Lest we forget...

[csurp34]

My dad enlisted in 1943 and became a submariner.

Obviously he wasn't at Normandy but he had his own, pretty significant war in the Pacific.

He stayed for 30 years, went from E1 to E8 and then 01 to 04, mostly submarines and after commissioning, submarine support.

Dad will be 97 in two weeks and appears to be the last surviving member of the USS Tirante's WW2 crew

While not at the same level of experience, I was proud to follow a little in his footsteps and serve seven years in the USN SSBN Polaris submarine program.

Tom Brokaw got it right with his greatest generation writing so BZ to him.

 

[Beemerguy53]

My dad enlisted in 1943 and became a submariner.


Obviously he wasn't at Normandy but he had his own, pretty significant war in the Pacific.



He stayed for 30 years, went from E1 to E8 and then 01 to 04, mostly submarines and after commissioning, submarine support.


He will be 97 in two weeks and appears to be the last surviving member of the USS Tirante's WW2 crew


IWhile not at the same level of experience, I was proud to follow a little in his footsteps and serve seven years in the USN SSBN Polaris submarine program.


Tom Brokaw got it right with his greatest generation writing so BZ to him.

God bless your father and his comrades, and thank you for your own service to our country.

(By the way, do you remember the CO2 air scrubbers on those Polaris boats? My late father was a chemical engineer for the US Navy, and was one of the people who designed and tested them. He worked for almost 38 years at the David Taylor Naval Ship R&D Center in Annapolis, and sailed on many of the early nuclear subs, including the Polaris boats. When he passed away in 2007, my brothers and I found a footlocker in his home filled with his Navy memorabilia, including a photo of the USS Nautilus inscribed to him and signed by her Captain... )

 

[csurp34]

God bless your father and his comrades, and thank you for your own service to our country.

(By the way, do you remember the CO2 air scrubbers on those Polaris boats? My late father was a chemical engineer for the US Navy, and was one of the people who designed and tested them. He worked for almost 38 years at the David Taylor Naval Ship R&D Center in Annapolis, and sailed on many of the early nuclear subs, including the Polaris boats. When he passed away in 2007, my brothers and I found a footlocker in his home filled with his Navy memorabilia, including a photo of the USS Nautilus inscribed to him and signed by her Captain... )

Hard to forget the scrubbers.

The active ingredient was what we called ammine.

It had a distinctive odor which we adapted to but after returning from a 3 month patrol cycle, myself and everything in my seabag reeked of it much to my wife's dismay.

In the submarine navy it is referred to as eau de submarine.

 

[fordson]

The National D-Day Memorial is in Bedford, Virginia, between Roanoke and Lynchburg. It's a beautiful place, very well-done, and definitely worth visiting...

National D-Day Memorial | Website of the National D-Day Memorial Foundation

Wife and I were there on a cold, rainy November afternoon several years ago. Didn't get to see much because of the rain, but plan on a return this Fall. When I went in to buy tickets, the nice lady at the counter asked if I were a veteran. When I replied yes, she thanked me for my service. I told her, I was just doing my job. She looked me in the eye and said "That's what they all say".
Yep, every man jack that placed their foot on a Normandy beach that day was just doing their job. Did it pretty well too, by all accounts.

 

[raljr1]

Here is the report i referred to earlier. Sgt John Donovan was my brother in law's dad. I knew Mr Donovan, but never had the opportunity to talk with him about his time overseas.

 

[Greyman50]

These are from 50th anniversary of D- Day in 94 in Va. Beach. Have a June 7 th 1944 Stars and Stripes packed up or it would be included.

 

[blues7]

A debt that can never be repaid.

Never forget the sacrifice made.

 

[wetdog]

band of brothers theme song - Bing video

 

[Old Arkansawyer]

My uncle, mom's younger brother, went in on D day and fought across
Europe until the last 2 months of the war with Germany. He was killed
on some river, don't know the details. His remains were finally shipped
home in the 50's, my grandma is buried next to him.
Mom named me after him, I'm honored.

 

[max]

John, I went to the range this morning and shot my M-1 carbine. It was made in April of 43, so it could have been there.

 

[smithra_66]

Seventy-eight years ago tomorrow, on June 6, 1944, the U.S. and its allies invaded the Normandy coast of France from the sea to take on heavy fortifications and munitions constructed by the Germans under the command of Field Marshal Irwin Rommel. We call that event D-Day.

2,501 Americans lost their lives on that day, together with 4,414 Allied troops.

They gave their lives knowing that death was almost certain, but they did it anyway. Those men and their sacrifices should never be forgotten.

The weapons used by both sides may be seen here:

http://smith-wessonforum.com/members/paladin85020-albums-d-day-june-6-1944-a.html

John

Yes sir. Going to shoot my Garand, 03A3 and 1911 today in honor of this, like I do every 6/6, rain or shine. We should never, ever forget or fail to recognize how momentous this terrible day was.

 

[gunship]

We will never forget. My Dad was in the Navy, my Uncle stormed the beach on D-day and I served in Vietnam. Glad we all made it home!