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:

http://i.imgur.com/zlOVQ.jpg

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!

[SAUTO]

Pretty fucking neat
Posted via Mobile Device

[OnTheWarpath15]

Badass.

[Easy 6]

Killer find, i'd be asking grandma if there was any more of it.

[notorious]

We have stuff that my Grandpa kept from WWII which includes intelligence, photos, and maps before invading Iwo Jima.


Those guys were Real Men.

[lewdog]

How long until you are on Pawn Stars selling this?

[BlackHelicopters]

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad would like to purchase these.

[FAX]

Any artwork?

FAX

[rockymtnchief]

How long until you are on Pawn Stars selling this?

IIRC, Pawn Stars won't buy anything Nazi related.

[Strongside]

Any artwork?

FAX

Unfortunately no. There is a lot of other stuff, though. An 'SS' belt buckle, a couple of N.S.D.A.P. dishes and a jewish star patch. Grandma said he sent a lot of things back while he was over there, and that they have some other things in storage as well. I wish there was artwork, though. No one did propaganda better than Nazi Germany. Their artists/PR minds were a military force themselves.

Those guys were Real Men.

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.

[Mizzou_8541]

That's awesome!

[In58men]

WW2 was the most interesting topic in history class.

[Jenson71]

If I were you, I would try to find if there are any surviving members of your grandfather's platoon, who would have served right next to him. It would be worth contacting them and trying to get some stories about their particular experience. Perhaps one of them has/had written something - whether it be a journal at the time, or a memoir of some kind afterward. They would almost certainly remember your grandpa.

These platoons often met up for reunions, though most have stopped simply because there aren't many living or able bodied WWII veterans anymore.

[notorious]

Oh, my neighbor fought in the Pacific during WWII. I asked him some questions, but you could tell he didn't want to talk about some things.

He carried a BAR.

He passed away a few months ago. RIP Nate. You were a hell of a guy!

[ghak99]

Very cool find!

My grandfather would not speak of his service in the war. He adamantly refused to take his wife to Europe for a vacation because of the experience. "Mud and Blood" may have been muttered once, but other than that I have nothing but a couple of his service pictures.

A generation all to their own.:clap:

[DTLB58]

Very awesome!

I'm a WWII nut, so that kind of stuff really peaks my interest let alone it was your Grandad's. I hope the family can hold onto it and never has to sell it. :clap:

[tmh]

This was indeed the greatest generation. My grandpa fought in WW1 and my dad in Korea and one brother in Nam. That generation did the most bad ass things ever and then spawned one of the worst generations. Its understandable, they were told at the time that this was the war to end all wars. When they came home they wanted to provide for their children a better life growing up and have them want for nothing.

What was lost is a kick ass work ethic and a long standing history of tough as nails self reliance.

[Oz_Chief]

Very cool. Hang on to those.

[GloryDayz]

I love stuff like this... Awesome....

[Dave Lane]

This was indeed the greatest generation. My grandpa fought in WW1 and my dad in Korea and one brother in Nam. That generation did the most bad ass things ever and then spawned one of the worst generations. Its understandable, they were told at the time that this was the war to end all wars. When they came home they wanted to provide for their children a better life growing up and have them want for nothing.

What was lost is a kick ass work ethic and a long standing history of tough as nails self reliance.

Yeah I think that about the "greatest generation" I think it has something to do with generational stuff. I thought my grandpa was tough making through the depression and dustbowl. Guess us boomers will be cool to the generation after yours.

[Strongside]

If I were you, I would try to find if there are any surviving members of your grandfather's platoon, who would have served right next to him. It would be worth contacting them and trying to get some stories about their particular experience. Perhaps one of them has/had written something - whether it be a journal at the time, or a memoir of some kind afterward. They would almost certainly remember your grandpa.

These platoons often met up for reunions, though most have stopped simply because there aren't many living or able bodied WWII veterans anymore.

Great idea. I will look into it.

