The WWII Relatives thread (1 Viewer)

[DadsDream]

MamaSaint, there's been an on-going movement to return samurai swords to the Japanese families.

Some swords were standard issue items from the Japanese army. No problem with those.

But some where family heirlooms, hundreds of years old and not government property.

As the value of authentic family heirloom swords has skyrocketed, the Japanese and US government have stepped in, sometimes putting a stop to sales and confiscating the war trophies.

The best thing to do is have an expert look at the sword and determine if it's a government issue sword or an heirloom. If it's a standard issue sword, no problem.

If it is an heirloom, it'll have a family name or crest on it and both governments are encouraging people who have those to get them back to the families.

 

[OldSaintFan]

I had a cousin who was a Bomber Pilot in the Air Force in North Africa. He and his whole crew died in a crash into a mountian early in the war. His name was Capt. Edgar Byrd Wright. May he rest in peace.


My wife's cousin was captured by the Japanese and survived the Battan Death March. Ended up in prison in Japan at the end of the war. He was in the Army Air Force. His name was Donovan James Gautier. He wrote a book about his experiences. He died this past February here in Gautier Mississippi.

 

[DadsDream]

Website dedicated to the return of Japanese war trophies.

http://www.rose.sannet.ne.jp/nishiha/iryuhin/english.htm

 

[stevedrum]

My dad was in the Air Force during WWII he was a parachute packer. One of my uncles was a glider pilot and was killed during D-day.

 

[St. Saint]

My Grandfather was an navigator on a B-17. He survived many bombing runs over the heart of Germany. Later in the war he played a small role in helping to design new aircraft.

 

[Saintman2884]

Thank you for your responses so far, everyone. It really does bring some perspective that I hear from people I like and respect on this board. If you have any further thoughts, don't be afraid to tell or share them here on this board.

 

[GrayMatter78]

My wife's paternal grandfather served on the USS Alabama and her maternal grandfather served in Europe.

I don't know the story but her grandfather (on her mom's side) has 2 purple hearts and is still kicking as of today.

 

[Dragon]

Both my maternal and paternal grandfathers were in the resistance. My paternal grandfather made it through the occupation without any serious injuries, but my maternal grandfather was caught and spend 30 months in a German KZ camp. According to my mother and my uncles, he was never the same again. He died when I was 17, but I remember him as a quiet,reclusive, intellectual man who couldn't sleep and would always go for long walks at 3 am whenever he came to visit.

My husbands maternal grandfather was a german refugee.He fled to Denmark from Germany in 1936 because he did not agree with the Nazi government. Unfortunately he wasn't able to escape when Denmark was invaded, so he was caught by the Germans. After spending some time in jail, he was shipped of to the eastern front. He died at Stalingrad, never seeing my mother-in law who was born while he was in jail.

 

[Saint77]

Not much to tell in my case. What I know is this. My family seems to be filled with draft dodgers, with 2 exceptions. My great uncle on my mothers side served in Great Britain, in the Air Force, on one of the radar towers on the coast. Hes still alive at 96. On my dads side, one of my uncles was a cook on a aircraft carrier. My dads side of the family is philipine, so there may be some more history there. I dunno, I hardly talk tot he guy these days.

 

[Devildog]

My step dad's father, whom I called my grandfather, was a ball turret gunner on B-17's. He then got a commision and was accepted to flight training. The war ended before he finished.

 

[hardhead233]

One grandfather was with the 88th airborne and went into France 2 days after D-day via glider and parachute. His job was basically to patch up allied runways after they got bombed.

My other grandfather (who is still alive at 95) was a Navy ace, so he says. He tends to exaggerate stories, but it wouldn't surprise me since the Japanese Zeros were just flying gas cans. One time he told me when I was like 10 about how he would try and look every Jap pilot in the eye before he shot him down.

sounds like your grandpa is one character, haha...

 

[Tazman]

My grandfather was in the Navy and taught Navy flyers during the war, including how to land on carriers. I had a great uncle that landed on Ohama Beach, but that is about all I know about him. My wife's dad served in the Seabees in the Pacific.

 

[HoustonSaint68]

My dad was born in the US although I'm almost positive both of his parents were illegals from Honduras (they spoke no English). They returned to Honduras when he was young during the Depression to find work. My dad was still there when the war broke out and he returned to the US to sign up because he felt it was his responsibility as a citizen. Damn near died in no-man's land on a scouting mission during the Bulge, but the cold helped slow the blood flow and his buddies came back that night against orders and brought him back.

Not trying to start an immigration argument here -- just thought the "son of illegals" piece was an interesting twist for your research.

My dad never talked about his experiences -- we were lucky that in the '80s one of his buddies (who turned out to be a reporter for Voice of America) began a written correspondence with my dad so we learned a lot then. I do remember him going absolutely freak-a-zoid on my mom one day when he came home from work and found us playing war in toy German helmets that she bought for us. Bad move mom........

 

[bigwheel]

At age 33 , my dad was drafted in the "last call", by the Army. He went to New Orleans for his physical. When he got there the Navy asked for volunteers. He volunteered, then the Marines came in and asked if there were any welders in the crowd. He told the Marines he was a welder, and he went into the Marines. This happened in 1943. He fought in the Pacific, and when the war was over, his division was sent to China. He came back in 1945.

 

[SaintlyTexan]

My Dad was in the US Navy....

He was on a destroyer DD 747 USS Samuel N. Moore. They were part of the first naval raid into Tokyo harbor. He said they told them they were going on a secret high risk mission and they should write a "final" letter home. When they went in the US Air Force started a bombing raid at the same time. The Japanese thought the ships were there own and concentrated on the planes. He will make 86 soon and is in good shape for his age. He also boxed in the Navy. I have the greatest of admiration for him.