Where did your grandfather serve?

[Ding Chavez]

when i was growing up i loved to hear my grandfather's war stories to me at the time was he was just about the coolest person in the world and i never could get enough of his tales of being a young marine on guadalcanal during world war 2 so i thought this would make a great discussion.

so i ask where did your grandfather serve?

[Ratamacue]

US Army, Korea, 1950. He doesn't talk about it, and I don't blame him.

[UkrainianAmerican]

One of my great grandfathers was a sapper/demolition during WW2, and my second great grandfather (still-alive) worked as a train-manager for the NKVD during the war.

[wholagun]

Great grandfather fought for the Austo-Hungarian side in the first world war (yes I am part German, not just Polish) sadly he died figting in the trenches. I don't know too much about him, he did recieve a few medals but they got lost during the war and family never recieved them.

My Gradfather, son of the guy above (my great grandfater) didn't take part in the second world war cause he was married to a Polish girl and his love for my grandma was more then for Germany so he stayed out. He didn't want my gradma to die so he sent her to Russia to live with her relatives there. My grandfather then went to Germany to work to make money, when the allies started to invade Germany he left to get my grandma from Russia and come back to Poland with money, only to have the communists take it all away. Sorry not good story, but its all I got from my mothers side.

[Hav218]

On my fathers side, he was in World War 2, Europe. He was awarded a Silver Star for rescuing another soldier.

On my mothers side, he was in World War 2, and Korea. He was awarded a bronze star, purple heart, and a few others. He captured an enemys rifle, and I still have the bayonet from it.

[chauncy republicans]

My daughter's Great Grandfather served on the Eastern front of WW2.
He is a Lithuanian and faught for the "Red Army", and to my understanding was taken prisoner by the Germans. Though I've never asked him. (He never said anything about it to me. My Girlfreind and her mother told me.) I would LOVE to talk to him about this but his wife just passed away. :(

[Operation Ivy]

Great Grandfather was in WWi, i got his helmet which has a dent in it from when he was hit by shrapnel (sp)

One a TC in Souther Europe during WWII (have seen his tank many times at the Aberdeen Proving Grounds woot )
The other one in the Navy fighting against the Japanese

[SR15]

both my Grandfathers served in russian army during WW2,
both came back alive , but never talked about war.

[chauncy republicans]

both my Grandfathers served in russian army during WW2,
both came back alive , but never talked about war.
I think if I was on the Eastern Front of WW2 I would try and forget it all when I got back home. Terrible place to be. :(

[Salty Dog]

both during world war II

one (still alive) was armament for b-24s in england in the U.S. Army Air Corps

and the other (passed away) was in the pacific in the U.S. Navy, on some sort of boat (i'm not sure what kind) that had a small crew of about 12 men. my uncle told me a story about how one night he killed some japanese soldiers with a thompson while on guard duty, when they snuck up on them in a raft and the japanese soldiers tried to sneak onto their small ship. they said that he probably saved the whole crew from being killed in their sleep.

i wish i knew what kind of boat he was on. but i never really knew him because he died when i was six months old.

[Steve Railsback]

My grandfather worked for the resistance in Norway during WW2. He smuggled Jews and other people that needed protection out of the country and in to “neutral” Sweden, together with my grandma. They where both caught by the German, and were send off to Grini a prison in Norway. Sadly he past away last year at the age of 92 :(

My grandfather on my father’s side was an officer in the cavalry. Don’t now much more then that, because he past away when my father was only 16.

[Khabbi]

On my fathers side: He was in the hungarian army , got shot twice and ended up as a POW to the russians . Still alive and kickin

On my mothers side: He dident join the hungarian army , but he and my grandmother helped to save a jewish family from the nazzis by hiding them at home

proud of them both :D

[Caraway]

My grandfather fought in Winter war 1939-1940 and Continuation war 1941-1944 in Carelian Peninsula against Russians. He was a medic.
My other grandfather was too young to join war at the time.

[EvanL]

One of my grand-dads served in the royal electrical mechanical engineers and during the battle of britain manned some of the AA- Guns in southern england. He then was stationed in Egypt and then India.

My other grandfather served in the lake supperior regiment. He landed at Normandy and fought all up into holland. He never talked about the war and the things he did and saw haunted him every day of his life until he died. Sadly that was before i was born so i was never fortunate enough to meet him. He was rumoured to be the 5th best shot in the Canadian army during WW2. Short of a sniper.

[memphiz]

moms side:
-my great great great great etc grandfather & brothers were officers in the Belguim army in WW1
-grandpa was a RCE (Royal Canadian Engineer) was over in Europe during WW2{had 2 brothers one Infintry one Navy}, dug trenches etc. he met...
-my grandma who was a Scottish military nurse

dads side:
-my great grandpa was a Winnipeg Grenadier, defended Hong Kong from the Japanese, he was taken POW in '41 and rescued in '45
-^ his son was in RCAF

[DE_Six]

My grandfather served in the German Heer in 1944. 116. Panzer-Division, Panzer-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 116. Not for long, though, he was taken POW in Aachen (his hometown) by Americans in December 1944.

