Family Ties to World War II: A New Poll

Pinetree · January 10, 2004

My paternal Grandfather lied about his age and was a cook(later engineer) in 26 btn 2NZdiv.He served in Greece,Crete,North Africa,Italy(where he had his 18th Birthday)and went to Japan with the occupation forces.

Also had a couple of Great-Uncles that were in 2NZ Div,One got blown up in his tank and spent the rest of his life in a mental Instiution.

Pinetree · January 10, 2004

My paternal Grandfather lied about his age and was a cook(later engineer) in 26 btn 2NZdiv.He served in Greece,Crete,North Africa,Italy(where he had his 18th Birthday)and went to Japan with the occupation forces.

Also had a couple of Great-Uncles that were in 2NZ Div,One got blown up in his tank and spent the rest of his life in a mental Instiution.

Frenchy · January 10, 2004

What a lot of history! Keep it coming guys...fascinating stuff!

Frenchy · January 10, 2004

What a lot of history! Keep it coming guys...fascinating stuff!

Frenchy · January 10, 2004

What a lot of history! Keep it coming guys...fascinating stuff!

Iskander · January 10, 2004

#1: my mother's father was a pilot in the South Pacific. In the Fall of 1941, he had gone to Canada to learn to fly, so he could go to Britain and fight. He came back to the 'States on December 9-10 and was immediately commissioned into the AAC. He's buried in the Nat'l Cemetary outside of Sante Fe, NM. I'm named for him.

#2: my father-in-law was a leutenant in the Hungarian Cav. His unit went active in Poland on Jan. 1 '45. They spent the next three months mostly behind the lines, retreating, and trying to stay alive. For the last month before the war's end he was in Denmark. After the war, returning to Hungary, he immediately went into the gulag.

Lots of fascinating, scary stories when I get a few drinks into him.

Somewhat OT: my mother and her parents all at one time or another worked at Sandia/Los Alamos on A- and H-bomb development. My mother told the story of how one Xmas they all got drunk and went to a hanger to have their pix taken on an A-bomb; I sometimes wonder if that has something to do with me being a mule. She also had to help carry one of the Gemini heat shields once, but that's another story.

A better story was when my afforementioned grandfather was in the Nevada desert setting up one of the nuke tests. Unexpectedly, the counter started counting down. Human nature being what it is, everyone went screaming off in all directions. He said that after a minute or so, it occurred to him that running was kinda futile. After walking a bit, the bomb didn't go off (logical in hindsight: they hadn't finished arming it) so he spent an hour or so getting back to the command bunker. He said IN NO UNCERTAIN TERMS someone else could go get it ready again.

Iskander · January 10, 2004

#1: my mother's father was a pilot in the South Pacific. In the Fall of 1941, he had gone to Canada to learn to fly, so he could go to Britain and fight. He came back to the 'States on December 9-10 and was immediately commissioned into the AAC. He's buried in the Nat'l Cemetary outside of Sante Fe, NM. I'm named for him.

#2: my father-in-law was a leutenant in the Hungarian Cav. His unit went active in Poland on Jan. 1 '45. They spent the next three months mostly behind the lines, retreating, and trying to stay alive. For the last month before the war's end he was in Denmark. After the war, returning to Hungary, he immediately went into the gulag.

Lots of fascinating, scary stories when I get a few drinks into him.

Somewhat OT: my mother and her parents all at one time or another worked at Sandia/Los Alamos on A- and H-bomb development. My mother told the story of how one Xmas they all got drunk and went to a hanger to have their pix taken on an A-bomb; I sometimes wonder if that has something to do with me being a mule. She also had to help carry one of the Gemini heat shields once, but that's another story.

A better story was when my afforementioned grandfather was in the Nevada desert setting up one of the nuke tests. Unexpectedly, the counter started counting down. Human nature being what it is, everyone went screaming off in all directions. He said that after a minute or so, it occurred to him that running was kinda futile. After walking a bit, the bomb didn't go off (logical in hindsight: they hadn't finished arming it) so he spent an hour or so getting back to the command bunker. He said IN NO UNCERTAIN TERMS someone else could go get it ready again.

Iskander · January 10, 2004

#1: my mother's father was a pilot in the South Pacific. In the Fall of 1941, he had gone to Canada to learn to fly, so he could go to Britain and fight. He came back to the 'States on December 9-10 and was immediately commissioned into the AAC. He's buried in the Nat'l Cemetary outside of Sante Fe, NM. I'm named for him.

#2: my father-in-law was a leutenant in the Hungarian Cav. His unit went active in Poland on Jan. 1 '45. They spent the next three months mostly behind the lines, retreating, and trying to stay alive. For the last month before the war's end he was in Denmark. After the war, returning to Hungary, he immediately went into the gulag.

