"WWII Vets Speak" Topic

I had an interesting privilege today. Me and two other WWII reenactors were invited to provide some background color at a symposium where about 16 WWII vets spoke about their experiences during the war. They ranged from awe-inspiring to nearly incoherent, but all were worth listening to. The Malmedy Massacre survivor's story was especially riveting. All the more so because you had no idea when he started that this was where he was going. He just said that he was in an artillery observation (sound and flash direction-finding) unit and then suddenly we were all with him at this crossroads in Belgium. Wow.

But there were all sorts of stories. The Pearl Harbor survivor, the B-17 radio operator, the engineer, and the guy in the shower and delousing unit. The fellow who calmly talked of seeing the rest of the bridge crew of his destroyer being burned alive after a Kamikaze attack was especially gripping. An amazing group of men.

A great way to spend a day!

I always take time to listen to veteran's stories, from all conflicts.

I've been lucky to interview 4 different W.W. II vets:

1) Infantryman, 1st ID, 26th Regt., fought through North Africa to Northwest Europe. 2 Purple Hearts, 2 Bronze Stars, 6 battle stars and 3 Assault landings.

2) Rear Gunner on Dauntless, 88 missions over Rabaul and Solomons.

3) Paratrooper, Plt. Sgt., 82nd AB, 504th Regt., Sicily to Northwest Europe.

4) Nose Gunner, B-24, New Guinea, 54 missions, not a scratch to him or any of his crewmen. Very lucky airplane.

You are very lucky to have been able to share those memories, stunning when you hear their stories.