A thank you to the 'Greatest Generation'...

On this 83rd anniversary of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor I would like to give a BIG shout out to all those folks, both men and women, who answered the call to duty to protect our freedom.  I'm sure a good percentage of us have family members who served in WWII in some capacity.  The number of those folks still with us is dwindling quickly so give them a HUGE hug the next time you see them.  My Dad joined the Army Air Corps and flew B-25s (he was beginning to transition to the B-17s when the war ended). 

And also a big thanks to all veterans who have served our country.  THANK YOU for your service...!!!

Yes, My Father-in-law lived with us for 4 1/2 years. He's gone now, but a Great Inspiration for a Navy Man. He related many memories that I enjoyed. I miss him! My Dad was a Korean Vet. I miss him So Very much. 

My Dad flew P-38s out of Foggia Italy.

My father-in-law served on a sub tender, earned 9 bronze battle stars (was in 9 major sea battles), and ended up in a Japanese POW camp until the end of the war.  As with many veterans, he never mentioned this to us.

Been watching the Historigraph channel on YouTube.  He does a good job of walking through WWII battles, at least imho.

my dad didnt have to go... he was in his 30s... he hitchhiked from indiana to fort roberts california... they didnt know what to do with this hoosier so put him in the 32nd with the wisconsin national guard red arrow men...

left indiana december 8... inducted into the service december 30... the luzon campaign... the ville verde trail... "

The 32nd Infantry Division logged a total of 654 days of combat during World War II, more than any other United States Army division.^[12] About 30 percent of the men in the division had been overseas for nearly three years and had participated in several combat operations. The strain on the soldiers showed up in this battle.^[13] The division was 4,000 soldiers under strength and problems with morale and mental and physical exhaustion were noted as early as April. No fresh division was available to relieve the 32nd, so the division slogged on. Six thousand soldiers were evacuated at least temporarily from the battle for illness, disease, and especially "combat fatigue and associated psychoneurotic upsets."^[14] Guerrilla leader Hunt commented that "the three F's of combat are 'fog, fatigue, and fear' and the latter two deepen visibly near the end of long campaigns or long wars."^[15]

In the words of one author, "the price for that goat path in the clouds had been too high." General Gill would later say that "the 32nd had gained too little for what it had lost."^[16]

my dad and gen gill...

my dad on boat in san fran bay on his way back to indiana.. he said dinah shore was on another boat greeting them with song... 

my dad said there was no food other than oatmeal bags dropped from aircraft... he said they cut open giant centipedes and gutted them and filled them with oatmeal to eat... he passed in 2003... when i reported his death to the survivors they said there were just a handful still living... 

i often reflect on the greatest generation... no words...

Well, thank You, my friend!!When is the next chance for us to see each other?