The first soldier into battle on D-Day was my Mom's Uncle. He rallied his troops to follow him into what was surely a suicide mission by pleading the cause of those imprisoned in concentration camps. This was before we had any idea how bad they were.
He was wounded before landing from his parachute jump, and wounded many more times over the following weeks before being hit by artillery that was too severe to stay on the battlefield. He left the hospital before being released, and rejoined his battle group. For this he was punished by being kicked out of his beloved Pathfinders, and transferred to the Screaming Eagles, still with the 101st airborne. He fought with them throughout the battle of Bastogne.
You can imagine how I feel when anqueefa uses their "Nazi" accusation.
All the men in my family have proven ourselves impossible to kill. Uncle Frank had nothing exceptional except determination. Often people wish we had men like those who fought at Normandy. We do! Everyone here has determination like crazy, and the same Spirit. We're all made from the same "stuff." We just need to all go on the offensive at the same time, and know how to recognize each other so as to avoid friendly fire.
That is awesome! I love hearing old war stories from the real heroes! What unit in the 101st was your uncle?
My Polish grandfather was with the 101. D Co. 2/506th. He lost his legbag when his parachute opened, and landed with a bayonet. He used it to "relieve" a German soldier of his rifle. After all, he didn't need it any more...Took his almost a full day to reunite with his platoon. His knowledge of German came in handy and they fooled a couple of units by shouting false commands at them. Stayed with him company to the end (Including Market Garden and Bastogne), then came home and hung up his rifle for a while. The called him back up for Korea, where he did 2 years as a Platoon Sergeant until he lost his left hand to a grenade. Took up ranching and never left Montana after that.
His son did 3 years in Vietnam with the 101st. Just a grunt in the jungles and swamps.While he came home from that war physically, he never did mentally. I really began to understand PTSD as a kid. He was never violent, just...Lost. Jumped at fireworks and certain noises really got him going. Would break down at times. After I spent some time in uniform, what he had experienced really hit home. Sorry if I ever mocked you, Uncle Ed...Dumb kids do dumb kids stuff. I sure understand now.
Grandpa's only grandchild did 22 years in the Army. 88 to 10. Saw my share of sand and fighting. Lost good friends...Hell, lost a girl that, well, we were going to marry, but careers and all. Who knows. Might have even worked, but we each went our own ways. She got killed doing first aid when her convoy ran over some IED's. These little bastards out rioting have no idea what war, fighting or loss means. When some little shit calls me a "Nazi" or "Fascist" or some little keyboard commando on here calls me a "Communist" (I know you are seeing this, little needledick stalker) I get a bit pissed. Not triggered, pissed. A whole 'nother level of attitude. For just a bunch of backwood nobodies my family, both sides, has done their service. Every male member of my family has put the uniform on and did their job.
I have done my best to stay calm about everything going on. i have seen countries tear themselves apart due to infighting. But maybe it is time to let the dogs slip. I pray we can just bring it back under control if it happens.
Yeah, not quite time to release the hounds yet. If it comes to that it will be something that's never happened; us preserving the Constitution as the highest law of the land vs those trying to destroy the Nation. It's that Constitution that guarantees bringing things back under control works.
Uncle Frank started in the Pathfinders. There were three "sticks" of flights that went in first, to set up lights to glide the gliders in. His was the only one that put up a light. This was before anybody realized Germany was addicted to meth, so the soldiers couldn't sleep and barely needed to eat. They didn't find the Germans sleeping as they had hoped. After his disobedient recovery he got transferred to the Screaming Eagles, either the 502 or 506 PIR, I forget which but it's whichever wasn't Easy company.
They certainly did. And did it with distinction. I do not think we will see their like again.
They asked my grandfather if he wanted to be a Pathfinder, but he just laughed and said "I was crazy enough to volunteer for Airborne, but I am not crazy enough to volunteer twice!" I got my own jump wings as a salute to him. 3 generations of jumpers in the family.
Great story!
