One of the last of some damn good men...

ShooterwithNoName said:

I had the honor of meeting and shaking hands with one of the last WWII vets around here. On a job yesterday, I worked in this gentleman's daughter's home. He met me there to unlock the garage.

After saying hello we got to talking while I was working. Come to find out, this fella is 98 years old. Still driving, getting around great and doing pretty good considering. He then began to tell me about his time on the Eastern Front of WWII. He fought in the Battle of the Bulge and was in Europe until the end of the war. His work on early Radar when it was still classified, he worked on the cyclotron, alot of things that really stunned me.

I felt so lucky to have gotten to meet him and talk with him. He even wrote a book about his time in the war and about his life. He gave me a copy of the book. My family and I are currently reading it. He was really surprised that I cared so much about what he had done. He said that he very rarely meets anyone anymore who even knows anything about WWII.

Bernard Whittington is his name. I told him I would never forget it. Neither would my children or their children. His story will be carried on by my family and as many as I can share it with. Here's the cover of his book he gave me:

View attachment 7044277

He is the last of some great American soldiers. I thought I would make this post in honor of him. I make it a point to educate my children and anyone else I can about all those that have done so much to protect my freedom and way of life. So many, like this gentleman, have fought, sacrificing life and limb to give me the freedom I have today.

I always try to remember, how good I have it thanks to all those who have fought for me, my family, all of us. Thank you all.

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Awesome that you did that. Sad that this was surprising to him. He should be tired of too much attention. Not surprised by a little.

I'll add that you are doing right by your kids and grand kids. They will not learn anything about it in school. Tragic .....

Was on vacation with the family two weeks ago in N. Conway NH.

While at a local grocery store I saw a gent coming toward me with a black vet hat on and I know that Im going to engage him.

When he got right up close I see he is a WWII Marine.

Good times talking to him we blocked up the aisle and people had to walk around us.

He was a Guadalcanal vet.

Made my kids meet him so that when they are my age and WWII vets are all in Valhalla they will remember back and say "I met a WWII vet"

There are people alive today that can say they has met Civil War vets. Shit I think there may be a wife or two or a few kids still getting pensions of Civil War vets.

History is not really history.

pmclaine said:

History is not really history.

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You're right.......Not when you got that.....

I have a good story too but I’ll save it. Don’t want to detract from this.

As a deputy sheriff I was dispatched to a doa call in the middle of the night. EMS confirmed the elderly woman was gone. Because she was hospice I got the coroner to release her directly to the funeral home. EMS had to leave so it was then just me and the husband and his dead wife on the couch. Funeral home and family over an hour out. Uncomfortable situation. Then I noticed some pictures of him with his army buddies in Europe in WWII. Once I got him talking about his memories he relaxed and opened up to me with some great stories. After awhile he excused himself to go to his bedroom. Then I did a no-no. I got complacent and sat down in his living room. A few minutes later he returned-with a pistol in each hand!
After a quick pucker I realized the pistols were both German Lugers that he had brought back from the war. He really liked showing me them as, of course I liked guns. One was pretty beat up. The other was mint with a very low serial number(can’t remember). Eventually family and funeral home arrived so I left. Glad I got to meet him.

ShooterwithNoName said:

Its bound to be shocking, the things a man would have witnessed between 1920 and today.

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Ive thought on that.

We wont experience the wonders they have.

At a time when a big part of the world, even our Country used horses for motive power getting reliable mass passenger flight let alone space flight would seem an impossibility.

Their imagining of going to the moon relied on the technology they had - artillery to shoot a man to the moon. Imagine the spin drift.

There is nothing now I can really say I certainly wont see in my life time.

Everything is possible I wont be as impressed as his peers were seeing reliable aircraft evolve, instant communication, broadcast TV, jets, nukes, Apollo.

When we reach Mars Ill be....."Meh, guys went to the moon using a slide rule"

His generation was probably that that most experienced the "impossible becoming "possible"

I credit that to a generation of people that refused to say "I can't"

ShooterwithNoName said:

I had the honor of meeting and shaking hands with one of the last WWII vets around here. On a job yesterday, I worked in this gentleman's daughter's home. He met me there to unlock the garage.

After saying hello we got to talking while I was working. Come to find out, this fella is 98 years old. Still driving, getting around great and doing pretty good considering. He then began to tell me about his time on the Eastern Front of WWII. He fought in the Battle of the Bulge and was in Europe until the end of the war. His work on early Radar when it was still classified, he worked on the cyclotron, alot of things that really stunned me.

I felt so lucky to have gotten to meet him and talk with him. He even wrote a book about his time in the war and about his life. He gave me a copy of the book. My family and I are currently reading it. He was really surprised that I cared so much about what he had done. He said that he very rarely meets anyone anymore who even knows anything about WWII.

