Family heroes

[bilbow]

My great-grandad was a captain in the 12th NH Volunteers and fought at Gettysburg. After the war he went west with the cavalry and served another 15 years.

My own dad was a medic at an anti-aircraft battery most of WW2. Rather uneventful since the battery was at Hoboken NJ. But that's where he met my mom who was a Red Cross volunteer. Passed away at 93 in 2004.

[spence]

My grandfather was a WWI tanker in French FT-17s. At St Michel his tank was hit by a 77mm shell which failed to explode, bounched off the gun breech and fell on grandpa's toe breaking it. Tank disabled, he returned to base/bivouac and was crossing the road congratulating himself on his good fortune when he got run over by a drunk dispatch rider on a motorcycle who put him in the hospital til late 1919. He eventually recovered to take me fishing alot when I was a kid.[:)]

My father was PV-1 driver in the South Atlantic in late 44-45. Was supposed to deploy to the Pacific in PB4Y2s but the war ended.

[LittleJoe]

My Grandad enlisted in 1940, and all i know is that he fought in Burma,and drove a DUKW amphibious craft in the Royal Army Service Corps, as a Corpral before being promoted to Sergant during the war.

All this information is from records that ive dug up, he didnt talk about the war at all upon returning, i suppose the conditions must have been quite horrific in the jungles of Burma, he did show a great animosity towards the Japanese throughout his life and boycotted Japanese products.

However post VJ day i do know, thanks to a wonderful photo diary, that he was present when Singapore was 'liberated' and has photos of the local Japanese garrison commander surrendering, and some happy releif filled scenes.

They had fire support from the Reichelu (cant remember how its spelled) as they landed, so they where obviously unsure how they would be welcomed by the Japanese.

[Big B]

My father was an infantryman with the 5th Regimental Combat Team in Korea, he was WIA in 1952(twice - lightly both times). (Like all sons - he's always been a hero to me).
My Dad's cousin and boyhood best friend (Bobby Nidifer) was KIA in Korea just before my Dad shipped over. (he was killed taking out a machinegun position).

My Dad's uncle was an original member of Darby's Rangers in WWII (his name was Jim Miller). When the 1st and 3rd Ranger Battalions were wipped out at Cisterna in 1944 (Anzio), he was one of the lucky 6 men who returned alive out of the 761 that went in to Cisterna (though Dad says he was never the same again).

Oh yah... my wife's cousin was killed in action in Vietnam.(I don't know anything about the circumstances, just that they found his name on "The Wall").

Both my family and my wife's famile have been in America since the 1600s (my side pre-dates the Mayflower), I have no idea of older family members wartime service - we aren't traditional military families.

Found another one, a distant family member, one Robert F. Wisher (that's my name Wisher - there are few of us) was in the US Army Tank Corps in WWI. They were using British Mk IV's, serving with the US Corps under the British Army in Flanders. His tank was knocked out in action, while supporting the 108th Infantry, he survived.

[Jim D Burns]

My grandfather (Colonel Robert V. Burns) had a long and distinguished career in the USMC. He enlisted around the turn of the century and served 4 years in the US Army before reenlisting in the Marines where he remained until well after WWII.

He served in Haiti and several other Banana Republic conflicts as well as in WWI and WWII. He made Colonel in WWII and served on the planning staff at the Pentagon for Operation Olympic. He did serve at Guadalcanal before getting promoted to Colonel, but was transferred back to the states and a desk job at the Pentagon when he got promoted.

He once told me he used to fly the early bi-planes when he was serving in South America and once had the stick break off during flight. He used a pipe-wrench to replace the broken stick in order to land the plane. He also claimed he had carved his initials inside the Spirit of Saint Louis’ engine cowling when he worked on it when it landed at his base once, but I’ve never been able to confirm if that was simply and old guys whimsical tale or not.

He died in 1980 and is buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

Jim

[whippleofd]

Both my parents were adopted during WW2. Apparently they were the results of a lonely female meeting up with a lonely service member.

They adopted me, so "biological family" history is rather sparse. My Mom's adoptive father was a right scanner on a B-29 in the Pacific. My adoptive father was in the USAF during the Korean War.

I always thought it was interesting that both my parents came about as a result of WW2, and there has been a military history in all of our "generations."

Whipple

[Ursa MAior]

My father's father had a very special kidney sickness which he got while saving a guy from a big river at the age 13. He was my hero for this. But he was unfit for military service. Was drafted engineer in numerous occasions. He hated the nazis cuz he saw what they did with jews, waited for the russians, they came and after the front wnet by he saw tortured german soldiers hung up on meat hooks in a butchers store none was older than 18, plus he heard from his relatives about the rapings of the REd Army (women between 7-77 unfortunately no joke) so he hated the russians even more. Lost his sister and her son to a carpetbombing attack so was not a big fan of US either. He was the grumpiest person I've ever seen but a person to be loved.

