My father served with the 63d Infantry Regiment, 6th Infantry Division in New Guinea and Luzon. He was wounded in action on Luzon in April, 1945. We both served in Vietnam and his grandson served two tours of duty in Iraq.
Three generations of Combat Infantryman’s Badges and Purple Hearts.
Awesome!!
Thank you for your Service!!
Yes indeed! Thank you for your service!
My dad was a Philippine Scout [a branch of the U.S Army under USAFFE (United States Armed Forces in the Far East] during WWII), fought in Bataan, escaped the Death March and became a guerilla under an American commander.
My father served in the Chemical Warfare Service during WW2 and was prepared to go to Australia to help in CW preparations should the Japanese use them during the invasion of the mainland.
My father-in-law fought at Saipan, Tinian, Eni-Weitok and Iwo (75th JASCO, Army Signal Corp, the only Army assault company there). At least three Purple Hearts plus many other medals during his 20+ years of service).
I was a research journalist, on our side, in SO. Vietnam and Cambodia, Fall 1970.
My son was one of the first American soldiers to cross into Iraq (ahead of the armored units, to mark pathways thru the Iraqi minefields) on 3/20/03. Fought at Objective Peach/Hindinya on the Eurphrates. Various medals including a Presidential Unit citation. No Purple Hearts, thank God.
Other family members served all over the world in WW2 from India to Hong Kong to European Theater.
Glad to learn of all the other great American heroes on this post.
Three generations of Combat Infantryman’s Badges and Purple Hearts.
My father had a similar army career. New Guinea in 43, Leyte in 44. He went MIA (along with his whole company, I believe) on Christmas day 1943. He was found and evacuated 4 Jan 44. I regret to say I cannot come close to matching the rest of your story. Three years a Navy corpsman, never left California. The ultimate REMF. There are no grandkids.
I hope you and others with stories to tell will tell them over at World War II + 70 Years when the time comes. At the moment we are watching the Brits fend of the Luftwaffe in the Battle of Britain.
A few months later he was on the Queen Mary heading for
New Guinea,,,
A U-Boat almost got them off the coast of South America,,,
They turned the Queen left and went “Battle speed”,,,
Nothing could keep up with Her in those days,,,
Got to Sidney days ahead of the rest,,,Then,,,
On to Port Moresby,,,
39th Fighter Squadron,,,P-39 Crew Chief,,,
WIA in ‘43,,,
I found his “My Life In The Service” book that had all
his buddies names in it written in their own hand,,,
The little box also had pics of the Headhunters with the
Jap heads that they brought in for the bounty,,,(salt),,,
When the Headhunters could bring out an American pilot
they were paid his weight in salt,,,
I still have a cannon Projectile from a P-39 cannon...
my great Uncle Wilt was stationed on battleships before the war broke out . In Dec of 41’ he was a crew member of the U.S.S. Arizona . On Saturday , Dec 6th he got some shore leave and went and found himself a nice little wahine to shack up with downtown and had not returned to the ship by early the next morning. That girl probably saved his life .
He went thru the entire war on this BB or that , ending up in 3rd Fleet and stationed aboard the BB-63 , U.S.S. Missouri . Being from Missouri he was real proud of that! He was one of those guys you see in old photos sitting on every gun and railing and all the masts and turrets in the surrender photos . That’s how he began and ended that war ...