He never talks about it. The above information is just about everything I know, and I wouldn't dare press him for more. He told me a lot of stories from his youth, even from wartime before he was drafted, but beyond that, not a word. It's quite alright that way.

[fantassin]

My grandfather died in a concentration camp.

He fell from a watch tower.



I know, it's a stupid joke but common amongst POWs who don't take themself too seriously.

[YankeeDeVallecas]

On my mom's side my grandfather was an officer in the Spanish army (Republic Side) during the Spanish Civil War. He spent many years in prison after the war was over. He died in 1986 and about two years later my grandmother got a letter in the mail from the goverment that "forgave" him for his treason. :roll:

My father didn't really know his father so neither do I!

[Jehuty]

No idea what my grandfather did during WW2 but he was so drunk at the Liberation that he signed up for Indochinia.All i know is that he got a weird tatoo and a disgust for rice for the rest of his life.
Kewl isn't it?

[Flagg]

On my Mom's side, my grandfather served in the 1st Cavalry Division. I have a photograph of him in uniform mounted on a horse.....that was before the division dismounted and fought in the Pacific on the ground.

He came from a Cossack background and his family before him served in the cavalry as well, but I'm not sure which nation(s) they served.

He never talked about his combat service and no one asked. But he loved to tell stories about his basic training....

Pops bought me my first rifle when I was 6.....that was the best Xmas EVER.....my parents hated that rofl He was frickin' cool

On my Father's side, my grandfather and his family before him served in the Turkish Army...never met him....he died just before I was born.

[scoone]

One served in the Spanish foreign legion during the Rif war and later in the spanish civil war.
The other one is scottish, he served during WWII but I don't remember the unit, I'll check it with him.

[spyguy]

from what i understand,

Mothers side: He was a Japanese Intelligence officer (yes i'm half japanese), legend has it the group he went through "basic" with were all supposed to be kamikaze pilots but he was pulled from the group because he had some kind of high test score and the deemed him more valuable in intelligence. I know he wasn't happy at the time but I'm guessing he grew to live with it.

Fathers Side: he was a Navy guy in the pacific, got out after it was all over. and basically set the stage for what looks to be three generations of service to the USN (if I go in.)

[seventy6er]

My grandfathers both fought in WW2 in the Heer. Both in France, Belgium and Russia, as far as I know. Both were wounded several times, both were POW's. Don't have more info about their units etc.

[/McH\]

My grandfather Was on a Train on the way to the Death Camp Maydanek, He Jumped from it, And escaped to Russia, Than he joined the Red Army.. He Fought Untill he got Injured in the Head.. My Grandmother saved his life ( He was consider Dead ) :)

[Elmo]

He fought in the Winter War and Continuation War and was in the receiving end in one of the greatest artillery barrages ever...in Valkeasaari June 10, 1944.

[UoUo]

My grandfather from my father side was in the polish army in WW2 and Fight the Nazis.


My grandfather from my mother side was born here in israel..and serve In 1948 war.

[tooms]

A grandfather fought for the French army and was taken POW in 1940, he spent the war in a Polish prison, released in 1945. He never talked to me about it.

[Mr Gently Benevolent]

Both were at the coalface as they were in reserved occupations could not join if they wanted to one was in the Home Guard though, very few of my kin if any were in the army mostly navy and merchant service.

[Marmot1]

mother side EOD in polish army then in underground fighting russians then germans then again russians and comunist till 50's then he "retaired" several years ago while diging floor in barn we discovered a bag filled with rifles, mg's, pistols, ammo, explosives , unfortunatelly everything was rusted... I have a german bayonet and helmet after him (helmet was broken aperently from shrapnell but I fixed it.

Here are photos..
Bayonet (Mauser)
http://www.imageshack.us/img2/2977/Image40.jpg

Helmet
http://www.imageshack.us/img2/7973/Image41.jpg

Father side... Cavalery in 1939 then returned to pre war job since he was in part of poland that was incorporated to reich and there was no or very little resistance, in 1945 after "liberation" he joined local self defence (there was lot of german deserters,soldiers from destroyed units,and other remnants of wermacht) and at one day they surrounded and killed 2 german MP hidden in barn but lost 2 guys in this action, germans are still buried in forest under a tree only info that they are there are two crosses carved on tree (germans were armed with MG and local self defence with bolt action rifles and shootguns)

Here is photo of my grandfather shootgun (he he "purchased from russian tankists for a can (5.L) of pure spirit :lol: )

Here is photo fo this shootgun...
http://www.imageshack.us/img2/7293/Image42.jpg
...and one more... (shotgun is rusted since it was keept in chest digged in earth for over 30years but still everything works and shells "fit")NOTE: this is not standard 12 gauge shootgun but 16 gauge produced in belgium (popular in europe). Shootgun was produced before WWI and was looted by russians from german home.
http://www.imageshack.us/img2/4922/Image43.jpg

My grand grand father was in Wermacht and fought at Verdun during WW1 alongside with his brothers and cousins - none of them died, his other brother was in Wermacht also and died in Pińsk at eastern front due to some illnes(not combat related) also durring WW1 youngest of them was murdered by russians in Katyń in 1940 during WW2 (he was polish army oficer and is listed as killed there)
NOTE: All were poles but during WW1 lived in part of poland which was occupied by germans and wer forced to Wermacht.