Although he didn't talk about the war much, his oldest brother, my great uncle Dewey, lived until 2004 and I got a good bit of information from him. He was also an airborne infantryman and I believe he said he was in the 82nd Airborne division. He fought during D-day and then did a major drop during operation Market Garden. The second day of the operation, he was shot 7 times in the left leg, abdomen and chest. He remembers blacking out and waking up in a hospital. When I was a little kid, my cousins and I would ask to see his 'bellybuttons', since his wounds on his chest all looked like bellybuttons...that's what he told us they were.

He always talked about how nice the weather was the day he got shot. I remember his saying something along the lines of 'I was just admirin' how good the warm September sun felt and listening to the wind blow through the trees when all of a sudden it sounded like every gun in Europe was goin' up. Then I just woke up in the damn hospital."

haha.

[MVChiefFan]

Oh man I love WWII stuff. My grandpa was young and got in late so he was a prison guard of captured German soldiers. His brother was one of the first to land on Omaha Beach and was immediately greeted with a bullet 1/8th of an inch from his spine and got a trip back home. But my uncle's (married to my moms sister) dad spent two years fighting in Europe and ended up a POW in a Nazi prison camp and survived...now that's where some real stories are!

[Hog's Gone Fishin]

My father in law was a bombadeer that was with one of the planes that bombed either Hiroshima or Nagasawki , don't know which one , he died well before I met my wife. But we have before and after pictures of the devastation from the bomb that he took from his plane.

[Strongside]

My father in law was a bombadeer that was with one of the planes that bombed either Hiroshima or Nagasawki , don't know which one , he died well before I met my wife. But we have before and after pictures of the devastation from the bomb that he took from his plane.

Wow. I'm sure those are incredible.

[notorious]

My great uncle was a tail gunner in a Liberator. The aircraft was shot down and he perished.

[SAUTO]

My father in law was a bombadeer that was with one of the planes that bombed either Hiroshima or Nagasawki , don't know which one , he died well before I met my wife. But we have before and after pictures of the devastation from the bomb that he took from his plane.
Wow, that's really fucking cool
Posted via Mobile Device

[SAUTO]

My great uncle was a tail gunner in a Liberator. The aircraft was shot down and he perished.

Sorry to hear
Posted via Mobile Device

[notorious]

Sorry to hear
Posted via Mobile Device

Thanks. I was at my parents' house two days ago and found a photo of him in uniform.

This sounds strange, but he died fighting for something very important. We should all be as lucky.

[SAUTO]

Thanks. I was at my parents' house two days ago and found a photo of him in uniform.

This sounds strange, but he died fighting for something very important. We should all be as lucky.
It's a very honorable way to go for sure. I agree.
Posted via Mobile Device

[Buehler445]

Wow. Amazing stuff.

[HonestChieffan]

Thanks for posting

[Bob Dole]

The Greatest Generation, no doubt. Pre-Pussification.

And no "embedded media" and 24/7 bullshit coverage.

[dmahurin]

I'm not at home to take a picture but my great uncle was the seargant that ordered the original raising of the flag on Iwo Jima. I have his missouri medal of honor certificate and write up hanging on the wall. He also played himself in the movie "sands of Iwo Jima" with John Wayne. I remember talking to him as a kid but he passed away when I was around 10.

[Strongside]

I'm not at home to take a picture but my great uncle was the seargant that ordered the original raising of the flag on Iwo Jima. I have his missouri medal of honor certificate and write up hanging on the wall. He also played himself in the movie "sands of Iwo Jima" with John Wayne. I remember talking to him as a kid but he passed away when I was around 10.

Wow. Total badass.

[SAUTO]

Wow. Total badass.

Yep for sure
Posted via Mobile Device

[LiveSteam]

Awesome. I would be proud to.

[Buck]

I have some of my grandfathers things I want to take pictures of and throw up in this thread, but I'm immobile right now and can't.

Those are awesome pieces of history you have there man.

[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.

http://i.imgur.com/2yjiP.jpg?1

[Strongside]

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.

http://i.imgur.com/2yjiP.jpg?1

Awesome. It's a cool thing to hold things like this for sure. You see pictures of it all the time, but it's kind of surreal to actually hold a piece of history.

