MEMORIAL DAY -- Family Members Who Served

[Paula Marie Hamilton]

My dad had me late in life, but he was a hell of a man. World War II, & Korea. Bronze Star ( put in for silver, but awarded Bronze with Valor). Purple Heart. Every major battle except invasion of N. Africa, but he did fight there against Rommel, Spearheaded Omaha Beach, Battle of the Bulge. Even liberated a Nazi Death Camp in Czechoslovakia. So you get the picture. So here is to all the people who have fought to give me the sacred right to speak my mind. Thank you for your service.

 

[ShootDots]

Without a doubt, the WWII generation IS as it is proclaimed, "The Greatest Generation"!

 

[Damfino]

Without a doubt, the WWII generation IS as it is proclaimed, "The Greatest Generation"!

I'll just add a little story to the above. Some years ago while working as a Veterans Service Officer in Alabama a fairly small, dignified, older man came into the office and wanted a Battle of the Bulge car tag. I told him I needed to see his discharge paper which he then gave me. The discharge was his original and indicated that he had joined as a private in 1943, his unit was part of the Normady invasion, he was wounded in the Battle of the Bulge, received a silver star and was discharged a captain in 1945. This was very impressive to say the least, but the best part was written in the narrative section of his discharge by someone who clearly valued understatement and knew what was important; it simply said, "Led men in combat."

 

[Cecil S.]

Thank you to all that have served you have sacrificed for the freedoms we enjoy today!

 

[DirtySteve]

God Bless Him and Men Like Him..... Everyone have a safe Memorial Day.

 

[varget204]

If it was not for the WWII Veterans,you would be speaking German, IF you had been allowed to live----.NO DOUBT,The Greatest Generation

 

[Dusty Stevens]

There were some real badasses back in those days.

 

[KMart]

There were some real badasses back in those days.

Very true. And, unlike today, they had no fear that after they disposed of the enemy, they would be tried and convicted of murder. Times have changed.

 

[foxguy]

Thanks to all of those who have served.

 

[Liven The Dream]

I am without words .
Humble.

 

[Forum Boss]

My father served in WWII as a combat engineer -- Went in with North Africa, Sicily, and South France (not Normandy) Amphibious Assaults. My Uncle served in the Navy in both Atlantic and Pacific. In the So. Pacific he was a radio expert at PT boat bases and knew JFK very well. Many of the background events in PT109 book involved my uncle Ed, who passed at 100 years of age this April.

 

[theallcineyes]

So beautiful, Thanks for sharing.

 

[hogpatrol]

Slightly OT, but for those that had relatives or friends that served in WWII, the Memorial has a registry where you can enter their info for posterity.

https://www.wwiimemorial.com/login.aspx?Login=1&ReturnUrl=/Registry/RegistryEdit/Registry.aspx?Action=Register&Action=Register

 

[hunter67]

Well if it wasnt for the Military I wouldn't be writing this as my Grandfather was from Holland and spent 4 years in a forced labor camp. After the war my grandparents and dad and uncle came to USA.
When the coalition forces liberated Kuwaiti City in Desert Storm we were watching it on TV and my grandma said to my dad that it was just like yesterday when the Canadians came to our town in Holland.
Now I have served as well as sons daughters nieces and nephews as the pride of the USA is very deep in our family.

God Bless to all.

 

[Bugs]

Again, slightly off topic but the featured speaker at the Memorial Day service that my family attends each year was a Lt. Col. Karen Kramer, USAF, who spoke about her several tours in Afghanistan. Col. Kramer's background was/is public health and she spoke at length on being attached to an Army unit in Afghanistan that was able to establish a clinic that served several mid sized Afghan villages. This was a fascinating talk on hundreds of people in Afghanistan who didn't even know what basic health care was before the U.S. military arrived. It just saddens me that these kinds of success stories aren't even mentioned by the CNN's of the world. . . . Rant over.

 

[billlarson]

Thank you.... my father served in WW11,one brother US NAVY another ARMY and I volunteered for 4 years USN..
Proud to have done it,and would serve again if old people are needed.It could come to that someday...
Bill larson

 

[nmkid]

My grandfather, father, and his brothers, (my uncle's) and us brother's all served. It was just expected of us. I can still hear my father saying, "you have to give back".

 

[fyrewall]

My Grandfather - target for Nazi U Boats, a screw up might have cost 100's of lives.

 

[nicholst55]

My father was a Seabee in WWII in the Pacific. He was sitting on Okinawa on VJ-Day, as part of the impending invasion of mainland Japan. He expected me to serve a minimum of one enlistment in the military; I served for 20 years on active duty in the Army, and another 11 (so far) as a civilian employee.

 

[TIMO]

My Dad in Korea, this photo was taken sometime during 1950 to 1952.

Thank you to all who have served.

Tim