WWII.....?

[Xfuzz]

We just came in from our beach walk.
Hotter than blazes here on the coast.
While walking along the shore this popped into my overheated head.

Fantasy/Speculation question:

Your 18 to say 21 years of age... WWII has begun.
You decide to do your part for the country and join the military.

Which Theater would you have preferred to serve as a ground troop ?
European or Pacific ?

 

[lihpster]

Europe. No question. The German troops would surrender, the Japanese not so much.

 

[DixieRanger]

Think only few had that choice as an 18 to 21yr old of the 16 million who served. In hindsight guess it's a fair question tho.

 

[Rudi]

Not that you would get a choice, but of course ETO in 20/20 hindsight.

 

[BLACKHAWKNJ]

Years ago I read an article where WWII veterans of the PTO and ETO compared notes, one thing the PTO veterans all agreed on-they were never cold.

 

[THE PILGRIM]

Know a Santa Fe Family -
Early in WWII their Dad was returning from a job in Panama, on a ship heading towards a Gulf Port.
Oops! UBoats were on the hunt, sunk his ship.
He survived, got home to Santa Fe. Where a Draft Notice awaited.
Tropical experience, ship sinking and lifeboat experience.
He was assigned Army, then sent straight to Alaska.

 

[WardenRoss]

Well....

My dad and his brother both joined the same day.

My dad went island skipping in the Pacific and his brother went to Italy.

Roll of the dice.

,

 

[biku324]

All of my kin of WWII service age were sent to the Pacific - German surnames.

 

[Rustyt1953]

Dad and four of his brothers served in the ETO. Their oldest brother served aboard a destroyer in the PTO.

Dad switched over to the Air Force in 1947 and retired in1966. His oldest brother and his wife put in 30 in the Navy and retired as Rear Admirals.

 

[SGT ROCK 11B]

Think only few had that choice as an 18 to 21yr old of the 16 million who served. In hindsight guess it's a fair question tho.

Be at the head of the line and volunteer.

A lot of people thought it would be over in a year with American Might in the game.

 

[SGT ROCK 11B]

Europe. No question. The German troops would surrender, the Japanese not so much.

Not that you would get a choice, but of course ETO in 20/20 hindsight.

The average Joe did not know what would happen. Remember 1940 thinking; Americans and Germans were equal and competitive. While we thought one American would take ten Japanese easily.

 

[SGT ROCK 11B]

He survived, got home to Santa Fe. Where a Draft Notice awaited.
Tropical experience, ship sinking and lifeboat experience.
He was assigned Army, then sent straight to Alaska.

The Army got so big so fast that they were overwhelmed with paperwork.

I heard of fluent German speakers who were sent to the Pacific and Japanese speakers who were sent to Europe. American Mormons who did Missionary work in the Pacific were sent to Europe like the Japanese-Americans.

 

[Greyman50]

My Dad was Captain in Army Aviation Engineers in Italy, his brothers also in the Army but in France, Belgium and Germany. After war was over he drove a jeep up to Switzerland and they had a get together. Mom’s brothers were in Navy, one a surgeon on a hospital LST off several island campaigns. All he would say is blood was almost ankle deep. Other Uncle was on sub chaser in Caribbean and saw nothing.

 

[SGT ROCK 11B]

My dad and his brother both joined the same day.

My dad went island skipping in the Pacific and his brother went to Italy.

Roll of the dice.

My neighbor and his brother both join the Marines together. He got Infantry and his brother got Supply. Both came home but he was wounded twice.

 

[SGT ROCK 11B]

Which Theater would you have preferred to serve as a ground troop ?
European or Pacific ?

Wherever the Army sends me preferably Infantry but nothing wrong with Armor or Artillery either.

I come from a long line of soldiers but a few were sailors too.

 

[SMSgt]

If you watch Band of Brothers and the follow up The Pacific, the main difference shows the viciousness of the Japanese versus the Germans. Many Pacific battles involved beach landings, never an easy time. The ETO? Not so much. I'd have gone where the service sent me, but if it were my choice, I think ETO.

 

[Kinman]

Europe. No question. The German troops would surrender, the Japanese not so much.

This question was asked while I was stationed in Germany and some of the old boys I talked to that actually served in both theaters said it was a lot easier to pull the trigger on a guy that didn't look like your cousin.

 

[rwsmith]

Europe. No question. The German troops would surrender, the Japanese not so much.

I would also rather tour Europe on foot rather than jungle islands. Assuming you are fighting and not in some 'plum' assignment, like on General MacArthur's staff where you avoided harsh conditions no matter what the risk. But there's always that thing about him 'being to valuable to lose' and hightailing it outa there leaving you on your own.

 

[Tom Beavert]

Dad joined mid '43 at 29, if things went bad in Europe he didn't want to see long winters in Europe ( from Alabama), he was promised SeaBees and the Pacific. He went island hopping, got extended, came home, I was born.........
Tom B

 

[Greyman50]

If you watch Band of Brothers and the follow up The Pacific, the main difference shows the viciousness of the Japanese versus the Germans. Many Pacific battles involved beach landings, never an easy time. The ETO? Not so much. I'd have gone where the service sent me, but if it were my choice, I think ETO.

TV and movies are just that. One needs to read Real accounts of combat in each theater for the truth. Have read around 100 WWII books since the 60s written about or by combat Veterans and have talked to many WWII combat Veterans. Once they knew you are a Veteran from combat they would open up and tell you stories. Most would not talk about buddies getting killed and you could see the hurt in their eyes when the subject came up. Guess most stories were funny and unfortunately many can not be posted here, LOL. My greatest regret is not having a tape recorder. Met Capt. Charles MacDonalds runner in the Battle of the Bulge and corresponded with him for several years. Mr Bock gave me some interesting items as guess his kids and grandkid were not interested. Sadly like most WWII Veterans he is gone but sure not forgotten. Instilled in my kids and grandkids to always remember.