My Gratitude For Our WW2 Vets

Plaid Pants2 · ‎03-14-2015

My dad is a WW2 vet.

He never saw action, because his last day of Basic, was when the war was declared over.

I am thankful for that.

If he had seen action, I might not be here.

But, my heart has been and is touched by those who did see action.

I have one memory that I treasure.

About seven years ago, or so, there was an Honors Flight flying out of my airport.

I don't know if you have ever heard of Honors Flight, but they take WW2 vets and their companions on an all expense paid three day whirlwind tour of Washington D.C.

I didn't work that day, but I showed up anyway.

I was on the second floor balcony, looking at all of the people below.

There were vets in uniform, and there were vets wearing their caps.

There were vets in wheelchairs, some with walkers, some with canes, and some walking unaided.

I was moved to tears, because I said to myself, "Honey, remember this moment. You will never again see this many vets in one place."

Tears came to my eyes, as they do now, because in that moment, my heart broke for them.

I was sad at the hell that they saw and went through, when they were only young boys, and knowing that every day they are dying, leaving fewer and fewer of them.

Yes, they were the honored ones on the flight and trip, but I felt honored to be in their presence.

How do you say "Thank-you" to a group who gave such sacrifice for us?

Anyway, I just wanted to share that.

BirkiLady · ‎02-22-2015

Thank you for sharing.

My dad DID fly a plane in WWII. He didn't talk about it. Following both our parents deaths, we found many newspaper clippings and letters he had written to mom. He was in the heart of everything. It was a frightening, yet exilerating time for him.

He was always so proud of his status as a Veteran. Lincoln has a huge American Legion Post for decades and my parents loved to dance and dine there. Later, my husband and I also joined the same Legion Post, but Viet Nam Vets were never given the same respect.

Nebraska just held a day of flags at half-staff honoring our WWII Veterans. There are only five still living from our State. Of those elderly servicemen, four attended the ceremony at the State Capital. What an amazing group of men in their 90's! The greatest generation, indeed.

Money screams; wealth whispers.

kivah · ‎03-11-2010

Those are true American heroes. So glad President Trump is honoring them!!!!

bmorechick · ‎03-11-2010

My dad is 92, still lives in the home we grew up in by himself, drives, and does his own shopping and is a very proud WWII and Korean Navy vet. He too never talked about his services or experiences until much later in his life..like maybe when he was 85. Many, many pictures and now we have the stories. He too is exceptionally proud of his service, as are we. We try and get him to as many navy ship exhibits and tours and always, always proudly, he wears his vet caps. So many enlisted men shake his hand and honor his service. They are shaking the hand of yes, one of the members of the greatest generation. I work in a complex where there is a vet center and most vets coming and going in and out are Vietnam vets. I agree they did not receive the deserved respect upon return, but they get mine.

Thank you to all who have served and to those who continue to serve.

drizzellla · ‎03-14-2010

@BirkiLady wrote:
Thank you for sharing.

My dad DID fly a plane in WWII. He didn't talk about it. Following both our parents deaths, we found many newspaper clippings and letters he had written to mom. He was in the heart of everything. It was a frightening, yet exilerating time for him.

He was always so proud of his status as a Veteran. Lincoln has a huge American Legion Post for decades and my parents loved to dance and dine there. Later, my husband and I also joined the same Legion Post, but Viet Nam Vets were never given the same respect.

Nebraska just held a day of flags at half-staff honoring our WWII Veterans. There are only five still living from our State. Of those elderly servicemen, four attended the ceremony at the State Capital. What an amazing group of men in their 90's! The greatest generation, indeed.

My Dad also flew planes and did not talk about it. He went on a mission called Low Level Mission. It was to bomb the oil refinery in Polesti, Romania that the Germans were using. The planes were to come in under the radar. Well, my Dad's group was in North Africa. The Commander of my Dad's Bomb Group thought that the whole idea was ill planned. They were all to write a letter to their wife or parents the night before their mission because of the high risk.

The Commander was right. My Dad's group came from North Africa, another group came from Britain and another Greece. Some groups took wrong turns, were shot down by soldiers standing on the ground. It was a mess. Only 1/3 of the guys made it back.

My Dad had flown his necessary amount of missions and was supposed to be going home. WELL, they wanted him to fly one more mission - the Low Level Mission. His plane and crew were given to another pilot, since Dad was supposed to go home. His former plane and crew were shot down and everyone was killed. The plane Dad flew on the mission was also damaged and some crew injured but Dad was able to get it back to North Africa.

When I was cleaning out my Dad's stuff when he died. I found a picture of his plane that was shot down in his wallet. He carried it with him all those years. I never knew any of this until there was a 50th Anniversary Service.