Veterans Day
- Thread starter dotnmarty
- Start date
My dad spent almost all of the war years working on radar, radar countermeasures, and microwave battlefield communications. He was a Physics grad student at Cal Tech when the war broke out. He was recruited by what later became the Manhattan Project and by the Rad Lab at MIT. Chose to go with Rad Lab and for about 4 years was at the American British Laboratories in Malvern, UK, supporting the electronic gear of the 9th AAF.
By the time the Allies landed at Normandy, the Luftwaffe had been pretty much neutralized so he was shifted from radar to microwave communications. After the liberation of Paris, he installed equipment at the top of the Eiffel tower, and as the family story goes, the brass would have to get a pass from him to take their French girlfriends up in the tower. As the Allies moved east, he followed, installing what was basically the precursor to today's cell towers on the high points, and as a consequence he was near the front during the Bulge.
So he didn't actually serve, but he wore a uniform (called a TO, Technical Observer with assimilated rank of Captain) and was intimately involved with those in combat. His mother saved all his letters home and I am working on making them accessible via the Web.
Warren
By the time the Allies landed at Normandy, the Luftwaffe had been pretty much neutralized so he was shifted from radar to microwave communications. After the liberation of Paris, he installed equipment at the top of the Eiffel tower, and as the family story goes, the brass would have to get a pass from him to take their French girlfriends up in the tower. As the Allies moved east, he followed, installing what was basically the precursor to today's cell towers on the high points, and as a consequence he was near the front during the Bulge.
So he didn't actually serve, but he wore a uniform (called a TO, Technical Observer with assimilated rank of Captain) and was intimately involved with those in combat. His mother saved all his letters home and I am working on making them accessible via the Web.
Warren
Anita Marie
New member
My Dad,
Harold F. Young S/Sgt
B-24 (Maw Stricknine)
Fifteenth Air Force, 47th Wing, 449th Bomber Group, 716 Squadron
50 Missions including Polesti Oil Fields
Harold F. Young S/Sgt
B-24 (Maw Stricknine)
Fifteenth Air Force, 47th Wing, 449th Bomber Group, 716 Squadron
50 Missions including Polesti Oil Fields
Lori Ann":1rk465th said:
Warren
In my book He answered the call and served well. Very likely did more to hasten the end of the war and saved more lives than many like my Dad who served on the front lines. It was an all out effort made by most all in many different ways.
Thanks for sharing his contribution.
Jay
marvin4239
New member
My dad was and E-5 in the USN in WW2 he was assigned to a a unit called the Sino-American Co-Op. He worked behind Japenese lines in China. His unit radioed weather reports out so they could plan bombing raids.
My self I was in the USNR from 1968 to 1974 E-4 AE.
I had a second cousin who was and Ensign and lost at sea on the Robalo in 1945. A while back I was in Charleston at the Naval exihibit. The reason I was there was my great granddad was the building superintendant on the first USN submarine the Holland and I had some pictures and info I thought they might like to have. While there they had a WW 2 sub on display so I went down in it. As I was walking through the cramped sub I came to a wall that had a large plaque entitled "Still on Patrol". It had the names of all the Subs that had gone down plus the crew members. I found my cousins name and it was the strangest feeling. I never met him but heard about him all my life growing up. What a wonderful tribute that is to those who paid the ultimate price in defending our country. If you google "Still on Patrol" it gives the information on all the subs lost.
My self I was in the USNR from 1968 to 1974 E-4 AE.
I had a second cousin who was and Ensign and lost at sea on the Robalo in 1945. A while back I was in Charleston at the Naval exihibit. The reason I was there was my great granddad was the building superintendant on the first USN submarine the Holland and I had some pictures and info I thought they might like to have. While there they had a WW 2 sub on display so I went down in it. As I was walking through the cramped sub I came to a wall that had a large plaque entitled "Still on Patrol". It had the names of all the Subs that had gone down plus the crew members. I found my cousins name and it was the strangest feeling. I never met him but heard about him all my life growing up. What a wonderful tribute that is to those who paid the ultimate price in defending our country. If you google "Still on Patrol" it gives the information on all the subs lost.
Last week I participated in a memorial dedication ceremony here at the state capitol in Montgomery to honor the 92 from Alabama who fell in the current war. During the cermony, I read 19 names. It was very humbling to see the faces of those men on display before the ceremony.
Thanks to all who served in any way...it made a difference.
AMT1 Rick McKenzie
Coast Guard 1988-pres.
Thanks to all who served in any way...it made a difference.
AMT1 Rick McKenzie
Coast Guard 1988-pres.
"If you are able, save for them a place inside of you and save one backward glance when you are leaving for the places they can no longer go. Be not ashamed to say you loved them, though you may or may not have always. Take what they have taught you with their dying and keep it with your own.
And in that time when men decide and feel safe to call the war insane, take one moment to embrace those gentle heroes you left behind.
Major Michael Davis O'Donnell
1 January 1970
Dak To, Vietnam
Listed as KIA February 7, 1978
Great stories all!
Don, dunno how guys your size -- and your dad's size -- could fit in one of the old diesel stink boxes. When I got picked up by one back in WWII I was happy indeed to be aboard because the sharks were not nice company, but after a couple of days I was ready to go back and swim with my teethy friends! What a way to live.
