Were you there - WWII?

Question

Watched "The Sands of Iwo Jima" over the weekend. To any of our seniors, especially the males - were you there? Do you have a story from the war that you'd like to share?

Answer 1

While I was not born until 1961, my father served in the Marines during World War II, aboard the USS Panamint. The Panamint was directly involved in a battle in 1945 during the time my father was on board as a radio operator. The USS Panamint was sent to Okinawa on March 27, 1945 and on April 1, 1945 was already under attack by enemy planes. None of the ships in the formation were damaged. By April 21, 1945 the American flag had been raised on the island of Okinawa (Shima). Kamikaze planes were present before D-Day and attacked on April 6 in mass force. On April 30, an enemy plane crashed into the ship S. Hall Young, carrying ammunition and it caused a fire. That ship was about 800 yards from the Panamint and the fire and rescue team from the Panamint helped extinguish the fire. On May 6, another enemy plane tried to attack the Panamint in a suicide dive, but that ship and others in the area used anti-aircraft fire to shoot down the plane which splashed into the water 1500 yards away because the pilot overshot his aim. On May 11, two other planes attacked and the Panamint began firing. One of the planes dropped a torpedo, but the Panamint shifted the rudder a hard right at full speed, putting it in parallel position from the torpedo and the plane. The torpedo passed by the stern of the ship and the plane erupted into flames about 150 yards from the Panamint and splashed into the sea. The second plane dropped a torpedo which passed the starboard side and missed the stern by 30 feet.

Throughout the first 45 days in Okinawa, the Amphibious Group 4, of which the Panamint was a part, only experienced 9 days without being attacked. The Panamint directed the Combat Air Patrol attacks. On June 15, 1945 the Panamint went on to Saipan and then arrived in Pearl Harbor on July 8, 1945. My family has photos of my father in Hawaii during that time. I don't know the exact dates of my Dad's military service, but I do remember him talking about Okinawa and of being attacked by enemy fire but not being hit. This would fit with the story of the Panamint in Okinawa that I just told above because my father did indeed serve on the Panamint and was indeed under enemy fire in this time period. He didn't like to talk about this, but was very proud to have served during the War. I had to do a lot of research to find out this information, piecing bits and pieces of information my father did tell his family together with documents he had in his possession and internet research on the USS Panamint.

That is my father's World War II story. He was proud to be a Marine and proud to be an American. I learned to love my country from the example he set. My father died in 2004, so I feel blessed to have had him for so many years, when many people lost their lives during World War II. I believe my generation and those that follow owe a huge debt of gratitude to our seniors who fought in this war to make the world a better place, but also who worked to make the world a better place after the war was over. Thank you!!

Answer 2

I wasn't around yet, I was born in "47". But I know from seeing pictures, that my Dad was in the Navy during the War. As there were several pic's when they were dating and he had his Navy uniform on. And several of their close friends also had various other Armed Forces uniforms on. I never did find out that story. Thanks for asking, I will have to have a talk with my mother and see where he was at. And get the whole story.
All I remember him saying is that if he had not gotten married, to my Mom he would have made it to Chief. I was not interested at the time, so I didn't ask. By the time I was old enough to understand it had probably been about 15 years after the War. So didn't know, didn't care. But I will find out now. Thanks.

Answer 3

When we entered the war I was just short of my third birthday. But, I do have one childhood memory of the war. For many years I just though it was my own private nightmare. I saw a large military plane losing altitude in the skies over Brooklyn and saw it blot out the sun as it headed downward to crash. It wasn't until a few years ago that I learned it was real. A B-25 on its way to Floyd Bennet Field that never made it.

Answer 4

I'd wager most here are too young to have been there or have any memory of the experience even if they were. My Dad was an Army officer and fought in WWII and were he alive today he's be 93....

My Mom told me she went to work for the War Dept. in NY during the war - but she was in her very early 20's at the time...

We moved to Italy to join my Dad in '46 and lived there for 3 years and I have vague memories of attending Italian school there

Answer 5

I was a grade-schooler when the US got in the war after Pearl Harbor, and remember seeing camouflage netting over the buildings and highway where Lockheed and Vultee had their defense plants in Long Beach, CA...remember the ration books [one for sugar, one for meat, one for gas] and remember buying Defense Stamps to paste in a book to make a war bond. Family members and their friends fought all over the world...pilots, Sea Bees, swabbies [my uncle was in the Pacific] and one of my mom's best ladyfriends had a husband who was in the Anzio beach battle. Neighbor boy went into the Merchant Marine and shoveled coal all the way to Murmansk and back again. My dad was too old to be drafted or to enlist, but worked on some secret "war stuff" as a civilian...his business partner built officer quarters in a construction battalion all over Europe and brought home a Scotch war-bride he met handing out tea & biscuits in an English railway station! Us kids saved bacon-grease and tinfoil and newspapers...had drives at school to see which class or room could bring in the most. In every sense of the word, we were all "there" whether at home or fighting somewhere...even my grandma, who lived on the coast, became a plane-spotter and blackout captain for her little town. She said it kept her mind off where her son was, and maybe even helped him somehow. She baked pies for the coast guard station down the beach from her house...they patrolled at night with big mean dogs watching for spies and submarines.

Answer 6

My Dad was stationed in Bethesda, MD and my mom was "Rosie the Riveter" in an aircraft factory. Two of my mom's brothers went to Europe, one was killed in France the other returned without a scratch. I took care of a WWII fighter pilot, boy did he have the tales. Said once he came back from a mission without one piece of glass in his plane--said he made some real peace with God at that time. My step dad fought in France and was wounded by shrapnel. He had a plate for a cheek.

Answer 7

Female here, LG. Just wanted to say I was alive but was not overseas. Safe in the USA due to the patriotism and dedication provided by the Armed Forces of UK and USA as well as the others.

I remember asking my mother about something she was horrified about after reading the newspaper. She just told me it was about the war. I figured out as a adult what it was. It was when they found all those concentration camps.

Answer 8

No, believing the Nazis were in any way right or thinking they were cool or sexy would deem you a Nazi. If you have a genuine interest in that aspect of history without subscribing to any of its beliefs that is intellectual curiosity. A great many people would find an interest in Nazi memorabilia disrespectful and insulting to the Jewish race so it would be unwise to get enthusiastic about any Nazi stuff publicly.

Answer 9

No. I made my entrance into this world at 12.15AM on August 1ST, 1944.

My father was up North in the desert in Africa, with the, " 14th Bombing Squadron".

His name was:- LAURENCE Hazelby HALE, HE WAS KNOW AS; LAURIE ( as in LORRY) ), and he was with a lot of Americans and Australians in his Squadron.

Wouldn't it be great if I found some men who were with him in the Squadron? I'd love to hear from them.

And really looking forword to hearing some of the stories, from the brave men who fought in WW!!

Answer 10

I was alive, but not over there. And too young to know what was happening. All I remember is that Mom had to ration some foods. Something about ration stamps.