Indeed, they were the greatest generation. They gave up their jobs and joined this faraway battle, not knowing the outcome or if they'd ever come home. Remarkable.
Thank you for sharing these personal and deeply moving letters and messages from your dad. I had family members who served in World War Two, all of whom survived physically but who carried the scars for the rest of their lives. I, too, grew up with Memorial Day as separate and special apart from the “Memorial Day Special!” that lasts until all overstock has been sold. And my American flag will be flown on Memorial Day, May 30.
I love this. We also have letters my dad sent to my mom in WW2 (he was a B24 pilot). He didn’t talk much about his war experiences until much later in life - he wrote about them and gave copies to all of his children. A treasure! One last memory - Dad often watched old war movies on TV over Memorial Day weekend. He didn’t talk - just watched and often cried. One of the few times he openly cried in front of his children.
Carolee - My dad's two brothers and a sister, all of whom were stateside during the War, said he was a different man when he came home. And he never fully recovered from the trauma. He was much older than the average soldier, 34 when the war ended.
I am very proud of my dad and all women and men who have served our country, as well as very thankful. AND, I’m also very glad none of my siblings or children or my spouse (or me!) have had to experience war front and center.
Bob, Thanks for sharing about your dad in WW2. As a Japanese American growing up on a farm in Fresno, my dad was sent to an interment camp in Arizona while his older brothers were in Europe with the US Army 442nd. My dad was able to leave the camp to attend his freshman year at Nebraska. After his first quarter, he was drafted. He would serve as a Clerk Typist at Fort Bragg until being assigned to US Army Counter Intelligence Training at Fort Holabird in Baltimore, MD. If a land invasion of Japan was required, Japanese Americans like my dad with their limited Japanese language skills would be sent to Japan. The war ended after Hiroshima/Nagasaki, the land invasion was not needed and my dad enrolled at UC Davis as a Freshman. RIP Joe.
Martin - What a story. I've visited the "camps" at Tulelake and Manzanar. What a complete injustice. My mom was a first generation German, but nobody but her in a camp because we were fighting Germany. So glad your dad ended up as an Aggie. Go Ags
I toured a submarine once - in the Willamette River outside Portland - and that was enough for me. I can' imagine serving aboard one for a long stretch of time. Blessing - Bob
Bob--thanks for sharing your father's wartime letters. My dad, Wayne Gardner, was also in WWII and my mom saved all his frequent letters to her in a thick scrapbook, which I now have. But Daddy's handwriting was pretty terrible so I haven't been able to read a lot of the letters. Daddy also didn't talk much about the war. We had a grass skirt he brought back from Guadalcanal in our basement for years. He was there teaching troops how to use oxygen equipment.
Susan - Every single person who served in that war has a unique story. My dad's letters were written on incredibly thin and delicate paper. They appear to be in pencil. I don't know how the point of the pencil didn't tear the paper. His handwriting looks exactly like mine. I guess it was in the genes.
Thanks Patricia. The ones I feel saddest for are the unknown soldiers and those who had no one to remember them. So many Americans are buried on foreign soil. God love them all.
Jim Provenza and I were talking about the Davis Cemetery ceremony today. We both agree that it is meaningful to hear a story of an actual veteran to make it more real for those in attendance. Memorial Day is about real people with families and friends and a community. I am so glad your Dad made it home safe.
Lovely tribute to your dad, Bob ! My dad was also in Italy in that war, but more toward the end. He wrote for the Stars and Stripes and was a colleague of Bill Mauldin. He met and married my mother in Rome but had to wait for her for six months between his return to the states on a troop ship and her permission to travel with other war brides.
You may have met Bill McElwain during his years in Davis (1999-2003), as he was president of the Senior Center at one time.
The SSN Pampinito moored at Fisherman’s wharf is the same class as dad sub. How they managed to not only survive but fight is just amazing. Your dad well to come out of the Army as a major and survive the Pacific too.
It just happens to be my younger sister Carol's birthday today. The only military member of our extended family was my paternal grandfather. He was scheduled to ship out to Hawaii on the Missouri, but was considered disabled because he had asthma. Otherwise we wouldn't have known him since the Missouri was in Pearl Harbor during the attack. He spent his last Navy years at Mare Island as a Navy Chief.
Wow, Robin. I remember passing Mare Island on the way to San Francisco in childhood and it was still active. Would love to take a tour. Pearl Harbor was such a shock, according to my dad. Most Americans didn't see it coming, though some say FDR did.
Yes, he worked there well into my childhood, and had access to Treasure Island. Went to the commissary at Mare Island with Grandmother, and our grandparents took us to Treasure Island for Sunday dinner occasionally. They were both interred at Oak Knoll in Oakland. Dad didn’t have to go into the military service because he was helping build the bomb at Oak Ridge, TN. He always said it was a secret, and compartmentalized, but they all knew what was going on anyway.
Robin, My husband Bruce's father Ralph worked on the Oak Ridge project for several years, repairing equipment I think. He missed out on his 2 sons' early childhood.
Bob… Great Memorial Day tribute. Full of “service”, of “family” of “love” Great letters from the Greatest Generation!
Jim -
Indeed, they were the greatest generation. They gave up their jobs and joined this faraway battle, not knowing the outcome or if they'd ever come home. Remarkable.
Thank you for sharing these personal and deeply moving letters and messages from your dad. I had family members who served in World War Two, all of whom survived physically but who carried the scars for the rest of their lives. I, too, grew up with Memorial Day as separate and special apart from the “Memorial Day Special!” that lasts until all overstock has been sold. And my American flag will be flown on Memorial Day, May 30.