My hat's off to you guys. :thup :thup
Dusty
Don, dunno how guys your size -- and your dad's size -- could fit in one of the old diesel stink boxes. When I got picked up by one back in WWII I was happy indeed to be aboard because the sharks were not nice company, but after a couple of days I was ready to go back and swim with my teethy friends! What a way to live.
My hat's off to you guys. :thup :thup Dusty
El and Bill
New member
Among the vets in my family, I have three direct line ancestors who served in the Continental Army against the Brits in the Revolution. Their stories of courage and service are at the head of the procession of the U.S. military. One was taken to Canada, a prisoner of war, and never returned. Another rowed a boat across the Delaware, that freezing December night, with Gen. George. There's no one around now to personally tell the experiences of those brave soldiers, but we are the direct beneficiaries of their valor, as well as that of all those who followed.
To read some of the tales, scroll down through our posting from Lake Champlain http://www.geocities.com/bill_fiero/champ.htm
To read some of the tales, scroll down through our posting from Lake Champlain http://www.geocities.com/bill_fiero/champ.htm
I had four uncles that served and fought in WW-2. None of them ever talked about their combat experiences in the war, even amongst themselves.
Lets not forget that a lot of women served in the armed forces during the wars and conflicts we have been involved in. Many of them made the ultimate sacrifice also.
Without our soldiers we would not be here enjoying the site.
________
Dave
Lets not forget that a lot of women served in the armed forces during the wars and conflicts we have been involved in. Many of them made the ultimate sacrifice also.
Without our soldiers we would not be here enjoying the site.
________
Dave
My Dad was a 17-year old when he inlisted in the marines three months before Pearl Harbor and was on the first convoy with the 1st Marine Division to leave the US for the South Pacific. One of the reasons he was still a Private four years later was due to the following story;
Shortly after the troop ship left port, a call went out for volunteers to do KP or cooks helper type work. He volunteered due to there being extra pay involved. After getting permission, he started on his way to get the white cloths needed for this duty. As he passed by a group of Marines doing calisthenics, a Sargent told him to join the men in the calisthenics. Well this Sergeant was a lower-ranking one then the one who given the OK and where as he hadn’t got the principal of not rank but last order given you obey, He refused. He has always been if not right at least high on standing up for what he thought was right and he differently thought this Sargent was wrong. Shortly after words both were swinging and tho he said it was a tough go, thought he was getting the upper hand. It was about this time he heard the words “If He makes one more move shoot him”. He found out later he had been told several times to stop. Well needless to say this got his attention. Unknown to him the fight had also drawn the attention of officers and ship security. He ended up in the brig on bread and water for a good portion of the Convoys trip south to Samoa.
After landing on Guadalcanal his company moved inward on the island and Dad was left on the beach by himself as a liaison for the company to get there supplies. This required many lonely trips from the beach through saltwater crocodile infested swamps to find his company. On one of the trips a croc nearly got him, so after reaching the company area he was able to recruit several marines and they went back and the croc was still there. One guy shot and Dad dove in with a rope and got it around the front foot and they dragged it out. Fortunately the guy made a lucky shot or it may have been and end to that part of the Byers Clan right then. They skinned it out and kept the skin and teeth. He said it was l8 feet long. After the battle on Guadalcanal he went with his unit to New Zealand to rest and regroup. While there the Malaria he had contracted on Guadalcanal had him in bad shape and he went from the Hospital to a hospital ship and then back to San Diego. It all happened so fast the only part of the crocodile he made it back with was one tooth. Anyway this was the story he told us kids when we would look at that big tooth and ask questions.
When I was younger these were the only type stories he would tell. When I was much older he told me many other stories and I'am glad he did.
Jay
Shortly after the troop ship left port, a call went out for volunteers to do KP or cooks helper type work. He volunteered due to there being extra pay involved. After getting permission, he started on his way to get the white cloths needed for this duty. As he passed by a group of Marines doing calisthenics, a Sargent told him to join the men in the calisthenics. Well this Sergeant was a lower-ranking one then the one who given the OK and where as he hadn’t got the principal of not rank but last order given you obey, He refused. He has always been if not right at least high on standing up for what he thought was right and he differently thought this Sargent was wrong. Shortly after words both were swinging and tho he said it was a tough go, thought he was getting the upper hand. It was about this time he heard the words “If He makes one more move shoot him”. He found out later he had been told several times to stop. Well needless to say this got his attention. Unknown to him the fight had also drawn the attention of officers and ship security. He ended up in the brig on bread and water for a good portion of the Convoys trip south to Samoa.
After landing on Guadalcanal his company moved inward on the island and Dad was left on the beach by himself as a liaison for the company to get there supplies. This required many lonely trips from the beach through saltwater crocodile infested swamps to find his company. On one of the trips a croc nearly got him, so after reaching the company area he was able to recruit several marines and they went back and the croc was still there. One guy shot and Dad dove in with a rope and got it around the front foot and they dragged it out. Fortunately the guy made a lucky shot or it may have been and end to that part of the Byers Clan right then. They skinned it out and kept the skin and teeth. He said it was l8 feet long. After the battle on Guadalcanal he went with his unit to New Zealand to rest and regroup. While there the Malaria he had contracted on Guadalcanal had him in bad shape and he went from the Hospital to a hospital ship and then back to San Diego. It all happened so fast the only part of the crocodile he made it back with was one tooth. Anyway this was the story he told us kids when we would look at that big tooth and ask questions.
When I was younger these were the only type stories he would tell. When I was much older he told me many other stories and I'am glad he did.
Jay