[CapnScurvy]

My interest in WWII came naturally, from my father, who was involved in the Pacific Theater for nearly three years. His U.S. Army Tank Battalion was one of the first to be sent to the Pacific (they had trained in Pine Camp New York thinking they would be sent to Europe, but in '42 they were heading west to the Pacific). Dad's island hopping while in the Solomon Islands, then on to the liberation of the Philippines, gives me a special interest in the Pacific war. Dad/Mom took us kids to his Tank Reunions whenever they went. It was great to hear some of their stories as I got older, since Dad never talked much about the war.

It was only later could I understand that those that "bragged" about their efforts really didn't see much combat. Those on the front lines, day after day, didn't need to talk about it unless it was with someone who had experienced the same. Actually it took Dad many years to open up about the horror of war to anyone other than his Battalion buddies. It wasn't until just before his death, did I learn of his valor with receiving a Bronze Star, and Purple Heart while in the Battle of Manila. I knew he had been wounded. I had seen his scars, and heard he still had a piece of metal in his knee, but, he never brought it up.

My interest in Subs came with one of my first PC games titled "Sub Battle Simulator" by Epyx. I first played it on a Mono Chrome monitor (black and white for those who aren't as old as me), then added a 13" RGB monitor to my system.......that cost 500 dollars!! Talk about being on the cutting edge!!