World War 2 Vets - The Greatest Generation

[Muck]

National group disbands but local sub vets keep on

The submarine veterans of World War II have seen this coming for a long time.

At their national convention this month, 62 veterans attended where thousands used to go.

The U.S. Submarine Veterans of World War II disbanded at the end of its convention Sept. 7 in Norfolk, Va. Local chapters now must decide whether to continue operating under another name or to dissolve as well.

Last week in Groton, J. "Deen" Brown announced to his fellow WWII submarine veterans that the Thames River Chapter has a new name.

"Eastern USA Chapter U.S. Submarine Veterans of WWII," he told members before their monthly luncheon at the U.S. Submarine Veterans clubhouse.

"We simply have to face the fact that we're all getting older and, as we do so, eventually we simply cannot remain a viable national organization," said Brown, 90, of Oakdale.

Walter "Gus" Kraus, the last national president, said the veterans who wanted to keep the national group going "until the last man is gone" prevailed in a vote three years ago. Two years ago, the vote was split.

By this year's convention, some of the stalwarts had died, or their friends had. Of the 1,100 members, the youngest is 86. The oldest is 102.

It was difficult for the national organization to find members able to serve as officers and to complete all of the administrative tasks. In their last roster, published 10 years ago, the pages listing the deceased members outnumbered those listing active members.

.../cont/...

It's something to be living at a time age when all of these men (& women) along with the records of their lives are being lost as such a rapid rate. I know it's hardly the first time this has happened but it is a somewhat unique situation as it's the first time where there have been so many tools to help preserve the stories. Luckily there has been a scramble over the past couple of decades by historians to record as many of those stories as possible before they are lost to time.

My great-uncle was a WW2 vet and an inveterate story teller. I was lucky to have spent a great deal of time listening to his tales as a kid and it taught me to get to know and listen to that generation of veterans whenever I had an opportunity.

I've also been fortunate enough to have over two hundred veterans allow me to record the stories they shared with me. Eventually the plan is to get a book published that is simply the stories of those veterans being told in their own words.

If you have a family member or other acquaintance who served during WW2, it's well worth the effort to take the time to ask them about their service. Many of them are more than happy to share their stories...and those stories are well worth listening to.

 

[Fungo Squiggly]

I'm pretty sure NYB proved that you think they are all pussies.

 

[Muck]

I'm pretty sure NYB proved that you think they are all pussies.

NYB drives a Porsche.

(Attn mods: Merely stating a fact is not a personal fact no matter regardless of how despicable the act in question may be)

 

[Smudger]

 

[muffler dragon]

My grandfather was a WWII vet. He had a few good stories.

One in particular (paraphrased) was that he was sitting in a lounge chair on the beach during a short break, and was knocked backwards into the sand by a huge amount of bird shit.
Another was his description of sitting in the bottom of a submarine having to be extremely quiet so as to not alert the enemies patrolling the area that they were there.

He spent the vast bulk of his life in Marietta, OH (my home town). I remember distinctly him telling me the following: "I've been to the French Riviera, Monte Carlo, and a number of other places in Europe. But none of them is more beautiful than Marietta. Here, we've got two rivers, mountains and a fine city." With that load of shit coming out of his mouth, I always questioned his other stories about his military service.

 

[Smudger]

Was unfortunate not to be around when my family's World War 2 vets were still around. They had all passed away before I was born. My dads side of the family served exclusively in the Pacific theater as his dad & all three of his uncles were Marines that did their time over there. I would've probably been to terrified to ask my grandpa about his war experience as his last combat action was on Iwo Jima & I'm sure he didn't have anything pleasant to say about that.

 

[Muck]

My step grandfather was an air winger in the Pacific & participated in the campaigns on Saipan, Peleliu & Okinawa. He's still alive, a Kansas fan and has an intense dislike for Ohio State. lol

My great grandfather served with the 2nd Raider Battalion, unfortunately he passed away shortly before my birth.

 

[PlanetFrnd]

Muck = Lieutenant Dan?