That's a great idea, Barbara. We will fly our American flag on May 30 as well
I love this. We also have letters my dad sent to my mom in WW2 (he was a B24 pilot). He didn’t talk much about his war experiences until much later in life - he wrote about them and gave copies to all of his children. A treasure! One last memory - Dad often watched old war movies on TV over Memorial Day weekend. He didn’t talk - just watched and often cried. One of the few times he openly cried in front of his children.
Carolee - My dad's two brothers and a sister, all of whom were stateside during the War, said he was a different man when he came home. And he never fully recovered from the trauma. He was much older than the average soldier, 34 when the war ended.
I am very proud of my dad and all women and men who have served our country, as well as very thankful. AND, I’m also very glad none of my siblings or children or my spouse (or me!) have had to experience war front and center.
Bob, Thanks for sharing about your dad in WW2. As a Japanese American growing up on a farm in Fresno, my dad was sent to an interment camp in Arizona while his older brothers were in Europe with the US Army 442nd. My dad was able to leave the camp to attend his freshman year at Nebraska. After his first quarter, he was drafted. He would serve as a Clerk Typist at Fort Bragg until being assigned to US Army Counter Intelligence Training at Fort Holabird in Baltimore, MD. If a land invasion of Japan was required, Japanese Americans like my dad with their limited Japanese language skills would be sent to Japan. The war ended after Hiroshima/Nagasaki, the land invasion was not needed and my dad enrolled at UC Davis as a Freshman. RIP Joe.
Martin - What a story. I've visited the "camps" at Tulelake and Manzanar. What a complete injustice. My mom was a first generation German, but nobody but her in a camp because we were fighting Germany. So glad your dad ended up as an Aggie. Go Ags
Wow, Bob, such a great memory to share with us. Thank you! My dad was onboard submarines in the Pacific, so he didn’t have much chance to write home.
You have such a mesmerizing way of enveloping the reader into the story. We feel like we are right there with you. Joy!
Thanks so much for the kind words, Drew.
I toured a submarine once - in the Willamette River outside Portland - and that was enough for me. I can' imagine serving aboard one for a long stretch of time. Blessing - Bob
Bob--thanks for sharing your father's wartime letters. My dad, Wayne Gardner, was also in WWII and my mom saved all his frequent letters to her in a thick scrapbook, which I now have. But Daddy's handwriting was pretty terrible so I haven't been able to read a lot of the letters. Daddy also didn't talk much about the war. We had a grass skirt he brought back from Guadalcanal in our basement for years. He was there teaching troops how to use oxygen equipment.
Susan - Every single person who served in that war has a unique story. My dad's letters were written on incredibly thin and delicate paper. They appear to be in pencil. I don't know how the point of the pencil didn't tear the paper. His handwriting looks exactly like mine. I guess it was in the genes.
God Bless him and those like him- especially those who have not a son like you to remember them. War is such a terrible thing.
Thanks Patricia. The ones I feel saddest for are the unknown soldiers and those who had no one to remember them. So many Americans are buried on foreign soil. God love them all.
Another outstanding piece, Bob. How beautifully you capture that bittersweet era in our history.
You hit it on the head, Jerry, bittersweet. No one actually "wins" a war.
Beautiful…🇺🇸
Thanks, Bill. Very kind of you to reply.
Here is MY Memorial Day column: https://funnytheworldcom.blogspot.com/2024/05/memorial-day.html
So nice to see you yesterday!
Beautiful, Bev. Yes, being on the radio with Ned and Clyde is a dream I've had for a long time.
Jim Provenza and I were talking about the Davis Cemetery ceremony today. We both agree that it is meaningful to hear a story of an actual veteran to make it more real for those in attendance. Memorial Day is about real people with families and friends and a community. I am so glad your Dad made it home safe.
Very special.
Lovely tribute to your dad, Bob ! My dad was also in Italy in that war, but more toward the end. He wrote for the Stars and Stripes and was a colleague of Bill Mauldin. He met and married my mother in Rome but had to wait for her for six months between his return to the states on a troop ship and her permission to travel with other war brides.
You may have met Bill McElwain during his years in Davis (1999-2003), as he was president of the Senior Center at one time.
Thanks again, Jeanine McElwain
Oh sure, I remember Bill well.
The old Stars and Stripes probably had more circulation than any newspaper in the world, plus it was solid journalism. Always a great read.
Beautiful, Bob.
Thanks so much, Jen
The SSN Pampinito moored at Fisherman’s wharf is the same class as dad sub. How they managed to not only survive but fight is just amazing. Your dad well to come out of the Army as a major and survive the Pacific too.
Thanks for your compelling story weaving!
Drew - Submarine duty takes a certain kind of brave human being.
It just happens to be my younger sister Carol's birthday today. The only military member of our extended family was my paternal grandfather. He was scheduled to ship out to Hawaii on the Missouri, but was considered disabled because he had asthma. Otherwise we wouldn't have known him since the Missouri was in Pearl Harbor during the attack. He spent his last Navy years at Mare Island as a Navy Chief.
Wow, Robin. I remember passing Mare Island on the way to San Francisco in childhood and it was still active. Would love to take a tour. Pearl Harbor was such a shock, according to my dad. Most Americans didn't see it coming, though some say FDR did.
Yes, he worked there well into my childhood, and had access to Treasure Island. Went to the commissary at Mare Island with Grandmother, and our grandparents took us to Treasure Island for Sunday dinner occasionally. They were both interred at Oak Knoll in Oakland. Dad didn’t have to go into the military service because he was helping build the bomb at Oak Ridge, TN. He always said it was a secret, and compartmentalized, but they all knew what was going on anyway.
Robin, My husband Bruce's father Ralph worked on the Oak Ridge project for several years, repairing equipment I think. He missed out on his 2 sons' early childhood.