December 7

[Amos Moses]

My hero's are both my grandads!

My father's dad served in the big red 1 in Europe and fought in the battle of the buldge. He also fought in the Korean War and Vietnam. He was was drafted during WWII and made 1st SGT in Korea and later in the war took a direct commission. He was Lt. Col in Vietnam and retired as full bird. Always thought is was cool he held every rank between private and colonel!

My mother's father fought in the pacific during WWII. After he came back from the war he went to A&M and then UT for law school and then back into the army after the Korean WAR as a jag officer. He completed all this after losing both of his parents before he turned 10. He retired after 20 years as a Lt Col and went to work for the FTC in Washington. After retiring he spent many years helping service widows with legal issues in the DC area. He he is still living in Northern VA.

They were both part of our country's greatest generation!

Myself I served in Desert Storm with company A of the 527th - not much compared to my hero's...

Wow! Now that is impressive! All three of you are heroes. Don't sell yourself short....

[ddgravy]

Wow! Now that is impressive! All three of you are heroes. Don't sell yourself short....

Agree:icon_wink:

[okiealdawg]

Thanks - these guys are also boomer1's granddads.

[dawg80]

My wife's uncle(BJ) served in both WWII and Korea and won medals in both. He's the one that gave me that Jap rifle that there was thread about over a year ago, the flower on the stock, a crathasium (sp?).

He was in a tank crew, an old Stewart tank vintage early 1930's and woefully unfit to battle the modern WWII Jap tanks. But the Stewarts were there, in the Pacific, and even though they had been refitted...some...they were still death traps. Anyway...he had two tanks destroyed by Jap anti-tank fire (bazooka or RPG type weapon). Had infantry support and our guys couldn't figure out how the Japs got so close to the tanks. Well, Uncle BJ decides to support his third tank by sneaking thru the woods as the tank proceeded up a road. As the tank passed a point, a trap door, in the middle of the road opened and a Jap pops up ready to fire into the ass-end of the little Stewart. Uncle BJ killed that Jap before he could, then led a small detachment down into a series of tunnels. I am told these 6 US Marines killed hundreds of Japs in the tunnels, by surprising them. The tunnels went for a mile or more in several directions, with side tunnels, and plenty of trap doors that opened on roads, trails, and other places.

He got a medal. I got a nice souvenier Jap rifle!


It's a Stuart Tank (spelling)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XBTnOFw6jdY

[JuBru]

Myself I served in Desert Storm with company A of the 527th - not much compared to my hero's...

You were probably one if the ones that didn't like my dad too much.

[Brian96]

My grandfather served in the 504th PIR of the 82nd Airborne Division in WW2. He always minimized his experience, trying to convince us that he never saw any action. It wasn't until we got a hold of some his service records that we found out he had earned (but was never presented with) 2 bronze stars. He was still in jump school on D-Day, but participated in Operation Market Garden and the Battle of the Bulge, among other engagements. His unit was part of the end of the American line that joined with the Russians as they closed on Berlin.

[okiealdawg]

God bless our vets!!! I really enjoyed reading everyone posts on this tread.

[ITdrummer]

My grandfather who was nearly killed in combat, never received a Purple Heart. My family has been thinking about trying to get one to my Grandmother before she passes away.

[Brian96]

My grandfather who was nearly killed in combat, never received a Purple Heart. My family has been thinking about trying to get one to my Grandmother before she passes away.

Do his records note that he was eligible? If so, it might not be that hard to get someone to do a (semi-)formal medal presentation.

[okiealdawg]

You were probably one if the ones that didn't like my dad too much.

Who is your father?

[JuBru]

Who is your father?

At that time, SSG Bruner (retired SFC now). I think he was the S-4 NCO even back then. I was in kindergarten, so my memory of the time is shady.

[Amos Moses]

My grandfather who was nearly killed in combat, never received a Purple Heart. My family has been thinking about trying to get one to my Grandmother before she passes away.

Your grandfather was probably just like the below cartoon by Bill Mauldin, the "Willie and Joe" cartoonist of WWII. The caption reads: "Just give me an aspirin, Doc. I already got a Purple Heart".