I’m late in saying it, but this is to honor my Dad, and all of my uncles who served. Thank God they all lived long lives and died old men in their own beds. I worry that our future vets won’t be so fortunate. I hope I’m wrong.
Last edited 6 months ago by Liz
Skepticollie
November 12, 2023 11:25 am
Not exactly a veteran, but my grandfather went through WWI in his late teens serving on merchant ships, shipping supplies between the US and Britain. When I was a little kid he told me the stories of how he was sunk by U-boats 3 times.
In his thick but very soft Finnish accent, he described how at the beginning of the war, the submarines would surface, pull up to the ship, tell everybody to get off into the lifeboats by megaphone, after which they sunk the ship. That was number one. When the freighters started carrying firearms and even deck guns, the Germans would wait until nightfall, surface, no warning, and use their 4″ deck gun to sink the ship thereby saving on their limited supply of torpedoes. That was number two. After naval vessels started protecting the convoys, the Germans simply let loose the torpedoes at the first good opportunity – number three.
I was silent. He continued. On number two, in the very dark of night, the ship suddenly lit up with artillary rounds coming one after the other, hitting randomly. He was in the pilot house with the captain. He was on the wheel and the Captain gave him instructions to leave when he saw the last lifeboat being loaded. The Captain then ran out to oversea the evacuation. My Grandfather did as he was told and as he reached the bottom of the stairs, a shell landed directly in the pilot house, obliterating it. Seconds.
I wish I could have spent more time with him when I was older but it was one of the last times I saw him and he died a few years later.
What a very close call with the U-boat. I was interested to hear you describe the progression in how U-boats interacted with merch ships. Glad you had the time you did with your grandfather and were gifted with his stories.
Skepticollie, The time you took to Listen, “I was silent”… WAS his port in conveying his life’s story to one he knew loved him. In your silence, he knew you understood. No amount of ‘time’ spent could ever top those moments of truly unconditional Love…In those quiet times, we are One. To Love and be Loved is Eternal~You are Blessed…He was Blessed~
Thank You So Much for sharing this incredible journey of Love…
Pokey
November 12, 2023 11:37 am
I watched several episodes of “Band of Brothers” on TV yesterday. I have seen this series 2 or 3 times in the past, so I pretty much new the story. But I stayed glued to my TV because I am appalled by the current condition of my country. Almost 80 years ago, those men fought to save our way of life in WWII.
They were all about the same age as my father, who served in the Navy and what was called the Scouts and Raiders at that time. He talked very little about his war experience during my upbringing, but the message of what he said was he was a scared young man when he entered the Navy and that he was put through training that was directed at sending him into China behind the Japanese lines. He studied the primary Chinese language of that area, I guess Mandarin, and went through training to prepare his group for the invasion of Japan that was planned to end the war with Japan.
The dropping of the atomic bombs in Japan ended the war without that invasion. My dad said he was very scared as he prepared and had to teach himself the courage to jump from a plane and to face anything that he might see in battle. He admitted that he was relieved that the war ended before the invasion started. That is all I know of his service and the story of “Band of Brothers” closely paralleled in Europe what he was trained for in the Pacific. Those men loved their country and their families so much that they fought with all they could muster in order to preserve them.
Veteran’s Day is always special to me and thirty-three years after my father died, I still hold him high as the greatest person I have ever known. I could go on and on about my father’s family but this is just a Veteran’s day salute to all of the veterans who also believed in their way of life enough to risk their own life to preserve it.
I get thanked a lot for my service. Gotta tell ya. It makes me feel guilty. I served right at the end of the Vietnam War. Most of the time I was defending your freedoms on the beaches of Waikiki. Somehow I had the good luck to serve during the only 5 years in American History where we were not involved with an armed conflict.
You were defending our freedom. We need our military at all times, not just when in active battle.
Deterence and the military’s ability to respond at a moments notice depends on soldiers like you serving. I appreciate that you were on duty those 5 years because in truth you were 100% defending our freedoms.
Kevin, you raised your hand and swore to serve. When, where, and the definition of how your service was spent was above your pay-grade.
I too volunteered in ’72 spending the majority of my almost 5 years sailing the bounding main, and following orders. I figured I should since several generations of the Taxurfeets prior to mine had also raised their hand…
A piece of my heart I extend to all my brothers, sisters, and those who stood by them.
I enlisted in October ’71 and was discharged in August ’73, an early out to go to school. I “volunteered for the draft” meaning I got the 2 year enlistment but had no choice of MOS. I feel as you do. I expected to go to Vietnam, but never left the US. It was a lucky break.
fobdangerclose
November 12, 2023 10:37 pm
Sgt Jerry Michael Shriver
Lt for life John Kerry
and
? Co-Chair
John Mc Cain
I’m late in saying it, but this is to honor my Dad, and all of my uncles who served. Thank God they all lived long lives and died old men in their own beds. I worry that our future vets won’t be so fortunate. I hope I’m wrong.
