WW2 Veterans

My Dad. South Pacific. Malaria after Okinawa. 85 years old and my hero.

Just curious- was your dad with the Second Marine Division? (I can't remember if they were the ones that hit Okinawa.) My uncle (who died in 2006) was with the Second Marines; I know he was on Tarawa, Tinian, and Guadalcanal. Not sure where/when, but he also contracted malaria, and spent quite a bit of time hospitalized in New Zealand.
 
My Pops, William McKinney Michael, U.S. Army Air Force, 57th Fighter Interceptor Squadron, Italy. He was on a troop ship heading toward the Panama Canal when the war ended. In celebration he threw a perfectly good stolen 1911A1 over the side, but kept a crappy Beretta 1934. He's still chugging along at 85.
 
My Dad..... served in the Pacific and was at the Battle of Okinawa..... He never spoke a word about anything during the War...... The last 2 years his health has been failing, For the last year his mind is reliving way to much of the days he had pushed to the back of his mind... I don't know If i could Live through some of the things he has... But He is My dad and my Hero.

Bob
 
My stepdad served navy on landing ship tank(LST) dropped off Jap prisoners in Japan, said if looks could kill the stares from the Japanese people would have done him in. Still works in a garden and is a great guy.
 
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My father, died in Oct. of 2007, Tech Sgt. master control gunner B-29, the "Honshu Hurricane". Lord how I do miss him.
 
Just curious- was your dad with the Second Marine Division? (I can't remember if they were the ones that hit Okinawa.) My uncle (who died in 2006) was with the Second Marines; I know he was on Tarawa, Tinian, and Guadalcanal. Not sure where/when, but he also contracted malaria, and spent quite a bit of time hospitalized in New Zealand.
No, my Dad was in the U.S. Navy amphibious. Their primary responsibility was putting the Marines (and Army) and supplies on those horrific islands during WW2.
 
I was just a kid during WWII, but remember the home front very well. My uncle served with the Army Corps of Engineers. Here's a pic of me with him when he was home on leave in 1943. Note that he gave me a shoulder patch matching his, which my mother sewed to my shirt. He was my hero; he died of lung cancer in March, 1986.

JOHNWALLACE.jpg
 
Unfortunately WW2 vets are dying at an alarming rate. In the last few years I lost my Dad (P-38 Propeller Mechanic) and his brother (Aerial Gunner). They were truly the "greatest generation".
 
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