stanley Report post Posted November 11, 2014 Each and every veteran is a true hero, IMO!! Dad did his part by flying 33 missions over Europe as a navigator in a B-17 bomber, including D-Day. He saw plenty of action and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, among other medals. What a man..... So proud of him and ALL other veterans!!! Sincere thanks for your service! S. One last drag before another mission...... Not his normal seat! Working his maps..... Doing his job! The bombadier doing HIS job! The view out of his window. B-17s flying in formation, off to drop their payloads! His Distiguished Flying Cross (box) and his dog tags. Notice the little cross he had tied to his dog tags....... A true man of faith. (I got these as momentos when he passed away....) 6 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BeardownAZ Report post Posted November 11, 2014 Awesome!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
reddog Report post Posted November 11, 2014 Thanks to him and all others who have or are serving!! REDDOG 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hoghntr Report post Posted November 13, 2014 I spent my Veterans day with my kiddos eating free meals around town from those business's that realize the wouldn't have a business without vets! and saw kids movie etc... thanks to all that continue to serve and those familys who await their return home. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
IA Born Report post Posted November 14, 2014 My dad served two tours in combat in Vietnam with the 173rd Airborne Brigade (Separate). Veteran's Day was always a rough time growing up. His Company and remnants of another company (Designated Task Force Black) walked into a horseshoe-shaped ambush on 11 Nov 1967 and the NVA managed to close the end of the shoe. Dad was on the point element when the first mortar round landed 6 feet from him and his buddy. It was a dud, but the 2nd one wasn't. I won't go into all of the details, but he lost several of his friends that day and lived with survivor's guilt (for walking into the ambush) until the day he died 10.5 years ago. Growing up in our house, we all fought the war he brought home with him and Veteran's Day was among the worst days for 30 years. In the end, his severe PTSD caused a major heart attack and he died 15 days before our daughter was born. When I flew back for his funeral, I saw a man at peace and a war ended for the first time in my life. I've learned to live with 2nd Generation PTSD and not let it beat me, but I also learned a deep appreciation for the brotherhood formed of combat. My dad's buddies and their wives have been another set of parents to me for as long as I can remember and they treat my kids like their own grandkids. This is a pic of dad taken on his first tour. He was a tunnel rat and in a mortar squad. He weighed about 120 lbs and is carrying almost 100 pounds of gear. This pic went world-wide on AP and UPI and is in the opening credits of "Quantum Leap" and has been on other shows. I look at his picture every day and miss him every day. I'd fight one more "home battle" to have another fishing trip with him. This picture was taken during some down time on a fire mission. A BIG heartfelt thank you to all veterans of all wars and all service! 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stanley Report post Posted November 14, 2014 Deep, touching story IA Born! My father was certainly impacted by his war experience, but not in the way that many have been. I remember when I was a kid and he was sharing a war story once, I mentioned to him that I couldn't imagine being up in that plane with 88MM shells bursting and flack shredding the plane. I asked him why on earth he would volunteer to be in a bomber, and his answer was something like "because I didn't want to be on the ground......". I didn't understand what he meant then, but over the years have come to figure it out. While he saw plenty of action and had some close calls (engines on fire, etc....), he was never placed in a situation where he was up close and personal with the enemy. Different experience all together. Peace! S. PS: Great pics! Treasured memories!!! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Edge Report post Posted November 14, 2014 Great pics, IA. I have a pic of my dad in his Cracker Jacks taken in early 1945 as he was shipping out to the Pacific aboard a destroyer. I learned early in life not to ask him about the war, he wasn't going to tell. Stanley, don't forget to find your dads plane tail numbers. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
