Maggie’s I broke down and cried...

[Thumper580]

Let me say that I am normally a pretty UN-emotional person. Very little gets me going anymore.... I also read extensively on military history, many many on WWll.
I ran into this guy at the post office today... As he shuffled in I thought just another old guy who wishes he did more exciting things when he was physically able.
Then I saw his cap.... B-17 Flying Fortress WWll. I was amazed... I asked him if he did fly in B-17's..... He replied yes..... 29 missions... 4 on D Day. He said he will be 100 years old tomorrow. I stood there for a minute and tears started flowing.... I thanked him and said God bless you. I walked out of the post office and got in my car to get my shit together... Don't know what came over me, but it hit hard. My dad flew with the RCAF in England from 44-45.

 

[eklarsen]

Still has the mustache to prove it, what a legend.

 

[Im2bent]

I hope I look that good when I'm 80.

 

[spamassassin]

Seeing that kind of courage and patriotism make it to that kind of an age, better draw a tear to the eye. They didn't have any expectation of living and still did it. To live so long only to see everything he fought for pissed away... and yet he smiles. That's a hard man.

 

[Lug Nut]

A lot of us owe our lives to those guys. Because, if we lost the war, we would never have been born.

 

[wildcats]

Let me say that I am normally a pretty UN-emotional person. Very little gets me going anymore.... I also read extensively on military history, many many on WWll.
I ran into this guy at the post office today... As he shuffled in I thought just another old guy who wishes he did more exciting things when he was physically able.
Then I saw his cap.... B-17 Flying Fortress WWll. I was amazed... I asked him if he did fly in B-17's..... He replied yes..... 29 missions... 4 on D Day. He said he will be 100 years old tomorrow. I stood there for a minute and tears started flowing.... I thanked him and said God bless you. I walked out of the post office and got in my car to get my shit together... Don't know what came over me, but it hit hard. My dad flew with the RCAF in England from 44-45.
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I could barely contain myself after reading this..my friends father in law was a gunner in a B-29 .
My hat is off to this man..
And look where we are at today.................

 

[vinniedelpino]

Still has the mustache to prove it, what a legend.

Legend is right on.

Our time is short, but what we do in life echos throughout eternity. Wish I could buy him a cold one.

 

[DIBBS]

Thank you for sharing....

Dad was very close, but unable to complete his pilot training in WW II due to a hardship discharge for a death at the home farm.

He passed away in September at 94.

 

[Arc Light]

29 missions, damn...greatest generation for sure.

To think that in less than a century we went from hero's like this, to the current worthless, waste of oxygen, pussy generation of today.

 

[lightman]

The Greatest Generation! And sadly most of them are gone.

 

[Baron23]

Let me say that I am normally a pretty UN-emotional person. Very little gets me going anymore.... I also read extensively on military history, many many on WWll.
I ran into this guy at the post office today... As he shuffled in I thought just another old guy who wishes he did more exciting things when he was physically able.
Then I saw his cap.... B-17 Flying Fortress WWll. I was amazed... I asked him if he did fly in B-17's..... He replied yes..... 29 missions... 4 on D Day. He said he will be 100 years old tomorrow. I stood there for a minute and tears started flowing.... I thanked him and said God bless you. I walked out of the post office and got in my car to get my shit together... Don't know what came over me, but it hit hard. My dad flew with the RCAF in England from 44-45.
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Thank you for posting this. Did this gentleman indicate what crew position he manned in the B-17?

My one uncle was a B-24 pilot (yeah, more tonnage dropped, more crews killed but the B-17 was sexier by far) out of England and his older brother was a grunt with MacArthur hopping islands in the Pacific. Neither of them would ever talk about it...at all.

Def the greatest generation.

 

[Vodoun daVinci]

Gaad Bless those old guys. They saved the world for a few more decades.

My Wife has been in renal failure so our life is now doctor visits and tests and dialysis. I go to all her appointments as her patient advocate and recently ran into an old guy named Jack. He was sitting in a wheel chair across the room and came over to talk to me about my beard....which is like a ZZ Top beard on crack right now. Anyway as we connected and talked I found out he was a pilot in WWII and had flown P-38's and later was moved to P-51's....had enough missions to go home but re enlisted and pounded the hell out of Germany in revenge for squadron mates lost.

Met him again a few weeks later - it's like he's on the same wave length as me. He's 102 and on his last legs but we have a blast every time we meet. I get the idea of being choked up. Happens to me and my Wife looks at me and asks why there are tears in my eyes. But at least I know Jack now and the next time someone says I don't know Jack they will get served.

