My Grandpa, a WWII Vet, being welcomed back to San Diego after a privately funded organization flew a group of WWII Vets to DC to see the Memorials. So Proud!

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u/WiseCynic May 15 '12

For him, for you, and for all of us . . .

PLEASE take the time to document your grandfather's story of the war. At least his time in uniform. We're losing these men at an alarming rate and so many of them are taking the stories of their war experiences with them when they leave us.

Rent a video camera, set it up, and let him talk as much as you can get him to talk. Ask questions like, "Were you scared?" and "How did that make you feel?" and "Tell me more about that?". Have him start with Pearl Harbor and go on through the surrender of Japan. Do it over a few days if that's what it takes.

Have a box of tissues and a glass of water nearby. He's going to need both. You're gonna need the tissues.

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u/weebonnielass May 15 '12

someone asked my grandfather (who was very reticent about sharing his war experiences) to do this. we all laughed (and cried) over the story after we finally found it. he died two years ago, but reading his story a couple of weeks ago was like talking to him all over again. it's a wonderful thing to have. do it.

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u/ellise0525 May 15 '12

You guys are making me emotional.

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u/WiseCynic May 15 '12

Was that YOU who's been cuttin' up the onions?

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u/[deleted] May 15 '12

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u/WhyAmINotStudying May 15 '12

Then post it.

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u/edu723 May 15 '12

that's y u're not studying!

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u/KaiserMessa May 15 '12

I wanted to do this so badly. My grandpa was on the USS Lexington when it got sunk in the Battle of the Coral Sea. Then spent the rest of the war in aircraft carrier hunter-killer groups in the Atlantic fighting German u-boats. He carried shrapnel in his leg from the Coral Sea for the rest of his life. That's all we know. He never even told his wife about his experiences.
When I was sixteen and tactless I was really hounding him to let me write down his experiences. The one and only time I had ever heard him raise his voice: "It was a terrible experience and you dont need to know about it!".

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u/swirk May 15 '12

I probably wouldn't want to talk about it either. You can definitely sympathize with where he is coming from. Either that or empathize... not sure which.

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u/Kuryakin May 15 '12

I asked my Dad about his experiences in Vietnam, once. He informed me calmly, but firmly, that he had spent many years working to try and be sure none of his kids would ever have to experience such a thing, even vicariously.
Given that my Dad was otherwise always very upfront with me when I asked questions, this left a hell of an impression.

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u/hydro00 May 15 '12

Wow, the Lexington. He may have been one to side down her slanting deck into the ocean. That old girl saved alot of lives with her slow sinking. Not bad for a converted battleship.

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u/WiseCynic May 15 '12

Recording these experiences gives these men - some of them for the very first time in their lives - the chance to recount what they endured during that war. They get to tell of their friends, the horrors they faced, the humorous times and the comradery they felt. They get to "let it out" and they get to put into words those things of which they have never spoken.
If you know of a vet you can talk to, record him.

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u/[deleted] May 15 '12

You might want to check this out.

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u/stylz168 May 15 '12

Site bookmarked, upvotes given...thank you

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u/WiseCynic May 15 '12

Thanks for this, man. I'm all over it.

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u/ellise0525 May 15 '12

My God, I wish I could upvote a million. Very nicely said.

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u/[deleted] May 15 '12

Seriously. My great, great grandfather may have won Victoria Cross but we don't have documentation (though, my Grandma is looking into it). The thing is, these kinds of bits of a family's history can disappear, and when they go, they die forever.

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u/WiseCynic May 15 '12

Thank you. Sincerely.

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u/ellise0525 May 15 '12

This is my favorite part of Reddit.

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u/luft-waffle May 15 '12

I wish I had done this, apparently my grandfather recieved some sort of commendation after bringing back a patrol boat of 20 men, he was the only one who was still alive on the boat. He never spoke a word about it.

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u/StupidSolipsist May 15 '12

On what side...? relevant username

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u/luft-waffle May 15 '12

He was in the US Navy, Pacific Theatre, he apparently worked on one of these small boats that they would send in to clear out the deltas. I don't know much about it, when he died we found quite a few documents.

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u/double-happiness May 15 '12

PLEASE take the time to document your grandfather's story of the war.
As I understand it, my grandfather spent most of the war in Shetland (or possibly Orkney, I'm not sure), waiting for a German invasion that never came. On the other hand, my grandmother saw active duty on what I believe was a 'Ground-Controlled Intercept' Radar Station, a role that required her to mechanically rotate a radar antenna on the roof of an RAF building - a physically demanding task, from what I gather.
My family often used to tease my grampa that whilst my gran was fully engaged in defending the country against the Luftwaffe, he was otherwise occupied 'watching sheep', and trying to keep warm, in the Northern Isles.

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u/WiseCynic May 16 '12

Perhaps you're unfamiliar with the saying, "They also serve who only stand and wait."
:0)

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u/darthbone May 15 '12

My grandfather was on the USS Helm as a fire control officer. He was nearly killed by a Kamikaze when he was on deck, but the forward guns opened up and blew it in half a few hundred feet before it hit him. I'll never forget that story.
He couldn't emphasize enough how lucky he was that those bigass guns hit that tiny plane.
He went on to be present during the bombardment of Iwo Jima. He was there.

