Our Greatest Generation - My Mom & Dad

Darin Cook_5

That brings it right back to reality. I stopped at Hess one day to get gas in the thirsty white truck. There was an old fella who looked confused with his wife standing by their gas pump. They asked me if I knew how to run the credit card gadget on the pump. I gladly helped them get started and the old fella started telling me of flying in B-17's over Germany and what he had lived threw - shot down -captured- POW Camp. They thanked me for helping and I greatly thanked him for his service and sacrifice. It was a real priviledge and honor to meet this man and his wife. It would have been easy to blow them off , caught up in my own busy world.






Darin

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Supply House Rick

While driving the other day

While driving the other day, I had a senior citizen ahead of me who if was going any slower would have traveled back in time. My first thought was tailgate, blow the horn or yell something stupid. Then it hit me. My dad is now 80 and faces the same struggles this gent ahead of me faces. My father quit high school to go fight in Korea with his older brothers because in his words “it was the right thing to do” My father is a decorated war hero who fought for our country. Didn’t ask why or run. Still won’t speak of the horrors he saw as a 17 year old boy. He finished high school when he got back.

My mom now has Alzheimer’s and no longer recognizes any of us, three college degrees, four children, a registered nurse and hospital supervisor. Those memories have been erased by an insidious disease and my dad still goes and sees her every day to tell her stories and just hold her hand. The senior citizen ahead of you may be a decorated war hero who could be distracted because all his friends are gone and his wife of 58 years no longer knows him. He has earned the right to be cautious. Please back off and give the true heroes of our greatest generation a break…

Hug your parents

Paul Rohrs_4

You guys exude Class.

We should all recognise these opportunities as they present themselves throughout the day.

Regards,

PR

Robert O'Brien

Rick

I was in the same situation last week and is customary on LI,I was seconds away from leaning on the horn.Until I saw the Pearl Harbor Survivor sticker on the car.Certainly a wakeup call.Not many left from that day 67 years ago,it's a privilege to drive behind one!

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Wayco Wayne_2

A good attitude adjustment guys

My Dad flew bomber missions over France during the War. (They wouldnt let him after the war. D'oh!) He also flew supply missions from India to China over the Himilayan Mountains. They called it, "Flying the Hump! While he was doing that my mother left the farm where she grew up, (In Canton NY) and traveled to Washington DC to help with administrative chores as a secretery temp for the War Dept. You're right. These people are the greatest generation, and need our respect and help if need be. I wish our country had better support system for these people. WW

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Tekkie

Thank you

You brought me back to ground... My father was in WWII and never talked about it. I have an older friend (in the true definition of the word) whom was in Korea. He too never wants to talk about it. we don't see each much any more but I feel he has "adopted" me and I see him as a fatherly image. We can talk about anything and still respect each other fully. I gotta go...

Supply House Rick

Probably the most thoughtful post ever

Thanks

ScottMP

Great Post

this shows what The Wall can be..

Stop, take a second and remember where we are.

Scott

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Brad White_203

And

where we came from.

Thanks for posting, Rick and to others for responding so well.

Jim Erhardt_3

My dad too!

Wayne, my father was also in the Army Air Force in the CBI theater doing the same drill. My father died in 1999 but I wonder if they knew each other?

Wayco Wayne_2

How cool

would that have been? WW

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midway_2

Thanks

Thanks, didn't do anything heroic, Spent parts of 43-45 in N. Africa at Naval Operating Bases (NOB), then helped commission the USS Midway an aircraft carrier a couple of weeks after Japan surrendered. Also this Missouri raised kid married a "Yankee" from Boston, LOL Just lost her on Easter Sunday and most of my Navy buddies have passed away also.

Robert O'Brien

Midway

Thank you for your service and my sympathies on your loss.

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ScottMP

Thank You Sir

for serving your country.

Scott


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Leo_17

The forgotten part

These guys carried a lot of baggage alone. There was a lot of drinking, the veterans clubs flourished in the 50's and 60's. The thing was a lot of them drank a lot but they worked the wife often didn't and they supported the family. What you never know about them you see in the obituary. Silver Star, Bronze star, etc. Never bragged, just worked hard. It is good we generally only remember the best of them because it wasn't an easy road both in the war and after.
I have known many and miss them.

Leo

Rick_87

I knew this had meaning to some

Thanks for listening...

Rick

hvacfreak

My grandfather was drafted as a heavy equipment mechanic ( ww2 ) he was employed by International - Harvester ( before and after the war. He only ever mentioned that during the war he was working on half - tracks and being drunk when he wasn't. He talked mostly of this " run that was a farm machinery testing ( non stop ) from Canada to Texas where he had to keep all of these machines on - line. The test was a success and alot of data was gathered because of his efforts. But yes , even as I knew him ( as an old man ) , I viewed him as a man made of iron or steel.

Jim Pompetti

Nicely

Said ,they are the greatest generation . We all get in a hurry and want to take it out, on the old guy in the hat .But I'm not far from being that guy ,The world has been in a hurry for the last 50 years and look were it got us. Slow down and smile

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Chris S

Let's not forget this Tuesday is Veterans day.
Go to your local service, and shake a veterans hand.
And just say Thank You. Thay can't hear it too many times.

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Mad Dog_2

Its ALL in how you were raised.................................

We REVERED my Uncle Joe who fought with Patton In North Africa against Rommel's Afrika Corps and Great Uncle Leo who lied about his age (16) AND memorized the eye chart (bad eyesight) just so he could in in With Black Jack Pershing and the American Expediationary Forces of WW I. My parents spoke very highly of Soldiers and Sailors and always took the time to attend a parade or monument. That is largely lost today. Even in a Village with "Small town" values, our parades are a spectacle for the Little League and other organizations. God Bless your Folks, Rick. Mad Dog

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Rick_87

Thanks Mad Dog

Many Vets are gone but, we will never ever forget...

Al Letellier_21

Dad and vets

Great Post, guys. Spent some time with my Dad tonight discussing how to split up his heating system to put the TV room on a separate zone. He's 93 now and taught me my trade but doesn't understand things like zone valves and pex tubing. He served in WWII as a combat engineer building Bailey bridges ahead of Patton's Army and was 30 feet away from Patton the day they told him not to cross the Rhine and Patton said; "Hell we did that three days ago". Mom (91) just chuckles everytime Dad tells that story, over and over and over......Salutes and praise to the men who served to keep us free !!!

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