Thank You, Greeneyes.
My Dad was a WW2 vet and he talked about the South Pacific ALL the time. Finally when I was about 39, I went to the island of Kauai on a timeshare. I have been back many times and love the lore of the Islands.
I have been to Pearl Harbor a number of times and actually played a gig for the 55th reunion of the Massachusetts Survivors.
They all had on their Pearl Grey Forage Caps, Hawaiian Shirts, Leis, and danced better than people half their age.
My Dad was 6 months at sea in the South Pacific as an escort ship. At the end of the war, his ship was one of the ships that participated in the sinking of the last German Sub off the shore of Point Judith Light (North East Coastline).
I have a treasured picture of him and some of his mates with the debri, which included among other things, a raft and the captain’s hat.
It wasn’t till his final years that he talked to me about his service. One day he walked into my living room, and handed me a box - looked at me and said this is yours now keep it safe, turned and walked away.
It was his ring and medals mementos of the War.