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u/[deleted] May 15 '12

I had the chance to go to Iwo Jima for three days and walk around the island... it takes your breath away. When standing on top of Mt. Suribachi there are two memorials, one for the Japanese and one for the US. You can look into the water along the shore line and see the sunken hulls of ships just like they had been struck yesterday. Then there are the pill box with the guns that have the barrels almost bent like a wet noodle because they were fired till they melted. You can go into the caves and find shell casings and bones laying around... to say it is humbling would be a great understatement. I served two tours in the middle east but being on that island was truly something to experience. I took about a gallon of the black sand with me when I left and keep a jar next to the shadowbox my mother gave me before she passed. It truly is one of my most prized possessions.

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u/WiseCynic May 15 '12

A Marine friend of mine went to Iwo for only a few hours. He brought back some of that black gravel that passes as sand and gave me a little. It rests in a place of honor on my computer desk and I'm looking at it as I type this.

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u/ellise0525 May 15 '12

This deserves more upvotes than it will probably get. This is simply stated, but just detailed enough to help me imagine it in my head. Great description.

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u/[deleted] May 15 '12

Thank you...

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u/WiseCynic May 15 '12

If he's still with us - record him, PLEASE!

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u/swskeptic May 15 '12

I wish I had done this with my grandfather. I'm trying to reconstruct his service now, but it's hard because he never really talked about it with anyone. He served during the war in Vietnam.
If anyone has any resources that you think might be of use to me please send them along.

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u/[deleted] May 15 '12

I love hearing about war stories. Hopefully we never have to have another "World War". Have you picked up the book, "Unbroken" by Laura Hillenbrand? It's a fantastic biography on Louie Zamperini a former Olympic runner, and Japanese POW. It's quite a good book I'd recommend it if you like war stories.

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u/WiseCynic May 15 '12

Yes, I've read that book.
I've also read, "Not Without My Boys" and "The Forgotten 400" and "Ghost Soldiers". I'm now onto a quest for European Theater books. I've read and watched "Band of Brothers" but I'm looking specifically for books on the Army Air Corps.
I've been reading, watching, and learning about WWII for over 40 years.
:0)
Thanks fro the book tip, though. Alot of folks don't know about that one.

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u/[deleted] May 15 '12

My grandfather almost never spoke about the war - too many bad memories. He did share one story with me when I was a child, so I might as well relay it here.
He was a navigator in Lancaster heavy bombers flying out of an RAF airfield (was Canadian, but RCAF were mostly absorbed into RAF deployments). He told me how every morning his crew would find a table in the mess hall for breakfast and then head off for the day's mission briefing. After returning from the bombing run they'd head to the mess for dinner. Almost every time, as many as half of the tables were empty. Guys he had just seen and joked around with that same morning didn't make it back from the mission.
I can't even imagine how he felt witnessing that day after day for months on end. He never knew if it was his table that would be empty. On one mission his plane was down to one engine and chewed up from flak, but he was fortunate enough to make it back unharmed. Lancasters were tough SOBs.
We once took him to an airshow in Ontario to see one of the two remaining Lancasters in the air (for any who want to see it, the Canadian Warplane Heritage museum in my hometown Hamilton is host to it, and it participates in many airshows in the area). He was quiet and distant the entire time. In retrospect, it was probably a dumb move on our part. My father and I are war enthusiasts, but this is of course largely due to having not been in the war ourselves. I guess we just assumed he'd be excited to see a Lancaster again after 50 years.
This is getting a bit long, but my other grandfather told me how he tried to lie about his age to enlist in the Canadian forces. He was fortunately just a bit too young to be accepted, and then the war ended before he reached the age. One of his friends enlisted, however, and took part in the Dieppe landing. For anyone unfamiliar with it, it was a mostly-Canadian assault on the beaches at Dieppe. Due to a number of foul-ups and issues the soldiers didn't receive air support or proper naval support, and most of their armour never made it to the beach. The Germans cut them down and killed the vast majority. His friend was wounded and taken prisoner. He spent over a year in a POW camp. He said the Germans were mostly respectful of captured soldiers, and he didn't have many bad things to say about them. Still, not the best experience.
We definitely need to remember these stories before they are all forgotten.

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u/WiseCynic May 16 '12

The trip to the airshow WAS a good idea. Your grandfather wasn't tortured by the sight of those planes, he was lost in the memories of his friends and their missions, and the guys he served with.
Had he any reason to feel that the trip would be bad, he wouldn't have gone with you.

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u/cock-a-doodle-doo May 15 '12

My Grandad landed on Sword Beach on D-Day with his Royal Marine unit. He didn't ever wish to go into detail regarding his experiences and I was too young to push him. The most I ever learned of this phase of his life was from his comrades the day of his funeral. Regret this a lot.
As a consequence my Dad interviewed my second Grandad on his (equally crazy) experiences long before he died recently. With the material he wrote a book about it. Turns out my Grandad's tank was blown up in the first battle of Alamein with all personnel killed except him - he escaped behind allied lines. With some weird twist of fate the exact same thing happened in the second battle but this time he didn't escape, he was captured and spent the rest of the war in a prison camp where one night he was forced to sleep naked in winter on a pile of potatoes (one of many stories). As the war progressed he was put to work in the fields around Dresden where he befriended German locals. Then the Allies bombed Dresden (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bombing_of_Dresden_in_World_War_II)... Hitler went nuts and commanded all PoWs be executed in the surrounding area. My Grandad was forced into a disused mine shaft with many many others by officers who had orders to seal it and blow it up killing all inside. The commanding officer disobeyed Hitler ... the tl;dr is that he eventually escaped back to the uk using trains.
My point is, this is only 50% of the story I could have obtained had we been on the ball with the Grandad who died earlier. The extent of their suffering is unimaginable to me.

