60+ year old thread.

Like many others my dad never said much about his days in the western south pacific - until he was a few years older than I am today, like 78+. Then....he DROVE (freaked sis and I out) to Las Vegas for the "one last reunion" of his army outfit. An "Engineering Boat and Shore Battalion" - they had 3 companies of headquarters, and boat crews (landing craft) - and then D, E, and F companies were landing parties (combat engineers). My mom called and asked if I would come up there and rescue the two of them - so I flew to Vegas to be their driver. There were supposedly more than 50 men there - but only 5 from the landing parties (pop was alone representing company D). They hit 11 beaches - 4 where there was heavy resistance - and they arrived 45 minutes ahead of the infantry, to blow open a hole in the shore defense. His company was there watching when MacArthur waded ashore at Lingayen Gulf - according to dad, they had been there since 4:30 AM......

He was grateful for the abrupt end to the war as none of them expected to survive a landing in Japan. The landing parties ended their duties as security forces at the Hiroshima nuclear site - then they went home.

 

My dad had no war stories because he lost an eye in a head-on collision when he was 20. A brand new 1926 Buick. He seemed to feel some guilt over not serving, though. He did have stories about rationing and such. My parents were building a log cabin in the woods of Ohio during the war and labor was very difficult to find. They would go down to the USO Club and ask the bored to tears kids in uniform if they would like to help build the cabin, in exchange for free beer, some excellenct potato salad, corn on the cob, and all the horse meat (not rationed) hamburgers they could eat. They always got a load of volunteers, the cabin got built, and everyone had a good time.

 

We didn't finish all the wood splitting. Ran out of 'schwup' as the dutchies around here like to say. I'm beat. Pics later.

Thanks, deeply, to those who lost their lives in service to our country. There is no way to repay the debt.

 

Dad never talked about his time in the Sixth armored division until I returned from SEA. I he figured I’d understand.

I never understood what my dad went through when I went overseas until my boys went to Iraq.

 

Good morning fellow Pennsyltuckyvanians!!!

Yesterday turned out to be a a nice weather day here - got the grass cut although it took about 4.5 hours since the Zero Turn is down for maintenance and I had to use the garden tractor.
I also got the truck washed, waxed and cleaned out.

My Dad enlisted in the Marines in '46 but was too late for WWII - spent 2 years in southern California and then into the Marine Corps Reserve. He was activated for Korea but I never remember him talking about his experiences. The Dad I knew as I grew up was a functional alcoholic - an electrical engineer. It wasn't until many years after my parents divorced that I learned that he had held his best friend as he died, pleading for my Dad to save him, after he took the direct hit from a mortar round that struck on his side of their foxhole..my dad was untouched. I'm convinced that my Dad suffered from what we now call PTSD and he drowned out the terror and guilt with alcohol. It wasn't until 9/11/01 that I understood how real those nightmares can be - how you can see and feel the heat of the flames, hear the screams and smell the burning fuel and flesh - and how hard it is to understand why you just aren't strong enough to make them stop. My dreams faded - I don't think my Dad's ever did. Sorry for the story - just felt the need to get it out.

Life is good and I have truly been blessed. Stay safe out there my friends!!

 

TY for posting . This had to be a great life experience for you.

Neither one of my parents talked too much about WWII. When my dad was in his 60's he told me that the sickest he ever was when he was on a ship waiting to land at Anzio. He said his platoon drew straws to see who would carry the radio on to the beach, Him and another guy got the short straws and had to carry the radios. He told me the rest of the platoon was killed during the landing. I am lucky to be here today writing this reply.

Like so many of you both my parents and most of my aunts and uncles served. My grandmother lived in Washington DC and had 3 sons and 2 daughters that served. I was told that on weekends it was like a mini USO club at my Grandmothers house. My dad and his brothers and sisters always had a lot of friends over to get away from the barracks and enjoy a good meal. Somehow there was always enough even during the hard times when everything was rationed.

One of the reasons we are who we are today is because of our parents. Their sacrifices helped to mold our values.

 

Good Morning Folks. Hope everyone had a good weekend. It was inspiring to read all of the posts from our porch folks. I reflected on my parents time during WWII and what it must have been like living during those times.

Thanks for posting Tom. So true a statement.

Have a great day folks and be safe.

 

Good Morning

As always, my utmost respect and sincere appreciation. Be well, safe, happy, and thankful.

Rob

 

Good Morning Porchies! Gee, 4'th wettest May on record (ATX), and we got another 1/2" in the middle of the night.

