World War II stories

[Old School]

With the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II upon us, there have been some good articles recently in which veterans of that war recount their experiences. I enjoy reading these. Here are three I thought were good:

Louisville veteran recounts last raid:

http://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/local/2015/08/14/day-louisville-vet-recounts-last-raid/31710085/?from=global&sessionKey=&autologin=

A Japanese pilot reflects on the war and his experiences:

http://www.cnn.com/2015/08/12/asia/japan-world-war-ii-zero-pilot/

Japanese and Americans, and the site where a B-29 was shot down:

http://www.cnn.com/2015/08/14/asia/japan-wwii-airmen-reunion/

[Matt Dillon]

I recently read an article on the bombings of Nagasaki and Hiroshima. The article included accounts by some who, reportedly, were near Ground Zero and survived. Let's hope that world leaders have the good sense to never use nuclear bombs again. I realize the use of those bombs shortened the war and saved countless Allied and Japanese lives, but the accounts, in the article, are horrific.

[KevinHall]

There is going to be a gathering of WWII veterans in Piqua Ohio on October 15th for story telling. I wish I lived closer to go to that. Link below.

My dad was in WWII. He went to Europe in July of 1944 about 6 weeks after D-Day. He was like most who didn't talk much about the war. He was a replacement and was eventually put in a mechanized calvary unit that was really an Iowa national guard unit. He would always say he just help take supplies to the front. But he did mention a few harrowing events. He was in Germany until about May of 1946. He said he processed a lot of refugees. He said a lot of the were so hungry they would eat the soap they would be given to them to clean up with. My mother kept every letter he sent back while he was over there. My brother has been scanning some of these in as he can for the entire family to read. My dad couldn't say much specifically about what he was doing since letters were heavily censored. But you could tell he really missed home and the way of life he had left.
There are probably less than million WWII veterans left. Its going to be a sad,sad day when they are all gone. We will all be lesser for this.

http://harlandaily.com/opinion/columns/1949/vets-tell-their-stories

[Blue Heaven]

My Paw Paw was in WWII. He was 101st Airborne. When the war was over, he sent home and brought back a lot of stuff: A case of Cognac from the Eagles Nest, a German officers bayonet, a silver tea set, a rifle, some tablecloths with swasticas emboidered on it, and some other things.

[KevinHall]

My Paw Paw was in WWII. He was 101st Airborne. When the war was over, he sent home and brought back a lot of stuff: A case of Cognac from the Eagles Nest, a German officers bayonet, a silver tea set, a rifle, some tablecloths with swasticas emboidered on it, and some other things.

He got some good stuff. My dad brought back some sawtiska's,Nazi arm bands,a German helmut and lots of German money that was and still is worthless.

[Uncle Dave]

My pop graduated from Ahrens Trade School here in Louisville. His chosen craft was electricity. In 1943, him and two of his brothers volunteered for the US Navy. For some inexplicable reason, my pop volunteered to be an electrician on a submarine. His base port was what was left of Pearl Harbor. He said it was a mess. He said life on a sub was rough. Noisy, stinking, leaking, frightening, etc. but he always stated that morale, and the food, was really good. Really proud of my pop and his generation for their amazing service. I still remember, when I was a kid, some of these guys with their horrifying injuries.