[Buck]

Awesome. It's a cool thing to hold things like this for sure. You see pictures of it all the time, but it's kind of surreal to actually hold a piece of history.

Yep...and WWII history is so amazing. Even if it wasn't my grandfather's stuff, I would never sell it, no matter the value, because it's so amazing to touch and hold.

[Groves]

The Greatest Generation, no doubt. Pre-Pussification.

And no "embedded media" and 24/7 bullshit coverage.


Totally agree with Bob Dole about the Greatest Generation.


But, to be fair, Eisenhower had hollywood film crews with many of the soldiers because he wanted things documented.

[griZZly64]

Unfortunately no. There is a lot of other stuff, though. An 'SS' belt buckle, a couple of N.S.D.A.P. dishes and a jewish star patch. Grandma said he sent a lot of things back while he was over there, and that they have some other things in storage as well. I wish there was artwork, though. No one did propaganda better than Nazi Germany. Their artists/PR minds were a military force themselves.



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.

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.

[teedubya]

These guys were no doubt, tough... but they were a product of the great depression... and having to work hard. When you realize that that first "Great Depression" was created by the Federal Reserve Bank's pulling in lots of US currency, it created a severe lack of dollars in circulation. The Roaring 20's were like the tech 90's in a since.

Today, the Fed prints about 80 billion currency notes monthly, and the US is still broke? LOL.

Very cool artifacts, indeed. He'd have to taken them directly from dead Nazi soldiers...

[RustShack]

I just got this old school 16 gauge my dad handed down to me thats been handed down a few generations.

[dmahurin]

I'm not at home to take a picture but my great uncle was the seargant that ordered the original raising of the flag on Iwo Jima. I have his missouri medal of honor certificate and write up hanging on the wall. He also played himself in the movie "sands of Iwo Jima" with John Wayne. I remember talking to him as a kid but he passed away when I was around 10.

http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/v/a/n/Robert-Van-house-Oklahoma-City/WEBSITE-0001/UHP-IND330.jpg

Found this picture online. My grandpa has an original of this one in a photo album.

[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]

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 fucking it up.

[Radar Chief]

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.

http://i.imgur.com/2yjiP.jpg?1

Holy shit Buck! Do you realize what that is?

[seclark]

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

[ndws]

Holy shit Buck! Do you realize what that is?

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

[Dartgod]

Holy shit Buck! Do you realize what that is?

I don't. What is it?

[Radar Chief]

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]

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 fucking stud with berries that clanged when he walked.

[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]

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]

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 fucking 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]

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. :usa:

[ghak99]

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..... :clap:

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

[loochy]

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]

Damn. :usa:

Not even a Chiefsplanet person could top that story.

[Strongside]

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.

Holy shit.

[DJ's left nut]

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 fucking awesome, if it is him. Hell, still awesome if it wasn't.

http://www.chiefsplanet.com/BB/picture.php?albumid=106&pictureid=1256

Well they don't get a hell of a lot more impressive than that set of ribbons right there. If that's Buck's grandpa, that's a stone-cold kicker of asses (retired as a Major General).

[Buck]

Holy shit Buck! Do you realize what that is?

LOL of course I know what it is. If you want to read his citation, here ya go.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_L._Day

[Fish]

Holy fuck Buck. That's incredible. You should be very proud.

[Strongside]

LOL of course I know what it is. If you want to read his citation, here ya go.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_L._Day

That is amazing.

[Buck]

Oops I should have kept reading. Yes, that's him.

[lcarus]

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.

Awesome find. I was also gonna say...at least the WWII vets knew what they were fighting and why. As compared to today lol

[Radar Chief]

Oops I should have kept reading. Yes, that's him.

:thumb: Your gramps was a stud.

[Dartgod]

LOL of course I know what it is. If you want to read his citation, here ya go.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_L._Day

That's pretty awesome. I'm sure your family is very proud.