My other grandfather was a well known doctor in the capital, he joined the resistance, but was only helping them as a doctor (treating wounds that is). After the german occupation in 44 he was hiding 3 families! at the same time. We live in the very same flat eversince but I cant imagine how some 25 persons lived in 100 sq meter! His ancestors are first mentioned in the 12th century.

Given the period they lived in I think I am lucky that all of my grandparents have survived WWII.

[Sonny]

My paternal grandfather fought in WW I - never talked about it. All I know about that is that he hated the British. Said they were slackers and cowards. Dad said my grandfather liked the Germans better than either the French or British. My dad told me this just a few weeks ago (my grandfather died in 1975 at the age of 75). Dad said when his dad would buy him a toy (or anything else) he would always look and if it was made in England he would not buy it for my dad. Don't know the reason behind all this. Kinda sorry I never found out the circumstances.

[rockmedic109]

My great uncle was wounded at Casino by a mortar round that landed near him.  The family story is that it was a General that was beside him and shielded most of the blast.  I don't know if this is true or not.  My mom has his Bronze Star and Purple Heart medal.
 
My father in law was a B-25 driver on his way to Australia when the war ended.  He stayed in flying several different planes and then worked in Elint.
 
There was an old guy living near my parents' place on  the coast.  He was known locally as Hans.  Something of a$$hole in his 80s.  Turns out he was Finnish.  Fought the Soviets and and was captured and sent to Siberia.  He escaped, walked across Russia, through the lines {Barbarosa had begun} and volunteered with the first German unit he came across just so he could fight the Soviets.  At the end of the war, he walked west to be captured by the Americans and eventually came to America.  Quite the survivor.  He hated all things Russian and all Russians.

[Big B]

ORIGINAL: Sarge

PS: Sorry no big war stories, he never would talk much about his days in WWII.

Funny, my Dad was the same - would never talk about Korea either. He never opened up about that subject til I was past 45 years old.

I think a lot of vets are that way, can't say as I blame them, lot's of nightmares (my Mom told me) and bad memories.

[pmelheck1]

My father was in the Pacific in the Airborne.  Had 2 uncles in as well, one a gunner on the Essex, the other a submariner (engine room) who's boat was lost I think in the sea of japan but he got out.  none talked about it tho...  We had 2 folks where I grew up one a german soldier who was in greece when the war ended(Karl).  Only thing Karl talked about was he had to walk back to Germany with all of Europe really mad at him.  The other who i could never get to talk was a U-boat skipper, didn't even tell me his name.  My high school principle took part in the battaan death march.  Didn't find out till he was gone tho...   When i was young the vietnam vets talked but the WW2 vets NEVER talked about it.

[bradfordkay]

My great-great grandfather (Antonio Sanchez) served in the Donalsonville Artillery of Louisiana during the ACW. That unit served in the Army of Northern Virginia most of the war, arriving just in time to participate in the 2d Manassas and staying all the way through to Appomattox. They were the first confederate artillery unit to arrive on the field at Gettysburg. My great grandfather arrived in New Orleans in 1865 as a teacher of the deaf...

My grandfather (son of the former Maria Sanchez) enlisted in the army in 1914 and made a career of it. WWI was spent in the infantry, the interwar years he was field artillery, but transferred into the Quartermaster Corps in 1938. He never served in Europe, but rather in the continental US, Alaska and Phillipines during WW2. In Korea he was commander of the depot at Pusan, retiring as a Brigadier General in 1957 and dying of bone cancer in 1959 (when I was a year old, so I never got to talk to him).

My dad was 17 in 1945, but served in the Arkansas National Guard that year. He did serve in Korea, but never talked about it much (I suspect he was also QM). He left the Army in 1955 and joined the National Park Service, being one of the men who ran the Living History programs (where the employees dress up in the uniforms of the period to explain what life was like for the people whom the parks are celebrating).

I graduated high school in 1976, too young for 'Nam and too old for the Gulf...

[Drex]

My father and his brother were in Alaska as part of Minnesota National Guard exercises and were actually on a ship heading for stateside on Dec 7th. Needless-to-say, the ship got orders to turn around and head back (Kodiak, I think). I know he saw Dutch Harbor being bombed, so it was on an island within sight. Later on, the brothers were separated,with my Uncle taking part in the European theater.. He led his patrol into a German trap, getting machine- gunned but surviving. the rest of the patrol didn't make it. I heard this from my father who said his brother wouldn't talk about it, not even to him. Dad stayed in Alaska for the duration.

[scott64]

One of my grandfathers fought in France in WWI, while my other grandfather fought in Italy in WWII

[JeffroK]

On my wifes side,
We had a Captain in the Inniskilling Fusiliers (27th Rgt of Foot) at Waterloo.
 
One who died on 7 May 1915 at Gallipoli,(2nd Bn AIF) and another gassed at Broodsiende in 1917.
 