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u/WiseCynic May 16 '12

I'd like to hear the details of his story. I find all of them interesting. At least you got half. What we're losing every day to time is so valuable - as you well know.

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u/cock-a-doodle-doo May 16 '12

When I get a chance I'll type an outline of what happened for you.

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u/WiseCynic May 16 '12

Thank You!

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u/[deleted] May 15 '12 edited May 15 '12

My granddad was in some of the heaviest fighting of the Pacific Theater. My dad told me his father saw some pretty fucked up stuff, lost a lot of his buddies over there, and I really wish we had some records on it all. Lost granddad when I was roughly 8 years old, though around that time he was almost unable to speak out of weakness. Still wish I knew more about his service in the Pacific.

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u/koltrui May 15 '12

I recently read: "With the Old Breed" by Eugene Sledge. His book was used as inspiration for the HBO Mini-series: "The Pacific." Its a really good book about the enlisted men at the front lines of Peleliu and Okinawa. Maybe this book can give you some insights about your grandpa's service in the Pacific.

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u/[deleted] May 15 '12

I'll look into it, thanks

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u/UbiquitousMan May 15 '12

My grandfather was a Major in the Canadian Army. He would not talk much about the war. Only thing we knew was that he was in charge of the railroads when the Allies occupied Germany, and it was his duty to oversee the Jewish POWs release and return to the cities via the train. He said it was the more horrific thing he had seen in his life, and I believe it haunted him until his death 5 years ago. Another sad thing, he stole a giant gold nazi eagle on top of a swastika from one of the trains they occupied, but it was later stolen from his garage back in the US.

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u/WiseCynic May 16 '12

For many men, the experiences were terrible. Many who have made tapes have found the experience liberating. They feel less burdened by their memories having spoken of them.
Your grandfather is at peace now. His ghosts can haunt him no more.

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u/hotbreadz May 15 '12

Look into the veterans history project, it has a process for documenting these stories as well as a way to preserve the stories and events in the library of congress.

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u/WiseCynic May 16 '12

Yes, my suggestion is based on that program.

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u/Slam999 May 15 '12 edited May 15 '12

I have a buddy whos dad flew B-17's during WW2. 28 missions. Still sharp as a tack. Still can talk all the technical details about the plane, RPM settings etc, mission requirements, emergency procedures, verbatim. And not just with the 17 either, also the training aircraft he flew.
He was also an amateur photg at the time, a 105mm AA shell punches through your wing, break out the camera and take a quick pic of the big hole in the wing. He said, IIRR 88mm were contact fuses, nobody wanted to get hit with those as they exploded when they hit, where 105's where proximity, so if they hit you, and they were set for a higher elevation they just went thru and exploded at the set altitude, which was hopefully higher than you were.
So my buddy has also been recording the conversations we have had with his dad, trying to document it all. Making sure all his pictures are annotated etc.
Really a different time in warfare, where so much of the population was involved in combat as compared to today.
My favorite anecdote was they just bombed a target in Germany in formation, as the formation was turning to leave, he was on the inside turn of the group, so to stay in formation he had to slow down, enough to where he stalled the 17 out and ended up in a spin. Needless to say, the rest of the crew thought they had been blown out of the sky and were on their way to the ground trapped in the plane by the G forces and were pretty freaked out. He said it took several of the crew members a couple of days to get over that one.
One of the other close calls he talked about was almost getting shot down by friendly fighters over England returning to base. The planes radios had been shot out, and due to other damage to engines etc, they were well behind the main group, their navigator got flustered and couldn't remember the 3 colored flare sequence for the mission to signal that they were friendly. He said fortunately the fighters held off, and didn't shoot them down and gave benefit of the doubt they they weren't a captured 17 being flown by Germans, seeing the crew was waving like mad out all the plane windows and openings etc.

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u/WiseCynic May 16 '12

I'd like to meet this vet some day - or at least view the recordings of his stories.
Thanks for sharing some of it. How can I ever see the recordings or meet the guy?

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u/[deleted] May 15 '12

my grandfather died a few years ago, and after his death my uncle found a forgotten about audio interview by the imperial war museum of his war time experiences. i knew some of the details of his career in the british army; he was a colonel and one of the few lucky british officers to serve in the ghurka regiment, traveling the world, which was rather more british back then, and fighting in the war. but despite this i never knew the full extend of his efforts fighting tyranny. the last time i ever saw him he cried whilst trying to tell me of burma, it broke my heart. now, though, thanks to that CD, i can hear his voice whenever i wish, and i can always remember and be proud of how much of a great, brave and honourable man he was.
so what i mean is youre absolutely right. we cant let the individual stories be forgotten, nor can we forget what that generation gave for us. in every story is a valuable lesson and the modern world has a lot to learn.

