Yes. My grandfather was an Army Captain who fought in the Pacific in WWII, and earned a Purple Heart w/ Oak Leaf.
I was also a Captain in the Army, I served in the Gulf War and saw combat on three continents before that. I was on hand when the Marine Barracks in Beirut was truck-bombed in 1983. Worst day of my life. The bloody carnage I saw there defies description and brought new urgency to my life.
This post was edited by Don Barzini at May 1, 2018 12:26 PM MDT
Indelibly. I lost friends there, too. It’s one of those horrors you simply can’t unsee, but as I noted, it gave me an infinitely greater appreciation for just being alive. Nonetheless, serving was a great privilege.
Most of my male relatives are military dudes. I know my father used to fly fighter jets when he was in the navy and fought in Desert Storm. I remember us kids liked to try on his flight helmet when we were little.
A cousin in law who soldiered in the French Foreign Legion.
And an English teacher in grade school who talked a lot about his adventures soldiering in India. Alas his stories did not fit his age (ca 35), and right enough, I found most of his tales in Kipling later.
Grandfather WWI Army combat in Belgium-wounded, father, WWII RCAF no combat, most uncles WWII army some were combat, 1 uncle paratrooper combat Korean War.
This post was edited by Kittigate at May 1, 2018 7:11 AM MDT
Sainte Mere Eglise church tower and the first town to be liberated in France.
John Steele (paratrooper and my uncle) was stuck helplessly on the side of the church tower throughout the intense ground battle, witnessing the fighting below for two hours. After repelling this first stage of the attack, members of the German Garrison took Steele prisoner but were later forced to release him to the Americans. An effigy of John Steele is maintained to this day, hanging on the church tower.
In the 1962 film, "The Longest Day," the soldier was played by Red Buttons.
I had many relatives over the past four generations that served in the military. My stepfather was in combat during WWII in North Africa(Patton) and the Italian Campaign.(Mark Clark) My father was on active duty(Army) during Korea, but did not serve in the theater of war. I also had great uncles in both North Africa and in the Pacific Theater during WWII. I can say without any hesitation that the very best years of my life were spent in the Air Force. ( Sgt 437th Military Airlift Wing, Domestic Air Medical Evacuation in the Medical Corps)
This post was edited by Benedict Arnold at May 1, 2018 7:16 PM MDT
Don Barzini 