VooDoo

 

[Thumper580]

Thank you for posting this. Did this gentleman indicate what crew position he manned in the B-17?

My one uncle was a B-24 pilot (yeah, more tonnage dropped, more crews killed but the B-17 was sexier by far) out of England and his older brother was a grunt with MacArthur hopping islands in the Pacific. Neither of them would ever talk about it...at all.

Def the greatest generation.

I should have, but by then I was losing it and walked out. Pitiful. I have a million questions for him now. His story will be lost to the ages and I'd love to hear every detail.

 

[Baron23]

I should have, but by then I was losing it and walked out. Pitiful. I have a million questions for him now. His story will be lost to the ages and I'd love to hear every detail.

If you have an interest in WWII aviation and haven't yet read it, I highly recommend Stephen Ambrose's "The Wild Blue" about the B-24. Astoundingly good read which will enhance your appreciation for the courage and sacrifice of these men and boys if not already pegged at 100%.

Cheers

 

[DustBun]

Being so close to The Villages, every year they would have an Honor Flight for the WWII veterans leave and return at the Ocala Airport on the same day. When they returned we would take a couple ARFF (Aircraft Rescue Fire Fighting) trucks that were in testing and perform what is called a water cannon salute for the plane to taxi through. I was always honored that I was able to operate one of the trucks and participate in this. The City and community really came out for these folks. I will admit that I would shed a tear every time watching these great men and woman get off the plane. Very humbling.

 

[Baron23]

Being so close to The Villages, every year they would have an Honor Flight for the WWII veterans leave and return at the Ocala Airport on the same day. When they returned we would take a couple ARFF (Aircraft Rescue Fire Fighting) trucks that were in testing and perform what is called a water cannon salute for the plane to taxi through. I was always honored that I was able to operate one of the trucks and participate in this. The City and community really came out for these folks. I will admit that I would shed a tear every time watching these great men and woman get off the plane. Very humbling.

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And that is the real America. Thank you so very much.

 

[Ronws]

My father-in-law was born in 1923 and served in WWII. He was a PFC in the 9th USAF 410 Light Bomber Group 646th Squadron in the european theater. Because of family heritage and elders, he spoke and understood German and so he was a caretaker of german POWs. He would give them work assignments around camp. One time, at the local VFW hall, I went with him to have some "shit on a shingle."

He passed away in 1994 with the Honor Guard in attendance and 7 rounds from 3 rifles. My brother-in-law has the flag and casings in a special display box.

After coming back from the war, he resumed his romance with his fiance, Bernice. They married in 1947 and built a house. My wife, the oldest of two children was born in 1955. She and I are 8.5 years apart. I was born in 1964.

God bless all who have served and remember them this weekend and all days.

 

[Marinevet1]

God Bless them all...........

 

[Maser]

They're a dying breed for sure. Shake the hands of a WW2 Vet anytime you get the chance to because it could be the only chance left. I had the good fortune to have a WW2 Vet as a friend when I was younger and shot with him quite a bit. Definitely a true Patriot. He was in a wheelchair and the rifle range we shot at used to play the national anthem and even though he could barely walk let alone stand, he forced himself to stand for it. Also, any young kid like I was who's been whacked upside the head by an old Marine for cussing in public in front of women will never forget that feeling. God bless them all. I can't even imagine what this goofy ass society nowadays looks like through their eyes.

 

[Tempest 455]

My uncle was ball turret Gunner on B17 over Germany.
Forgot how many flights but it was many.

Survived that and then died of cancer at 53. Crazy to make it through that and then...

 

[mvphilly]

If he is 100 that means he was born in 1923.The war began in 1941 which made him 18 at the time.It ended in 1945 when he was 22 so he flew all those missions as a teenager or young adult.Which generation today X Y Z or whatever could and would do that???

 

[TicTacTex]

If he is 100 that means he was born in 1923.The war began in 1941 which made him 18 at the time.It ended in 1945 when he was 22 so he flew all those missions as a teenager or young adult.Which generation today X Y Z or whatever could and would do that???

Balls of steel.

 

[duke308]

Me too…..
Remember you’re a grown ass man, and you can cry any damn time you want.

 

[ironman56]

I was at the Kerrville VA hospital yesterday to have some lab work done (gout) , there's lots of those old guys there, I'm 67 and was probably the youngest veteran there . Always enjoy talking to them in the waiting room.

