June 6,1944

[baldeagle]

Thank you, Andy and TAM, for making me aware of the massacre. This is the first time I have ever heard of it. Stories like this must remain in our memories forever, lest we forget what tolerating evil leads to.

Yes, the men and women who served in WWII were heroes. But they were ordinary Americans thrust into extraordinary circumstances. Like every generation that has endured war, they were filled with fear but with greater determination not to let their brethren down and to do the job that they were sent to do. It's no different today, and we must remember that too. America has always produced extraordinary people - people willing to give their lives in the service of others, people willing to endure astounding hardships so that others would not have to endure it. Those of us who live must never forget this. It is our duty to those who died that we not allow the flame of freedom to go out. No matter how hard it may seem now, and it is depressingly so, there will be brighter days ahead. America will rise again and burst the shackles of tyranny. It's what we've always done.

[Oldgringo]

Truly, "The Greatest Generation"!

[VoiceofReason]

My father was a Medic and went ashore at Utah. He very rarely said anything about the war. When he did he didn’t say much. He was wounded twice and was discharged with what we now call PTSD. He was proud to have served but carried the horror the rest of his life.

[WildBill]

Here is a picture of my dad in France or Germany in front of his jeep that he named after my mom.

[WildBill]

This year is the first year my daughter has been interested in watching the Band of Brothers series. We watched parts 1 & 2 last night, just finished part 3, and are starting part 4 now.

I have watched the entire set probably five times. It is terrific!

[WildBill]

One more picture of my dad. Again, I don't know if this picture was taken in France or Germany.

I don't know why he is wearing that hat or where he got it, but I think it's funny.

[The Annoyed Man]

Bill, was your dad somebody's driver? (wondering about the car in the second picture...)

[WildBill]

Bill, was your dad somebody's driver? (wondering about the car in the second picture...)

No, he worked on setting up radio communication stations. He was a Tec 5 in the 3187th Signal Service Battalion.
I think he was just clowning around wearing the top hat.
I have a couple other pictures taken at the same time where he is wearing his normal army headgear.
My dad loved photography so he often had a camera hanging from his neck.
So, most of the time he was behind the camera, rather than in front.

He never told me much about the war. I remember he told me about trading a grease gun for a Thompson.
I have a couple pictures of him with a captured Nazi flag.
When I was a kid I remember a swastika arm band, a cool SS dagger, and a German belt buckle in the garage.

I found his discharge papers. They say he served in Rhineland, Central Europe.
He enlisted in Sep 1942, got shipped overseas in Nov 1944, so he was not there on D-Day.

[WildBill]