War dedication thread

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Barracuda

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Boss-Barracuda
War can be a good and terrible thing. It brings countries against each other, forcing our brave men (sometimes women) to fight for the freedoms our countries contain. War can bring families together, but in the process can tear families apart. This is why I would like to dedicate a thread to our soldiers.

If you have a relative that has been in any war, please post it here. Preferably post a picture, but a simple description of who they are, and what they did would be great.
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James Bernard Griffin is my grandfather and he was a medic in World War II. Like all of my grandparents, I don't have much of a memory of him when he was alive because I was only a little kid when he died. The only thing I know about his time in the war is that he was blown off a ship in Normandy and woke up in England a week or two later. Due to this, he lived the rest of his life with pieces of shrapnel in his back. He also saw his friend get shot in the head, which had a large impact on his mind after the war.

Unfortunately, due to the trauma, my mom and grandmother got rid of most of his stuff from World War II, which is a shame because I would love to have it. The only thing I do have is that picture (which I scanned and photoshopped onto the cork board), and a medal given to him for his service in the war. I've been told he had gotten two other medals which I will have to contact other relatives to see if I could obtain them.

Though I don't quite know him, I have a tremendous respect for my grandfather, and I know he did as much as he could for the United States of America in World War II.
 
My grandpa, Stanley Joseph Slabinski (where my name comes from), served as a sailor on the USS Biroco aircraft carrier during the Korean War. From what he has told me he was the equivalent of a modern day CAT officer while on the ship launching F4U Corsairs. I regrettably don't know as much as I would like to about his service in the Navy during that time since his memory has been fading due to Alzheimer's.

I am sure I have a photo of him somewhere in his dress uniform. If I can find one I will post it.

My dad, Mike Donaldson, served as an MP during the Vietnam War but never went to the war-zone since his brother's medic helicopter was shot down. My dad spent most of his tour of duty in Germany and Italy, then came back to the states to do something at Fort Knox although he has never really told me what. I think he wants me to think it was like the Goldfinger movie or something.
 
My granddad was in WWII, part of a British Airborne Division or something.

Got captured by the Germans on Crete and was a POW for about three years. I still have his war diary.
 
My Grandfather, Richard Ysseldyke fought in the Korean War and served under the United States Air Force. He was based in Alaska, and as I recall, he piloted the F-94 Starfire. He has some photos of him in the service, but I only know of the few he carries with him and the ones that are hidden somewhere in their house. As far as I know, he never saw combat, but he is very proud to have served his country.
 
My grandfather served in the 501st airborne in WWII. I did my 8th grade report on his service in the military, which was really an amazing project. The only wound he sustained was in a thumb, but fortunately penicillin had been introduced the month before so they were able to save his thumb. He was also a member of the Roosevelt Guard occupying Berlin after the war. There were really some awesome stories.

Sadly his health is going now. He hasn't been the same after his last massive heart attack and fortunately his recent lymphoma biopsy came back negative. It will be very sad to see him go.
 
My Grandfather, Jack C. Wrenn, was the chief pilot of a B-24 crew during World War Two. He was later assigned to the 36th RCM, a top secret division that was the "granddaddy" of electronic warfare. the planes had early radio jammers and dropped huge amounts of chaff, little strips of Aluminum to send radar stations on the fritz. I don't know too much else.. I can't get a hold of my Uncle (who knows more detail about what my Grandfather did) And my Grandfather died in 1982, seven years before I was born. I forgot to bring my picture of him and his crew from Kansas City. :ouch: I have a thread on that somewhere..

[Sidenote] He was also the Mayor of Marceline, Missouri in 1956 when Marceline's most famous resident (and said resident's brother) came for a homecoming. Walter Elias and Roy Disney came to Marceline to commemorate the Walt Disney Elementary School and gift a Disneyland ride to the city of Marceline, the Midget Autopia[/Sidenote]
 
My Father, who was an excellent marksman with a Browning Automatic Rifle, served in Korea in the early '50's.
In his time, he drove a water truck, (the kind that put out fires), He was wounded in battle, though I know little about that, but he did receive a purple heart.

In the late 1950's, and part of the 60's he was a drill instructor, likely one of the first African-American DI's.

During my life, he was the enlisted aide for 3 "Flag Rank" officers, including General Omar Nelson Bradley. He was drafted in 1953. Retired in 1977. I don't know what he did that was "hero" status, but his funeral (one of the worst days of my life) included a 21-gun salute.

