Vet: Honor WWII survivors now, while they're alive

AP ^ | Sept. 2, 2011 | AUDREY McAVOY

[PROCON]

PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii (AP) - A Marine who fought in the Battle of Okinawa urged Americans on Friday to honor those who served in World War II now, while veterans from that conflict are still alive. E. Bruce Heilman, speaking at a ceremony marking the 66th year since the end of the war, noted fewer than 2 million of the 16 million men and women who served in the war are alive. They are dying at a rate of 30,000 per month, he said.

[ConorMacNessa]

My dad was also career Navy - enlisted in 1945 on his eighteenth birthday and qualified as a Radioman. Served American Theater in WWII and was discharged in 1946. Called up in 1950, he served on board the USS Borie, DD704. The Borie participated in the the Hungnam Evacuation following the withdrawal of the 1st Marine Division from Frozen Chosin. He had graduated from College in 1950 and was given a chance to apply for a commission in the Medical Service Corps, which he took advantage of. During the Vietnam War he was assigned as a clinical investigator to Naval Medical Research Unit #2 in Taipei, Taiwan. While in that post he had boots on the ground in 'Nam on several occasions. His last act as an officer was to present me with my Purple Heart on 25Aug1969, the day of his retirement as a Commander.

Proud to part of a Navy Family!

Lamh Foistenach Abu!

[BuffaloJack]

> That’s amazing. Too bad you didn’t have a recorder for your civil war great uncle.
Unfortunately I was only 8 or 9 years old at the time and didn’t appreciate the event. Also, what kid back in the 50s would have had a tape recorder?

[unkus]

You’ll always have the memories. Thanks for sharing. There are videos of Civil War veteran reunions that were filmed in the early 1900’s. Maybe on YouTube.

[PzLdr]

My Pop died in 2001. Hit Utah Beach on D-Day, fought on the Huertgen Forest.

And thanks for your service, PROCON.

CPT ARMOR
MACV 1971

[jmacusa]

Folks if you’d really like to get to know WW2 vets before they leave us forever you can do no better than to find a local chapter of the largest official association of WW2 vets called “Veterans of The battle of The Bugle’’ (”VBoB’’ for short.). I did. It’s very rewarding. I met two vets who served with the 29th. Infantry Division who both landed on Omaha Beach on June 6th. One of them was slightly wounded that morning. “Stuck my head up for a second’’ he told me,’’..and a bullet knocked my helmet off and creased my scalp’’.’’ “Ernie’’ said, “I didn’t try that again’’. My God, the things they told me.