The first soldier into battle on D-Day was my Mom's Uncle. He rallied his troops to follow him into what was surely a suicide mission by pleading the cause of those imprisoned in concentration camps. This was before we had any idea how bad they were.
He was wounded before landing from his parachute jump, and wounded many more times over the following weeks before being hit by artillery that was too severe to stay on the battlefield. He left the hospital before being released, and rejoined his battle group. For this he was punished by being kicked out of his beloved Pathfinders, and transferred to the Screaming Eagles, still with the 101st airborne. He fought with them throughout the battle of Bastogne.
You can imagine how I feel when anqueefa uses their "Nazi" accusation.
All the men in my family have proven ourselves impossible to kill. Uncle Frank had nothing exceptional except determination. Often people wish we had men like those who fought at Normandy. We do! Everyone here has determination like crazy, and the same Spirit. We're all made from the same "stuff." We just need to all go on the offensive at the same time, and know how to recognize each other so as to avoid friendly fire.
That is awesome! I love hearing old war stories from the real heroes! What unit in the 101st was your uncle?
My Polish grandfather was with the 101. D Co. 2/506th. He lost his legbag when his parachute opened, and landed with a bayonet. He used it to "relieve" a German soldier of his rifle. After all, he didn't need it any more...Took his almost a full day to reunite with his platoon. His knowledge of German came in handy and they fooled a couple of units by shouting false commands at them. Stayed with him company to the end (Including Market Garden and Bastogne), then came home and hung up his rifle for a while. The called him back up for Korea, where he did 2 years as a Platoon Sergeant until he lost his left hand to a grenade. Took up ranching and never left Montana after that.
His son did 3 years in Vietnam with the 101st. Just a grunt in the jungles and swamps.While he came home from that war physically, he never did mentally. I really began to understand PTSD as a kid. He was never violent, just...Lost. Jumped at fireworks and certain noises really got him going. Would break down at times. After I spent some time in uniform, what he had experienced really hit home. Sorry if I ever mocked you, Uncle Ed...Dumb kids do dumb kids stuff. I sure understand now.
Grandpa's only grandchild did 22 years in the Army. 88 to 10. Saw my share of sand and fighting. Lost good friends...Hell, lost a girl that, well, we were going to marry, but careers and all. Who knows. Might have even worked, but we each went our own ways. She got killed doing first aid when her convoy ran over some IED's. These little bastards out rioting have no idea what war, fighting or loss means. When some little shit calls me a "Nazi" or "Fascist" or some little keyboard commando on here calls me a "Communist" (I know you are seeing this, little needledick stalker) I get a bit pissed. Not triggered, pissed. A whole 'nother level of attitude. For just a bunch of backwood nobodies my family, both sides, has done their service. Every male member of my family has put the uniform on and did their job.
I have done my best to stay calm about everything going on. i have seen countries tear themselves apart due to infighting. But maybe it is time to let the dogs slip. I pray we can just bring it back under control if it happens.
Yeah, not quite time to release the hounds yet. If it comes to that it will be something that's never happened; us preserving the Constitution as the highest law of the land vs those trying to destroy the Nation. It's that Constitution that guarantees bringing things back under control works.
Uncle Frank started in the Pathfinders. There were three "sticks" of flights that went in first, to set up lights to glide the gliders in. His was the only one that put up a light. This was before anybody realized Germany was addicted to meth, so the soldiers couldn't sleep and barely needed to eat. They didn't find the Germans sleeping as they had hoped. After his disobedient recovery he got transferred to the Screaming Eagles, either the 502 or 506 PIR, I forget which but it's whichever wasn't Easy company.
Our kin fought side by side
They certainly did. And did it with distinction. I do not think we will see their like again.
They asked my grandfather if he wanted to be a Pathfinder, but he just laughed and said "I was crazy enough to volunteer for Airborne, but I am not crazy enough to volunteer twice!" I got my own jump wings as a salute to him. 3 generations of jumpers in the family.
It will be our turn to be heroes soon.