 

[Keeper22]

It makes me sad and angry at the same time that our modern generations have no reverence or respect for these heroes. Truly the greatest generation , God Bless Them All and our pitifull country that we are privledged to live in by the courage and strength of men like him.

 

[greg1147]

My Dad was at Hickam Field 12/07/41 with the 11th Bombardment Grp. He was a crew chief among other things, went to the South
Pacific and served in campaigns from Guadalcanal Solomon Is, Bougainville, New Guinea and more. He wasn't much of a talker
about the war but have a few to tell. During raids if he was in the belly gun he would get soaked from the ocean spray from flying
so low to avoid radar, also Sunday breakfast was fucked on 12/7/41. He transferred from the US Army Air Corp to the USAF
served in Korea and retired as a CWO after 26 years and three marriages. I regret not talking to him more and miss him.
Interred at Arlington

Arlington National Cemetery
Birth Date:09/01/1917
Death Date:03/16/2001
Interment Date:04/04/2001
Branch of Service: US AIR FORCE
Section:68
Grave:1927

 

[SilentStalkr]

29 missions, damn...greatest generation for sure.

To think that in less than a century we went from hero's like this, to the current worthless, waste of oxygen, pussy generation of today.

Depressing aint it?

I should have, but by then I was losing it and walked out. Pitiful. I have a million questions for him now. His story will be lost to the ages and I'd love to hear every detail.

Not necessarily. Any chance you know how to get back in touch? I bet he frequents the post office on the reg.

About 5 years ago now I reckon, a friend of mine was getting remarried and lost his job. Anyways one night we were talking and he asked me if I knew about any work and somehow that conversation turned into a conversation about the greatest generation and I mentioned that we didnt have many of those guys left and that someone should document and photograph them etc. to tell their stories while we still could. I mean after all I was enamored with this generation when I was younger and lucky enough to hang with both my grandfathers and actually get to talk to some of these guys. Anyways to make a long story short, that friend is older than I am, much closer to retirement age, but still many years to go and wound up marrying into major money. So he now had the time and financial stability to take on this project. He was already a gifted photographer so everything just fell into place to allow him to do this. Let me introduce you guys to Mr. Jeffrey Rease. Below is a link to his project. Feel free to donate some money and if you know of anyone that he should document, please feel free to reach out to him. It’s an awesome thing he is doing. He has met some fantastic people along the way that has really opened some doors. Go check out his page.

WWII Portraits of Honor by Jeffrey Rease

One photographer's personal portrait project of U.S. World War 2 veterans and their stories.

www.portraitsofhonor.us

This might even need its own thread and a sticky @padom @MarinePMI

 

[lonegunman762x51]

My dad was a paratrooper, 101st Airborne, 501st PIR, F Co. He's in Arlington these days. He was underweight and couldn't qualify for pilot training and jump pay was the same as PFC pay so he could send home pay for his mom and brother.

 

[Baron23]

My uncle was ball turret Gunner on B17 over Germany.
Forgot how many flights but it was many.

Survived that and then died of cancer at 53. Crazy to make it through that and then...

I think I was in high school (and I'm 70 now) the first time I was exposed to this poem and I've never forgotten it since.

The Death of the Ball Turret Gunner​

By Randall Jarrell

From my mother’s sleep I fell into the State,
And I hunched in its belly till my wet fur froze.
Six miles from earth, loosed from its dream of life,
I woke to black flak and the nightmare fighters.
When I died they washed me out of the turret with a hose.

 

[JR_77]

Damn my allergies are flaring up again eyes won’t stop watering.

 

[Baron23]

Ah...so.....I need to mention my uncle from the other side of the family. I forget about him all the time as I never met him.

He flew fighters in WWII and was shot down and died. Neither my father (his brother) nor my grandmother really ever talked about about him. All I know of him was a picture my grandmother had framed on the mantle of him in a leather flying helmet and googles. His name was Sherwin Meyers. I have zero idea where they came up with Sherwin as a name....but he was my father's older brother.

I already mentioned Ambrose's absolutely magnificent book. If you like movies...and yes, its Hollywood but I thought they did a very nice job of it...watch The Memphis Belle. Great cast, great story.

Memphis Belle - Google Search

 

[Maggot]

Dad flew MATs over the N. Atlantic. Unescorted, no defense against the Luftwaffe. He didnt say much either.