Let me tell you about my father...

[Yoda]

I've written several notes recently about my father-in-law. Let me also pay tribute to my father.

My dad is also a WWII vet. Before the war, he was a gunner on an A-17 (sort of like an American version of the Stuka), then he was a top turret gunner in one of the first B-17 units (303rd Bomb Group). However, since he was one of the few NCOs to have gone to tech school to maintain the turrets, he was reclassified as the group's armorer shortly after Pearl Harbor, when the USAAF was expanding as fast as it could.

In the late 1950s, we were stationed at Anderson AFB, Guam. The base had a pistol shooting competition, and my dad decided to compete. The commander of the air police (that's what the security forces were called in those days) was favored to win, because he had some custom-built match-grade Colt 1911.

My dad went to the wing's armory, and swapped out slides and barrels and such on issue 1911s, and that's what he used in the competition.

My dad took second place in the island-wide match. The squadron commander with the expensive Colt? He took third place. Top gun was another airman using a stock, off-the-shelf, issue 1911, which just happened to be the one the guy in the armory signed out to him on the day of the match.

Lesson? Obvious. It ain't the gun. It's the gunner.

Anyway, the first airplane my dad ever worked on was a Curtiss P-6 Hawk biplane, and the last airframe he worked on was a Titan II ICBM. He saw everything in between. He turns 90 next year, and he's still sharp as a whip.

- - - Yoda

 

[stickhauler]

Tell Your Dad...

That I thank him for his service to our country, and his efforts on our behalf. And that I'd love to have a chance to buy him a beverage of his choice, and have a chance to sit down and soak up the history he's seen and lived.

From a person who has lost both of my parents in the past few years, I offer you this advice: Treasure the time you have with your father, and never let a day go by without letting him know your respect for him. When they're gone, you'll thank God for each day you had with them.

 

[BudW]

http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/weapons_curtiss_A-18_Shrike.html

Info on Shrike

 

[cleardiddion]

That's too cool.
Give your old man my thanks

 

[danprkr]

Your dad sounds like a great guy. I'd like to get to know him before he goes. I once took 5 hours to change a 10 minute part on a fridge because the old man who owned it was with the Flying Tigers in China. Cost me probably 500 in work that day, but worth every cent and then some. Your dad sounds like he is cut from the same cost and you should feel honored to have every second you can with him.

 

[rainbowbob]

Great story of a fine man, Yoda. Like the others, I hope you'll thank him for us all. How amazing to witness and work on aircraft from biplanes to ICBMs.

 

[Matrix187]

That's cool how he's still alive and that you know about his experiences. I really don't know much about my grandpa's experience in WW2. I was told he fought in France and was shot through the upper right chest and survived. The bullet went clean through his chest and out his back. He carried an M1. He died in a car wreck when my dad was 13, so my dad never knew too much. My dad saw his entry/exit scars on more than one occasion.

My grandpa DID own an M1 as a civilian after the war, but my dad has no idea at all where it went.

 

[Yoda]

I meant A-17, not the "Shrike"

My mistake. I don't know why I keep wanting to call the A-17 the "Shrike."

Here's a link:
http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=343

BTW: For those aviation buffs, he also worked on B-10s and B-18s, C-119s and C-121s, and just about every other USAF airplane with props and recipocating engines. He really liked the Beech Staggerwing.

- - - Yoda

 

[armoredman]

Please pay my respects, sir. My stepfather was a radio operator on a C-47 during the Normandy invasion, and he went home to The Lord last year. I am honored to have his graduation book from his radio operators school. Cherish him as long as you can.

 

[RainDodger]

You're a lucky man... enjoy him while he's around! My dad passed away when I was 14. He taught me all I know about reloading, he owned an airplane and he raced sports cars. I wish I had been able to know him better. On top of that, he was an Ordnance Major in Europe in WWII and I just KNOW he must have had stories to tell, but couldn't tell them to a 14 year old!

For those of you with dads still around - put up with them, take care of them and listen to them. One day you won't be able to and you'll miss it. I know!

Roger

 

[351 WINCHESTER]

Dad was a WWII vet, but he rarely talked about it. Same as my Uncle. Dad passed away about 5 years ago. He was a good man and taught me a lot of things, but he never hunted. His passion was horses. I take comfort in knowing he's in a better place.

Several weeks ago I was in Picadillays and noticed 2 elderly gents in front of me. Both had hearing aids. I thought they might be vets so I asked one and sure enought they were. I asked if I could buy their lunch and at first they were reluctant. I told them I would be honored if they would let me. They agreed and I had a good lunch with them. One of the gents was 90 and the other was 86. My Grandfather was a Vet of the Mexican Campaign and WWI. He was awarded 2 silver stars along with a lot of medals. My sister has them for safekeeping, but hasn't seen them in years. I'm sure they are still in her house somewhere. I found his enlistment papers on the internet and printed copies for all to see.

 

[Yoda]

My dad's dad...

My dad says his step-father served in WWI. He says that his step-father once told him that a grenade came over the parpet of a trench that he was in, and he tried to jump away from it, but he bumped into a French officer and ended up on top of the officer when the grenade went off. The officer thought my step-grandad had purposely dove on top of him to protect him from the blast, and saw to it that he got an award. The step-dad said, "Why would I do that?"

- - - Yoda

 

[dieselkanic]

Get him to write these stories down. Or record them. We are loosing a lot of history when these men pass.

And like others have said, thank him for me.

 

[Officers'Wife]

Since my grandfather passed away, I have missed his stories of crashing a glider into France. I continually hope that when my son and daughter are old enough my husband and I will be able to take them to Fort Meade and have them listen to the audio files of his relating the stories of Market Garden and entering Germany. I envy you for still having him in your life. I hope and pray you treasure the time you have with him.

Selena

 

[BADUNAME37]

My mother's father worked in a tool & die operation in Philadelphia During the War (II).

He worked at a place named Bendix. I don't know what it was that he made, as when he was on his own, he made Jewelry.

When at Bendix, they would get paid more for making more parts. He was at the point where he was making the parts so fast that they had to actually watch him and study his every move so others working there could improve their output!

I do remember him telling me all that.

My mom and dad are now 80. My mom is starting to lose it (alzheimers) and my dad keeps hanging in there with her! He is still with it, however, I notice when I'm with him that he is not sharp like he was five or ten years ago. He repeats things to me and sometimes the conversations get confusing.

Other than visiting and helping them with things, all I can really do is pray for them!