"MY DAD'S WW2 DIARY - A SNAPSHOT IN HISTORY"

My Dad served during WW2 in the US Navy from somewhere around June, 1943 until January, 1946 in the Pacific. He was assigned to the USS SAN JUAN, a cruiser, and his duty on board was that of storekeeper. The USS SAN JUAN received 13 Battle Stars for her WW2 service. My Dad was on board when the ship received 7 Battle Stars. Almost needless to say, he saw a lot of heavy, heavy action.

The USS SAN JUAN went all over the Pacific during the time my Dad was on board. Here is a link to the website should you be interested in knowing more. This "history" page I find to be especially interesting.

Like a lot of WW2 veterans I've met over the years, my Dad never really talked a lot about his time in the service and the war, and when he did it was usually in general terms. I suppose he felt like he did his duty for the country, came back to the States, got married, started a business, raised a family, and helped make this country the greatest on earth. So his life didn't revolve around what he and his generation accomplished in WW2. But the stories he did tell I always found to be facinating, and occasionally I'd dig and get him to tell some more detail.

Excerpt:

Sept. 9, 1945

I had the midnight watch last night so I only got about 3 hours sleep. Early this morning we brought on board about 100 POW's. We gave them new clothes and shoes and almost anything else they wanted. I never saw so many happy people in all my life. They were so happy they didn't know what to say. One fellow said, "I'm really glad to be free," and the way he said it would have brought tears to anyones eyes. All of them were English (Prisoners of War) and they were captured in Singapore, China on Feb. 15, 1942. They were brought to Japan several months later on a ship. They were so crowded on the ship that some of then died on the way. Since they have been in Japan they worked in mines, and long hours too, with very little food. They were beaten and starved, but now they are free men again. One of them told me the only way they could find out the news was by stealing a paper. He said a Jap told him that the English in England were starving to death because they didn't have any more rice. He just laughed! He showed me the last letter he got from his mother, written in 1942 just after he was captured. She said she had heard the Japs had captured him, for him to have faith and some day he would be free again, and that she prayed for him several times a day. There is so much he told me I can't remember it all. 0845 we got underway for Tokyo. Enter Tokyo at 1730. The three-and-a-half years they were prisoners all they had to eat was a little rice, and sometimes they would go out in the woods and get certain kind of tree leaves, cook them and eat them. One fellow told me they had eaten monkey, lizard, or anything else they could get their hands on! They said once or twice they got a little Red Cross stuff, but the Japs kept most of it. Most of the time they wore straw or wooden shoes. They were transferred to another ship at 1815. I could never write what I have seen and heard today so I don't dare to try. We gave them a turkey dinner and you should have seen them eat -- poor fellows! All of us Yanks, as they called us, treated them very nice today. We did all we could to make them comfortable and happy, and they really appreciated it -- more than we realize I guess.

http://www.conservativeunderground.com/forum/showthread.php?t=106814

Dad never really talked a lot about his time in the service and the war, and when he did it was usually in general terms...

Yup.

I remember a soft-spoken neighbor we had when I was growing up in CT. Never talked at all about his time in the army... whenever it came up, he just said... “that was a long, time ago”.

When he passed away, the medals laid on top of his casket did all the talking for him.

thank you....hand salute to your dad.

Talks about WWII vets being tight lipped...
My dad served 18 months or so, in Italy in WW2..I’d ask him about it and he would tell me to ask his brother.

His older brother was in Aleutians & Philippines...almost 30 months worth....I believe he got bombed by his own guys.

The reason I say believe, is he never talked about it either..he would start talking about all the friends he made in the Philippines.

Those guys were something else....

thank you....hand salute to your dad.

Just to clarify. This isn't MY dad. This is the Dad of USA4ME over at conservativeunderground.com

My Dad is a bit younger. He served in the Army, stateside, during the Vietnam War (his unit was sent to Vietnam after he got his discharge). Years later he re-enlisted and served in Germany sometime during the Lebanon Civil War (I dont know the exact years of either tour of duty).

The little old man across the street from me as a kid was kind. He never talked about his service. He was quiet.

When he passed away 2 years ago, God rest his soul, his obituary covered the Silver Star with Valor device he was awarded during the war, as well as the Purple Hearts.

We are surrounded by heroes my brothers and sisters. Every day, another one of them slips away to be with his comrades on the other side. Before it is too late, tell them thank you.

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