Worst Combat Jobs

[KG Erwin]

Given that all combat duty is risky, what are the worst jobs one could have in WWII ground combat ?

Three come to mind:

1) Backpack flamethrower operator -- it only took one shot to turn you into a human torch.

2) Tank driver -- if the tank gets hit, you'd be the last one to get out, IF you survived.

3) Combat medic -- they were prime targets for the bad guys.

[Korpraali V]

4) Tank hunter -- Not much changes to survive if located on the field or captured alive.

[omegaall]

Surprisingly there is ONLY one combat job that is the worst of all
It’s the Partisan.

Yes Hollowwood, (correct spelling when it comes to war films), has made many films where the good old partisan beats the bad guy. Crap it does not actually work that way.
Try talking to some of teh few who may be left from the war. They are even less talkative about the whole affair than actual defence personnel, (eg formal army, etc).

Face it, when they were caught there was no mercy, many were just strung up on the nearest light pole. Others had horrific treatment from the Gestapo, then treated in a horrible way.

It was the allies who uses these people and in reality did not care as long as the job got done. They were NOT actual battle casualty numbers so it was not a political issue at home.

If you want to face facts there is no such thing as the worst job, unless of course you want to look at a latrine cleaner.

[Riun T]

Body recovery for graves registration, I think that whould be hardest on the heart. RT

[Alby]

outhouse barrel dumper??
like the guys in Platoon
[X(]

[:D]

[brador]

Operating room janitor, if there was such a job. [:(]

[BruceAZ_MatrixForum]

ORIGINAL: Alby

outhouse barrel dumper??
like the guys in Platoon
[X(]

[:D]

This gets my vote. Been there, done that.

Recon
Semper Fi

[Alby]

ORIGINAL: BruceAZ

ORIGINAL: Alby

outhouse barrel dumper??
like the guys in Platoon
[X(]

[:D]

This gets my vote. Been there, done that.

Recon
Semper Fi

Damn!!
You poor man!!
I bow to you sir

[&o]

[BruceAZ_MatrixForum]

ORIGINAL: Alby

ORIGINAL: BruceAZ

ORIGINAL: Alby

outhouse barrel dumper??
like the guys in Platoon
[X(]

[:D]

This gets my vote. Been there, done that.

Recon
Semper Fi

Damn!!
You poor man!!
I bow to you sir

[&o]

"Never, ever, leave your weapon dirty when comng in after a night ambush. First thing before you crash, is to clean your weapon and replace the ammo in your magazines. Do you understand me Private!" Khe Sahn 1968.

Gawd, I still remember those exact words to this day. My platoon sgt was Mr Marine Corp and ate snakes and privates for lunch. He didn't like my response, so I had this hell duty for two days.

Moral of the Story: Hell, I forgot but it sure did stink.

[Alby]

we have to know what your response to him was that got you that duty!!
[:D]

[BruceAZ_MatrixForum]

Alb, this is a family web site! I am surprised at you! I can't quote those words! [X(]

Do you want the Gunny after me too???

Recon
Semper Fi

[KG Erwin]

Alby wrote: "outhouse barrel dumper??
like the guys in Platoon?"

Ohh, man, I never even considered THAT job, and I sh*t you not. [X(]

[Alby]

ORIGINAL: BruceAZ

Alb, this is a family web site! I am surprised at you! I can't quote those words! [X(]

Do you want the Gunny after me too???

Recon
Semper Fi

[:D]

[Dusan]

Definitely, kamikaze. [:D]

[Korpraali V]

ORIGINAL: omegaall
Surprisingly there is ONLY one combat job that is the worst of all
It’s the Partisan.

Yes Hollowwood, (correct spelling when it comes to war films), has made many films where the good old partisan beats the bad guy. Crap it does not actually work that way.
Try talking to some of teh few who may be left from the war. They are even less talkative about the whole affair than actual defence personnel, (eg formal army, etc).

Face it, when they were caught there was no mercy, many were just strung up on the nearest light pole. Others had horrific treatment from the Gestapo, then treated in a horrible way.

It was the allies who uses these people and in reality did not care as long as the job got done. They were NOT actual battle casualty numbers so it was not a political issue at home.

If you want to face facts there is no such thing as the worst job, unless of course you want to look at a latrine cleaner.

One worst job, no worst job? [&:]


Well, I understood it meaned that we share our opinions and perhaps discuss (according to our knowledge) about what we think are the worstest things that you may get into in real war.

I agree you partisan thing and admit that it was the most brutal war field on both sides. Partisans didn't give mercy either. I also know that many Soviet partisans wouldn't get any mercy in Finnish hands. That's because most of their operations in Finland were about encircling tiny villages and massacring all the civilians. Then back home to report that again many significant military targets have been destroyed (airports, barracks etc) (Soviet partisans in Finland operated from Soviet area and headed back there always - kind of commando job but under partisan title). I've been in those civilians graves and it IS horrible to see the whole families there, and some of those children's ages...

6) Targetted civilians

[KG Erwin]

Korpraali, I understand what you're getting at. This whole thread could be very depressing if we didn't try to lighten it up a bit.

I suppose my point should really be: in wartime, there's no such thing as a "cushy" job, for lack of a better term.

At one time, I suggested putting civilians into the game, but this could raise some ugly issues, and we wouldn't want SPWaW to be rated as "adults only" software. Granted, some FPS games are far worse, but that's a different topic of discussion altogether.

[Afrika Korps]

This might not be the worst, but it ranks up there...

Mortar baseplate carrier.

[Korpraali V]

ORIGINAL: KG Erwin

Korpraali, I understand what you're getting at. This whole thread could be very depressing if we didn't try to lighten it up a bit.

Yup, very easily. Trying to share some personal experiences and opinions (sometimes even with arguments - woohoo!) but still trying to keep it out from the personal level and not against the other person/people.

In this situation that is to say: Some Russians did that and that was wrong! It however doesn't mean that I'd claim that all the Finns are good and all the Russians are bad. It would be ridiculous nationalism to claim that kind of things.

Back to topic: Being last defence of withdrawing troops with your back against the sea/river/etc.

[chief]

Gunny: Worst job....cleaning up after an aircraft (and crew) have bought the farm and you have to piece the bird back together for accident investigation team. I would imagine it fits right up there with cleaning out a tank, etc.

[Huffy]

well....I saw this on history ch. ....during WW2...they would pull the damaged Shermans back to a staging area......the men at that area would have to try and clean,....paint,...and get the death smell out of the tanks that had been hit...and needed attention.
That kind of thing...right up on the front lines or...directly behind it...would be the worst... (as in medic...Mash...support...Priest......what ever...)...I guess it all kinda sucked..
I looked at this post ...twice before.....but didn't know what to right...or if I would say it right..
But....
Each time I looked at it...a phrase kept entering my thoughts...one I had heard from a guy at work , at a break table. His father was at the "Battle of the Buldge"... and we were talking...and he looked up and said..."everyone loses....when the first person dies"
It struck so sharp in me....it never has left my thoughts... he also has an 88 shell casing...or so he says...from that ordeal.
Best of health to all of you...,
Huffy