Posted on 05/25/2015 8:09:28 AM PDT by Retain Mike
My greatest contact with these men started about age nine when my dad began taking me out golfing on the weekends. There was a man who used the first golf cart I ever saw, because as a brigade commander of the 41th infantry in New Guinea he was debilitated by sickness. I remember one fairly good golfer who had kind of a weird back swing, because he was crippled while serving with the Big Red One in Sicily. I often ended up as a dishwasher at Michelbook Country Club. I noticed the chef always limped as he moved around the kitchen. When he saw my puzzled look, he said he got the limp from a wound received when he was with the Rangers at Pointe De Hoc. Those are just a few of the stories I remember among so many I could relate or have forgotten.
My motivation for this subject and what I have a hard time understanding still is the casualty rates in those divisions chosen repeatedly for initial assaults. The corps and army commanders had favorites and somehow division staffs responded to reconstitute and retrain the rifle platoons every thirty to ninety days without losing the quality of the assault forces. It seems other divisions were usually sent to less active sectors, entered combat later in time, or occupied a flank in an attack. These were the most ordinary of men, so I keep hearing Aaron Copland’s Fanfare for the Common Man as I reread this narrative.
I’ve read that the hedgerows were a nasty surprise- in aerial photographs, they showed up simply as boundaries between fields. They turned out to be tall hard packed berms, built up over generations by farmers clearing and improving their fields. This gave enemy defenders excellent cover and concealment, as well as making attacking troops visible and vulnerable when attacking over them.
As usual, when turned loose and allowed to innovate, the US Army adapted and overcame. One solution was the “Rhino” tank- a standard Sherman tank, with a long pipe “spike” welded to the nose-this allowed the tank to pierce, then knock down hedgerows for a more direct attack (or to destroy an enemy position).
I’m a bit of a WWII buff- not too serious about it, but it’s always interesting- and there’s always more to learn about it.
I thank you Sir, and the other vets for your service.
I salute you.
Just think I would not be born until 20 years later from 1943.
Now it seems a long time ago.
Where does the time go ?
Those are the numbers for the entire military and the Coast guard, not the Army, which was 93% draftee.
The discussion does remain was it doable.
As it was, the cost of the Cold War is measurable, costing America alone about 150,000 lives and untold dollars, and it changed us forever.
Much of the destruction of our freedoms and the takeover of America by the left, came out of the results that our president for life created.
It is still valid to ponder whether the West would have survived, if we had finished WWII, instead of the Communists winning it, as it is, the West is on it’s way out.
That word was supposed be immeasurable.
It is amazing how so much of what destroyed the West is traceable back to the WWII creation of the Russian empire.
3240 tooth, 14000 tail.
Just about every day throughout the summer months, an outfit called Honor Flight flies air charters to Baltimore or Washington and disgorges a 50 or more old men and a few women. Most are wearing a hat the reads WWII Veteran, or their unit or ship. Each has a guardian who looks after them and helps shepherd them around.
As they walk off the plane, or in many cases are wheeled of the plane, the entire terminal breaks out in applause and a standing ovation.
These men are our veterans of WWII and Honor Flight brings them to DC to see the WWII Memorial...Their Memorial.
When the arrive at the Memorial, there is another phalanx of well wishers on hand to greet them, thank them and shale their hand. Members of the military are usually there. There are four young women who are dressed and made up in period clothing who come often. Many of the old soldiers pause for a photo with the girls. Finally, a short ceremony is performed to thank these men for their service and sacrifice.
Some of these guys are overcome with emotion, while others are joyful and enjoy the parade.
I’ve met a B-24 pilot, a member of OSS and several who served in WWII, Korea and Vietnam.
If you can make it to DC, it’s well worth your time to check out the Honor flight website and see when these hero’s are coming in so you can greet them. We live about 90 minutes from DC and have attended several of these.
Thank you for a fine tribute. I too grew up among WW II veterans, with the burdens and sacrifices of combat a shadowy presence rarely spoken of. The WW II American Army, Air Corps, and Navy were an astonishing accomplishment, being composed mostly of civilians who were equipped, trained, motivated, and put into combat — where they defeated more experienced and battle ready formations.
Great post.
Mel Brooks was in The Battle of the Bulge, too. When asked how bad it was, he said it was so loud, he couldn’t read his newspaper.
Thank you.
Bookmark
I’d hardly call an artilleryman, an anti-tank gunner, or an anti-aircraft gunner “tail”. They fought, too, they simply didn’t have the casualty rates of an infantryman.
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