I very much have enjoyed and reflected on your accounts of your fathers' in the service. Dad never talked much about WWII either. When prodded, he would only tell me the story of when his squad captured an Italian General! He was in one of the Italy landings, and he said they were just a "mop up" detail. On the way North, his squad came upon a regally uniformed, well decorated officer, waving a pistol and shouting in Italian! They disarmed him, and took him prisoner, convinced they had somehow captured an Italian General. He yelled and screamed at them constantly, but no one spoke Italian. So, they sent someone in a Jeep to go fetch someone who did. An Lt. came back, and after calming the prisoner down, and getting something useful out of him. "Well", the Lt. told them, "congratulations on capturing the Fire Chief from the last village over."

Have a great new month everyone!

 

Morning all:

 

Good friend's father was from Buffalo, NY, born in NY to German Parents, enlisted was in the Bloody 8th stations in England. Ball Gunner on a B17. Shot down three different times; he was small and nimble enough to get out of that ball turret and bail out when the pilot gave the order. One time, the captain told the crew they were behind enemy lines; US troops captured him. He realized he was surrounded, and yelled 'Nicht Shiessen". It turned out he was surrounded by American Troops who thought he was a spy! Tossed into a stockade, thankfully rest of the crew found him and dragged him back home.

Dad was one of nine kids. Oldest was married and had kids, so he wasn't called up. Youngest two, too young. Six remaining all served during WWII. My aunts were WACs.

My uncle, second from right, was part of the ground crew that kept the Memphis Belle flying. He had some interesting stories of making sure everything was ready to go. If a door gunner was missing, up you went! He flew three missions but was never on the record as having flown aboard the plane. Occasionally a crew member had a little too much the night before or found a warm bed and didn't make morning roll call. They made it back safely but were quite bummed that they stayed in England and kept the planes flying. But, like my dad, farm kids and it was mechanical could find a way to fix things.









My Uncle Bob and Dad (on the right). ROTC 1938 Pullman, WA.

 

Good morning, everyone!! Make today a good one!!

 

Good Morning Folks.
Got an E-mail from the adjuster at Liberty Mutual yesterday explaining there was more damage under the bumper and a check for the extra repairs is being sent directly to the repair shop. . I have never had as good an experience (even though it was for damage on my Tacoma) with an insurance company as I had with Liberty Mutual, even though I don't have a policy with them. Tonneau cover arrived yesterday after a 3 month wait for the factory, so I spent several hours installing it. Install was fairly easy and it looks great (pictures to follow later today). It's the Extang Encore Tri fold.

Have a great day Folks and be safe.

 

Ken: Waiting on pics! Why did you choose a trifold? My 12 year old Access Roll Up is showing signs of wear, understandable, and I might be in the market for a replacement.

Going to finish detailing the wife's Avalon today. It will be ready for the summer trips this year.

 

Good morning Tom, I had the Extang Max rollup with the snaps for 13 years and it held up quite well. The problem came about with cold weather. If I had to use the bed for hauling a big item, I had to put the Tacoma in the garage with a small space heater under the cover to heat it up so I could snap it back in place. A royal pain in the buttocks. I looked at many tonneau's and settled on the Extang Encore because it has the option of opening up just front cover if items slide up to the cab end of the bed. It has a lock on that cover. It has 2 straps to tie down the 2 back covers if you need to open it for more space and if you need the whole bed, it is easy enough to remove the whole cover. Only drawback is the anchoring system sticks into the bed by an inch and a quarter. I don't plan on doing much hauling with the Tacoma so it will suit my purpose. Her is a installation video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bgMfA2J7Hqk

It says for a 2016, but it fits all 3rd gens. Not sure if they have it for 2nd gens. Lots of covers out there and YouTube was my friend with helping to decide which way to go.

 

Interesting. I like the lock but the drain tubes I view as a weak link since I do my share of bulk materials transport from garden centers. The video did not show total removal of all 3 panels but that should be possible. The lock feature is a big feature of the cover and coded to the tailgate key is a winner.

 

Good Morning Porch Folks! More coffee! Looks like it's mowing after that, because it's not raining and it's gonna!

 

Since it's not a huge estate, I'm done!

 

Nice yard Kurt. The grass always looks good after it is freshly mowed.

Here is my new tonneau.

 

Nice. Those solid covers have a nice formal look.
My neighbor has a slotted roll up. He showed me the box it rolled into the other day, I couldn't believe how small the box was.