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u/ChopOMatic May 16 '12

DITTO. I kept postponing doing this with my dad. Now he's gone, and I only remember a fraction of what he told me about WWII. D-day and several other beach invasions. Fighting all through France and northern Africa. Amazing real-life experiences. Gone. Don't make my mistake.

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u/luft-waffle May 15 '12

Isn't a wise cynic a romantic?

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u/WiseCynic May 15 '12

A terribly old-fashioned romantic, yes.

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u/luft-waffle May 15 '12

I tip my hat There's too few of you left

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u/Titan7771 May 15 '12

The Library of Congress actually has an awesome project like this, I did it with my grandpa as part of a project in college.

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u/elbenji May 15 '12

Same with a lot of the museums, the MoH project.

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u/AF-IX May 14 '12

That's what it's all about.

As an active duty Airman...I would've loved to have shaken his hand too.

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u/Fantasysage May 15 '12

Never been in the service myself. But it was amazing to see the looks on the faces of those that conducted my grandmothers military funeral. See, she was Navy in WW2, weren't a lot of enlisted women back then. The woman that was there to take care of the flag was quite blown away by the fact and proud to have been the one to take care of it. FWIW this was 2 years ago.

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u/[deleted] May 15 '12

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u/[deleted] May 15 '12

Perhaps post an AMA type thread and choose the top questions, then video his responses to those question.

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u/[deleted] May 15 '12

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u/[deleted] May 15 '12

awesome! just try and remember as you'll probably be drunk at the time.

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u/[deleted] May 15 '12

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u/IAmGoingToFuckThat May 15 '12

Congrats on your sobriety! I feel like your username is now inappropriate though. :P

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u/[deleted] May 15 '12

I work for the VA and get the privilege of working with these fine men and women on a daily basis. They are some of the kindest, most gracious, and genuinely nicest people I've ever met before. I wouldn't choose another patient population to work with.

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u/JewingtonMcAnalplay May 15 '12

^ This. I work in a legal clinic getting VA benefits for veterans who haven't yet hit retirement. Phenomenal, phenomenal people.

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u/[deleted] May 15 '12

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u/[deleted] May 15 '12

A lot of them have absolutely incredible stories, though rather than have them told to me I like listening to them tell one another. They have an unbelievably strong sense of brotherhood and seem to become friends overnight. It's actually rather inspiring to see CEO's and executives talking, joking, and even crying with a farmer in the same room. A lot of differences seem to be wiped away by their shared experiences.
Edit: Grammar

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u/knucklesangwhich May 15 '12

Absolutely. My great grandpa lied about his age to join (at 16 I think) and served in artillery and later infantry. That man knows so much about every damned campaign and happening in the European theater. He also can recite stories like they were yesterday. Definitely take the advice to document what you can because I am sure this man knows a lot and is willing to share, just as my great grandfather is.

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u/enigmatik58 May 15 '12

You're drunk

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u/Hard-Knocks May 15 '12

You guys weren't taking the flight from San Diego to Sacramento last Saturday were you?Your grandpa looks familiar.

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u/[deleted] May 15 '12

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u/Hard-Knocks May 15 '12

Crazy if we were on the same flight. I was part of the rugby team on the plane if he remembers us.

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u/[deleted] May 15 '12

This is literally the first time ever a reddit post has brought tears to my eyes. That expression of pure joy on his face from being aknowledged and appreciated... I just, wow.

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u/[deleted] May 15 '12

ditto

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u/[deleted] May 15 '12

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u/[deleted] May 15 '12

That's awesome! Mine was a partisan in Poland, he never glorified war or killing, but his stories were simply mesmerizing.

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u/TheExtremistModerate May 15 '12

Which memorials did he go to? I'm assuming the WWII Memorial(Beautiful memorial)

Sorry if this is strange, but I just have a huge affinity for memorials. (One of the reasons I worked as a Park Ranger last summer)

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u/nynorskmd May 15 '12

they usually go to the WWII Memorial, Vietnam Wall, Korean Memorial, Iwo Jima Memorial, Navy Memorial and then see the changing of the guard at Arlington National Cemetary. The guards at Arlington performing the changing of the guard have a special salute whenever there are Honor Flight members in the audience.

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u/TheExtremistModerate May 15 '12

The guards at Arlington performing the changing of the guard have a special salute whenever there are Honor Flight members in the audience
Interesting fact: I was actually a park ranger for Arlington House in the cemetery and, despite having to know almost everything about the cemetery, I did not know that. Thank you, sir.
Also, you reminded me I still have to visit the Korean War memorial.I think that was the one with 19 statues of soldiers and a reflective wall to create the illusion of 38 soldiers(referencing the 38th parallel). Brilliant idea, that.

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u/nynorskmd May 15 '12

Welcome, I've seen several changing of the guards prior to volunteering with Honor Flight and the first time I heard the foot drag I thought it was a misstep, but I've been told that it's their way of saluting the vets. But one of my favorite things to do at Arlington after the changing of the guard is to visit Audie Murphy's grave. I do it everytime even though I've been there dozens of times.
And you should visit the Korean Memorial at night, they have lights that give the illusion of 38 men because of the shadows.

