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To: girlangler
My dad enlisted with his friends, right after the Pearl Harbor attack. He was Army AF and crossed the Channel into France at Utah beach about 2/3 days after the initial assault. He talked about his experiences, but only a couple a years before he died.

He was not bitter at all or dramatic. Only once did he actually almost cry. Before the invasion he, was at Christchurch England and he said (working on aircraft) that crews would wait out on the tarmac for planes to return from their flight into occupied areas. Once crews returned, the men could go to mess. He said it was sad to sit there in the mess and see guys still sitting out on the tarmac waiting for thei long overdue crews that everyone knew would not return. People had to go out and get them, and make them come in and give up the wait.

He had lots of stories ... small snippets really, just like that. I feel like I got to know him a lot better when he talked about those things. I miss him.

31 posted on 06/06/2008 5:39:36 AM PDT by SMARTY ('At some point you get tired of swatting flies, and you have to go for the manure heap' Gen. LeMay)
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To: SMARTY

Wow, that would be sad, to see those guys waiting on the tarmac for others that wouldn’t be coming back.

Those men saw so much horror, yet they came home and lived regular lives after the war.

Just saw another report on TV about the youngest Medal of Honor winner (from WWII) passing.

My friend didn’t talk about Anaur until right he died either, then he would get a little choked up.

Aren’t we lucky to know these men, and to have them share these experiences with us? It is sad to see them go.


32 posted on 06/06/2008 7:30:14 AM PDT by girlangler (Fish Fear Me)
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