It's funny to think (weird funny, not ha ha) that if he hadn't survived that, you wouldn't be here today.

[Strongside]

That's pretty awesome. I'm sure your family is very proud.

It's funny to think (weird funny, not ha ha) that if he hadn't survived that, you wouldn't be here today.

Butterfly effect.

You should read 11/22/63 by Stephen King.

[Buck]

That's pretty awesome. I'm sure your family is very proud.

It's funny to think (weird funny, not ha ha) that if he hadn't survived that, you wouldn't be here today.

Yep, my Dad was born in 61, so I definitely wouldn't be the Chargers fan.

[The Franchise]

Christ man.....your Grandpa has 6 purple hearts?

He's a fucking hero.

[DJ's left nut]

Christ man.....your Grandpa has 6 purple hearts?

He's a fucking hero.

Or an elite bullet catcher.

[Strongside]

Yep, my Dad was born in 61, so I definitely wouldn't be the Chargers fan.

Well if you put it that way...

haha.

[ChiefRocka]

One of the best threads this board has seen. Oorah!

(of course I'm assuming...)

[Buck]

My favorite thing I have of his is his fighter pilot or helicopter helmet. I don't really know what it was used for, but it looks badass. I'll bust it out when I can climb up there.

[Strongside]

Had my dad shoot me a picture of the belt buckle that I mentioned. He now has it. Pretty cool. Apparently it's an SS NCO buckle.
http://i.imgur.com/4uQc9.png

[Buck]

Had my dad shoot me a picture of the belt buckle that I mentioned. He now has it. Pretty cool. Apparently it's an SS NCO buckle.
http://i.imgur.com/4uQc9.png

I bet a hipster would pay you a shit load of money so they could wear that lol.

[Cornstock]

When I was in high school there was a vet that came and talked to our high school class. He had two whole tables of Nazi artifacts that he had pillaged when the Allies took back Denmark, if I remember correctly. He said when they would come up on a group of German soldiers they would all surrender and get on their knees with their hands behind their heads and he would just walk through their ranks, look at their medals, and any ones he thought were cool he would just take his knife and cut right off of their uniforms. He said they were never too happy about that but he was like "What are you gonna do about it?" He said he would send the medals home periodically, but he only got the chance to mail things every couple of weeks, so he would carry the stuff around in his coat until he got the chance. Also, when they marched into I believe Copenhagen and took back the capital, he was the one who climbed up on the capitol building and cut down the Nazi flag...Which he also carried around in his coat for weeks. He had that on display when he visited. It was huge. And badass.

[Strongside]

When I was in high school there was a vet that came and talked to our high school class. He had two whole tables of Nazi artifacts that he had pillaged when the Allies took back Denmark, if I remember correctly. He said when they would come up on a group of German soldiers they would all surrender and get on their knees with their hands behind their heads and he would just walk through their ranks, look at their medals, and any ones he thought were cool he would just take his knife and cut right off of their uniforms. He said they were never too happy about that but he was like "What are you gonna do about it?" He said he would send the medals home periodically, but he only got the chance to mail things every couple of weeks, so he would carry the stuff around in his coat until he got the chance. Also, when they marched into I believe Copenhagen and took back the capital, he was the one who climbed up on the capitol building and cut down the Nazi flag...Which he also carried around in his coat for weeks. He had that on display when he visited. It was huge. And badass.

That's cool. I read an article somewhere about a platoon of soldiers that were fighting in Poland (I think) that took a group of German infantrymen as prisoners. They went through their things as you mentioned and stripped several medals and insignia from the soldiers. One of the men in the article had taken 3 medals from a German soldier along with one of his dog tags, so that he had his name. In something like 1988, I believe, the man and his family had gone back to Europe to see some of the places he had fought and he took the medals and dogtag with him. He talked about realizing over the years that the German soldiers were just young kids doing as they were told, just like he was and that he had learned to forgive them. They were somehow able to find the German soldier alive in a small town outside of Munich, where the American returned the soldiers medals. The German man was stunned and extremely grateful.

I've always thought that was a really cool story.