On this night in 1944

[BPsTheMan]

My grandfather drove a jeep onto the beach omaha, 2nd wave.  He was also, in 3rd Army at the Battle of the Bulge.

God Bless, all who have fought and all who are serving.

[BPsTheMan]

My dad's Christmas 1944

Vicious and intense firing erupted about 2200.  The front awoke to the thump and shattering growl of the artillery smashing at the concentrating German troops.  The Germans were hit by the 334th's counterattack at 0100 (Christmas Day), which was preceded by a violent twenty-minute preparation.  It seemed strange to be killing men on Christmas but we forgot about it and bent to the task.  Intensified shelling kept up the rest of the night as huge concentrations of harassing fire battered the already mauled woods and draws to the front of the division.  Howitzer tubes seemingly groped and fingered for the targets, pausing only to strike with tons of explosives, and then moving on to somewhere else.

   When dawn finally came we had a chance to check ammunition expenditures.  The battery had fired 475 rounds on the 24th; still the pitiless firing went on.  Now and then we got a break for twenty minutes or more.  The going was tough for both the infantry and supporting arms because we were slugging it out with a crack unit of the Fifth Panzer Army, the 116th Panzer Division.  It took more than two or three volleys per battalion to stop the attackers; seven or eight was the usual dose.  At any rate we were giving as good as we were getting.

Sporadic firing continued the rest of the day.  Artillery lashed out with startling suddenness at targets of opportunity.  Christmas dinner featured turkey and all the trimmings, in a mess kit.  The officers also brought out their liquor ration and distributed it to the battery, under the supervision of the 1st Sgt. Though each man who wanted some only got about "one finger's worth"; it was better than none at all.  The roar of the howitzers provided Christmas music.  Up where men lived by seconds of time, the 84th's doughs spent a nasty day cleaning up the Germans holding Verdenne.

327th FA Bn 84th Infantry Div.

[BPsTheMan]

Wow! Not only more than a few Battle of the Bulge descendants here, Third Army, others, but great stories too. More than great stories. Hard to put into words.

God bless America

[hillhog]

Merry Christmas to all our brave servicemen and women serving and protecting our great country!

From me and mine too

[WilsonHog]

My father lied about his age when he was 16 and enlisted in the Army in 1940. He saw combat in the Rhineland Campaign, and won a Bronze Star and two Purple Hearts.

Great stories, guys. Thanks!

[hogdogcrazy]

This thread is hitting me especially hard today.  I just lost my dad 5 days ago of a sudden heart atack and we just laid him to rest yesterday.  This is honestly the hardest week I have ever experienced in 47 years of living.  I had done everything possible to be strong for my mom but the hardest part of yesterday was when the Military Honor Guard played tap's and gave my dad a 21 gun salute.  My dad served in the Korean confict in the Navy aboard a subchaser.  Dad never really talked a lot about those days but I have never been prouder than when my mom was handed the Flag and the honor guard uttered the words "From a grateful Nation".  Rest in peace dad.  I love you and I miss you dearly but I know we will meet again.

Thank you to all who have shared your beautiful stories in this thread. 

[Yoko Oinko]

Excellent stories, thanks for getting this started Yoko.  I don't know exactly where my dad was Christmas Eve, 1944.  His big fights were still ahead of him, including Pelilu.  A few months back I found a stash of B&W pictures I never knew existed from the Pacific War.  Sure wish my Dad was alive to ask him about them.


A holiday thought for those who still have their parents alive,  take advantage of it while you can, it doesn't last forever.         

You should read Eugene Sledge's account of Pelilu.  Amazing story of human suffering and bravery

[Yoko Oinko]

This thread is hitting me especially hard today.  I just lost my dad 5 days ago of a sudden heart atack and we just laid him to rest yesterday.  This is honestly the hardest week I have ever experienced in 47 years of living.  I had done everything possible to be strong for my mom but the hardest part of yesterday was when the Military Honor Guard played tap's and gave my dad a 21 gun salute.  My dad served in the Korean confict in the Navy aboard a subchaser.  Dad never really talked a lot about those days but I have never been prouder than when my mom was handed the Flag and the honor guard uttered the words "From a grateful Nation".  Rest in peace dad.  I love you and I miss you dearly but I know we will meet again.

Thank you to all who have shared your beautiful stories in this thread. 

Hang on to the great memories and his life lessons.  When I have a trying day, or I'm feeling down, I think about Dad trying to teach me how to throw a curve ball when I was 13.  It'll always be our special day.  List those special days you had with your dad.  They will give you strength.

[Tejano Jawg]

Yoko...outstanding. Thanks for the thread starter.

More later...

[LZH]

This thread is hitting me especially hard today.  I just lost my dad 5 days ago of a sudden heart atack and we just laid him to rest yesterday.  This is honestly the hardest week I have ever experienced in 47 years of living.  I had done everything possible to be strong for my mom but the hardest part of yesterday was when the Military Honor Guard played tap's and gave my dad a 21 gun salute.  My dad served in the Korean confict in the Navy aboard a subchaser.  Dad never really talked a lot about those days but I have never been prouder than when my mom was handed the Flag and the honor guard uttered the words "From a grateful Nation".  Rest in peace dad.  I love you and I miss you dearly but I know we will meet again.

Thank you to all who have shared your beautiful stories in this thread. 

God bless you and your family.  And I agree with Yoko Oinko 100%, the good memories will help you alot as you mourn the loss of your Dad....I promise.

[JRHoward]

Thank You for a great thread!  Thank You to all still serving and those that have served!

[grobertson]

HOOOOOAH!!

My father was in ITALY  -- my brother was two in the Nam -- me  SOCOM Kuwait & The Mog. ....  hooah!! to the man bro!

