A Few of FR's Finest..Every Day..02-6,7-07..WW2: The War, The Era, The Monument, The FReeper Vets

February 6, 2007 | Dolly Howard

[DollyCali]

A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day

Free Republic made its debut in September, 1996, and the forum was added in early 1997.   Over 100,000 people have registered for posting privileges on Free Republic, and the forum is read daily by tens of thousands of concerned citizens and patriots from all around the country and the world.

A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day was introduced on June 24, 2002. It's only a small room in JimRob's house where we can get to know one another a little better; salute and support our military and our leaders; pray for those in need; and congratulate those deserving. We strive to keep our threads entertaining, fun, and pleasing to look at, and often have guest writers contribute an essay, or a profile of another FReeper.

On Mondays please visit us to see photos of A FEW OF FR'S VETERANS AND ACTIVE MILITARY

If you have a suggestion, or an idea, or if there's a FReeper you would like to see featured, please drop one of us a note in FR mail.

We're having fun and hope you are!
~ Billie, Dutchess, DollyCali, GodBlessUSA, Aquamarine~

World War II (abbreviated WWII), or the Second World War, was a worldwide conflict fought between the Allied Powers and the Axis Powers, from 1939 until 1945. Armed forces from over seventy nations engaged in aerial, naval, and ground-based combat. Spanning much of the globe, World War II resulted in the deaths of over sixty million people, making it the deadliest conflict in human history. The war ended with an Allied victory .

Names & words like Adolf Hitler,Nagasaki, Normandy, the Holocaust, Pearl Harbor, Nazi, Adolph Eichmann, Rudolf Hess Auchwitz, , Iwa Jima, Atomic Bomb all bring sharp memories and often tears to those who lived through the time & bring images of a sad history for those of us who followed. .

Some 63 million people, or 3% of the world population, died in the war (though estimates vary): about 24 million soldiers and 38 million civilians. This total includes the estimated 9 million lives lost in the Holocaust. Of the total deaths in World War II, approximately 80% were on the Allied side and 20% on the Axis side.

Allied forces suffered approximately 17 million military deaths, of which about 11 million were Soviet and 3 million Chinese. Axis forces suffered about 8 million, of which more than 5 million were German. In total, of the military deaths in World War II, approximately 44% were Soviet soldiers, 22% were German, 12% were Chinese, 8% were Japanese, 9% were soldiers of other Allied forces, and 5% were other Axis country soldiers. Some modern estimates double the number of Chinese casualties originally stated. Of the civilian deaths, approximately 90% were Allied (nearly a third of all civilians killed were Soviet citizens, and more than 15% of all civilians killed in the war died in German extermination camps) and 10% were Axis.

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Many civilians died as a result of disease, starvation, massacres, genocide--in particular, the Holocaust--and aerial bombing. One estimate is that 12 million civilians died in Holocaust camps, 1.5 million by bombs, 7 million in Europe from other causes, and 7.5 million in China from other causes.[7] Allied civilian deaths totaled roughly 38 million, including 11.7 million in the Soviet Union, 7 million in China and 5.2 million from Poland. There were around 3 million civilian deaths on the Axis side, including 2 million in Germany and 0.6 million in Japan. The Holocaust refers to the organized state-sponsored murder of 6 million Jews, 1.8-1.9 million non-Jewish Poles, 200,000-800,000 Roma people, 200,000-300,000 people with disabilities, and other groups carried out by the Nazis during the war.

The Soviet Union suffered by far the largest death toll of any nation in the war, over 23 million. The Holocaust was the organized murder of an estimated nine million people, including approximately six million Jews. Originally, the Nazis used killing squads known as Einsatzgruppen to conduct massive open-air killings, shooting as many as 33,000 people in a single massacre, as in the case of Babi Yar. By 1942, the Nazi leadership decided to implement the Final Solution, or Endlösung, the genocide of all Jews in Europe, and to increase the pace of the Holocaust. The Nazis built six extermination camps specifically to kill Jews. Millions of Jews who had been confined to massively overcrowded ghettos were transported to these "Death-camps", in which they were either slaughtered on arrival or put to work until the Nazis could find no more use for them, at which point they were put to death by shooting or mass poisoning in gas chambers. .

