OT - VE Day

Rague
Rague Member Posts: 3,653 Member

70 years ago today WWII ended in Europe.  

Comments

  • desertgirl947
    desertgirl947 Member Posts: 653 Member
    I was remembering that as

    I was remembering that as well.  My father, aged 92, is a WW II vet who is still proud of his service in the US Army.  He was not in Europe, though.  His group was in the South Pacific.  His brother was also in the Army, but I am not sure where he was sent.  My mother's two brothers were also in the South Pacific, the younger one losing his life when his plane was shot down.  I have copies of the correspondence between the War Department and my grandparents in updates about Stanley, from when he was listed as MIA to when he was changed to KIA.

    I do wish that our President would take time to recognize these anniversaries......  I did post a picture on my FB wall.

  • Rague
    Rague Member Posts: 3,653 Member

    I was remembering that as

    I was remembering that as well.  My father, aged 92, is a WW II vet who is still proud of his service in the US Army.  He was not in Europe, though.  His group was in the South Pacific.  His brother was also in the Army, but I am not sure where he was sent.  My mother's two brothers were also in the South Pacific, the younger one losing his life when his plane was shot down.  I have copies of the correspondence between the War Department and my grandparents in updates about Stanley, from when he was listed as MIA to when he was changed to KIA.

    I do wish that our President would take time to recognize these anniversaries......  I did post a picture on my FB wall.

    Tell your Dad, I Thank him

    Tell your Dad, I Thank him and would salute him if was where I could!  (I was Army)

    Daddy was Army pre-Pearl.  His cousin was at Pearl that 'Day of Infamy'.  Daddy went onto Normandy on the second wave on DDay.  He switched to the USAF when it was formed and was stationed in France during the Korean War.  While we were there, Daddy took me to so many battlefields he had been at and the Cemetery's where his friends were (Mom didn't want to know/see anything so I went with him.). 

    It is so sad (to me) that so many youth (and older people) have no understanding of the past. 

    "Those who do not learn from the past are doomed to repeat it."

  • desertgirl947
    desertgirl947 Member Posts: 653 Member
    Rague said:

    Tell your Dad, I Thank him

    Tell your Dad, I Thank him and would salute him if was where I could!  (I was Army)

    Daddy was Army pre-Pearl.  His cousin was at Pearl that 'Day of Infamy'.  Daddy went onto Normandy on the second wave on DDay.  He switched to the USAF when it was formed and was stationed in France during the Korean War.  While we were there, Daddy took me to so many battlefields he had been at and the Cemetery's where his friends were (Mom didn't want to know/see anything so I went with him.). 

    It is so sad (to me) that so many youth (and older people) have no understanding of the past. 

    "Those who do not learn from the past are doomed to repeat it."

    Wow! 
    I often think of how

    Wow! 

    I often think of how young most of the soldiers were in our wars.  That definitely is an experience that matures a person quickly. 

    My husband's nephew is in the Marines (career) and been in Afghanistan/Iraq at least twice.  One of the times his small group really got in a jam but were rescued.  They all received recognition for their bravery.  The leader got a special honor -- although delayed due to politics -- at the White House.  Chad and the others were invited to be a part of that special ceremony.

    Our kids/teens/college students are being taught more and more a distorted view of history, much to the detriment of our country.

  • GlowMore
    GlowMore Member Posts: 789 Member

    Wow! 
    I often think of how

    Wow! 

    I often think of how young most of the soldiers were in our wars.  That definitely is an experience that matures a person quickly. 

    My husband's nephew is in the Marines (career) and been in Afghanistan/Iraq at least twice.  One of the times his small group really got in a jam but were rescued.  They all received recognition for their bravery.  The leader got a special honor -- although delayed due to politics -- at the White House.  Chad and the others were invited to be a part of that special ceremony.

    Our kids/teens/college students are being taught more and more a distorted view of history, much to the detriment of our country.

    VE Day * 70 years Ago

    On VE Day 70 years ago I was 8 years old, about to become 9 in June.  My Daddy was in France with the 3rd Army, and my Mom and I and my baby sister were visiting my Aunt in the little town in KY where I was born  (population then about 2,000).   My Aunt had one daughter who was about 17 at that time...and I remember she put me in a Red Wagon and pulled me up and down the sidewalks and we were waving the Flag and all the people were running up and down the streets and hugging and singing and waving Flags and it was a time of great excitement.  I remember that day vividly.

    THE WAR IN EUROPE WAS ENDED................

  • Rague
    Rague Member Posts: 3,653 Member
    GlowMore said:

    VE Day * 70 years Ago

    On VE Day 70 years ago I was 8 years old, about to become 9 in June.  My Daddy was in France with the 3rd Army, and my Mom and I and my baby sister were visiting my Aunt in the little town in KY where I was born  (population then about 2,000).   My Aunt had one daughter who was about 17 at that time...and I remember she put me in a Red Wagon and pulled me up and down the sidewalks and we were waving the Flag and all the people were running up and down the streets and hugging and singing and waving Flags and it was a time of great excitement.  I remember that day vividly.

    THE WAR IN EUROPE WAS ENDED................

    What a great memory!

    What great memories!  I wasn't born til June '46.  

  • crselby
    crselby Member Posts: 441 Member
    The Greatest Generation

    I'm so gald you posted this; I'd heard nothing about it.  What an historic day!!  My father was in Italy then with Eisenhower at Allied headquarters as a radioman.  I must ask him what his memories are of that day!  At a recent concert of music from 30's and 40's, they ended with music from each branch of service, having active and veteran soldiers stand up.  My father was clearly one of the oldest standing, most like seen as a WW2 veteran.  As we were leaving, several people touched his arm and thanked him for his service.  I barely could keep from crying, I was so proud.  They truly are the "greatest generation" as Tom Brokaw wrote! And we reap the benefits of their service and sacrifice!

  • Rague
    Rague Member Posts: 3,653 Member
    crselby said:

    The Greatest Generation

    I'm so gald you posted this; I'd heard nothing about it.  What an historic day!!  My father was in Italy then with Eisenhower at Allied headquarters as a radioman.  I must ask him what his memories are of that day!  At a recent concert of music from 30's and 40's, they ended with music from each branch of service, having active and veteran soldiers stand up.  My father was clearly one of the oldest standing, most like seen as a WW2 veteran.  As we were leaving, several people touched his arm and thanked him for his service.  I barely could keep from crying, I was so proud.  They truly are the "greatest generation" as Tom Brokaw wrote! And we reap the benefits of their service and sacrifice!

    Thank your Dad for me when

    Thank your Dad for me when you can!  Try to get him to tell you of his life.  There is so much we can learn from the past - not just WWII but of what life was in general.  To have someone who wants to know/record/remember/pass on.  Unfortunately, Daddy has been gone for quite a few years but he did live with us after Mom passed and he did pass on a lot of memories to us.  He told our Sons of what it was like in FL growing up when it was still FL - every now and then they remember something he told them.  They even remember some of what I told them what it was like when I was growing up - so different than what it was the last time we lived there in 1991.

    As I said, while Daddy was stationed in France from '52 - '55, he took me to many of the battlefields he had been at and explained what had gone on there.  My 6  - 9 y/o mind did not always understand at the time but in later years, when I thought about it, made more sense.  We also visited many Cemeterys.  While he lived with us and Hubby was deployed, we had lots of long talks after the boys were asleep - I learned a lot and got a better understanding of many things.