a lump in your throats a better man that I!...Thank you Sgt. Lambert for your service and dedication and Thank you Sam Elliot for sharing his story.
I don’t think anyone could even imagine what it must have been like unless you was there.
I could go on and on about these riots and what this country has become but there’s enough of that already. I am fairly young compared to many of you 57 but I had the honor and privilege of knowing many many WWII veterans in my life and everyone of them were like Sgt. Lambert....tough as nails!
I had three great uncles that went through the war two of them made it home and I had the privilege of hunting elk and deer with them for many years and helped both get there last deer’s, they never talked much about the war and when I was young and pried to much about it they would get very upset with me but I did learn a few things.
My youngest Uncle lost his life in the Batam Death March.
God bless all service men and women past present and future!... thank you for all the freedoms I enjoy each and every day.
Wayne