[buffaloguy]

Probably true. In my fathers unit a private shot a german pilot through the head with a single shot from his garand. The pilot was strafing the units camp and as he came in low and opened up with his guns the private loaded his garand and took one shot.

A few days later General Patton came by and shook his hand and said “Damned fine shooting soldier.” And the drove off in a cloud of dust.

In those days we were made of sterner stuff.

[Bringbackthedraft]

In those days we were made of sterner stuff....................................... Not true, we are still made of sterner stuff, its all about leadership. During WW II they didn’t tie your hands behind your back with silly assed ROE’s. You were sent out to win, period!

[Vermont Lt]

I don’t know...some of the stories of our men in Fallujah and Afghanistan are pretty inspiring. We have tough guys still.

We just don’t tell the tales the way we used to.

I spend a lot of time around college athletes. They are smart, healthy, and motivated. If THEY are the ones to take care of me when I am old, we will be fine. If THEY are the ones we need to call on (draft, as we did in WWII) we will be fine.

[Northern Yankee]

I read of a P-47 pilot who was hedge hopping, avoiding flak, during the Second World War when he came upon a German soldier on a hill. The pilot was so low that he was sure he was going to decapitate him with his propeller. He went right over him, circled back thinking the soldier was headless at that point.

He saw the soldier standing there, completely intact. The pilot surmised that the speed of the aircraft and the propeller spin worked in the soldier's favor and spared his life.

This story was related a few years ago in Flight Journal Magazine.