A Tribute to our Veterans - Share your stories and photos!

[Emptymag]

I have a deep respect for those who serve our country in any capacity. I would like to use this opportunity to pay tribute to those men and women who have served and show my appreciation to those currently serving.

Please join me in this effort by sharing your stories and photos of anyone you wish to honor, past or present.

This is a tribute to my father-in-law, Carl. (deceased)
Entered the Army May 27, 1943, (sworn in in Erie, PA)
164th Engineer Combat Battalion


I have not served and no-one in my immediate family has either. My father-in-law served in WWII with the 164th Engineer Combat Battalion. Unfortunately he didn't speak much of it and is no longer with us. I do, however have the diaries he kept which start with his departure from New York harbor to training in England in preparation for D-Day through France, Belgium and into Germany to the war's end. I've been able to find historical writings that match exactly, the dates and events he logged in the diary. It's an amazing read. Not amazing in the "Hollywood-action" sense, just in that it is history, written by someone I knew. His battalion's most notable effort was holding/repairing/defending the Remagen bridge over the Rhine which allowed allied troops to pour into Germany...

Page 1 of his diary...


In this entry, he speaks of missing the truck back to camp because they were drinking at a pub and forgot the time. (in England, during training preparation for D-Day) the next page tells of being sentenced to 30 days hard labor for being AWOL for those few hours! LOL!
http://s53.photobucket.com/albums/g5...ryDrinking.jpg

This entry he writes of the boat ride to Utah beach, seeing dead GI's and Germans, probing a minefield, hearing planes continuously overhead, bombs, pillboxes and buying bread and cider.
http://s53.photobucket.com/albums/g5...yUtahBeach.jpg

This entry speaks of "AA guns going all night all around us. Most everyone scared." Wed. July 5 - "(???) disgruntled with job wish I were home again." Sun, July 9 - "Day- turn, drizzling rain, went to Valouges, Hontabur,(sp?) & Cherbourge All the cities in ruin. Engineers clearing away debris. Got beer(?) from Anne today."
http://s53.photobucket.com/albums/g5...iaryScared.jpg

A while back, one of the Dixie Chix (Natalie?) made some smart-assed comment saying she didn't understand why people care about patriotism... this is a poster I made in response, which hangs on my wall at work. It's a photo of my father-in-law and friend on a burned-out German tank.


two misc pics from Europe... http://s53.photobucket.com/albums/g5...t=WWIIJeep.jpg and http://s53.photobucket.com/albums/g5...t=WWIIWall.jpg

Here's a bridge built over the Meuse in Dinant, Belguim, shortly before they moved on to the Remagen bridge. http://s53.photobucket.com/albums/g5...ridgeTruck.jpg
If you look closely, you can see what I believe is a US half-track at the entrance to the destroyed bridge. (bot, behind church) The new bridge, constructed entirely of locally obtained materials and cut at a nearby sawmill (temporarily run by the Army) is in the center. Here is the same view, present day... http://s53.photobucket.com/albums/g5...ent=Dinant.jpg

This is the official report of the bridge construction http://lcweb2.loc.gov/cocoon/vhp/sto...r?ID=pm0009001

This is the Remagen bridge over the Rhine in Germany. (not my photo) http://s53.photobucket.com/albums/g5...agenBridge.jpg
It was the only intact bridge over the Rhine when the US took it and began to pour troops into Germany. My father-in-law's battalion's task was holding/repairing/defending the bridge while building other bridges nearby. Hitler wanted the bridge destroyed badly and sent waves of bombers to do so. All were shot down. The bridge did collapse, but by then the Americans had gotten many troops across and other pontoon bridges had been constructed nearby. In his diary he mentions 2 swimmers who were captured. In doing research, I read the same account of German frogmen intent on blowing up the bridge being caught in the night. Fascinating to read!

I will end this with some pics of medals, pins and bayonets he brought home with him.
http://s53.photobucket.com/albums/g5...t=100_1401.jpg
http://s53.photobucket.com/albums/g5...t=100_1397.jpg
http://s53.photobucket.com/albums/g5...t=100_1395.jpg
http://s53.photobucket.com/albums/g5...t=100_1392.jpg

Thanks for "listening" to my ramblings!
I could go on and on, but this may have proven to be too much for some! I do hope that others will contribute by honoring someone they know and sharing a story with the rest of us.



These are links to sites with info about his battalion for those history buffs who like this kind of thing...
(Battalion history)
http://lcweb2.loc.gov/cocoon/vhp/sto...r?ID=pm0002001
(Typed account regarding the Remagen Bridge by Captain John Phillip Manger)
http://lcweb2.loc.gov/cocoon/vhp/sto...r?ID=pm0004001
(Veteran's History Project homepage)
http://www.loc.gov/vets/

[bigjlen]

very cool!
ive always been facinated by ww2 and things like this are golden. thanks!

