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I haven't, my grandfather did. He was at Pearl Harbor, many battles in the Pacific (he was a submariner), in the end he was part of the occupation of Japan and

I haven't, my grandfather did. He was at Pearl Harbor, many battles in the Pacific (he was a submariner), in the end he was part of the occupation of Japan and earned many medals including the purple heart for almost dying in a sub accident. Only as an adult have I come to realize the gift he gave me. When I was a child, I spent a ton of time with him, he had a big hand in raising me. The picture he painted for the young me formed the foundation of my world view. He chose to share with us the Japanese cooking he learned while living there, he taught us how to use chop sticks, one of my most prized possessions is a silk he brought back and gave me in his will. He never once spoke negatively about any group of people, especially those who were "enemies", he stood up for anyone who was being treated negatively and wouldn't stand for it. He harbored no ill will, and therefore didn't put it in me. It's only as an adult through research into his service that i have realized the full gravity of what he did during this service and the fact that he was a truly happy, blissful, and forgiving man after all that. I can say to you, having been one of the recipients of the kindness and forgiveness you are showing in your own life now, and sharing in this comment - thank you. This is how the world moves on.

c-smile 4y ago
My uncle (elder brother of my dad) died on Oder River offence. Two weeks before end of the war. 20 years old guy, sigh. And I also lost all my grandfathers there. Memories in our family are quite fresh.
wishfish 4y ago
I had two relatives who fought in WWII. The contrast between them is interesting. One was in an engineering unit and was a classic REMF. He had tons of stories about the war. Usually about how he and his buddies would get drunk and wreck jeeps and somehow escape any disciplinary action for it. He was present at many of the famous Pacific islands like Okinawa. But always after the main fight was over. Asked him once if he was ever shot at and he had to think. He thought it was only once. He was a loud blowhard in many ways and not always pleasant to be around. Had another relative who was a Marine. Was present at many of the worst battles. Including Iwo Jima. I never heard his stories. He never talked about them. My mom pressured him into talking one day. She regretted that for the rest of her life because the stories were so traumatic and it left him in tears. He was a gentle man. Became a Methodist minister after the war. I never once heard him raise his voice in anger. One of the kindest men I've ever known. This is a sample size of only two. So I'm not assuming combat, or the lack of, shaped these men into what they would later become. But it's a little interesting to me. Since I myself am older, I have some relatives who go way back. My grandmother was once visited by her great-uncle when she was 6. He was a veteran of the Mexican War and the Civil War (on the Confederate side). He also wouldn't talk about combat. But he did tell this one story where he and some buddies snuck out of camp. Somewhere in northern Mexico. Found a bar and flirted a little with girls. Then the girls suddenly rushed the men out of the bar and hid them in a barn. Mexican soldiers heard there were Americans in town. The Americans hid under a bale of hay and were narrowly missed by a Mexican soldier who shoved a pitchfork into it. That great-uncle loved that story and would tell it often. Laughing every time.

c-smile 4y ago

My uncle (elder brother of my dad) died on Oder River offence. Two weeks before end of the war. 20 years old guy, sigh. And I also lost all my grandfathers there. Memories in our family are quite fresh.

wishfish 4y ago

I had two relatives who fought in WWII. The contrast between them is interesting. One was in an engineering unit and was a classic REMF. He had tons of stories about the war. Usually about how he and his buddies would get drunk and wreck jeeps and somehow escape any disciplinary action for it. He was present at many of the famous Pacific islands like Okinawa. But always after the main fight was over. Asked him once if he was ever shot at and he had to think. He thought it was only once. He was a loud blowhard in many ways and not always pleasant to be around. Had another relative who was a Marine. Was present at many of the worst battles. Including Iwo Jima. I never heard his stories. He never talked about them. My mom pressured him into talking one day. She regretted that for the rest of her life because the stories were so traumatic and it left him in tears. He was a gentle man. Became a Methodist minister after the war. I never once heard him raise his voice in anger. One of the kindest men I've ever known. This is a sample size of only two. So I'm not assuming combat, or the lack of, shaped these men into what they would later become. But it's a little interesting to me. Since I myself am older, I have some relatives who go way back. My grandmother was once visited by her great-uncle when she was 6. He was a veteran of the Mexican War and the Civil War (on the Confederate side). He also wouldn't talk about combat. But he did tell this one story where he and some buddies snuck out of camp. Somewhere in northern Mexico. Found a bar and flirted a little with girls. Then the girls suddenly rushed the men out of the bar and hid them in a barn. Mexican soldiers heard there were Americans in town. The Americans hid under a bale of hay and were narrowly missed by a Mexican soldier who shoved a pitchfork into it. That great-uncle loved that story and would tell it often. Laughing every time.