Pretty cool find when looking through my grandpas things...

[Strongside]

I recently went to visit my grandmother in Louisiana. My grandpa passed away back in the mid-nineties and was a WW2 veteran. He had been a paratrooper and fought in Normandy and marched through Europe. During their first jump, he had a close encounter with anti-aircraft shelling and was deaf in his Left ear for the rest of his life. He went on to become a minister and I was only about 12 when he passed, and didn't know much about the war then...so I didn't really know what the specifics of his involvement were.

Anyway, My grandma brought out a box of some of his old things and we were going through them and I found some really cool (and creepy) relics from his 'travels' through Nazi Europe. Here's a pic of some cap insignia that he brought back with him:



Needless to say these are in mint condition for their age. I've done a little research and have found only a few pieces like this that are in this great of shape. I'm proud of his service and thought this was a cool find...thought I'd share.


'MERICA!

[bevischief]

My grandpa saw Pearl Harbor bombing and was a radar operator on a submarine off of the coast of Japan when the bomb was dropped on Hiroshima.

[Duck Dog]

Originally Posted by griZZly64

You're hypin with the evil shit. We slaughtered all the natives and nobody complained or called us evil. They were our enemy in that conflict but I'm not gunna say they were evil. Not like guys on the German side could speak up and refuse to carry out orders. We're in the middle east right now imposing our will and telling people how to live in their own damn country.

The Guy has a very cool thread going and you are ****ing it up.

[Radar Chief]

Originally Posted by Buck

Here is one thing I could reach (other stuff is up in my closet and I cant climb up right now).

This was earned in WWII in Okinawa.

Holy shit Buck! Do you realize what that is?

[seclark]

my grandfather(left) meeting up w/his brother in wwII europe.

[ndws]

Originally Posted by Radar Chief

Holy shit Buck! Do you realize what that is?

That looks like a medal of honor. If so, WOW.

[Dartgod]

Originally Posted by Radar Chief

Holy shit Buck! Do you realize what that is?

I don't. What is it?

[Radar Chief]

Originally Posted by Dartgod

I don't. What is it?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medal_of_Honor

Congressional Medal of Honor.
No higher award possible, most are awarded posthumously.

[Radar Chief]

Originally Posted by ndws

That looks like a medal of honor. If so, WOW.

If his granddad lived to talk about how he earned that ribbon he was a ****ing stud with berries that clanged when he walked.

[Radar Chief]

Originally Posted by Radar Chief

If his granddad lived to talk about how he earned that ribbon he was a ****ing stud with berries that clanged when he walked.

I wonder if his name is listed in the registry. It’d be real interesting to read the citation.

http://www.cmohs.org/recipient-archive.php

[ndws]

Originally Posted by Radar Chief

If his granddad lived to talk about how he earned that ribbon he was a ****ing stud with berries that clanged when he walked.

Yep, he most likely experienced things that nobody would ever want to, and he came out of it a man to the highest degree.

My uncle was a marine and fought in Korea, saw some VERY nasty stuff. Although he would talk a little about it, I think only recently has he ever really mentioned much detail.

My dad was about 10 years younger and got his discharge just prior to Vietnam, fortunately. His job description did not offer much long term success (paratrooper, hand to hand, etc..). He was drafted and didn't want to be there, but he did what he had to do regardless. A couple of his close buddies growing up where in the second waive of the draft from his area, and they didn't come home...thats how close to the deadline his discharge was.

Both guys are extremely admirable and are certainly different from my generation and any generations coming. Its sad to think people have changed so much from then to what it is now, especially in such a short time frame.

[Dartgod]

Originally Posted by Radar Chief

I wonder if his name is listed in the registry. It’d be real interesting to read the citation.

http://www.cmohs.org/recipient-archive.php

If I remember Buck's real name correctly, this may be his grandfather. I changed his name to Corporal Hero in the citation from that site.

Pretty ****ing awesome, if it is him. Hell, still awesome if it wasn't.

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as a squad leader serving with the Second Battalion, Twenty-Second Marines, Sixth Marine Division, in sustained combat operations against Japanese forces on Okinawa, Ryukya Islands from 14 to 17 May 1945. On the first day, Corporal Hero rallied his squad and the remnants of another unit and led them to a critical position forward of the front lines of Sugar Loaf Hill. Soon thereafter, they came under an intense mortar and artillery barrage that was quickly followed by a ferocious ground attack by some forty Japanese soldiers. Despite the loss of one-half of his men, Corporal Hero remained at the forefront, shouting encouragement, hurling hand grenades, and directing deadly fire, thereby repelling the determined enemy. Reinforced by six men, he led his squad in repelling three fierce night attacks but suffered five additional Marines killed and one wounded, whom he assisted to safety. Upon hearing nearby calls for corpsman assistance, Corporal Hero braved heavy enemy fire to escort four seriously wounded Marines, one at a time, to safety. Corporal Hero then manned a light machine gun, assisted by a wounded Marine, and halted another night attack. In the ferocious action, his machine gun was destroyed, and he suffered multiple white phosphorous and fragmentation wounds. He reorganized his defensive position in time to halt a fifth enemy attack with devastating small arms fire. On three separated occasions, Japanese soldiers closed to within a few feet of his foxhole, but were killed by Corporal Hero. During the second day, the enemy conducted numerous unsuccessful swarming attacks against his exposed position. When the attacks momentarily subsided, over 70 enemy dead were counted around his position. On the third day, a wounded and exhausted Corporal Hero repulsed the enemy's final attack, killing a dozen enemy soldiers at close range. Having yielded no ground and with more than 100 enemy dead around his position, Corporal Hero preserved the lives of his fellow Marines and made a significant contribution to the success of the Okinawa campaign. By his extraordinary heroism, repeated acts of valor, and quintessential battlefield leadership, Corporal Hero inspired the efforts of his outnumbered Marines to defeat a much larger enemy force, reflecting great credit upon himself and upholding the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.

[Radar Chief]

Originally Posted by Dartgod

If I remember Buck's real name correctly, this may be his grandfather. I changed his name to Corporal Hero in the citation from that site.

Pretty ****ing awesome, if it is him. Hell, still awesome if it wasn't.

Damn.

[ghak99]

Originally Posted by Dartgod

If I remember Buck's real name correctly, this may be his grandfather. I changed his name to Corporal Hero in the citation from that site.

Pretty ****ing awesome, if it is him. Hell, still awesome if it wasn't.

JFC.....

Those are the stories that don't get told enough.

[loochy]

Originally Posted by Strongside

This. Over and over again. I really don't know that my generation or the one below mine could do half of the things that these guys had to do...I admire the bravery of our soldiers today, but this was a fight against true, undeniable evil. Scary shit.

Sure they could. When the time comes to unite against a TRUE threat, mankind can get it done.

[Rain Man]

Originally Posted by Radar Chief

Damn.

Not even a Chiefsplanet person could top that story.