60 years back in time

fguillemart · Post by **fguillemart** » Fri Dec 07, 2001 3:54 pm

It might seem a bit nationalistic or out of fashion, but I think the wargamers' community should have a thought for the guys who died some 60 years ago somewhere in the Pacific, and for the too many who followed the way.

Dan Bozza · Post by **Dan Bozza** » Fri Dec 07, 2001 8:00 pm

Originally posted by francis14:
It might seem a bit nationalistic or out of fashion, but I think the wargamers' community should have a thought for the guys who died some 60 years ago somewhere in the Pacific, and for the too many who followed the way.

Even if the events of 9/11 hadn't occurred, I don't think it's nationalistic or out of fashion to remember all who have fought and died for our freedom. We wouldn't be here today if those brave men, women, and boys didn't stand tall and be counted when the country, and the world needed them. Raise a glass!

fguillemart · Post by **fguillemart** » Fri Dec 07, 2001 9:47 pm

Thanks, Boz.
I think I'll " raise a glass " im memoriam.

chief · Post by **chief** » Fri Dec 07, 2001 11:57 pm

Boz & Francis
Your thoughts and mine...my signature says it all.

[ December 07, 2001: Message edited by: chief ]</p>

Wild Bill · Post by **Wild Bill** » Sat Dec 08, 2001 2:25 am

60 years ago today the free world was galvanized into united action with the hellish sneak attack on American installations on Oahu.

Thousands died, a somber echo from the past to what has transpired this year.

Freedom is never free.

I'm thankful for what so many have given to pay for my freedom today.

KG Erwin · Post by **KG Erwin** » Sat Dec 08, 2001 2:59 am

Amen, Wild Bill. "Let us be vigilant, but not fearful. Let us also be confident, but not arrogant." I'm not sure whose words those are, but they seem words for us Americans to live by. BTW, aside from a number of Pearl Harbor specials on TV tonight, the Learning Channel has a new documentary on the Pacific War ("Hell in the Pacific") airing at 9 pm EST tonight. The promo spots showed some color combat footage I hadn't seen before. I plan on taping that one.

VictorH · Post by **VictorH** » Sat Dec 08, 2001 3:40 am

My thoughts and respect for all the Brave Men and Women who have sacrificed their freedom and lives to defend all of us.

When I visited Omaha Beach and stood on the top of that cliff looking down, I was shocked by the realization of what was given to us by our ancestors.

Resisti · Post by **Resisti** » Sat Dec 08, 2001 10:36 pm

One day and two years later, 8.12.43 :

Cassino.

Les_the_Sarge_9_1 · Post by **Les_the_Sarge_9_1** » Sun Dec 09, 2001 11:00 pm

Every nation has a different day that is significant where WWII is concerned. Naturally Pearl Harbour is special to the USA.

I was appalled at what the recent film did to the memory of that horrible day. The movie was disgusting in its shallow glitz.

Being Canadian, I understandably have different dates connected with WWII that are important to me.

What is uniformly tragic though, is how our youths are uniformly under taught about all the horrors of those years.
From misinformation to downright lies, and just plain lack of information, the stage is being set to repeat all those tragic years in some future time.
Each Rememberance day here in Canada, I suffer through the day unable to avoid crying. Those years are not vague details in some boring book.
But that is the way it is seen through the eyes of the youths I know personally.
Comments to the effect, that todays kids "know their past" dont wash with me. Look around you. The actions of persons 30 years and under speak volumes.

I wont endeavour to start endless debate. I wont make specific statements of example.
I will only state clearly and decisively. Todays youths are NOT aware of the horrible sacrifice.

Woe to our future when the last vet vanishes to the sands of time.

"Lest we forget", appears to have become "We have largely forgotten".

Jody · Post by **Jody** » Mon Dec 10, 2001 2:58 pm

That is a sad fact of life I am afraid,
I grew up pestering my Grand father about his time in Galipoli as a 16 Yr old and his latter involvment in France where he was wounded in WW1 and his latter involvement in New Guinea in WW2. And I was the only one in the Family he would talk too about it. I promised him B4 he died I would follow in his footsteps when he asked me what I was going to be.
I joined when I was 17 and served 7 1/2 yrs in the Australian Army and still feel proud every Anzac Day and Rememberance day for what people before me have sacrificed for me to be where I am Today.
I left the Army b4 I wanted too and very reluctantly because of the type of people who were being recruited, Lazy, Uncaring, And a total lack of understanding of the sacrifices of previous generations. That thankfully has changed in todays Army but alas our children are not being taught about these sacrifices in School. That is where we come in, My 3 children were not born when my Grandfather died but they know who he is and what he gave up for us to be were we are and they are proud to tell all who ask. They Acompany me to All Anzac day marches and my 7yr old Daughter followed the Minutes silence on rememberance day at School much to the annoyance of her teacher but told them My Dad does this to give something back to his Grandfather who gave so much for us.
We as Adults MUST keep the flame alive in our children so they will never forget and pass the flame on to their Kids.

rlc27 · Post by **rlc27** » Sat Dec 15, 2001 9:45 am

A year or two ago I was standing in the conning tower of the battleship Massachusetts, which is now a museum moored in Fall River, MA. This has always been a kind of holy site to me, a kind of shrine in steel and wood, where, if you listen hard enough, you can almost hear the voices and feel the presence of her long-gone crew. Standing on the foredeck, you can look up and see the huge pyramidal shape of the citadel, with battle flags waving, and wonder what it felt like to cruise the Mediterranean, the Atlantic, and the Pacific onboard this titan with the sixteen inch guns.

Anyway, there I was in the conning tower. There is a pair of binoculars mounted on a metal pedestal there, through which I imagine you can see a good twenty miles away. How many times did a midshipman gaze through it to see the ensigns of some far off merchantmen, the coast of Egypt, or the peeking periscope of a submarine?
I saw a teenage boy and his girlfriend looking at it. The girl asked him, "what's this?" He, without hesitating, said, "It's a piece of sh*t."

To me, that about sums up the attitude of many young people today. I'm not so old myself, only 28, and the furthest I've ever gone in the military was two years of ROTC, but I've always had a great respect for the men and women of all nationalities that have given everything for their ideals; and moreso for those who fought so that others might be free.