"Was your father in the military? " Topic

Can't thank all you kind folks who replied enough. Very interesting input from all, not just those about fathers. I especially appreciate those sharing where there was a loss of a loved one in the performance of service.

As another note, Ive seen quite a few replies from many I dont normally see reply to polls, so thanks for chiming in on this one.

Cheers all.

U.K.

My father did National Service on Meteor IIIs and IVs. I asked him why RAF and he said, "They said to me army, navy or air force? I thought 'well my brother is in Coastal Command so let's go for RAF'". After that he joined BOAC and went on to fly Concorde.

Uncle was an air gunner/navigator for Coastal Command on Liberators. He was on Bothas as well, and took part in one of the first 1000 bomber raids. They developed engine problems and turned back; very few Bothas came back from that raid. I still have his medals and log books. One entry reads: "fired on by Catalina?"

Grandfather (mother's side) was 30 Corp Signals, all over Africa and Europe.

Grandfather (father's side) was 17th Lancers, at the Somme, and remarkably came back. His brother died on a hospital ship on the way back from the Boer war. I have both of their medals.

Family member was also Squadron Leader, going on to be Wing Commander, at Waddington on Vulcans, before moving on up into SHAPE.

No wonder I have such love of aircraft :-)

Well, what with National Service and two world wars most of the males of the line were in the armed forces at one time or another.

USAF. During WW2 his dad was a Navy surgeon on a hospital ship in the Pacific and my other grandfather was with the Army in Africa before getting wounded and sent home.

Jason
Stafford, VA

As an update for my family, I would like to introduce the assembled to my grand nephew. James Robert Cook, 2nd LT posting to Benning from OCS after 3 years as an enlisted member.

RAF Bomber Command wireless operator, two tours over Germany in WWII, so according to Bert Harris he was one of 'the old lags.'

Stayed on after the war went to Korea and Malaya. Got out in the early 60's

Uncle served with the Royal Norwegian Navy as a wireless operator on a MTB running supplies into occupied Norway to support the Resistance from the Shetlands. Summers chased E-Boats in the channel. His ship was sunk harbour in early June '45 when a crew mate accidentally set the vessel on fire.

I know a little..my father served during the Korean War in Alaska in communications I believe.

Does the Viet Cong count?

Of course it does! ;-)