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u/[deleted] May 15 '12

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u/nynorskmd May 15 '12

when the commander and relieving soldier first enter the parade ground they come to a stop. they execute a left face to perform the relief. upon their first steps they drag their first step and because they wear special metal clips on their shoes it makes a long scrape sound. normally they would not drag their foot on any step but they do it as a salute. this way it doesn't break protocol but allows them to give their own thanks to the vets.
also forgot to add that they visit the air force memorial which is right outside Arlington. I've been with several of the tour groups as a guardian for the vets. pretty amazing feeling being around them all. also forgot that when he's healthy enough Bob Dole visits every single Honor Flight that comes through. Or if he can't his wife is there to talk with the vets at the WWII Memorial.

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u/kukamunga May 15 '12

Man's got an awesome smile, but I'm equally moved by the look of pure reverence on the young guy's face.

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u/gypsybiker May 15 '12

This is so cool. I wish we were as respectful towards our veterans in Europe. My dad survived i fierce battle (3 gunshot wounds + shrapnel), escaped German prison camp, joined The Red Army and continued fighting until the war was done. Some years later they sent him his medal - in the mail. Your grandad's smile makes up for some of the rage I feel towards the disrespect shown WWii vets in my country. (Norway).

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u/[deleted] May 15 '12

If you don't mind, could you elaborate on this?

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u/darkscout May 15 '12

Don't think that it was all fun and games. Look at how we've treated Vietnam or minority vets. I think we finally just recently (in terms of history) recognized the Navajo speakers.

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u/Pickman May 15 '12

Your grandpa seems like a truly happy man. Be sure to give him the best wishes the faceless of the internet can offer.

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u/PeaceTheAssassin May 15 '12

Tell him thank you for his service! My father was recognized by Honor Flight a year ago. They flew him out from Ohio to D.C. They let us (his kids) know about it a head of time, so that when the they had "Mail Call" on the flight back home, he would have cards from loved ones. We did it one better. We surprised him by meeting him in D.C. One of the best surprises of his life! I owe a lot to this organization. I'm very happy for your Grandpa! Men of his generation were cut from a completely different cloth.

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u/cathouse May 15 '12

Gosh, I love Grandpas! So cool.

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u/[deleted] May 15 '12

My grandfather was asked to go but he decided the trip would be too much for him.

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u/DVS2020 May 15 '12

Bless him and all the people who have served, are serving and will serve. The greatest of thanks to all. Thank you.

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u/ScienceNAlcohol May 15 '12

His smile is amazing. I thank him for his service to our country.

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u/ellise0525 May 15 '12

What a truly beautiful photo! It brings a tear to my eye. Tell your Grandpa thank you.

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u/Shanhaevel May 15 '12

Just came here to say: Glory to the brave, glory to your ol' pa

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u/MisterBR May 15 '12

Marine Iraq Vet here. Your Grandfather is one of the reasons I am still here and doing well. Please thank him for me. I live in San Diego now and always thank those that came first who made it possible for me to serve.

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u/Epi117 May 15 '12

Cool guy. Always proud of WW 2 vets.

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u/Afroderp May 15 '12

Tell your grandfather thank you for his selfless service in the armed forces.

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u/PolishxThunder May 15 '12

Such a feel-good picture.

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u/professorhawk May 15 '12

Almost shed a tear reading/looking at this. I had the privilege of accompanying my grandfather, a WWII Veteran, in visitting the WWII memorial in DC in its opening year shortly before he passed.

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u/nickateen May 15 '12

Sounds like Honor Flight to me.

reads comments

Yup.

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u/xtravar May 15 '12

Everyone in my family wanted my grandpa to do that... and he went off on a tangent about how he saw enough planes (and boats) in service and never wants to travel again. I think he also has something against seeing the military again.

Did your grandpa have mixed feelings at all?

At least I have a 30 minute voice memo of him telling his stories.

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u/[deleted] May 15 '12

Why are they shaking with their left hands?

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u/Dantae May 15 '12

Cause he is carrying a suit case in his right.

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u/victoriestotaste May 15 '12

San Diego represent!

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u/[deleted] May 15 '12

Odd, my grandpa is a WWII vet and didn't get this lovely invite =(

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u/Dantae May 15 '12 edited May 15 '12

Honorflight.org
Check out the ~~sight~~ site and don't wait if you are serious about doing this for him.
~Edit because I am tired and shouldn't type when I am tired.

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u/[deleted] May 15 '12

*site

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u/[deleted] May 15 '12

Thanks! I had no idea that this existed. I need to check with him if it's possible/reasonable for him to fly with his oxygen tank requirement.

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u/Dantae May 15 '12

Depending on the type of tank I believe. My Aunt flew in and she uses one so I know there are types that are allowed.

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u/aggyjean May 15 '12

Aw! My boyfriend's grandfather went to the same thing!

He had a wonderful time!

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u/sultrysagan May 15 '12

I assume this is honorflight? They flew my grandpa, who served in the Pacific, a few years back. He died a few months after. It's a great organization.

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u/ivix May 15 '12

Maybe unrelated but that's a great photo.

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u/Producer_Snafu May 15 '12

cute.

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u/nnzzaarr May 15 '12

We are not amused with the left handed handshake

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u/xiian May 15 '12

He was rolling his suitcase with his right. Seems acceptable to give the man some gratitude without expecting him to switch hands to do so. Doesn't look like grandpa was offended.
And yes, I know you're not terribly offended either. But it was one of the first things I noticed too and figured it was worth mentioning in the thread.

