Memorial day

[JJIII]

Let us not forget.

[whell]

I always think of Dad on Memorial Day. Just a 19 year old kid, the Navy assigned him to a an LCI (Landing Craft Infantry) as an Electrician's Mate in the Pacific during WWII. They then sent him off to support Marine landings on nasty battle fronts like Tinian, Peleliu, and Saipan. He never spoke about those days much, but when he did, you knew that its was the stuff nightmares are made of.

Greatest generation? Absolutely. Miss you Dad!

[finnbow]

Originally Posted by whell

I always think of Dad on Memorial Day. Just a 19 year old kid, the Navy assigned him to a an LCI (Landing Craft Infantry) as an Electrician's Mate in the Pacific during WWII. They then sent him off to support Marine landings on nasty battle fronts like Tinian, Peleliu, and Saipan. He never spoke about those days much, but when he did, you knew that its was the stuff nightmares are made of.

Greatest generation? Absolutely. Miss you Dad!

Similar to my pop. He was a bit older (30 years old) when WWII broke out and had just finished his undergraduate degree at Georgetown U. He went in for a draft physical in Rockville, MD, at which the doctor said "You won't get drafted until Hitler comes goose-stepping down Rockville Pike" because of his poor eyesight.

He was drafted 3 months later, trained as a medic, and was sent off to New Guinea. His only stories about New Guinea centered on stuff after the fighting. Specifically, he told of the Japs coming out of hiding in their caves in the mountains at night to steal food from the mess hall.

[bobabode]

Originally Posted by whell

I always think of Dad on Memorial Day. Just a 19 year old kid, the Navy assigned him to a an LCI (Landing Craft Infantry) as an Electrician's Mate in the Pacific during WWII. They then sent him off to support Marine landings on nasty battle fronts like Tinian, Peleliu, and Saipan. He never spoke about those days much, but when he did, you knew that its was the stuff nightmares are made of.

Greatest generation? Absolutely. Miss you Dad!

Ditto, only mine got to tour France (battle of Metz) Belgium (Ardennes or battle of the bulge) Germany (Trier and points south) and Austria at the end of the war in Europe.
His division, the 10th Armored seemed to be the sharp point of Patton's spear after he borrowed the division. His theory was that if he kept the 10th AD in forefront of battle he would never have to give them back to the First or Seventh Army. 78% of this division had to be replaced along the way because they were dead or wounded. They were in combat 126 days.

Have a real good Memorial Day and take moment out of your busy day to remember your fellow countrymen & women's sacrifices rendered to us. We owe them more than words can say.

[wgrr]

Originally Posted by whell

I always think of Dad on Memorial Day. Just a 19 year old kid, the Navy assigned him to a an LCI (Landing Craft Infantry) as an Electrician's Mate in the Pacific during WWII. They then sent him off to support Marine landings on nasty battle fronts like Tinian, Peleliu, and Saipan. He never spoke about those days much, but when he did, you knew that its was the stuff nightmares are made of.

Greatest generation? Absolutely. Miss you Dad!

I am sure he had a lot in common with my wifes stepfather. He was a Marine communications tech. He survived all the major Pacific battles. The only thing he ever said about those years was that the Marines involved with communications were always the first in and the last out. Sadly he passed away ten years ago.

[wgrr]

My namesake, Captain Gordon, of the 72nd Pennsylvania Regiment died at the Battle of Pea Ridge, Arkansas during the Civil War. Kind of odd that we were both born in Philadelphia and ended up in NW Arkansas. My situation is much better than his was though.

My grandfather was an infantry grunt in France during WWI. My father was almost legally blind, but had excellent close vision. So he was put to work calibrating Norton bomb sights during WWII. My father in law was a Naval aviator and retired a Commander. Two of my Uncles were Korean vets and were both high ranking officers, one a General the other a full bird Colonel.

Colonel Phillips was the most interesting one of the group. He was a test pilot at Edwards AFB in the late 50,s and 60's. He wanted to be in the Mercury astronaut program but he was 6'1" and the cut off was 6'. He did get his astronaut pin though. He was a test pilot in the SR71 Blackbird development program at the Lockheed Martin Skunk Works.

