Uncle Mike was in the 9th wave at Omaha. It was late in the day when he landed and the beach was secure for the most part. He may have missed those first two hours of hell on earth but he was part of the heavy fighting to secure the Contentin Peninsula and the Battle for Cherbourg in the days that followed.
Thank you to both of my grandfathers for serving in WWII.
My paternal grandfather was very late in the war, at the end really. But was in the 1st platoon that landed in Japan upon their surrender and began the dangerous process of disarming the Japanese Civilians. Which history does not discuss much, but there were small skirmishes and loss of Americans and Japanese civilians; as many of the civilians in rural areas and especially the northern islands were unaware Japan had surrendered. He also saw the awful results of Hiroshima first hand, and would only start weeping when mentioned and would stop talking.
My other Grandfather (maternal) was a front line Medical Corman Supply Chief on the taking of both Iwo Jima and Saipan in the Pacific Theater. He was responsible of the few men whom ran supplies to field Corman while in battle. On the Iwo Jima invasion he lost his supply men in his combat area and had to run all the supplies himself. Spending up to 3 days alone hopping from fox hole to bombed ditch to get supplies to field Core-men.
On Saipan though he lost a replacement and had to again run supplies himself for a few days, his experience was more “defended”, as he put it. He also remembered delivering the supplies to the medic attempting to save Cpl. Joe Enders who was with Pvt. Ben Yahzee. And was told by the medic never to talk about them. But he wanted me to know Yahzee was responsible for their land victories during the latter part of the Pacific Theater using Navajo code to throw off the Japanese.
This was later presented in the movie “WindTalkers”.
God bless them both Brent. I know how proud you must be of them, it was rough in Japan as you mentioned and Iwo Jima & Saipan were tragic.
My husband is a WWII Radio Collector and has a Code Talker Radio autographed by the Code Talker who operated it. It was actually used in the movie, 'Wind Talkers". He treasures it and it's history.
Wow that’s cool!! We are going to have to get together one day soon and share our stuff.
I have an art piece my grandfather traded an Arisaka Type 99 Sniper Rifle he recovered from a Japanese sniper. He decided he didn’t need to take the rifle home haha. And the guy with the art piece took it/found it from one of the bombed bunkers on Saipan. So they traded. It’s kinda cool to have an actual Japanese art piece from the Saipan invasion.
Yes! I really wish that we could have a GAW reunion in the future... would be amazing! Our GAW family is full of fascinating people.
Very cool about your Dad's trade and so neat that you know the story! I would advocate to everyone to video your loved ones speaking about their life & history... because when they are gone the knowledge is gone forever. Archive! Archive! Archive!
My late father was in the USAAF during WWII. My late uncle operated a landing craft in the Pacific theater. So yeah, I don't need to be reminded about D-Day.
My husband's Father was with the 460th PFAB, trained at Camp Mackall & Curahee, landed in Italy, made a Combat Jump in Operation Dragoon in Southern France and fought all the way through the Bulge.
Uncle Mike was in the 9th wave at Omaha. It was late in the day when he landed and the beach was secure for the most part. He may have missed those first two hours of hell on earth but he was part of the heavy fighting to secure the Contentin Peninsula and the Battle for Cherbourg in the days that followed.
God bless his Service! 🙏
Thank you to both of my grandfathers for serving in WWII.
My paternal grandfather was very late in the war, at the end really. But was in the 1st platoon that landed in Japan upon their surrender and began the dangerous process of disarming the Japanese Civilians. Which history does not discuss much, but there were small skirmishes and loss of Americans and Japanese civilians; as many of the civilians in rural areas and especially the northern islands were unaware Japan had surrendered. He also saw the awful results of Hiroshima first hand, and would only start weeping when mentioned and would stop talking.
My other Grandfather (maternal) was a front line Medical Corman Supply Chief on the taking of both Iwo Jima and Saipan in the Pacific Theater. He was responsible of the few men whom ran supplies to field Corman while in battle. On the Iwo Jima invasion he lost his supply men in his combat area and had to run all the supplies himself. Spending up to 3 days alone hopping from fox hole to bombed ditch to get supplies to field Core-men.
On Saipan though he lost a replacement and had to again run supplies himself for a few days, his experience was more “defended”, as he put it. He also remembered delivering the supplies to the medic attempting to save Cpl. Joe Enders who was with Pvt. Ben Yahzee. And was told by the medic never to talk about them. But he wanted me to know Yahzee was responsible for their land victories during the latter part of the Pacific Theater using Navajo code to throw off the Japanese.
This was later presented in the movie “WindTalkers”.
So yes, I’m proud of my grandfathers.
God bless them both Brent. I know how proud you must be of them, it was rough in Japan as you mentioned and Iwo Jima & Saipan were tragic.
My husband is a WWII Radio Collector and has a Code Talker Radio autographed by the Code Talker who operated it. It was actually used in the movie, 'Wind Talkers". He treasures it and it's history.
Wow that’s cool!! We are going to have to get together one day soon and share our stuff.
I have an art piece my grandfather traded an Arisaka Type 99 Sniper Rifle he recovered from a Japanese sniper. He decided he didn’t need to take the rifle home haha. And the guy with the art piece took it/found it from one of the bombed bunkers on Saipan. So they traded. It’s kinda cool to have an actual Japanese art piece from the Saipan invasion.
Yes! I really wish that we could have a GAW reunion in the future... would be amazing! Our GAW family is full of fascinating people.
Very cool about your Dad's trade and so neat that you know the story! I would advocate to everyone to video your loved ones speaking about their life & history... because when they are gone the knowledge is gone forever. Archive! Archive! Archive!
Hand Salute to the Fallen on Both Sides of the Atlantic...May their Sacrifices NOT be in vain and the World is Righted by God Almighty...
Thank you!!!!
Amen! 🙏
My late father was in the USAAF during WWII. My late uncle operated a landing craft in the Pacific theater. So yeah, I don't need to be reminded about D-Day.
Bless their Service! 🙏
My husband's Father was with the 460th PFAB, trained at Camp Mackall & Curahee, landed in Italy, made a Combat Jump in Operation Dragoon in Southern France and fought all the way through the Bulge.
We owe them...💔
What a bunch of crap.