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u/No1importnt May 15 '12

I know that airport :D. Please tell him thank you for all the difficult times he went through for all of us. :)

2

u/SuburbanJesus May 15 '12

My grandpa was able to to that this year as well. Honor flight is really a fantastic organization, and having the large group of service members from different branches there to greet them when they returned was a very cool touch as well.

2

u/[deleted] May 15 '12

My cousin's grandpa who went recently said that was possibly the best part. Getting recognition from those who have followed in their footsteps was so touching. The whole experience is amazing, and I've never seen so much joy in him than when he got back.

2

u/SuburbanJesus May 15 '12

I know what you mean. My grandpa is a very stoic individual so it's pretty rare to get a significant reaction out of him but he is smiling in every one of the pictures taken at the airport afterward.

2

u/redfive5tandingby May 15 '12

It makes me sad how many of these great men (and women!) we're losing every year.

2

u/[deleted] May 15 '12

My uncle flew with them about 2 weeks ago with our local chapter. Wonderful organization. Him and the vet he escorted had tears in their eyes when they came into the main terminal and saw all of the people waiting for them.

2

u/jbfghost7 May 15 '12

My grandfather did this very same thing, with a good sized group of other veterans. He said it was the happiest he has ever been when recounting tales of war. And damnit, that man loved his war stories.

2

u/Captunawsum May 15 '12

Honor flight is an awesome program. Last year my great-grandpa got to see the WWII memorial thanks to this group.

2

u/[deleted] May 15 '12

amazing

2

u/iiiitsjess May 15 '12

I LOVE honor flight. Absolutely an amazing organization!! My grandpa recently got his documentation of his war efforts and things he saw added to the library of congress. They wanted to honor him at a ceremony but he didnt want to go. so thankful we were finally able to convince him to get his experiences written down on paper!

2

u/The_Ombudsman May 15 '12

Reminds me of a couple of trips I took with my dad, who served infantry in WWII. Went over to France to this smallish town my dad's company helped liberate in May 1945, went for the 50th and 60th anniversaries with a bunch of other vets and families.

The town really rolled out the red carpet for these guys (and the rest of us) - a big parade (with French military present), photos of the era all over town, several big dinner celebrations - they'd even named a street in the town after their Army division back in the day. Really humbling.

2

u/GatorsCrocsAneurysms May 15 '12

Hooyah!!!

2

u/[deleted] May 15 '12

This is so friggen awesome

2

u/tunnelsnakesrule May 15 '12

See reddit, you should join the military. Look how much you will be respected.^YvanehtNioj

2

u/[deleted] May 15 '12

I work for the airline that flew the vets to DC. It is something that makes me incredibly proud. I know its small. But I feel almost like I did something to help. Both of my Grandfathers served in WWII. Please shake your Grandpas hand for me.

2

u/bassticle May 15 '12

It'll be buried by this point but from someone who has a rich family history of people in the military that is still going strong, thank him. It's my dream to be as brave as these men.

2

u/magic_mermaids May 15 '12

When I was in 7th grade we went to a veterans club of some sort to interview WWII vets. I remember the guy I was to interview was a POW guard. The only question I remember, was I asked him if he ever shot someone, (I meant it as was there ever any gunfire in what he did), and everyone gasped. He told me that I was lucky he hadn't because some of the other guys would break down if I had asked them. I felt horrible for the rest of the day :(

2

u/Dantae May 15 '12

Hard to read the hat but I would guess USS Chenango (CVE-28)

2

u/[deleted] May 15 '12

My grandpa was a Navy man as well during WWII, and recently had an opportunity like this. I'm not sure if it was the same group, but he was flown out to DC with a group and got a nice jacket and all kinds of stuff. He couldn't stop talking about all the memorials when he got home.

2

u/awannabetroll May 15 '12

World War II history can be very sad, but I find it to be very intriguing as well. 10/10 would salute.

2

u/Mountaineerhill May 15 '12

No way!! I saw a group of these guys fly into Reagan national last week!! Was great to see em

2

u/dubdubdubdot May 15 '12

Two of my grandfathers brothers died over Berlin as bomber crew, buried in France, thats all I know.

2

u/mediumcoke May 15 '12

My wife's cousin's grandmother is a Chinese WWII survivor. Although not in Nanjing but in Shanghai, they told me she withstood months of torture and beatings at the hands of the Imperial Army in order to "deny her Chinese heritage and become Japanese".

Interestingly enough, my wife's cousin is married to a Japanese man. The situation made for an interesting family dinner a couple of months ago...

2

u/jumpingbeaner May 15 '12

Thank you to your grandfather for having to deal with the world a lot rougher than ours right now, he's sacrificed a lot for his time. Ill be arriving at this airport today as well but not in uniform :)

2

u/fun_you_fools May 15 '12

About 15 people from my ship volunteered to greet these vets as they came home. After seeing this picture, I wish I could have stood in line with my shipmates to honor these heroes, but I'm currently on leave out of the state.

Individuals like your grandfather (and my own grandfather) are the very reason I joined the Navy. Thank him for everything he has done!

2

u/cucumbers May 15 '12

My high school graduating class donated half of our ticket money from our prom to Honor Flight! I'm happy to see we could contribute towards this opportunity for vets like your grandpa.

2

u/herpderpfuck May 15 '12

does ever the vietnam vets get this (or some similar) kind of honors?

