My dad’s first assignment was as a radioman, going behind the lines with a small patrol to scout the German positions. He had to call in every 15 minutes. If you didn’t call in it was assumed you were captured or dead.
Scary duty!
My paternal grandfather(1911-2002) was a radioman in the US Army from 1943-1945. He was in Europe and was headed to the Pacific before we dropped the bombs on Japan.
I asked him once about WW2 and his response was “People had to keep their lights off on the West Coast.”
I never broached the subject again, but did enjoy the German ammo box, card deck and maps he gave me from his campaign through France & Germany.(Too bad somebody else got the German army helmet & bayonet.)