Lots of fascinating, scary stories when I get a few drinks into him.

Somewhat OT: my mother and her parents all at one time or another worked at Sandia/Los Alamos on A- and H-bomb development. My mother told the story of how one Xmas they all got drunk and went to a hanger to have their pix taken on an A-bomb; I sometimes wonder if that has something to do with me being a mule. She also had to help carry one of the Gemini heat shields once, but that's another story.

A better story was when my afforementioned grandfather was in the Nevada desert setting up one of the nuke tests. Unexpectedly, the counter started counting down. Human nature being what it is, everyone went screaming off in all directions. He said that after a minute or so, it occurred to him that running was kinda futile. After walking a bit, the bomb didn't go off (logical in hindsight: they hadn't finished arming it) so he spent an hour or so getting back to the command bunker. He said IN NO UNCERTAIN TERMS someone else could go get it ready again.

Midnight Warrior · January 10, 2004

My dad served in the navy on a LCT. He was at landings at North Africa and in the first wave at Omaha at Normandy and unloaded vehicles of the 29th ID. His job during landings was to pull in the anchor once the LCT was unloaded which would pull the LCD off the beach. He also was in London during the V-1 blitz.

Midnight Warrior · January 10, 2004

My dad served in the navy on a LCT. He was at landings at North Africa and in the first wave at Omaha at Normandy and unloaded vehicles of the 29th ID. His job during landings was to pull in the anchor once the LCT was unloaded which would pull the LCD off the beach. He also was in London during the V-1 blitz.

Midnight Warrior · January 10, 2004

My dad served in the navy on a LCT. He was at landings at North Africa and in the first wave at Omaha at Normandy and unloaded vehicles of the 29th ID. His job during landings was to pull in the anchor once the LCT was unloaded which would pull the LCD off the beach. He also was in London during the V-1 blitz.

Tpatch · January 10, 2004

As I said in my post below...

My father was a member of the 141st infantry during WWII. He is from PA but most of the unit was from the Texas national guard.

He has told me about guarding prisoners in a North African cork forest, hitting the beach at Salerno, traveling through Naples to the Battle of Monte Cassino and finally the carnage of the attempted crossing of the Rapido river.

After that his company was so under stength that he was send state-side.

My dad is now 84 and in great shape. The heroism of his generation and the bravery that they exhibited have been an inspiration to me throughout my life. Some people may have taken my last post the wrong way when I said I was interested in using CM to replay some of the battles that my Dad was involved in. For me it would really be just to learn a little more about what he went through and to understand his role in the war. He never had too much to say about his time and when I ask him about the silver star he keeps in his dresser he just says "Oh, lots of guys got those. It was no big deal"

For me, it's a big deal.

Tom

Tpatch · January 10, 2004

As I said in my post below...

My father was a member of the 141st infantry during WWII. He is from PA but most of the unit was from the Texas national guard.

He has told me about guarding prisoners in a North African cork forest, hitting the beach at Salerno, traveling through Naples to the Battle of Monte Cassino and finally the carnage of the attempted crossing of the Rapido river.

After that his company was so under stength that he was send state-side.

My dad is now 84 and in great shape. The heroism of his generation and the bravery that they exhibited have been an inspiration to me throughout my life. Some people may have taken my last post the wrong way when I said I was interested in using CM to replay some of the battles that my Dad was involved in. For me it would really be just to learn a little more about what he went through and to understand his role in the war. He never had too much to say about his time and when I ask him about the silver star he keeps in his dresser he just says "Oh, lots of guys got those. It was no big deal"

For me, it's a big deal.

Tom

Tpatch · January 10, 2004

As I said in my post below...

My father was a member of the 141st infantry during WWII. He is from PA but most of the unit was from the Texas national guard.

He has told me about guarding prisoners in a North African cork forest, hitting the beach at Salerno, traveling through Naples to the Battle of Monte Cassino and finally the carnage of the attempted crossing of the Rapido river.

After that his company was so under stength that he was send state-side.

My dad is now 84 and in great shape. The heroism of his generation and the bravery that they exhibited have been an inspiration to me throughout my life. Some people may have taken my last post the wrong way when I said I was interested in using CM to replay some of the battles that my Dad was involved in. For me it would really be just to learn a little more about what he went through and to understand his role in the war. He never had too much to say about his time and when I ask him about the silver star he keeps in his dresser he just says "Oh, lots of guys got those. It was no big deal"

For me, it's a big deal.