Bernard Whittington is his name. I told him I would never forget it. Neither would my children or their children. His story will be carried on by my family and as many as I can share it with. Here's the cover of his book he gave me:

View attachment 7044277

He is the last of some great American soldiers. I thought I would make this post in honor of him. I make it a point to educate my children and anyone else I can about all those that have done so much to protect my freedom and way of life. So many, like this gentleman, have fought, sacrificing life and limb to give me the freedom I have today.

I always try to remember, how good I have it thanks to all those who have fought for me, my family, all of us. Thank you all.

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I have a RADAR operator connection. Post I made in 2017.

Marine Corps Birthday Luncheon in Boston today....



Mario DiCarlo.

After Pearl Harbor he went to the local recruiter in Waltham MA and tried to enlist in the USMC. When the recruiter asked what he was presently doing he stated building RADARs at Raytheon in Waltham. They told him he was untouchable as a critical war worker.

He went to Boston to see the Marine recruiter. That Marine had him leaving for PI most hastily and Mario ran RADARs on Guadalcanal.

We almost missed today's events. Mario is 95 odd years old. His son that arranges the reservations is in his mid seventies with his own age related issues. Something fell through with the reservations and they had no table for us. Realizing what Mario represents in the USMC they shit us a table most hastily.

Unfortunately because we were not on the list of registered attendees Mario missed out being the oldest marine present to accept cake from General Dunford. He missed it last year also because his son was late with transportation. Its not my place, Im only a guest of the family, but Ive asked if I can contact the Semper Fi society and next year Im going to make sure Mario is recognized.

Four or so years ago Mario did get the cake....



She certainly learned more today than she would have in school.

Commandants Birthday Video....



General Dunford's opening remarks....



General Dunford on John Meuse, Navy Cross, Republic of Vietnam....



My Commandant General Alfred M. Gray, still Hard Corps....



Mario still a kid when my daughter wanted to get his picture...

Get him to sign that book

Great stories!

This week during the CO bomb cyclone snow storm I was scooping the neighbors walks.
Ed is a Marine who fought on both Iwo Jima and Guadacanal. He spent 20 years in.
He came to the door to say thanks while I was scooping and we visited for a minute. He managed 3 F bombs in there related to the weather, people’s driving, and people never being prepared for anything.

He lives alone and takes care of himself.

Always a great man to have a beer with.

My in-laws had a neighbor that I always thought was a shit head, he was just one of those guys that seemed a little off. I was driving home one day and he was on the side of the road with a flat on his tractor, at this time he had Parkinson’s pretty bad so I stopped to help him. As we got to talking he said he was a ball turret gunner, I was absolutely stunned. He showed me some pictures and other stuff from his time in the war, I had a whole different outlook. After getting to know him he turned out to be a pretty good man, he was just one of those that took some time to get to know.

Many are still here and are more precious than ever. Lost my dad [B-24 ball gunner] in 2012 @ 97 and miss him every day. Try to teach your offspring about them. The schools won't.

I have said it many times and will again as I believe it cannot be stated enough.

Not only these men and women of the greatest generation, all of you who served have my utmost respect and honor.

Have a good day gentlemen.

My Dad flew in the 15th Air Force out of Italy as a tail gunner on B-24s and did all of his missions for return and a few more.
He and I did not get along too well so I lived with my Grandparents a lot when young.
To this day I don't know why he had it out for me as I was his first son but he did and was quick to open a can of whoop ass on me and to say the least I was rebellious and fought back as best I could. Bless my Grandma and Grandpa on his side for raising me.

I was out on my own at 17 after graduating High School and getting a job and with the help of my Grandparents, Mom, and mostly my Big Brother, [RIP DVT], I made it on my own until Drafted in 68.

At that point in my life my Dad started to lighten up a bit, but not much, until I was stationed in Vietnam in a Grunt position and a war badge or two were sent home for safe keeping, did he give a shit and maybe think I was worthy.

When I came in on the Freedom Bird and landed at Stapleton, I went first to my Big Brother's house and let myself in through the basement window, our escape entry, and crashed on the recliner until he woke up in the morning.

I was HOME. and my Big Brother drove me north to see my Grandparents when he woke up and found me. I was HAPPY.

Eventually, after much celebration, I made it back to my parents house and the Old Fart was now receptive and I could tell he had aged a lot during my time in Vietnam so maybe he did care on a different level.

We had a long talk during which he told me he always thought about the guys on the ground and how bad they had it as they flew overhead. That is when the doors opened for both of us.

I remember telling him, "At least on the ground I could dig a hole and get in whereas you guys in the air couldn't." That gave him something to think about.

I think PTSD was a big problem for them as well as anyone else who later was put in harms way, just different in many aspects.

I think the soldiers of WW-2 came home scarred in many ways yet my Uncle on my Big Brother's side did better than most and he was in the thick of it. Just my thoughts, FM

Wanna meet some cool people? Go hang out at the VA hospital. The absolute best was when I was picking up a prescription at Seattle, it used to take like five hours IF they didn't fuck it up (I'm not kidding). So you get bored and talk. This one fellow was talking to another, then another guy heard it and got in on it, then a few more, and before you know it this guy is standing there with a big audience giving a speech!

