Veterans

[Finback]

Originally Posted by Mylander

Thanks for the welcome fellas. I'm a veteran too - XVIII Airborne Corps Artillery - First Gulf War. I was a Ranger and Fire Direction Officer in a 155mm howitzer platoon. But that was just a training exercise compared to what these guys went through in WWII. We are all deeply in their debt. I try to let these guys know how much they are (still) appreciated. The first time I met "Pop" Beasley, I asked him: "So you were in the Cactus Airforce?" He said that he hadn't heard anyone use those words in 60 years - made my day. I told him I just read a lot. Rev, Dartt loaned me his 3 books on the Peleiu invasion. He was with 2/5 Marines, 1st MarDiv. He had highlighted some passages that pertained to his battalion and regiment, and made some handwritten notes in the margin like "This is where I got hit" in the Umurbrogol pocket. Invited me to his home where we spent a couple of hours talking, and he finally showed me his Navy Cross. These guys are to a man, very modest, and not grandstanders at all. Their attitude is "We just did what we had to do". They are heroes. The best of what America stands for.

As for my Subsim resume, it goes back to Avalon Hill's "Submarine!" cardboard counter, hex and dice game. On PCs, back to Silent Service II. I have been lurking on this board for a long time, just not a big poster. Can't wait for SH IV, it looks beautiful, and I am definitely a PTO guy. Been a long time since SH I.

Best regards,

Andrew Mylander

Hey Andrew!!! Welcome to Subsim!!!

A Pastor I used to get preached by ( ) was either with 1st Marines 3/5 or 2/5--can't remember which off the top of my head... Have you ever read With the Old Breed? It's a great book about the 1st Division Marines on Pelileu and Okinawa. Great book. My ex-Pastor's name is in the back among the survivors, Orley Uhls. He's retired and I haven't seen him for years. Hope he is still well.

And!!! I also started out on Avalon Hill's Submarine! It was a great game (as long as you used advanced rules ).

Cheers!!!

[Barkhorn1x]

Originally Posted by Finback

And!!! I also started out on Avalon Hill's Submarine! It was a great game (as long as you used advanced rules ).

Cheers!!!

I still have my copy - and it's in excellent condition.

Remember the US Data Card, Mark XVIII Torp. Results Column?
DUD
DUD
DUD
DUD
DUD
HIT




Barkhorn.

[Finback]

...let's see--11 to 64 for a hit (tumbling dice) Oh! 65?!! ALAARMMMM!!!!

:rotfl:

[Dowly]

Joe Foss´ airport incident:
http://www.snopes.com/military/medal.htm

[_Seth_]

Welcome, mate! My respect to the ol' vets!

[Mush Martin]

National Treasures

[Donner]

I'm a son of two members of the Greatest Generation. My mother passed away 2 years ago this past January and my father (USN WW2 vet) will be 82 in April. I have picked his brain for all the stories that he is willing pass on.

A good friend of the family died last month. He was a medic who went ashore on D+1 at Normandy and then went on serve in Patton's 3rd Army. He kept alot of his stories to himself since he saw the horrors of war up close.

It is sad to see these men passing so quickly. I have been fortunate to have corresponded with many vets, American, British, and German. I was also fortunate enough to correspond repeatedly with Erich Topp and many other u-boat RKTs (Hardegen, Oesten, Lassen, etc). Herr Topp was a true gentleman and I miss him.

I continue to be amazed at the kindness of all the vets. I received a letter some years ago from Hans-Günther Lange dated "24.12." I was stunned that this man would take time on Christmas Eve, a time for family, to write to me. I am still in awe over it.

The most amazing things I have experienced are the unexpected phone calls from Germany from u-boat seamen and diesel mechanics whom I had written. They appreciate the fact that someone cared enough to try to locate them and learn from them.

If you ever have the good fortune of speaking with a WW2 vet, by all means take advantage of it. Soon the opportunity will be gone forever.