In a short presentation such as this no attempt will be made to do a depth study of this war but rather to provide some links for those with an interest to know more.

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WW2 time line

WW 2 Europe

WW2 Pacific Timeline

Eyewitness to History WW2

Pacific Naval Battles

Wikipedia – WW2

Mini Biographies of Military & Political Leaders

Best of History Websites

Voices of WW2

The magnificent World War II Memorial Official Site was dedicated on May 29th of 2004, but this wonderful memorial cannot be shared with most WW II Veterans here in Ohio or elsewhere. They are now in their 80s to 90s.

The majority are on limited, fixed incomes, lack help. A twelve-hour bus ride is not an option for these heroes.

According to Veterans Affairs statistics, about 1,200 WW II Veterans die each and every day. The overwhelming majority of them will pass away without ever having an opportunity to visit the memorial they have waited over 60 years to see. We are changing that.

FReeper Warrior Queen works with the Cleveland USO & volunteers now with a remarkable group. Here are some of her comments…. We now fly WW II Veterans, one Saturday a month, in large commercial aircraft to the Washington, DC area. The program is called Honor Flight and the purpose is to fly America’s elderly veterans to visit the memorials dedicated to recognize their service and the sacrifices of their friends.

We are a federal nonprofit (501c3) organization. We are doing everything we can to make this activity FREE for the veterans. Sadly, Honor Flight does not receive any corporate or government sponsorship. We are asking for donations to cover airfare, tour bus services, food, tee shirts, scooter/wheelchair rental, oxygen and operational costs. We’re hoping that, by getting the word out, public support will continue to grow.

The more support we receive, the more veterans finally get to visit their memorial. Over the past two years, we have transported a total of 463 members of “the Greatest Generation.” We are now joined by other programs in North Carolina, Utah, Michigan, Oklahoma, and Illinois. Next year, our combined goal is to fly over 5000 WW II Veterans.

We conduct regular operations out of Dayton and Columbus. We plan to expand to Cleveland in 2007. Round trip, same day flights from Cleveland into Baltimore Washington International (BWI) would cost about $120.00 per seat. We then handle ALL the ground operations/logics from BWI, around Washington DC and back to the airport. We provide a deluxe motor coach, meals, tee shirts, name tags, motorized scooters, oxygen, etc. Our cost is about $50.00 per person.

It is our hope that we will pick up the cost of all ground expenses so that organizations from around the country pay only for their airfare. The cost will be about $120.00 a piece< to make the dreams of hundreds of WWII Veterans from Cleveland come true. Our policy is that the WWII Veterans don't pay a penny. . We will be serving as the "parent" organization to similar programs across the country. Recently we had about 20 people from across the nation that want to learn about how to proceed with an Honor Flight, HonorAir, Hero Flight, etc. program.

An office is opened that is staffed with volunteers to answer the phone, a national toll free number (1 888 FLY-VETS) and a national web site (presently under revision) www.HonorFlight.org. .

Time is NOT on our side. Since early January 2005, thirty-seven World War II veterans on our waiting list have passed away without visiting their memorial. In another 3 to 7 years, almost all WW II Veterans will be gone.

We remain committed to do everything we can to help those surviving veterans view their precious memorial. They are ordinary men and women who collectively and literally saved America and the
world.

If you would like more information or would like to help, please visit our web site at www.HonorFlight.org, email me at HonorFlight@aol.com
or call (937) 864-7261.

Erwin (Earl) Morse, Captain, USAF Retired
Founder of Honor Flight, Inc.
P.O. Box 214
Enon, OH 45323
Phone: 937 864-7261

More Honor Flight Information

Submitted by FReeper Bev ..the Bev in Bevlar; wife of Larry.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1012827/posts He is also registered at: http://www.wwiimemorial.com. The above site is where Freepers paid tribute to him. I cherish this website!!!