 

[Smudger]

My step grandfather was an air winger in the Pacific & participated in the campaigns on Saipan, Peleliu & Okinawa

My grandpa was a tank engineer with the 1st Corps Medium Tank Bn. (4th Marine Division). He participated in the Saipan, Tinian & Iwo Jima campaigns. My dad said he NEVER talked about his experiences in the war, but he also passed away when my dad was 12, so my dad really didn't remember much about him unfortunately.

My great grandfather served with the 2nd Raider Battalion, unfortunately he passed away shortly before my birth.

Your great grandfather must've been a hard man if he was a part of Carlson's Raiders. I read American Commando: Evans Carlson, His WW II Marine Raiders, and America's First Special Forces Mission by John Wukovits not to long ago & it was a great read. Amazing man Evans Carlson was as were his Raiders.

Awesome pictures as well. My dad has been looking for pictures of my Grandpa, but all he can find is ones with him in his uniforms.

Muck = Lieutenant Dan?

He might take that as an insult, being from another arm of the military & all.

 

[Muck]

Muck = Lieutenant Dan?

Because I had multiple family members who served in a war where upwards of 12% of the US population was in uniform?

Your great grandfather must've been a hard man if he was a part of Carlson's Raiders.

I really wish I had been able to meet him. All the stories I've heard make him sound like he would have been an amazing guy to meet. He was a plumber who built up a very successful business....turned the basement of the house I grew up into a bar/pool room for his buddies and the local beer distributor would make deliveries directly to his back door.

My older relatives have all sworn that I look just like him. The primary difference is that he was 6'4" & built like a linebacker whereas I'm the runt of the family at 5'10" ... albeit built like a fullback.

Amazing man Evans Carlson was as were his Raiders.

Yes ye was. Even what with being a commie and all. lol

Awesome pictures as well. My dad has been looking for pictures of my Grandpa, but all he can find is ones with him in his uniforms.

I'm a bit annoyed that his (step) daughter (my dad's wife) decided to sell them all off while going through a massive 'everything must go' housecleaning earlier this year. Luckily I got them all scanned in first.

 

[PlanetFrnd]

Because I had multiple family members who served in a war where upwards of 12% of the US population was in uniform?

Because of your family's multi-generational service... just a joke, of course.

 

[Taosman]

Left for dead in a foxhole in Germany, my father recovered to go find the GI who took his Movado watch off his still alive body. That must have been one scared s.o.b. who Dad found in a bar in Italy. The watch was returned very promptly to the very [censored]ed off Sargent standing over him. :tongue2:
Dad died shortly after my brother's marriage in 90. He still carried grenade shrapnel next to his heart from the attack that killed his brothers in arms in that foxhole in Germany. He hated Germans till the day he died. Though he greatly admired German engineering having seen it up close and personal. "Those damn Tiger tanks!" "Those fkin' 88s(anti-aircraft guns) they lowered on us!" Pop had one brother in the Navy who went insane after the third boat was sunk under him. It's hard to begin to imagine the the scale of the horror that was witnessed.
God bless and keep dear The Greatest Generation!

 

[Muck]

Because of your family's multi-generational service... just a joke, of course.

For the record

Great uncle mentioned in first post was on my mother's side.

The step-grandfather is not a blood relative (my dad and his current wife got married when I was in my mid 20's).

My great grand father is on my father's side.

Not exactly an unbroken blood-line in a single service back to the revolutionary war. Having a family with a history of multiple marriages (my father and his mother were both married three times) adds a bit to the available pool to draw from. For example The man I knew as my grandfather (my grandmother's third husband) was career Air Force intelligence before suffering a stroke on his way to Vietnam.

Off the top of my head other family members who have served:
I have a second cousin who served in the Navy on a Sturgeon class sub.
My father's uncle was a Korea era sailor and on the Navy boxing team before finally being mustered out for his height (he continued to grow after enlistment until he was 6'8").
I have a cousin who is currently in the 'Corps.
My children's uncle served in the Swedish special forces as did his father who was a career soldier & the former head of their ranger school.

 

[PlanetFrnd]

Fair enough, brother. Certainly no offense intdended.

 

[Muck]

Certainly no offense intdended.

I know and there was none tdaken. :p