I met a very old man today he was 93 and in good health although little forgetful as he shuffled around the house. I was speaking to him being nice and patient because he is old and deaf and slow. As I left his house I saw a Silver Star plaque lying on a pile of stuff he was moving into storage. I meant to ask him about but he had already left. I was curious what the story behind the plaque, so I spent some time surfing the web. What I discovered was incredible. That old man 69 years ago last January was a 21 year old platoon Sargent in the Marine Reserves fighting for his life on the beaches of New Britain Island in the South Pacific. He fought in the battle of Gloucester Bay. Leading his men to safety after being cut off from the main force by the Japanese defenders. He took out two machine gun nests, then while under fire and wounded he then used semi pores (flags) while standing in the open on the beach to call in naval bombardment and guided in a halftrack to rescue his men. The citation further states that though seriously wounded he continued to fight until he and his men were safe.
This old man frail and forgetful. A war hero, Silver Star winner, the last of the greatest generation. All this from a handshake a hello and a little plaque on the wall.
I met someone similar a few weeks ago over at Iggys, nice old gentleman, Navy. When he understood I knew a little history he opened up a bit more. He was on the ships in the Pacific, his ship was hit. Wanted nothing than to honor those that didn't make it.
These "kids" coming back from Iraq & Afghanistan are going to be a another great generation. They will do better with yet another mess left to them from those that are the generation before, cleaning up the mess of the Boomers.
Today I saw a presentation by a Holocaust survivor so I was just tonight researching the 3rd armored division, the Spearhead. My wifes grandfather Val Santhouse was an 18 year old tank commander in the 3rd. So many men were lost that he became a commander by default. He lost so many guys on the turret machine gun that he stopped learning names of the replacements. They fought at Normandy, the Bulge, etc. They also liberated the Dora-Mittlebau camp. He still can't really talk about it, or the war in general so I try to read as much as I can. So before I came over to this site I was reading on the 3ad website when I came across the name another member of 3rd armored, Frank Woolner. I have to ask him this weekend if he knew Frank It is a longshot, but he would certainly have know who Frank was after the war and they were both New Englanders, so who knows.
I also found a youtube link on the 3ad site. It gave me chills that Val is very likely in one of the tanks in the video. I dread the day when the last of these guys leave us. We could never do enough to honor them.
I would love to here some of the things he has to tell. I work with a few guy that have a Bronze star from Nam. Very interesting men to talk to. I thank them all for their service.
I would love to here some of the things he has to tell. I work with a few guy that have a Bronze star from Nam. Very interesting men to talk to. I thank them all for their service.
Guys from that era don't/wont talk about. The greatest generation. My father's brother was awarded one in Korea. Manned a machine on a disabled tank keeping his men safe as a Sgt. I have the newspaper clipping. ever said one word about it.
Swimmer a.k.a. YO YO MA
Serial Mailbox Killer/Seal Fisherman
My grandfather was at Guadalcanal, Tarawa and Saipan. He talked to me about it... Every detail. What he went through was unbelievable. Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device
A few years ago I was in DC for Veterans Day and went to the parade. I was at an intersection and diagonally across from us were protesters from some religous group with signs saying (God hates soldiers) and other things, they had children with them holding signs(brainwashing?). As the Korean and Viet-Nam vets passed many flipped them the finger and yelled FU. Then a car with WW2 Medal of Honor recipients was turning the corner and stopped right in front of the protesters. The elderly gentelman inside stood up at attention and snapped a salute at the protesters. At that moment I became a little embarrased as tears flowed down this 60 year old construction workers face. Then when I looked around I found everyone around me had tears flowing down their faces. At that time I realized that because these hero's and the many who fought and died did what they did was precisely why the protesters had the freedom to protest.I have never been more humbled in my life! Mike Lange
Last edited by clambo; 04-13-2013 at 10:37 AM..
Reason: spelling
Sounds like Phelps and his westboro baptist church of hatred. They got theirs this winter.....someone bought the house across the street and painted it the colors of the gay pride flag. Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device
I've stuck non pc self in the middle of these groups expressing my freedom of speech. Let's just say they were impressed with my ability with colorful metaphors. Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device
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