My Brother is a retired US Army Airborne Ranger. He served in Granada, Panama, and the first Gulf War.

I have never served in the military. I was kind of an idiot for not joining the Air Force after college like my uncles wanted me to. I am sure I would be retired by now with a hefty pension and some of the good old Soci@listic VA healthcare. I just did not have the stomach to join. Vietnam ended the year I graduated from High School. That war left some really bad tastes in peoples mouths.

My wife and I will be visiting the National Cemetery here today to put a flag on my father in laws grave.

These are the soldiers we really need to remember. They died last week in Afghanistan.

US Army Sgt Michael J Knapp, 28, Overland, KS
US Marines Sgt Jabraun S Knox, 23, Fort Wayne, IN
US Army Cpt Jesse A Ozbat, 28, Prince George, VA
US Army 2LT Tobias C Alexander, 30, Lawton, OK
US Army SPC Samuel T Watts, 20, Wheaton, IL
US Army SPC Arronn D Fields, 27, Terre Haute, IN
US Army 2LT Travis A Morgado, 25, San Jose, CA
US Army PFC Cale C Miller, 23, Overland Park, KS
US Marines Cpl Keaton G Coffey, 22, Boring, OR

According to iCasualties, the total number of allied service members killed in Afghanistan is now 3,016.

[piece-itpete]

May God Bless our brave boys (and girls), living or dead.

Pete

[piece-itpete]

I read that it was the losses on the western front that started the desegregation of the army. Truman already knew that whites would accept blacks in combat situations.

I think I'll take time out this weekend to read 'The Longest Day'. The movie does not do it justice.

Pete

[whell]

Here's kind of a cool "tangent".

After posting in this thread, I did a quick Google search to see if I could find a pic of my dad's ship to post. Well, I found one, and it comes complete with a pretty cool story attached. See page 24 of the PDF linked below:

http://www.usslci.com/html/documents...ITEMISSE64.pdf

I remember my dad talking about the Typhoon that hit Okinawa at the end of the War, and his boat getting beached. I don't remember him talking about the Amelia Earhardt thing, but I can imagine on a Navy ship it must have been a source of great scuttlebutt at the time.

[whell]

One more, then I'll stop:

"The Secretary of the Navy takes pleasure in commending

LCI(G) FLOTILLA THREE, AMPHIBIOUS FORCES, PACIFIC FLEET

for service as follows

"For outstanding heroism in action in support of amphibious landings on enemy Japanese-hold Kwajalein and Eniwetok Atolls in the Marshall Islands, and on Saipan, Guam and Tinian in the Marianas, from January 31 to July 28, 1944. Operating dangerously in poorly charted waters off the reef-studded shores of those heavily fortified hostile bases, LCI(G) Flotilla THREE preceded the assault waves to deliver concentrated rocket and gunfire at perilously close range against beach entrenchments, pill boxes and blockhouses, repeatedly navigating unswept channels to carry out their missions, the ships of Flotilla THREE suffered serious damage under heavy Japanese gunfire and the intense cross-fire of our own ships and, despite numerous casualties, rendered substantial aid to our invasion forces. Gallantly responding to the many calls for close-in fire, the units of the Flotilla provided smoke and protective screens for the large combatant and auxiliary vase. sole against hostile aircraft,$ submarines and small craft; they disrupted potentially dangerous counterattacks by Japanese landing barges and they defied enemy fire to conduct daring patrols in support of reconnaissance and demolition parties, The unique and varied service rendered by LCI(G) Flotilla THREE was directly instrumental in breaking down enemy resistance on these.fiercely defended islands and reflects the aggressive fighting spirit of the officers and men who braved fanatic Japanese opposition to fulfill their missions."

All personnel serving in the Following ships which constituted Flotilla THREE during the period of this citation are hereby authorized to wear the NAVY UNIT COMMENDATION Ribbons LCI(G)'s 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 345, 346, 347, 348, 365, 366, 371, 372, 373, 437, 438, 439, 440, 441, 442, 449, 450, 451, 452, 453, 454, 455, 456, 457, 458, 459, 460, 461, 462, 463, 470, 725, and 726.

/s/ JAMES FORRESTAL

JAMES FORRESTAL
Secretary of the Navy"