If you had the chance to talk to a WWII vet......

[nikimcbee]

Originally Posted by ONealmr

Whom I'm going to go see is Dr. (Cpl) Sidney Phillips. He was portrayed by an actor in The Pacific in 2010. I went last year to go see him on 04 November (the birthday of Eugene Sledge.....wikipedia him . Him and Sledge were best friends but served during different times of the war. Sledge came back from the war without even a scratch. No purple heart. Sid Phillips was the same way. However a year ago, as I was approaching his home (there are several around his spot so it's not like he knew I was coming for him specifically), he was leaving to take his sister to a doc appointment.

I told him that I visit Mobile, AL on every 4 November. He invited me to stop by "in a year" and we'll sit down and get to know each other. Now, whether he'll remember all that or not, I'm not sure. But I am going to give it another try for a sit down with him. As time is approaching, I'm starting to panic as I don't have any questions written down as to what to ask him.

What we do have in common though, we are both prior Marines, and both are War veterans (OIF 2006-2007).



Other than a few basic (and obvious) questions, what do I ask this great of a man??? If you had the opportunity, what would you ask?? As a side note, he was an 80mm mortar man.

That.....is....awesome! After thinking about the OP, "Marine". "Guadalcanal." I'd ask him if he knew John Basilone.
Since I know who it is now, ask him about "The Pacific." What facts were true? What did they change?

If I were in your spot, bring a microphone and record the conversation, if he's okay with that. He may remember, tell you stuff he's never told anybody else. I'd ask him his recollections of the Tokyo Express.
I'd ask him tons of Guadalcanal questions.