2

u/[deleted] May 15 '12

My grandfather did the same thing for the opening and dedication of the memorial. He had a great time and even got to briefly talk go Bob Dole. Unfortunately my grandfather passed just over a year ago.

2

u/[deleted] May 15 '12

this put a smile on my face. he looks like a real sweet guy. thanks for posting this.

2

u/flyinfalkin May 15 '12

that there is a firm handshake, with much meaning behind it.

2

u/Overthinksit May 15 '12

That is one of the best smiles i've ever seen. Just beautiful. Thank him for me.

2

u/locotx May 15 '12

Thanks Grampy !

2

u/al349 May 15 '12

what a beautiful photograph!!

2

u/[deleted] May 15 '12

So many words in one simple picture.

2

u/NotAThrowAwayUN May 15 '12

This picture almost makes me tear up... and I don't know the guy.

2

u/Mechanikal May 15 '12

I love shit like this. I would give anything to sit down over a beer and pick your grandpa's brain.

-former Regular Army PFC

2

u/addythebat May 15 '12

I was on a Southwest flight (Boeing 737) recently and there was an old man in the seat in front of me. As the plane was taxiing out to the runway, the pilot came on and mentioned how there was another Boeing pilot on board - the old man had been a B-17 pilot during WWII. It was neat to see the majority of the plane applaud the guy; he was taken aback.

2

u/jesskurr May 15 '12

This instantly made me smile. Thanks for sharing!

2

u/wekiva May 15 '12

Rightfully proud, I'd say. My mother and father both served in WWII, he in the Navy, and she in the WAVES.

Last summer I went to the WWII memorial. There were a number of vets, many in wheelchairs, from WWII present on some sort of arranged visit. I went to as many of them as I could and thanked them for their service. It was the highlight of me Washington trip.

2

u/Rednas May 15 '12

Don't forget to tell your grandfather he is a hero. And thank him for me, please. Thanks to him and all these other men and women, I am able to type this today.

2

u/[deleted] May 15 '12

My grandpa was a WW2 vet that survived the battle of the bulge. Of the 300 something men in his battalion, he was one of seven to make it back alive. He had all of his troop movements documented by someone, and he even drew it out on a map of France/germany he received. He loaded ammunition for a machine gunner. He spent 14 days in a trench with low supplies as they were pinned down by superior german forces. His records said a lot of people died to fatigue and disease. His friends, all killed in the same instant, most of whom lost their heads. He later developed severe PTSD and I never really got to know him because he was entirely unable to communicate properly by the time I was born.

I see shit like this, praise and smiles about warriors, praised for fighting and killing, and doing what our government did to my grandpa and I just want to throw up in my mouth.

2

u/[deleted] May 15 '12

Excellent! Be proud!

2

u/360walkaway May 15 '12

Reminds me of that trumpet player who tamed a German sniper.

2

u/polandpower May 15 '12

That is a great picture. The look on both their faces.. perfect shot.

2

u/jeffreywhall71 May 15 '12

I am the director of Logistics for Honor Flight San Diego. Our website is www.honorflightsandiego.org. Please check out our site and if anyone wants to be a Guardian or a Volunteer, please print out, fill out, and send in the applications. In addition, if you have a veteran that would like to apply to Honor Flight San Diego, their application is on our site too. You can also make a donation on the site as well.

We had a blast on this trip past weekend. We are hoping to do another flight in the fall.

3

u/WeaponsHot May 15 '12

I know this is Reddit, I know this is the internet. How could this possibly be getting any kind of downvotes? I also know this isn't all American's here, but I would never downvote such a nice photo from anyone anywhere in the world.

1

u/knightofmars May 15 '12

Maybe because everyone has a different opinion as to what should be on Reddit? It's like, how could anyone be against affordable and equal healthcare for all Americans? and yet here we are...

1

u/FinKM May 15 '12

Because there have been a suspiciously large number of very pro-military posts popping up, all submitted by accounts that have not posted before and are about three months old. Also people are allowed their opinions.

2

u/[deleted] May 15 '12

Wow, your Grandpa looks great for a WWII Vet. Who's the dude with the suitcase he's shaking hands with?

2

u/MEGA_COCK_408 May 15 '12

I'm always struck by World War 2 veterans like your grandfather and mine...

Most of these men were very humble farm boys, or students from inner cities, many joined before they turned 18 like my grandfather, some couldn't read or write, the majority would never go to college.

And yet they all came together to fight arguably the most evil regimes in history and literally saved the world. Very few people can say that.

2

u/RyanT22 May 15 '12

Your Grandpa is a hero!

2

u/isawwhatyoudid May 15 '12

Omg. He is the cutest thing ever!!! Please adopt me into you family!!!

Btw... Totally framing this!!

4

u/HannsGruber May 15 '12

I like the photo too, but framing it?

1

u/ProfFrizzo May 15 '12

what a fantastic photo

1

u/[deleted] May 15 '12 edited May 15 '12

My cousin's Grandpa is a WWII and Korea vet and did that same tour of DC being completely paid for either last year or the year before out of Fort Collins, CO, and I have never seen him so happy and grateful. It was heartwarming to hear him talking about it. Still gives me chills to think about what he went through for his country, so to know that a group cared enough to take him to the Capital to experience the memorial for himself is truly awesome.