[ronmahony]

Great thread, and great idea stickying it. My Dad's cousin was a medic on D-day, and my Dad was in Korea. I love reading stories about all these great men. Best thread I have seen on here in a long time.

[snoblind]

I would really like it if you could scan these pictures and put them online for the rest of us historians to see. If you are unable to do this I would be happy to do it for you. I have access to the best Xerox scanners money can lease (they are too expensive to buy). PM me if this is something you are interested in. This truly was the greatest generation. My father fought in Vietnam. The horrors he tells of that are not appropriate to repeat publicly. It did inspire me to get a History degree from the UofA, though, and I've studied everything from major wars to middle eastern cultural history.

I have a scanner, I will see what I can do.  That is an excellent idea.  My dad didn't write anything on the back so I don't where they were taken.  I don't know if he took them or someone else did.  Some beach pictures, a couple with scantily clad island girls, and some with dead Japanese.  Do you know of some sites I could post them where someone might be able to identify the locations?

[snoblind]

You should read Eugene Sledge's account of Pelilu.  Amazing story of human suffering and bravery

I have read a couple of accounts, but it's been sometime back - not sure if that was one of them.  I need to pull them out and reread them.

Peleliu wasn't pretty.  Highest casualty rate of any Pacific battle.  My dad didn't hit the beach until the 3rd day, he was in artillery.  In hindsight, a lot of good men died for a piece of rock we really didn't need to take.   

[DeltaBoy]

God bless our Nations best during this holiday season!

[SteveInArk]

My grandfather was in the 2nd ID, 38th Inf Reg, and went to Britain in 1943, to stage and train for the invasion of Europe, like so many others.  His unit went ashore June 7th (D-Day+1) at Omaha. Days later, he was wounded moving inland on June 16th.  He recovered and was again wounded on Dec 16th, the first day of the Battle of the Bulge.  He again recovered and remained in Europe till after VE Day.  He never talked much about those times.  My dad, and only two uncles served also, one uncle in combat in the Philippines.

They were, and are, and will always be, the greatest generation in my opinion.

[Ugly Uncle]

Amazing thing about that generation, they really didn't talk much about their experiences.  The have taken to the grave with them more horror and sleepless nights than we will ever know.  They spared us the horrors of war with their actions over seas, and with their silence when they got home.  They were born in depression, their youth spent in war, as adults they built a nation into a super power.  America isn't just free because of them, it is what it is because of them.  They came home.  They had families.  They built lives.  They built communities.  Not bad for a generation born in a time of little hope and even less promise.

[PolishPigPower]

My grandfather came home from Germany with a Purple Heart.  He never revealed how he received it, not even to my grandmother.  He never spoke about the war at all.  He drank heavily, worked hard, was a bit violent at times, and died far too young.  That generation was tough as nails, but they were human, too.  If you keep that sort of stuff completely bottled up, it will come out in one way or another.

My hat is off to someone's future grandfather who is holed up somewhere in Afghanistan today.

[LZH]

Amazing thing about that generation, they really didn't talk much about their experiences.  The have taken to the grave with them more horror and sleepless nights than we will ever know.  They spared us the horrors of war with their actions over seas, and with their silence when they got home.  They were born in depression, their youth spent in war, as adults they built a nation into a super power.  America isn't just free because of them, it is what it is because of them.  They came home.  They had families.  They built lives.  They built communities.  Not bad for a generation born in a time of little hope and even less promise.

Agreed.  I think growing up during the depression made those guys into what they became.  I don't think Dad ever really worked for money, per se. I think he worked hard because he liked it, and that's what he knew, you work hard and the money will come later as a result of your efforts.

These guys lived like that, never get too high or too low, never give up, be assertive when you need to be, and keep to your word because money can be lost but your word is with you forever.

[Hawgrox]

This thread is outstanding!

[jthomas]

AWESOME!  My DAD was a WWII Disabled Vet with Purple Heart, Bronze Star and other awards.  He was a  proud 1949 graduate of the University of Arkansas.  He loved his University.  He took me to my FIRST Razorback game in 1960.  He also served as Mayor of Parkin for 8 years.  I miss my DAD.    This may be inappropriate for this board, but TO MY DAD......Thank you for being my DAD and thank you for making me a Razorback!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You should go on Youtube and check out Chet Atkins cover of "I Still Can't Say Goodbye".  Very moving.

[kitarae]

They truly were the greatest generation.

I worked at XNA a few months ago when the "Honor Flight" went out. All the WW2 vets from this area flew to DC to check out the Memorial. A man pulled out his Military ID from 1942 and showed it to me. He was 19 years old and was a 2nd LT.

I cherished every minute I got to talk to all those extraordinary men and women.

[lateshow]

I agree with the first guy that said it, but I'll say it again. This is the best thread I've ever read.....on any message board.

[TexasTransplant]

I wonder if him and my Granfather ever crossed paths!  Grandad was also on the 2nd wave.  Utah beach.  He was a tanker.  Injured Christmas day during the battle of the Bulge. 

It's amazing what a common frame of reference WWII is for men of that generation.  My father and soon-to-be father-in-law had never met before the rehearsal dinner for our wedding in 1973.  Within 10 minutes of meeting, they had established that they were both in the Army in WWII and had gone through some of the same camps in England on the way to the Continent.  Dad was a Signal Officer in the 8th Armored Division, which was part of 3rd Army.  He didn't go in on D-Day, but was in on the Battle of the Bulge and the relief of Bastogne.  The father-in-law was a combat infantryman, also in Third Army.

[atlrazorback]

Fantastic stories and greatly appreciate the attention to those deployed today.  The Greatest Generation did nothing less than save the world.