Were anyone's relatives here ever involved in a war?

Question

I think it would be pretty interesting if anyone was willing to share "heroic" stories of any relatives who fought in the Second World War or anywhere else.

Does anyone have any such stories?

Answer 1

In World War II my father was an intelligence officer stationed in Kunming.

My Uncle Allan was a coast watcher operating behind enemy lines on an island in the Pacific accompanied only by his two Maori guides.

My fathers cousin Michael was shot down and killed over Berlin piloting an RAF pathfinder aircraft. (The pathfinders went in ahead of the other bombers and dropped incendiaries to mark the target.)

In World War I my Grandfather was with the British Mediterranean Fleet during the Gallipoli invasion.

His brother Thomas was killed leading his troops against German positions in Flanders.

In the Crimean War my great grand Uncle Eric was killed in the charge of his cavalry regiment against the Russian positions on Balaclava Heights near Sebastapol. This is usually referred to as the charge of the Light Brigade.

The earliest known member of my family, named John, was a captain in the Army of Prince Edmund Ironsides and died fighting the invading Danes under King Canute at the Battle of Sherson Bridge. There is a statue to him there in honour of his having held the bridge single handedly even after being mortally wounded.

There are dozens more who died in England's Wars (and the English Civil war) and scores more who served their King and lived to tell the tale themselves.

It is a family history that speaks to the horrible waste and futility of war and reminds me personally of the truth that "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God" (Matthew 5:9).

Answer 2

My grandfather fought in the Korean war and was shot down behind enemy lines and was never captured.

My uncle fought in the Vietnam War and while they were fighting the enemy shot a mortar and it hit my uncles best friend and all that was left was his boots.

My other grandfather was in the Aleution Islands and was constantly bombarded by japanese fighters. He was finally pulled out because he had 8 children at home.

I also had an ancestor in the civil war. He charged in a battle near Vicksburg. He was wounded right above the kneecap and died in mid-july.

Answer 3

My late grandmother's older brother was killed while with the U.S. Army in Normandy. Nothing heroic (other than fighting for the liberation of Europe), he was killed during an artillery barrage. My Uncle Bob was a tank commander in the 3rd Army under Patton during WWII. My dad fought with the Marine Corps in Korea, spending 8 months in the front lines as a company commander's radioman.

Answer 4

American Civil War. My Great Great Grandpa was wounded by canister shot while his unit guarded the retreat of Union forces from the 7 days battles.

My grandpa was in the army during the Korean war, but was a supply sergent stationed state-side.

My cousin was a green beret in Vietnam; he was killed by a sniper while riding in a jeep on his way to the airport to leave Vietnam after his tour of duty was over. We don't know much else about his service there.

Answer 5

I'm pretty sure my grandfather was shot in the butt running away from the Francoists in the Spanish Civil War as an International Brigades fighter..... but he wrote some incredible poetry that was published about the war.... must've been a lover, not a fighter. Twelve children and six wives.....

Answer 6

My grandparents were in the Croatian underground, recsuing American and British pilots who were shot down over Croatia while fighting Germans. They hid a wounded American pilot in their basement from German soldiers. Eventually he was found and shot.
My dad was born a week later, and was given the American pilot's name as a middle name. Now my brother carries that same middle name.
No heroes really, but it's amazing how war crosses cultures and ties together desperate people who would never otherwise meet.

Fantastic question Mario! :)

Answer 7

like others here from the beginning to the war today there have been relatives fighting for the US and doing what they considered their duty.

Answer 8

MY FATHER IS IN THE SECOND WW AND 3 OF MY UNCLES WAS KILLED IN THE WAR BECAUSE THEY WERE LIED TO BY THE JAPANESE THAT IF THEY REPORT TO THE GARRISON THEY WILL BE ISSUED A PASS SO THAT THEY CAN PEACEFULLY DO THEIR BUSINESS AND WHEN THEY DID REPORTED TO THE HQ. THEY WHERE IMPRISONED AND KILLED WITH THOUSANDS OF OTHER PEOPLE, MY FATHER SURVIVED BECAUSE HE WAS TOO YOUNG TO REPORT AND WAS LEFT BEHIND TO ATTEND TO MY GRANDPARENTS.. UP TO NOW WE ALWAYS PASS BY THE RIVER WHERE THEY EXECUTED THOUSANDS AND WE ALWAYS SAY A PRAYER EVERYTIME WE PASS BY THE BRIDGE ON OUR WAY TO THE OUR TOWN..

Answer 9

i have many family that have fight in wars the oldest one i can remember is my uncle in that fight in the Filipinos