Wanted to share a moment

It is an awesome experience to speak with a Vet or the Widow. Unfortunately most of the Vets or Widows that I have met were at the Fisher House at Wright-Patterson AFB. (Fisher House is kinda like a Ronald McDonald house for the Military) But they still have history. I have had the honor of speaking with 2 Vets that served in WWII, Korea, and Vietnam. The first Vet was a Marine in WW II, Navy in Korea and the Army in Vietnam. 2d Vet started in the Army Air Corps and retired from the Air Force. Both were battling a very bad case of Cancer. The wife's Uncle stormed the beach at Normandy with the 1st ID. Some stories there. Next time I will take the tape recorder. A Uncle on my Dads side flew Medevac Hueys in Vietnam. Shot down twice.

I had an experience myself with a vet from WW 2. He fought in the Pacific and was telling me about his experience on Okinawa. He apparently got into a pretty major little skirmish and was shot through the mouth by an enemy soldier when he somehow managed to shoot and kill the guy. When I thanked him for his service and lauded his bravery, he started laughing and said "Brave?, I was scared sh******!" He was a tough old guy who seemed to have handled the past as a job to do. I just don't know how those guys did it.

Also knew a man in my church who fought for the Germans in WW 1, but that was about 20 years ago. Didn't get too many stories from him.

"It is well that war is so terrible, lest we grow too fond of it."-R.E.Lee

Neat and interesting story...I find it sad when one of our vets passes on...whether I know them well or not. A piece of history dies with them...along with some truly amazing stories!
Chris

I always love sitting down with a vet, better than any history book could do for me. My grandfather did'nt really start talking to me about his time in Korea until the last couple of years before he died and I treasure every moment of those times spent with him. It is always a great thing for me to meet someone that had been there, they were always my heroes even as a kid I never thought no where near as much of a baseball player as I did a soldier. I had a WW2 vet tell me one day that I was a hero for being a firefighter and helping him out, I could'nt help but to let him know that he was the one that deserved that title.

Had a similar experience at the Pima Air and Space Museum In Tucson A few years back. Very humbling.

thyamis, your english is fine. If everyone would write down these stories as they are told,we wouldn't lose so much of our heritage. I had a friend who died recently who flew combat over Germany in 1945. We would sit and talk for hours about his experiences. I wish I had taken a tape recorder and at least taped them, now they are lost forever. By the way, He was a GERMAN pilot flying Fw-190s'

correction how did i spell .....it should be these (plural), and nonsense...sorry for treating English like that....

This old timers (veterans) are amazing stock. they have a noble and low profile resilience that it is hard to find today.
Every war veteran i talked too has shown a non noncense approach that sets the example for all.

What an interesting experience. My father-in-law is a Pearl Harbor survivor (and a Leyte Gulf survivor, and a .....). He was serving on the USS Aylwin (DD-355) at the time. His stories to me have been priceless. There's no substitute for a been there, done that piece of living history. He's 85 now, but still walks 4 miles a day. I think on Pearl Harbor Day I'd like to sit down with him, but this time record everything he says.
Gip Winecoff