Another WWII vet gone

My father passed on about a week ago. Age 95 and he had been though all 3 levels of stay at a senior living and care facility over almost 13 years. Even after my Mom passed in 2015, he kept up a good spirit and fight. He eventually became totally blind and had bad diabetes among other things. A short hospital stay didn't end well. He outlived 2 brothers and 2 sisters and their spouses, one who had made it to almost 100.

Dad enlisted in the Army Air force in 1943, got home in early 1946. He island hopped the Pacific until he caught up with his squadron of A-20's in New Guinea, then the Philippines. Many aircraft lost in New Guinea, as much by flying into mountains as to the enemy. Heard the stories of the very primitive mountain people fighting other tribes with sharpened wooded sticks. He staged on Okinawa eventually for the invasion of Japan. Then part of the occupation after they surrendered. He was always real glad that Harry dropped the A bombs and Lemay napalmed Tokyo. Not PC today, but they weren't gonna quit and it would have taken an unimaginable amount of American lives. Dad recalled being lined up in Japan several times when they wanted volunteers to extend and go to Korea. Even in 1945. MacArthur was itching to head right in there. Dad lucked out with only some hearing loss from the .50's. He did the GI Bill and became an electrical engineer for 35 years.

We didn't always see eye to eye, when we were younger, but he had a much cooler head than I did and was as reliable as a rock. Will always miss my old hunting, fishing and working partner. He had a pretty good run.

It is sad to see that generation go. They gave so much. Sorry for your loss.
Leo

Very sorry, God bless you.

That was a great read and his patriotism gave me a bit of a “lift” here this morning. I did not serve and it will remain a great regret throughout my life. Men like your father were real men, and we should all aspire to those same principals.

I am grateful for his service.

The greatest generation for sure. I miss all of them I knew. Sorry for your loss.

RIP my brother warrior!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Many Thanx For Giving Us A Glimpse Of The "Old Man"
We never know just what We're going to learn here,and Your Loss just heightens Our Awareness of that fact!
Flying A-20 Havoc's was Tough Stuff! Chances are very good that he flew in Kenney's 5th Air Force. Those Boys had it rough against their Japanese Targets,the weather,and the odds!
I'm really impressed with what Pa did after he made it back to The World!

Rest Easy,Air Corp,You've Flown Well...

A Salute goes out to your father Hank, some say very little about their service & that is lost.

Sorry for your loss, Hank. God bless, him.

Yes, many don't talk about the war. If they do it's only the good parts.

I had two uncles in WWII.

One was a Seabee in the Pacific. He only wanted to talk about the time he built a sail boat for an Admiral, never about his jobs on Islands with Japs still on them. After the war, he couldn't hold a job for long. He died in his 60's of alcoholism related to what we now call PTSD.

The other Uncle never talked about his experiences in the Army Air Corp, even though he was state-side for the whole war. He was involved with the staffing and training of the flight crews for the Doolittle raid and continued in that job when that bomb group was involved with the European campaign, until the end of the war. Considering that the Air Corp had the highest casualty rate of the war it must have affected him knowing where he was sending them. I only found out what he did during the war while sorting through family letters after his death.

They were truly the greatest generation - a national treasure !!!!!

Paul

Thank you for all the good words, gents!

RIP brother of Arms! By choice or not, Valor is not something given!

Sorry for your loss Hank and a respectful farewell salute to your Dad.

My 93yo Dad was on some of the same islands as yours and the things they lived through in the war were truly Hell on earth. I have a huge amount of respect for those that serve and allow us to live with the freedom we enjoy.