Not exactly a veteran, but my grandfather went through WWI in his late teens serving on merchant ships, shipping supplies between the US and Britain. When I was a little kid he told me the stories of how he was sunk by U-boats 3 times.
In his thick but very soft Finnish accent, he described how at the beginning of the war, the submarines would surface, pull up to the ship, tell everybody to get off into the lifeboats by megaphone, after which they sunk the ship. That was number one. When the freighters started carrying firearms and even deck guns, the Germans would wait until nightfall, surface, no warning, and use their 4″ deck gun to sink the ship thereby saving on their limited supply of torpedoes. That was number two. After naval vessels started protecting the convoys, the Germans simply let loose the torpedoes at the first good opportunity – number three.
I was silent. He continued. On number two, in the very dark of night, the ship suddenly lit up with artillary rounds coming one after the other, hitting randomly. He was in the pilot house with the captain. He was on the wheel and the Captain gave him instructions to leave when he saw the last lifeboat being loaded. The Captain then ran out to oversea the evacuation. My Grandfather did as he was told and as he reached the bottom of the stairs, a shell landed directly in the pilot house, obliterating it. Seconds.
I wish I could have spent more time with him when I was older but it was one of the last times I saw him and he died a few years later.
What a very close call with the U-boat. I was interested to hear you describe the progression in how U-boats interacted with merch ships. Glad you had the time you did with your grandfather and were gifted with his stories.
Skepticollie, The time you took to Listen, “I was silent”… WAS his port in conveying his life’s story to one he knew loved him. In your silence, he knew you understood. No amount of ‘time’ spent could ever top those moments of truly unconditional Love…In those quiet times, we are One. To Love and be Loved is Eternal~You are Blessed…He was Blessed~
Thank You So Much for sharing this incredible journey of Love…
I watched several episodes of “Band of Brothers” on TV yesterday. I have seen this series 2 or 3 times in the past, so I pretty much new the story. But I stayed glued to my TV because I am appalled by the current condition of my country. Almost 80 years ago, those men fought to save our way of life in WWII.
They were all about the same age as my father, who served in the Navy and what was called the Scouts and Raiders at that time. He talked very little about his war experience during my upbringing, but the message of what he said was he was a scared young man when he entered the Navy and that he was put through training that was directed at sending him into China behind the Japanese lines. He studied the primary Chinese language of that area, I guess Mandarin, and went through training to prepare his group for the invasion of Japan that was planned to end the war with Japan.
The dropping of the atomic bombs in Japan ended the war without that invasion. My dad said he was very scared as he prepared and had to teach himself the courage to jump from a plane and to face anything that he might see in battle. He admitted that he was relieved that the war ended before the invasion started. That is all I know of his service and the story of “Band of Brothers” closely paralleled in Europe what he was trained for in the Pacific. Those men loved their country and their families so much that they fought with all they could muster in order to preserve them.
Veteran’s Day is always special to me and thirty-three years after my father died, I still hold him high as the greatest person I have ever known. I could go on and on about my father’s family but this is just a Veteran’s day salute to all of the veterans who also believed in their way of life enough to risk their own life to preserve it.
I get thanked a lot for my service. Gotta tell ya. It makes me feel guilty. I served right at the end of the Vietnam War. Most of the time I was defending your freedoms on the beaches of Waikiki. Somehow I had the good luck to serve during the only 5 years in American History where we were not involved with an armed conflict.
You were defending our freedom. We need our military at all times, not just when in active battle.
Deterence and the military’s ability to respond at a moments notice depends on soldiers like you serving. I appreciate that you were on duty those 5 years because in truth you were 100% defending our freedoms.
“They also serve who only stand and wait.”
Kevin, you raised your hand and swore to serve. When, where, and the definition of how your service was spent was above your pay-grade.
I too volunteered in ’72 spending the majority of my almost 5 years sailing the bounding main, and following orders. I figured I should since several generations of the Taxurfeets prior to mine had also raised their hand…
A piece of my heart I extend to all my brothers, sisters, and those who stood by them.
I enlisted in October ’71 and was discharged in August ’73, an early out to go to school. I “volunteered for the draft” meaning I got the 2 year enlistment but had no choice of MOS. I feel as you do. I expected to go to Vietnam, but never left the US. It was a lucky break.
Sgt Jerry Michael Shriver
Lt for life John Kerry
and
? Co-Chair
John Mc Cain
Left Jerry behind