Random Thoughts VIII

[NewToVolCountry]

Paladin was a cowboy I assume. Never watched the show.

 

[NewToVolCountry]

He was infantry and damn proud of it. I need to get my brother to digitized all his pics during that time and send them to me.

I'd like a look if you ever get them. I wish my godfather had some.

 

[Slydell]

I wish I understood all this

What don't you understand? Knowledge abounds and is willing to give itself up.

 

[NewToVolCountry]

I like learning from you guys. I definitely pick things up.

 

[Slydell]

What don't you understand? Knowledge abounds and is willing to give itself up.

They're just neat because of the history. Bunch of pics of him and his buddies having fun stateside and life in the field in Europe. No pics of battles or sieges. Although, he brought home a few souvenirs.

 

[JTrainDavis]

He was infantry and damn proud of it. I need to get my brother to digitized all his pics during that time and send them to me.

Lol, old Infantry, All of my grandpa's kids (dad included) were Infantryman until my uncle Jim (who went in the AF)

20 years later, my being a Cavalryman got the AF taste out of grandpa's mouth.

And he tossed me one of his filterless Camel's, and told me about the tradition we've had, the Malcolm's, since Ticonderoga and the Lexington Alarm....

And now I'm crying

 

[NewToVolCountry]

They're just neat because of the history. Bunch of pics of him and his buddies having fun stateside and life in the field in Europe. No pics of battles or sieges. Although, he brought home a few souvenirs.

I got a couple. An old trench gun and a German helmet.

 

[JTrainDavis]

They're just neat because of the history. Bunch of pics of him and his buddies having fun stateside and life in the field in Europe. No pics of battles or sieges. Although, he brought home a few souvenirs.

My grandpa lost his left arm, when the Brits broke out the gestapo hauled ass, him and a guy with no right arm teamed up to carry crates of booze to the guys who couldn't move

 

[NewToVolCountry]

What was he shot with that caused him to lose his arm?

 

[JTrainDavis]

What was he shot with that caused him to lose his arm?

Holding La Fiere Causeway with Jumping Jim Gavin when the German armor came up. He caught it about 3" under the elbow, he had a better chance with German doctors than carrying on, so Gavin left him

 

[Slydell]

Lol, old Infantry, All of my grandpa's kids (dad included) were Infantryman until my uncle Jim (who went in the AF)

20 years later, my being a Cavalryman got the AF taste out of grandpa's mouth.

And he tossed me one of his filterless Camel's, and told me about the tradition we've had, the Malcolm's, since Ticonderoga and the Lexington Alarm....

And now I'm crying

Memories are good times but they do have that effect on us. I get a leak or two thinking back on all of it. Wish there was a way to go back in to a particular segment of history and live it until I understood it better or got it right.

We had a neighbor, when I was a kid, that I used to sit on his porch and talk to all the time. He told me stories of what he did before, during and after WWI. I didn't listen as much as I should have and didn't have any questions.

 

[JTrainDavis]

You have a Jumping Jim attitude lol

 

[NewToVolCountry]

Memories are good times but they do have that effect on us. I get a leak or two thinking back on all of it. Wish there was a way to go back in to a particular segment of history and live it until I understood it better or got it right.

We had a neighbor, when I was a kid, that I used to sit on his porch and talk to all the time. He told me stories of what he did before, during and after WWI. I didn't listen as much as I should have and didn't have any questions.

I feel the same way. I was always really curious, but it just seemed off limits with my godfather. Then, for an AP US History assignment, I had to interview a WWII veteran and he was all I had to ask. It was nice just sitting down and listening to his stories. I think it may have been good for him to tell, too.

 

[JTrainDavis]

Memories are good times but they do have that effect on us. I get a leak or two thinking back on all of it. Wish there was a way to go back in to a particular segment of history and live it until I understood it better or got it right.

We had a neighbor, when I was a kid, that I used to sit on his porch and talk to all the time. He told me stories of what he did before, during and after WWI. I didn't listen as much as I should have and didn't have any questions.

Wow,,WW1...like you say, at the time, you didn't realize they'd all be gone...

I have a flag that was flown for my Uncle Jack over 11th Cav HQ in Baghdad, and I have my Grandpa Newell's casket flag, he passed in the fall, he was on the USS Vicksburg, a light Cruiser with the "Fast Carriers".

I regret not asking him more...he wasn't Grandpa Malcolm, gunning down Germans...but he was still 18, and scared ****less....

 

[JTrainDavis]

My Grandfather in law has a historic moment, when we smashed the Siegfried line before the Bulge, he was credited with the first AAA kill of a German plane from a gun on German soil.

2nd Generation German immigrant, to boot

 

[hmanvolfan]

During WWII my dad flew Piper cubs over the lines doing a job called an artillery spotter (these days called a forward observer). Obviously he was attached to an artillary division of the Third Army. He later became a helicopter pilot and went over to the VietNam conflict to run an air base in Can Tho. I'm very proud of him but didn't see any action due to having a high draft number. Sometimes I feel guilty about that.

 

[NewToVolCountry]

It couldn't be helped though. Nothing you could do about it.

 

[JTrainDavis]

During WWII my dad flew Piper cubs over the lines doing a job called an artillery spotter (these days called a forward observer). Obviously he was attached to an artillary division of the Third Army. He later became a helicopter pilot and went over to the VietNam conflict to run an air base in Can Tho. I'm very proud of him but didn't see any action due to having a high draft number. Sometimes I feel guilty about that.

That was a big move they made for those guys.

I have a cousin (but Uncle aged) who graduated from Michigan State, took time off after, and got drafted, and ended up being a dustoff pilot. Just a Holy **** job, looking at what a chopper was then.

 

[Slydell]

I got a couple. An old trench gun and a German helmet.

They seized an SS building in Berlin. He got a sapphire ring, a small caliber officer's gun, 25 caliber made in Italy and I can't remember the brand, a 10'x10' Swastika banner hanging on the wall and an SS knife. The knife was with the scabbard. It had about 6 or so links that allowed it to be fastened to a belt. The links were the SS lightning bolts and skull and cross bones. It was similar to this.

 

[JTrainDavis]

To the Soldier, going to battle, knowing he must go...

I really love you guys stories, and your listening to mine

 

[hmanvolfan]

Damn, I miss my dad.

 

[NewToVolCountry]

They seized an SS building in Berlin. He got a sapphire ring, a small caliber officer's gun, 25 caliber made in Italy and I can't remember the brand, a 10'x10' Swastika banner hanging on the wall and an SS knife. The knife was with the scabbard. It had about 6 or so links that allowed it to be fastened to a belt. The links were the SS lightning bolts and skull and cross bones. It was similar to this.

That's pretty wild. I bet capturing something from the SS was a huge deal.

 

[JTrainDavis]

Damn, I miss my dad.

hm, I am so scared of the day I say that....

 

[milohimself]

RTVIII gets emotional up in this

 

[wildnkrazykat]

Awww hugs guys