Turned out he was one of the "Band of Brothers" (and that show was only a few years old at this point I think). He said the true story about Brechtesgarten was when they were going down the road, the nazi's had demo'd hillsides to block the road. They put their demo on one big roadblock but didn't have what they needed to safely set it off. He said at one point a pistol was pulled and the Lt told they came this far and nobody was going to die doing that now. Said they set it off from a distance using a rocket. Now I wasn't there, only got the show and his words to go by. If it wasn't true, then he had one helluva detailed story. Even at VA, you still have more SEALs and shit than soft skill MOS's.

Met a Buffalo Soldier a few months ago. Met a few WW1 vets but that was a while back, none of them left. Just all sorts. All the infantrymen are still infantrymen no matter how old they seem to get too.

When I installed alarms I got to meet a lot of old vets and old people have the best stories so I always listened. Met this one guy that was a cook and present when the A bomb was set off. He fed the guys on the Enola Gay before it took off. He and his wife were eating cheese curls mixed with vanilla ice cream at 7am --they offered some, I had to decline.

When I got my appendix taken out, my anesthesiologist was RTO in Vietnam. His callsign was "Gimlet Romeo Six" and he was the last to use it before the unit was deactivated.

I was the first Gimlet Romeo Six when the unit was reactivated!

Yeah, the old vets and old people in general have the best stories and it always was an honor for me to meet and help 'em too.

If it takes that long to get a prescription filled, they are obviously over worked and have more than enough patients to deal with.
For me, it is a World of difference going to the Cheyenne VA or Denver. Both are the same distance away. Rural life is good.

I have had to go to both and Denver SUCKS whereas Cheyenne is right on top of it all. GREAT service and treated well.
I cannot say enough about how good Cheyenne treats me.

I think it makes a great deal of difference as to where you live and where you go and as to how the different Hospitals set up outreach clinics and such things for we people out in the Boonies.

Years ago I used to be a bit miffed as to how they catered to the OLD FARTS, WW-2 and Korea Vets, but not bad, I was always in and out in good time.

Now, I am the OLD FART, and I love how they treat me. FM

Had I have had to go to Denver all of the time, I probably would not even be in the system, but Cheyenne has helped me a lot to the point that I don't want to go local, and Medicare let's me do that. I just tell My Squaw, "Take me to Cheyenne."

Loonhunter said:

Awesome that you did that. Sad that this was surprising to him. He should be tired of too much attention. Not surprised by a little.

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The only time I ever heard my father talk about WWII was when I went to Okinawa.
He asked me what it looked like, he then said when he left there there wasn't even a weed growing.
My Dad did both theaters.

All Great posts! I have been fortunate to know a number of them all gone now. My two great uncles (brothers) one on a surface ship other spent almost the entire war on the SS211 Gudgeon submarine (lost may or June) 45. They were on patrol 200 miles out of pearl harbor (their base) when it was attacked they sank two enemy ships I believe some of first of the war. It still hasn't been found yet every time I hear they find one perks my attention. I had two great WW2 veterans as teachers in HS one was my rifle instructor I believe he was Normandy beach. He was a fun teacher let us reload ammo during class (shotgun) during shop class he told one student (turd) to stop smoking kid told him to go Fuck himself he jacked him in the chops with pliers knocking teeth out he got fired the entire high school walked out when is back we will. he got a two month suspension.

Zeroit said:

All Great posts! I have been fortunate to know a number of them all gone now. My two great uncles (brothers) one on a surface ship other spent almost the entire war on the SS211 Gudgeon submarine (lost may or June) 45. They were on patrol 200 miles out of pearl harbor (their base) when it was attacked they sank two enemy ships I believe some of first of the war. It still hasn't been found yet every time I hear they find one perks my attention. I had two great WW2 veterans as teachers in HS one was my rifle instructor I believe he was Normandy beach. He was a fun teacher let us reload ammo during class (shotgun) during shop class he told one student (turd) to stop smoking kid told him to go Fuck himself he jacked him in the chops with pliers knocking teeth out he got fired the entire high school walked out when is back we will. he got a two month suspension.

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“Rifle instructor in school”
A phrase not heard in quite some time.

Speaking of submarines ^if anyone ever finds themselves in Cleveland, visit the USS Cod memorial. It’s one of the last WWII submarines and it’s docked on Lake Erie. It’s the only remaining one that hasn’t been cut into. You can tour the entire boat using all the same ladders and hatches the sailors did. They have a great website.
Pro-tip. To enter the sub you have to climb down a vertical ladder. If there are any skirt wearing woman going on the tour, be chivalrous and go down first. The view up can be amazing. Or hideous.