I spent four years in Uncle Sam's Canoe Club. (USN).
I was assigned to the last ship to fire on Beirut in 1983. USS W.S. Sims FF1059.
For those of you who take the time to research to try to find the old girl, be aware that she was sold to Turkey several years ago.
The same ship was under the Space Shuttle Challenger in 1985 when it exploded shortly after take-off. I had the honor and misfortune to be part of the SAR of that ill-fated ship.
I also have many funny stories about those times. Most take a little ETOH, to loosen the tongue.:)
 
I'll just repost:

https://www.gtplanet.net/forum/showthread.php?p=398504
My grandfather on my mother's side fought in WWII, he became a pyrotechnics expert...blowing up bridges and buildings so the Germans couldn't easily use the paths and roads the Allies were using. He was honorably discharged after getting shot twice, meriting two Purple Hearts.

I told him when I was about 12 that a life in the military sounded neat. He gave me a stern look, and said..."Please don't...unless our country has no choice. I fought so you hopefully won't have to."

When he died about 18 months ago, there was actually one member of his battalion (?) was present to say goodbye...'ol Abe never told me he stayed in contact with his army buddies, but apparently, one was present in full attire to say farewell.

When he was at the funeral, I had no qualms about crying aloud, and I suddenly understood how much that man meant to me and my freedoms.
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Here are three pictures of the medal my grandfather received. I'm very sorry for the quality but my mom's camera really sucks.

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The back of the medal says:

Freedom
From Fear And Want
Freedom Of Speech
And Religion
 
My maternal grandpa was a Korea vet. Beyond that, I think the rest of my predecessors were in Europe. I know that someone in my maternal grandma's family was some kind of military officer in Sicily. There's a little memorial plaque somewhere near Palermo which honors him.

I know a lot of vets too.
 
I don't know alot about my relatives army service records. Due to not really being talked about, however...

My grandad trained soldiers during the war, I believe he was based in the UK all the time. Before the war he was based in Africa with the RAF. As was my Nan's brother who was shot down off the west coast of Africa before the war, we believe he was in the secret service. My other grandads two brothers were both in the army and both served in Europe and saw action, again I don't know much about it. My Nan served in the Womens Land Army (I think that's what it was called), she packed parachutes, which is where she met my Grandad. More recently my cousin was a Muslim Liasion officer in the Serbian wars, he's now a succesful stock broker.

I'd love to know more about the history of my family in service but there's not much info out there, and of course it's now at the point where there are few stories to be told due to them dying.
 
Respect to all of the people who have served. It's unfortunate that when two governments disagree, it's the citizens and their families that suffer.
 
After hearing your stories, I felt that I needed to log in just to share my short story...

My maternal grandfather, who I don't even know his name of, was a Korean War vet serving in the People's Liberation Army. He was just an ordinary soldier, the privates carrying the AK-47 rifles. He and others were used ruthlessly, and my mom tells me that he once said to have marched while sleeping. Water and food were scarce, and it was a surprise he even made it out of the war alive.

Since him and I coexisted in this same world for only two weeks, I never got to meet him, much less know his name. But I do think about him once in a while, and the things he had to go through as a soldier in the PLA.
 
Hope you guys don't mnd about bringing this back...

We recently had rememberance day (November 11, the 90th anniversary since the end of WW1) My grandpa fought in WW2 and so did my great uncles, which i'm not sure if they came back or not.

Lest we forget.
 
My grandfather served In WWII, he was a chef on one of the ships, i have to look for more details............
 
Gil
Some of us will always remember.👍
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Every last one of us should remember , even if you are a conscientious objector to the military. Remember they got shot at and died for your country.
 
My late Grandfather ( on my motherside from stories I hear from her) was a Filipino Guerrilla Fighter during WWII, he survived the Bataan Death March:
Image:Bataan_Death_March_route.PNG


My late uncle( from my mother side) was in the USMC during Operation Desert Shield/Storm.
Both were great people though my Grandpa had amnesia and didn't speak English at all. I was too shy as a kid to approach him. As for my uncle though I was shy as a kid but when I saw how it hurt my mom greatly when she heard of his passing . I realized how great of a person that he must of been back then.
 
I don't have a family member, but I do have a close friend (who also works at my karate dojo) who was in the USMC and was in the Persian Gulf War from November to the end in February. He was a Judge Advocate and was discharged with the rank of Major. He's one of the strongest individuals I know, and was one of the biggest influences behind my choice to join in the next few years. He was able to keep his rifle, which stays at his house (to my knowledge).
 

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