Tom

M1A1TC · January 10, 2004

The Soviet Side

My granfather was a battleship captain out of Kronshtadt near Leningrad(Saint-Peterburg) before the soviet revolution. During the revolution, all the officers were being killed, but since my granpa was a great man to his sailors, one of them hid him in his basement. Later, around 1943, he served as a mine-layer ship Captain on the Volga river. My granmather was a nurse, and personally witnessed Gen. Paulus being escorted out of his bunker. I have visited her is Volgograd(Stalingrad) many times as a kid, since I grew up in Latvia. The Pavlov's house is an amazing site, as it was left as it was in the war as a memorial. The Mamaev Kurgan still brings tears to my eyes. Thousands of people died on the summit.

My granfather on my dad'd side was burned alive in his Sinagouge in Riga, Latvia. He was the Chief Rabbi.

M1A1TC · January 10, 2004

The Soviet Side

My granfather was a battleship captain out of Kronshtadt near Leningrad(Saint-Peterburg) before the soviet revolution. During the revolution, all the officers were being killed, but since my granpa was a great man to his sailors, one of them hid him in his basement. Later, around 1943, he served as a mine-layer ship Captain on the Volga river. My granmather was a nurse, and personally witnessed Gen. Paulus being escorted out of his bunker. I have visited her is Volgograd(Stalingrad) many times as a kid, since I grew up in Latvia. The Pavlov's house is an amazing site, as it was left as it was in the war as a memorial. The Mamaev Kurgan still brings tears to my eyes. Thousands of people died on the summit.

My granfather on my dad'd side was burned alive in his Sinagouge in Riga, Latvia. He was the Chief Rabbi.

M1A1TC · January 10, 2004

The Soviet Side

My granfather was a battleship captain out of Kronshtadt near Leningrad(Saint-Peterburg) before the soviet revolution. During the revolution, all the officers were being killed, but since my granpa was a great man to his sailors, one of them hid him in his basement. Later, around 1943, he served as a mine-layer ship Captain on the Volga river. My granmather was a nurse, and personally witnessed Gen. Paulus being escorted out of his bunker. I have visited her is Volgograd(Stalingrad) many times as a kid, since I grew up in Latvia. The Pavlov's house is an amazing site, as it was left as it was in the war as a memorial. The Mamaev Kurgan still brings tears to my eyes. Thousands of people died on the summit.

My granfather on my dad'd side was burned alive in his Sinagouge in Riga, Latvia. He was the Chief Rabbi.

zukkov · January 10, 2004

this is amazing. even with the little tidbits of war stories on this thread, is it any wonder our parents/grandparents don't want to talk about it? in one way it's a shame though, as so much history is lost forever...

zukkov · January 10, 2004

this is amazing. even with the little tidbits of war stories on this thread, is it any wonder our parents/grandparents don't want to talk about it? in one way it's a shame though, as so much history is lost forever...

zukkov · January 10, 2004

this is amazing. even with the little tidbits of war stories on this thread, is it any wonder our parents/grandparents don't want to talk about it? in one way it's a shame though, as so much history is lost forever...

Maj. Battaglia · January 10, 2004

My paternal grandfather was a medic in Company D, 325th Medical Battalion, 100th Infantry Division which served in the ETO. Unfortunately he passed away when I was only six, so I have only vague memories of him.

We have some of his things from the war, such as his "Eisenhower" jacket, and a couple of souveniers such as a German Red Cross armband and a Wehrmacht eagle with swastika worn on the brest pocket of German uniforms. Regarding the latter, I used to have this on top of my dresser; it had some corrosion on it. One day I was looking at it and realized that it was made of aluminum, which does not normally corrode. Upon closer inspection I realized the corrosion was from what appeared to be blood. It was a bit chilling.

Recently his wife (my grandmother) passed away and as my father was clearing out her house he found a photo album that belonged to his father and had pictures and postcards from his time in the army. Mostly they looked to be taken after the war in the cities he was stationed in (with a few German chicks, one topless even :eek: ). There was one good picture of a knocked-out Jagdtiger and a friend in the turret of a Panzer IV.

My grandmother's brother served in the army in Iran (which was a vital link in the Lend Lease program to the USSR). I think he was a radio operator.

exSpecForSgt, my wife's grandfather was also in the 75th. He passed away a couple of months after my wife and I started dating, so I never met him.

DingoBreath, note that the Yorktown (CV 10) is in Charleston, SC. It is well worth visiting if you are in the area.

Thanks for starting this, Frenchy.

Maj. Battaglia · January 10, 2004

My paternal grandfather was a medic in Company D, 325th Medical Battalion, 100th Infantry Division which served in the ETO. Unfortunately he passed away when I was only six, so I have only vague memories of him.

We have some of his things from the war, such as his "Eisenhower" jacket, and a couple of souveniers such as a German Red Cross armband and a Wehrmacht eagle with swastika worn on the brest pocket of German uniforms. Regarding the latter, I used to have this on top of my dresser; it had some corrosion on it. One day I was looking at it and realized that it was made of aluminum, which does not normally corrode. Upon closer inspection I realized the corrosion was from what appeared to be blood. It was a bit chilling.

