Veterans "oral" histories

[68SS396]

I have been to Europe and some of the WW2 battlefields. I have been to Bastogne and the Ardennes. There are a lot of small Belgian towns that still have War relics in them. I went to visit my friend who is from Luxembourg and he took me to some of these places. We stopped at a little town called Hoffalize ( I believe this was the town) and they had a King Tiger tank on display in the town square. Try to hit the small towns as well as they have some great private (small) museums. Also the Battle of the Bulge Museum in Bastogne is great. Also, if you can make it, go to the AMerican Cemetary in Luxembourg City, this is where Patton is buried. ALso, there is a German war cemetary also in Luxembourg City. My best advice would be to check out the small towns as I said.
Bill

[BBIGG BLOCK 396]

That sounds like a great Vacation,I would love to travel to some of those places.My dream vacation is to go to Vietnam and tour the Country there as you did the World WarII sites.Hopefully before too long I will get my heart transplant and be able to go there and some other sites as well.I have heard so many stories and read so much about Vietnam that it almost seems as I have been there.I guess that's the reason I am more a Vietnam freak also I lost numerous friends there and I was not able to go myself.I think I really would have loved the service if I had been able to join.I wanted to go in the Marines mainly due to the history of the Marine Corps. and what they stand for.Although I respect all branches of the Military with all my heart I am just partial to the Corps.Here in Texas at Fredricksburg there is the Admiral Nimitz mueseum and my Wife and I went there last year for a vacation.It is one of the best I have ever seen.They even have a area that represents the Solomon Island battle and they have some moving dummies dressed in era style uniforms and era weapons and have voice recordings and it seemed very real.The lights were dimmed and explosions occured lots of small arms firing etc.There were numerous older gentleman and there wives there and some of these guys had tears streaming after the presentation.I would assume they were there during the war and it brought back many memories for them.If you get to Texas try to go to Fredricksburg and visit the meuseum it is fascinating!My Dad God rest his soul was in the Korean conflict and suffered some severe stomach wounds while there and years later died from complications from his injuries.My Dad did not like to talk too much about Korea but would a little at times.He used to talk about how cold it was there and about some of his friends he served with.He told me one time it was so cold that your urine would freeze within 30 seconds of hitting the ground.I think that is why he settled in Houston Texas after he was discharged because of the warm weather here.I never heard my Dad talk of being hot or gripe about the heat index here in Houston.Maybe that is why I don't like cold weaher too much either and thats why I stay here also.We were on vacation in Virginia last year and it snowed about 10 inches and me and my Daughter and Son in law had a snowball fight in the hotel parking lot and after about 30 minutes I was almost froze,I had to run my hands under warm water to warm them up.After that I reflected back to the time my Dad told me the story of being so cold in Korea and thought about how miserable it must have been there.At least I had a nice warm motel room to warm up in and they had very little in Korea.Peace and Blessings to all Veterans!

Bobby Dodson

[hvychev]

This is a very neat topic. Although my father was never in Viet Nam, my grandfather was in WW2 and was in Normandy on D Day. He was in the Navy and served as a beach head transporting troops back and forth from the boat to the shore. My mother told me that her father told her about that day and basicly recited the begining of the movie Saving Private Ryan but only it was his true account of that day. He had told her that when he droped off the troops they were dead by the time he brought the next load back. He could still remember them floating in the ocean dead and he remembered the water being pure red with blood.

On a brighter note he met my grandmother in Ireland while in WW2. they were married and my mother was born in Ireland making me first generation Irish!

Here is a cool real real vintage pic of my grandfather Emil Strnad in WW2 taken while in France.

[hvychev]

Here is another pic of him and the others that he served with. He is the 5th in the top row.

[hvychev]

Here is a very cool pic. This is right after the war where my grandmother and grandfather were celebrating. They are the couple in the middle. I love the 40's and think that I may have been there in a previous life! My grandfather looked just like Elvis with the curled lip and all even though you cant tell in this pic because they lost quality when I resized them.

[hvychev]

I just had to post one more Elvis pic. This is there wedding pic circa Feb 1946

[Belair62]

Wow Frank...you weren't kidding..he does look like Elvis !!!