WW II History for you all on The 4th of July

[BBerguson]

My late uncle was a waist gunner on this plane and survived the war. I heard the story from him a good number of times but never enough. Farther down this page are pictures of the plane coming down over Iwo Jima. He always teared up (like I am now) and had a hard time finishing when he talked about their pilot, their family, that was killed from the AAA round that hit them and he went down with the plane. Rest in Peace Uncle John.

Ghost Plane Over Iwo Jima

Ghost Plane Over Iwo Jima. 1,801 likes · 1 talking about this. Dedicated to the incredible story of heroism and survival of the B-29 Crew of K-37 Behren's Brood -

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[Jeff H]

I had several uncles in WWII. The one to whom I was closest never talked about it unless it was just him and me and I don't know if he ever talked to anyone else about it. He was in the South Pacific, Army, on the ground. Hearing what he said, I can understand why so many didn't talk about it. It would be rather traumatic to think about it all again, let alone talk about it. I wasn't even there and I don't talk about it.

Thanks for sharing, @BBerguson . Good to have reminders. WWII is unimaginable ancient history to most people alive today, which is sad. It wasn't THAT long ago and the world hasn't change THAT much since then, at least in that this could easily all happen again if we aren't vigilant.

 

[jonjon]

No relatives in WW2. Two uncles in WW1. They had nothing to say either.

 

[RBHarter]

I never met the family of the Civil , Spanish-American , WWI . WWII was an "adopted" Uncle and of course my Grandfather that was under the plumes at Pearl but did his service 37-39 . On a Scotch night Gpa talked briefly about what he did at Pearl . Uncle Bingo talked about a nonspecific beach head , he was a Marine and landed 3 including Iwo Jima but didn't say which one , around a camp fire with a sweet bottle of brandy .

Bingo said something to the effect of "that first guy was really hard to pull the trigger on but he didn't slow up his charge and I had to at about 10 feet . There were 5 more behind him . After that I decided they weren't men just posts to shoot . Being posts it seemed prudent to see how many I could put in a pile ."
Seems a rather cold outlook , but I've never known a kinder more gentle mountain of a man . Unfortunately cancer stole him away in 78' . A few days before he passed , a 210# 6'3" Marine reduced to 89# of bones, he said to my Dad "Dick ain't it hunting season?" He was the only person that ever called my Dad anything but Richard and he had a nickname for everyone he knew . Dad said yes but I want to be here for you . I guess in his very best Gunny he said "there's nothing you can do for me now that you haven't done 100 times already . Take that boy hunting, you can do that for me ." . I expect there was some sappy Bubba/Gump moment conversation then my Dad came home 165 miles and w/o a lot of heart in got out the deks and took me hunting .

Bingo went bear hunting once . It was cold enough that after skinning there wasn't a rush to it bagged to keep the flys away . He said he couldn't eat it , that the skinned bear hanging there looked just like a man . I don't even want to contemplate the possible reasons for that bit of knowledge.

There are those that never really come home , those that talk about it some , those that banked it as another day , and those that talk freely but aren't quite right .

 

[Winelover]

Father was a turret tail gunner in B-24..........didn't talk about it other then they came down hard. Never flew in a plane afterwards.

 

[Missionary]

My oldest Uncle was on a carrier out on the Pacific. His only open thoughts about the enemy in public were rather descriptive. My dad told me one day his flat top had been hit by a kamakazi (Iwo) and he was never the same after that.
My dad was on another carrier and never had to fire a shot in anger.
But they still loved being on a boat and fishing.

 

[Missionary]

I have the highest respect for anyone who has been in combat. Thank you each one of you !

 

[Winelover]

I dated a girl in HS (1968) whose father was a Pearl Harbor survivor. I forget which ship. He became a detective for the local police agency and was already retired..................20 years and out. He picked up a security job at Chrysler, after that.

Had a uncle (dad's sister's' husband) that took a machine gun round in his leg. Never worked a day in his life after that, Mobility was either crutches or a leg brace. He was Irish and a professional happy drunk.

 

[smokeywolf]

Hard to word this without getting political, but...

I wish all who celebrate this and other 4th of July holidays would take some time to remember, reflect on and thank all those who have, for the last 246 years, gone in harm's way and paid for our freedom and our way of life.

I fervently hope what all those fathers, sons, daughters, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, warriors, soldiers, heroes fought and died for, will survive the challenges we face today. Also, don't forget the families who worried, suffered and supported from home.

The best part of holidays like the 4th, Memorial Day and Veteran's Day is not the food, laughter and stories we share, but the opportunity to remember, recognize and thank those who paid for our freedom.

Don't like my mushy patriotism? Put me on your ignore list.

 

[BBerguson]

Hard to word this without getting political, but...

I wish all who celebrate this and other 4th of July holidays would take some time to remember, reflect on and thank all those who have, for the last 246 years, gone in harm's way and paid for our freedom and our way of life.

I fervently hope what all those fathers, sons, daughters, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, warriors, soldiers, heroes fought and died for, will survive the challenges we face today. Also, don't forget the families who worried, suffered and supported from home.

The best part of holidays like the 4th, Memorial Day and Veteran's Day is not the food, laughter and stories we share, but the opportunity to remember, recognize and thank those who paid for our freedom.

Don't like my mushy patriotism? Put me on your ignore list.

It was spot on, thank you!

 

[Bret4207]

Patriotism isn't "mushy", it's "appreciative". I share your views and I will try not to give poor Rick more grey hair by just saying that it's a crap shoot on whether this country will be here in a form we recognize in 20 years. Be an awful shame to dishonor those who fought for what we have.