Lawrence Fredrick Zacker was born in Carroll Iowa November 4, 1915. He was 26 years old, married with children on December 7, 1941. The ARMY, NAVY AND MARINES wouldn't take him because he had very flat feet. He quit his job as Used Car Manager at a Los Angeles car dealership and went to work at Northrop building the P-61 Black Widow planes. He was doing his part for the war effort but felt he needed to participate as a soldier/sailor. In the summer of 1942, the United States Merchant Marines took him - flat feet and all after he begged the examining doctor to pass him.

He served in the Atlantic and Pacific theaters during the war years and was "bosun" on a ship off the coast of Normandy June 6, 1994. His service to his country did not go unnoticed and at the end of the war, he was contacted by the US Navy and given the opportunity to enter the Navy as an Ensign. He declined and returned to civilian life but often regretted his decision. He was a true flag waving patriot!!

After returning to civilian life, Larry became a Realtor and lived in Sana Diego for many years. In 1973, he retired and we moved to the mountains of N CA to the little town of Fall River Mills. We received an offer we couldn't refuse - Columbia Helicopters needed a watchman and we would be paid while we literally vacationed in our motor home. All we had to do was look after the helicopter during the evening hours. We traveled with Columbia for 4 years and had the time of our lives. In 1979, we decided to settle down once and for all. We bought a small acreage on the river - just a mile from the ocean on the beautiful north coast of Oregon.

In 1994, he received a special invitation, including a seating badge, to attend the 50 year remembrance of the Normandy invasion. He refused to attend because the draft dodging Bill Clinton was going to be there to strut around.

Larry will always be my hero because I knew his heart. I was Blessed to be his wife. He served his country with pride and honor. Larry died 10/31/03.

MY WAR
by William Barrows

Submitted by FReeper Wheelbarrow. A short excerpt presented here from the essay

FOUND HERE

"…..we pulled into what I thought was Liverpool (but later documents said it was Grenock, Scotland). En route we fought off and sank a German submarine that Hitler had boasted sank us, so when a British search plane came out to find us (or the remains) it was a jubilant dockside welcome that greeted us on arrival.

In England our troop train took us to a camp near North-witch for about a week, then again we were put on a train and taken to Southampton and loaded on assault ships to take us to Utah Beach in France where, like the guys who took the beach head, we had to climb the cliffs to get to the trucks that would take us to the combat area.

In France we traveled on mostly country roads (the German Air Force was still something to worry about, and there was a big German submarine post back behind at St. Nazzaire). We bypassed Paris and eventually wound up near Nancy (the last city of any size we’d encounter), the HQ. of General Patton’s Third Army and my 26th Division. Soon after to the east we were dropped from the trucks and began the march to the “front lines” some 20 miles away….."

1-09-07 ~ Hall of Fame #18

THIS WEEK'S THREADS 2-05-07 Military Monday

Opinions by our own 'King of Ping' Every Thursday at the Finest The guy's good, folks!

[MEG33]

~Thank You~
World War 2 Veterans

Thank you, Dolly, for this great tribute!

[MEG33]

Wonderful! ..I posted that to Grammy Luv, I recall! It's a beautiful rose.

[La Enchiladita]

Gracie, you know how I love pink roses. That one is divine. I must come back later and take a good look at this thread...

((HUGS))

[luvie]

You DID post it to me...and Piper..., Megs,and it IS beautiful. What is the name? I wonder if something that delicate-looking will grow in West Texas.

Good morning, galz...how are ya this morning?

You, too, Beachy! Cute graphic! Hope everyone stays warm. It's supposed to reach 70 degrees here! ~~ducking~~

[MEG33]

I think St Cecelia was what I noted from the photograph when I downloaded it..I'm not sure but it might have been in a British Columbia garden...I travel a lot by internet..LOL

[MEG33]

I've told the world of our warm weather..It's cold in the morning but the days are so nice..I will enjoy it while it lasts! If I remember correctly..we get some icy weather in February!

[Aquamarine]

This is an awesome WWII post Dolly. Thank you for your service Wheelbarrow.