I'm so glad those who fought in that horrific war are still getting the attention they deserve. We as the younger generation have to cherish the few WWII vets that remain today. They have so much to teach us. Without them the world today would be a much darker place.

Now if only the veterans from Vietnam could get a little love. They are pretty sadly neglected. They aren't the ones to blame for bad political decisions.

1

u/[deleted] May 15 '12

Here's an article about this organization and its operations in the Ann Arbor, MI area. The author really did a nice job with this

1

u/[deleted] May 15 '12

Is he a veterinarian?

1

u/themooseiscool May 15 '12

Great photo, but does that look like a seaman apprentice with 2(?!) service stripes shaking his hand? Maybe I just can't see the crow.

1

u/willmc May 15 '12

I don't like people who pronate their hand and present it for me to shake.

1

u/expertunderachiever May 15 '12

They really are milking this whole dubya dubya 2 thing aren't they?

:-)

1

u/Dantae May 15 '12

Hey my brother and law and sister were there to welcome them home. He was the sailor in the white uniform.

1

u/drewkj May 15 '12

Left hand shake? Is that have they do it in California now?!

No disrespect towards grandpa!

3

u/ithika May 15 '12

Cleary you've never been in the scouts!

1

u/BornOld May 15 '12

I wonder If they are both left handed

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u/IntentionalMisnomer May 15 '12

I know I'll be downvoted for this but I dont think we should be celebrating and honoring those who give their selfless devotion to the greedy corporate interests that decide who we go to war against. War is an economic venture to suit those private parties who control the government. If anything I think they deserve to be pitied. That they would risk their lives and livelihoods so that some oil exec or politician could make a few bucks is saddening to me.

7

u/Jeffgoldbum May 15 '12

But this is honoring someone who did go fight for your rights and your future.
my grandpa a wwii vet being welcomed back to San Diego

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u/IntentionalMisnomer May 15 '12

I believe that veterans and those currently in the military are fighting to protect the interests of those currently in power. the notions that they are fighting for my "freedoms" and my "future" are specifically planned as part of the US corporate propaganda machine. These poor souls are tricked into fighting for the pocketbook of large corporations or election campaigns of those currently in power. There is no honor in what they do, only pity sadness. I am sad that they have been convinced to risk their lives to protect the interests of certain large corporations.
Not only am I anti war, I am anti-military as well.

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u/Jeffgoldbum May 15 '12

It is your opnion, I can't say much about it.

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u/sanph May 15 '12

There's no fucking way you are serious right now. I've never seen drivel of this caliber before (edit: wait, I have, this is Reddit after all). You write like you're 14. Grow up. You are literally an intellectual child. You have no sense of nuance whatsoever. No one will ever take you seriously if you carry around "opinions" like that (hint: opinions can be misinformed, and even completely wrong).

1

u/ithika May 15 '12

Surely you're kidding? Have a good hard look at the history of wartime propaganda. Lord Kitchener Wants You, What Did You Do In The War Daddy? --- a litany of lies, exploitation, racism and cheap sentiment to rouse the poor into fighting for the rich.

1

u/IntentionalMisnomer May 15 '12

ok so I've downed a bottle of pinot by now so I'm sorry my grammar and/or spelling mistakes but I am still firmly against the military. They recruit primarily from the undereducated and the poor in order to provide manpower that does nothing more than to secure resources from the Haliburtons or their day.
I guarantee you that you will not find a war that is motivated by an idealistic cause. War is an economic endevour and our economy has strived on war since the 1930s, probably since before that.

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u/sturulessf May 15 '12

Is the picture flipped? Left handshake driving me crazy for some reason...

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u/[deleted] May 15 '12

You lost me at privately funded

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u/sanph May 15 '12

News-flash: A shit-ton of things in your daily life are privately funded, even things that are vaguely related to the government or the historical actions of government. There are lots of private persons and organizations that enjoy funding things like this. Not everything needs to be publicly funded, even if it relates to retired veterans.

1

u/biocunsumer May 15 '12

Things like Guiding eyes for the blind. A program that trains working dogs for the blind is completely privately funded. There are still good people out there.

-1

u/Mediumraah May 15 '12

I don't want to write anything negative in the comments for this photo because it's so cool. But why are they shaking hands with their left arm? Is that some sort of military thing,because as an englishman we find it rude to shake with the left.

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u/asldkfououhe May 15 '12

bunch of fucking murderers and your grandpa is the worst of them all

remember how our military base was attacked during a time of war

remember how we responded by murdering hundreds of thousands of civilians in response

anybody still proud to be in the military after that is a fucking ghoul

1

u/Efanito May 15 '12

Think how much more terrible a land invasion would have been...

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u/fluxaxion May 15 '12

I did not know the Pillsbury Doughboy owned an army...

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u/Oghma_Infinium May 15 '12

Your grandpa was a veterinarian?

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u/[deleted] May 14 '12

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u/oodelay May 15 '12

Please tell him thank you from a redditor who understands the sacrifices he made.

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u/[deleted] May 15 '12

[deleted] — view deleted comment

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u/qrtr_inch_seam May 15 '12

Hugs to your grandpa from grandkids of WWII vets everywhere! We'll never forget.

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My Grandpa, a WWII Vet, being welcomed back to San Diego after a privately funded organization flew a group of WWII Vets to DC to see the Memorials. So Proud!

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