Recently his wife (my grandmother) passed away and as my father was clearing out her house he found a photo album that belonged to his father and had pictures and postcards from his time in the army. Mostly they looked to be taken after the war in the cities he was stationed in (with a few German chicks, one topless even :eek: ). There was one good picture of a knocked-out Jagdtiger and a friend in the turret of a Panzer IV.

My grandmother's brother served in the army in Iran (which was a vital link in the Lend Lease program to the USSR). I think he was a radio operator.

exSpecForSgt, my wife's grandfather was also in the 75th. He passed away a couple of months after my wife and I started dating, so I never met him.

DingoBreath, note that the Yorktown (CV 10) is in Charleston, SC. It is well worth visiting if you are in the area.

Thanks for starting this, Frenchy.

Maj. Battaglia · January 10, 2004

My paternal grandfather was a medic in Company D, 325th Medical Battalion, 100th Infantry Division which served in the ETO. Unfortunately he passed away when I was only six, so I have only vague memories of him.

We have some of his things from the war, such as his "Eisenhower" jacket, and a couple of souveniers such as a German Red Cross armband and a Wehrmacht eagle with swastika worn on the brest pocket of German uniforms. Regarding the latter, I used to have this on top of my dresser; it had some corrosion on it. One day I was looking at it and realized that it was made of aluminum, which does not normally corrode. Upon closer inspection I realized the corrosion was from what appeared to be blood. It was a bit chilling.

Recently his wife (my grandmother) passed away and as my father was clearing out her house he found a photo album that belonged to his father and had pictures and postcards from his time in the army. Mostly they looked to be taken after the war in the cities he was stationed in (with a few German chicks, one topless even :eek: ). There was one good picture of a knocked-out Jagdtiger and a friend in the turret of a Panzer IV.

My grandmother's brother served in the army in Iran (which was a vital link in the Lend Lease program to the USSR). I think he was a radio operator.

exSpecForSgt, my wife's grandfather was also in the 75th. He passed away a couple of months after my wife and I started dating, so I never met him.

DingoBreath, note that the Yorktown (CV 10) is in Charleston, SC. It is well worth visiting if you are in the area.

Thanks for starting this, Frenchy.

Newbtler · January 10, 2004

My grandpa (Father's side) was in the 180° Ospedale da Campo (Field Hospital), attached to the 1st "Superga" Infantry Division. He was stationed in Sicily (his division was preparing for the air assault of Malta) then was sent in Tunisia and he was captured by the English.

I didn't have the chance to know him, as he died in 1982 by cancer as I was just born.

My dad told me he didn't speak much about his war experiences. He just told him that it was an inferno, they were behind the first lines, out of medicins and often had to "steal" many bottles of whiskey from British prisoners to ease the pain of the sufferings. Only 4 or 5 men alive in his small unit, including a medical captain who went to become his friend for the remainder of his life. He sometimes remembered terrific wounds, stomachs opened, and many and many soldiers (Allies and Axis) crying for their loved ones. After the war he couldn't see blood anymore.

Well, he was captured, went on the USS "Vulcan" (I can see that in his POW Card), and then was sent to Gibraltar with the Red Cross. He often spoke very well of the English he got to know.

Sometimes he was bombed by night Italian planes while he was there.

We still have some pictures of him in the war, and his ID and POW card.

His brother fought the partisans in Yugoslavia in some big unit (can't remember which one) and came home safely. He's still alive, 80+ years old and looks like he's 30 or something, amazing. He still drives his car.

He told stories about Italian soldiers that were taken prisoners who were dismembered and given to the pigs...

Well, he still doesn't like that part of the world and their citizens at all.

My grandpa's cousin fought as a Leutenent in the Greek/Albanian campaign and later in Russia in the elite "Julia" Div. Alpina.

Survived, came home almost by feet.

I think he's still alive, but I've seen him so few times I can't remember him very well.

My grandpa (mother's side) was too young to fight. In 1943 he was captured by some German troops in his town of Ariccia (overlooking the Anzio town, 30kms south of Rome) when he was asking them for some food, and passed a night with them, scared to death. He was released later.

He still remembers very well German tanks passing in his town coming from the frontline, damaged, dirty and some with blood on them.

Sometimes he let me see where these units were, or were the flak was stationed etc.

He and his family got to know an Austrian who was saved by my grandpa's father when he cought fire from a light torch. His name was Agustin or something and could speak some italian.

He told me so many other stories and tales, I could write for hours.

Nice thread btw!

Ciao,

Newbtler · January 10, 2004