[soberbyker]

The following photo's are of documents my grandfather had. He was USMC in WW2. He was on Iwo Jima a few weeks after the famous flag raising.

(click on photo's for larger version)



Registration Card



Satisfactory Discharge papers



Library Card









Meal Ticket



Draft Papers





Combat Japanese Phrases



Draft Physical Notice

[Emptymag]

Soberbyker,

Awesome documents!
The Japanese phrases paper is especially interesting.

We have other papers and books as well. My father-in-law kept his training manuals as well as some letters written by a British female that seemed to be some sort of military "pen-pal" thing. The envelope is stamped "forces to forces". In one letter she writes of viewing movies showing the horrors of the Nazi concentration camps and says that the films should be shown to all in order to open the eyes of the public.
I even found a hat check tag from the train ride home, tucked inside his dress uniform cap. I think these fragile papers are extremely fascinating.

[chalmitch]

You fellows have a good collection of modern american military history artifacts. We must keep the message clear and in front of all or we will be forced to repeat it with the modern Islamic or Communist threats.

My father served in WWII and then again in Korea. Never on the fronts but there to support those who had the job of engaging with the hostiles.

Best regards,
chalmitch

[soberbyker]

Originally Posted by Emptymag

Soberbyker,

Awesome documents!
The Japanese phrases paper is especially interesting.

We have other papers and books as well.

The Jap phrases one is pretty interesting, stuff like "korosanai yo" which means "we won't murder you" & "buki o stero" "drop your weapons". It explains nouns, adjectives and vowels, has a few standard sentences too. PM me with your email address and I'll send you a full sized copy of it, large file it'll kill dial up.

He also has a picture book, a little black & white photo collection from Japan, it looks like it was a standard issue kind of thing, had white written descriptions on each photo, ie: a man sitting on some rubble, had "Jap sitting on his bombed out house." I also have his jacket with pins and insignias.

I thanked him before he passed for his service.

I have been lucky enough to never have had to put my life on the line for the freedoms I so enjoy. As such, every chance I get I pay tribute/respect to those who have. As a motorcyclist I get many chances as there are lots of rides dedicated to Veterans past and present, I attend as many as I can. I have a USA and POW/MIA flag flying everyday.

Thank You Veterans.

I love this country.

[Emptymag]

soberbyker,

I would enjoy seeing that document full size.
Thanks for sharing!

The WWII stuff amazes me because I can look at those b&w photos and say "I know someone who was there." I think many people feel distant from those WWII vets because it's sometimes difficult to relate to people you see in those photos... b&w makes it feel like it was SO long ago.

My wife was born when her parents were much older. Many people my age had fathers who served in Vietnam. (I'm 39, and my father didn't go-as a result of my birth as I understand it) I guess that's why I'm so honored to have known someone who served during WWII. I only wish I had asked him about it while he was still with us.

My appreciation is great for all who serve. Whether as a cook, a radio operator or on the front line... every job, every serviceman and woman, has an important role to play and they all deserve our thanks.

[soberbyker]

Originally Posted by Emptymag

soberbyker,

I would enjoy seeing that document full size.
Thanks for sharing!

You're welcome. A copy is winging it's way to you now.

[MarkV]

Here's a picture of my dad taken at Parris Island in July 1946. He was high scorer in his platoon on qualification day and this photo ran in the local newspaper. I have the original hanging in my den. He was too young for WWII but stayed in the USMCR and was activated and served in Korea. I have all his discharge papers, his ID card and even his score book from range firing in Boot Camp. Sorry to say he passed away 10 years ago.


And, since this is for Vets, I get to toot my own horn. Here is a shot taken at my retirement ceremony. I served on active duty for 26 years and retired as a Colonel. That's me in the center, my wife Lynn on the right and then LTG Dick Cody. GEN Cody is the current Vice Chief of Staff of the Army. The medal on the right is the Legion of Merit for service. I'll hold comment on the one on the left as it was very humbling to receive it.


It was an honor to serve and thanks to all others who did as well!

[27hand]

I'll have to ask my father if he has any pics from WW2.

If he does, you may notice he will be in a different uniform as he fought for Germany.

He never talked about the war,never a mention till I got back from Vietnam and then very little.

After the war, he picked up his whole family and moved to the country he fought against. He didn't speak a word of English. A local church sponsored us to come to this country and they had a job waiting for him.

I would have liked to have been stationed in Germany but ended up volunteering for SEA.

Later

27hand