My father served in the Naval Air Force, and father in law served in the Navy during WWII. My husbands uncle was also in the Navy and was killed aboard the USS Gilligan, burned alive at his gun after a Kamikaze pilot crashed into the ship.

My FIL is still living but is blind and has Alzheimer's, he's 79 and he told a story about his age when he entered the service at age 16. Said he was at sea in the Pacific for 18 months straight one time, they went into ports for supplies but never left the ship. He also spent some time on the Atlantic ocean and said the Atlantic ocean is much rougher than the Pacific.

[GodBlessUSA]

I found it on David Austin's roses. I think I will order it for this spring. St. Cecilia is the patron saint of music and musicians :)

Speaking of roses, here's a favorite, I have from my other garden to plant here. I love this rose. It's perfect for this thread. World War II Memorial Rose

[GodBlessUSA]

Good Morning Aqua
God Bless Your Dad IL.

Very sad to read of your hubby's Uncle. Brave Hero .

[Aquamarine]

Thanks GodblessUSA. When he's being a rascal sometimes I'll think, well he did spend too much time on that ship, and it's easy to forgive him. lol

[luvie]

Maybe we've already had the icy weather. When we were starting on our trip to see Piper last Friday, it was snowing and there was snow on the ground for the first 200 miles of the trip. The roads, however, were fine.

I am certainly enjoying the warmth! I couldn't believe the difference in temps from OK down to here.

[DollyCali]

Thank you Aqua and thanks for the info on your family. Do you have a pix of your dad & maybe do a little write up about him? I am hoping FReepers will feel excited about being able to share about their special WW2 people with stories & pix.

I wish I knew more about my dad's WW2 experiences. Like many men of the era, they didn't relish talking about the actual battle/war related stories..

Gratefully some have & we do have good records,

I am going to put together a tribute to my dad w/ pix hopefully sometime today or tomorrow for this thread & for "the record".


An aside, we share an interest in jewels, cabs, geodes etc.. and we all know that "diamonds are a girl's best friend".. Did you see the movie Blood Diamond? VERY graphic movie/violence but a story that needs to be out there.

My friend Mark used to invest heavily in diamonds before he was aware of the situation in early 90s.. He saw the movie on my recommendation & said also it made a powerful impression on him

Yes, I guess, one could say it is an "agenda" movie, but to a degree they all are.

[fatima]

Thank you DollyCali for the ping.

[luvie]

The St. Cecilia rose is beautiful as is this WWII Memorial Rose. I really love that delicate pink. Maybe I need one to go with my Peace. :D

[GodBlessUSA]

It's so difficult Aqua.
This is a dreadful disease. It can be heart aching. I'll be saying prayers for you DIL.

I also wanted to say, God Bless your Dad for his service! :)

[DollyCali]

Nice to see those roses GeeBee..I can imagine them despite the fact we are buried in snow & temps are around zero(forget how low the wind chill is) I especially like the one with the "old world/Old Rose" look. I had a large rose collection in NC........was active with American & Winston Salem Rose Society. Had some of the old ones, that had a very sweet fragrance for the most part.

[GodBlessUSA]

They will go perfect with your Peace. I'm not talking to you. You have 70 degrees today ;) LOL

If you can, get outside and enjoy. You must be very happy today after all that cold weather. I have to get back to spackeling. See you later Hugs!

[DollyCali]

Thanks Meg.. that looks like blue suede background with Mozilla.. (my colors are often off w/firefox & some backgrounds do NOT show up even!) And I love that pix.

[DollyCali]

your welcome fatima.. do you have dad, granddad etc who was in WW2? love for you to share info/pix etc if you have any.

[GodBlessUSA]

Hi Dolly
That is so neat. You are a rosarian :) I love the fragrances too. I get a lot of the HT's and many of them are not as fragrant as the older roses. In my new garden I should look for the older ones as well. Nothing like the scent of a rose. :) I try to pick the ones that have good names. There will be no Streisand, odonell etc roses in my garden LOL ;) Our Lady of Guadalupe is another I love.