On my side, (probably fought at Eureka!) 2 Uncles in 2/8 Bn, 19 Bde, 6 Division 2ndAIF(One did Greece, Syria, NewGuinea) Another started in 106 Tank Attack Rgt and later in the RAAF on Bouganville.
 
I trekked up and down Mt Puckapunyal & around the Northam & Lancelin Camps, then I arranged a better posting and shuffled papers at Campbell Barracks for a while.
 
I have a nephew who does things I can only imagine and cant talk about.
 
PS,  Many in the line of decendents fought in both Blue & Grey, and the Waterloo relative ended up being a Gunner in the Royal Irish Artillery at Fermanagh despite being known as Captain Blair for many years.

[Ramjet]

My Uncle, RM2 Robert E. Truitt, was lost on the Indianapolis when it was sunk in 1945. My Great-Great Grandfather served in the CSA in the Georgia 31st Infantry which was in Jackson's corp of the ANV. He was killed in the last few months of the war outside Richmond.

[RUPD3658]

My Great Uncle Maurice Chartoff was captured at Battan. No love for the Japanese in our family.

Grandfather on Mom's side was a cook.

A great place to post and research these is on the ww2 memorial web page www.wwiimemorial.com

If they survived you will have to enter them.

Ramjet, your uncle has a listing as well as a second one for the same name with a Jr.

[ilovestrategy]

My grandpa on my dad's side fought in Africa agaisnt the Germans and Italians. After i joined the Marines he told me that while he was sleeping beside his rifle in the sand he woke up in the middle of the night to see an Italian standing over him with a rifle aimed at him. My grandpa said he aways slept with his finger on the trigger so he managed to kill the Italian before he got hit. Then there was the night where he was with a patrol in some town and walked around a corner smack dab into a patrol of Germans. Both sides turned and ran without firing a shot...
I never met my grandpa on my mom's side. My grandma told me his job was picking up the bodies on all the beaches from the beginning of the war to the very end. She told me his mind was never the same after that.

[ChezDaJez]

My maternal grandfather fought with the Seaforth Highlanders at the Battle of Somme in 1916. He was severly wounded and nearly buried alive by a German artillary shell hitting near his artillary piece. The entire crew was killed except my grandfather. He was unable to dig himself out and lay there for several hours when the Germans released mustard gas. He was invalided out and had a small pension the rest of his life.

My maternal Uncle George was at Dunkirk with the BEF and managed to swim out to a small boat that took him back to England. He was then posted to South Africa for a short time before being sent to India. From there he was ordered to join the Burma Chindits during the first operation. He was wounded twice but refused to leave his mates. The third time was the charm and he was sent back to South Africa to recover. He recovered in time to become part of the second Burma Chindit operation. He never spoke of his time in the service.

My Uncle Harry was in the Royal Navy during WWII. He served on a destroyer and saw a lot of action in the Atlantic. He was at Narvik and then pulled a lot of convoy duty including the Murmansk run from Iceland. He saw several ships torpedoed by u-boats.

My father joined the US Coast Guard right after Pearl Harbor. He tried to join the Navy but they told him that it would several weeks before he shipped to boot camp as they had more recruits than they could handle. So he joined the Coast Guard. He ended up serving the first two years on a lightship tender, the USCG Tender "FIR" as a machinist mate. He tried everything he could think to get into action but nothing worked. Just when he had about given up, he was reassigned to a troopship making the San Francisco to Suva run. Never saw any action though they did fire their AA guns in anger once when they thought a Japanese plane was attacking. Turned out to be an Aussie Catalina on patrol. Luckily they were poor shots.

He tried to get back in for Korea but they wouldn't take him so he joined the Merchant Marine and served on a storeship from Seattle to Japan.

My mother-in-law worked at Boeing in Seattle assembling cockpit sections for various bombers including the B-17. She recalls that her father was highly upset when she first took the job because it meant she had to wear pants!

Chez

[castor troy]

My grandfather, who´s Dutch, fought in Korea in an airborne regiment as a Lt. He was wounded and brought to Indonesia where he met his wife. He stayed in the Dutch Army in the area of Hardervijk and was Major in the end. Don´t know if he ever had to engage in combat after Korea though. My mother went on holiday to Austria and met my dad! [:)]

My other grandfather was Austrian and 20 when he was enlisted in the German Army. He didn´t talk really much about the war. He served as a tank commander in France, then Russia and from 1943 again stationed in western Europe. I think he wasn´t in a real tank division but in some sort of an independent brigade. Some of the things he told me when there was a documentation on TV was that until the end of 1944 when he was severely wounded they (the German soldiers) never felt discontent with the equipment they had. They still outclassed their opponents in combat he said. Biggest problem was their supply of spare parts and especially fuel. The fact what concerned them the most was the total Allied air superiority. I found it interesting that he was really convinced of the different tanks he commanded as I think the best one was a late series of the tank IV. He never commanded a Panther or a Tiger but when he told me something then always that they were outclassing their counterparts. Though I think most times he was fighting in an infantry support role not against US or British tanks.