[Steve Andrews]

I'm British. One of mine was in The Reconnaissance Corp. He entered the war as a private, came out as a Major. He was injured when a shell hit his vehicle at the Salerno landings. He brought my grandmother back from Italy as booty!!
The other one was in the RAF. I think he flew Oxfords.

[Hydro]

One of my Grandfathers was in the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards, and served in Aden, fighting the Communist insurgents. The other served in the Royal Scots, and became a PTI in the Army Regiment of Physical Training (back in the day when every little thing in the British Army had it's own regiment). He became quite an athlete and was going to represent Scotland in the Commonwealth Games, but had the flu!!

Apparently my fathers father's uncle (you'll get it soon :)) had about 7 kids, all who went off to fight in the First World War, and only one came back, he lost both legs and won the Military Medal. I'll have to look into it more, actually.

[Stalky-Italy]

great grandfather ww1 and he was injured by a grenade on the "Piave" river (where italians win the war)

grandfather ww2 with the italian navy in the submarines

[fokket]

Major in AF

[BlackRain]

Grandfather and Grandfather's brother = USMC WW1 France
Father and Father in Law = US Navy Pacific WW2

[deutschersoldat]

the grandfather on motherside had to fight against his will for germany in II world war, he told me that got the comission to kill two jews in a wood, but he shot above his head and let him run.

my second grand fater was burgomaster of a village during and after the second world war, and took care for many german refugees from East-Preussen.

[Maverick77]

Canadian Army Engineers one of them was in. Would never say a word about anything so I don't know much else.

Other one took part in the initial assault on juno beach on a minesweeper.

[gaz]

During the war my mothers father served in the Royal Engineers in Burma as a mechanic and my fathers father worked for Alvis who made Merlin engines for Lancaster bombers,

[FRO]

My grandfather on my father's side (whom I never met . . . my grandfather, that is, not my father) served in the trenches in WW1 until he developed bronchitis and got rotated out.

My father served in the RCN in WW2, mostly as the aft-gunner on the HMCS Longbranch, a corvette. When he came to visit Halifax we were able to go aboard the HMCS Sackville, also a WW2-era corvette, and he was able to show me basically about his life at sea. The two ships were not identical, but it was enough for me. Luckily, my niece is of an age to remember this, and she came along with us. I have to admit, my chest swelled with pride as we stood at the watch-station at which my father spent many a long, cold North Atlantic night.

My uncle's on my mother's side served in various positions, including the RAF during the Battle of Britain (Hurricane pilot, not Spitfire) and in Italy and France with the Canadian Army. We have a great photograph of my three uncles, two in their Army uniforms and one in his RAF uniform.

[Dalleer]

My grandfather fought in the Winter war and the Continuation war as well. He served in a "machinegun company" for awhile but then he was also stationed as a "driver" for one of the attack boats later on (Syöksyvene, you Finns).

Too bad I was way too young to be wise enough to ask him about his "adventures" during the war, but luckily there's plenty of books and associated material from that time still left.

I remember when I was real young, there were rumours that my grandfather had a pistol tucked in somewhere in his house from those times, luckily it was disassembled and all but it was sure interesting to a young boy such as me.

I could've learned so much more from him before his death.

EDIT: Oh yeah, here's an interesting piece of trivia for you Finns:

My Grandfather was from Viipuri as well and he was in the same basic training outfit as Lauri Törni. They weren't "friends" or anything, but then again they were both from the same city and all.

Unfortunately this is the only encounter our family has had with this "epic persona".

[MetalBoy]

My mother's father served in the 6th Gebirgsjager Division in the war. He served in France, Greece and Norway. Thankfully he survived so that he could marry my grandma and make my mom.

[Durandal]

My grandfather on my mom's side was OSS.

Then he went back to practicing law in Cincinnati.

[Steve Andrews]

My grandfather died in a concentration camp.

He fell from a watch tower.


:( :( :( :( :( :| :| :| :| :| :roll: :) :lol: :D

[Whisper]

My grandfather served in 1st Infantry during WWII, and Served in the Ranger Companies during Korea. 3 purples hearts, & 2 bronze stars. I served I served 135th LRSD in Macedonia, Kosovo, & Bosnia. Then again with the 1st/75th Regiment in Afghanistan, recieved 2 purple hearts, and one bronze star. So basically did half what my grand dad did.

[AK-Lover]

great-grandfather= fought nazi's and italian fascists with tito's partisans in WW2
Grandpa= artillery colonel in late 1950-1961/2/3 with JPA.

[Guttorm]

My grandfather was to young to serve during WWII, but he joined up when he was old enough and served in something called "Tysklandsbrigaden".
They were stationed in Germany after the war.

If you're interested:

http://www.tysklandsbrigaden.no/english/

[wholagun]

@ Marmot..... :bash: is that a US flag? Please tell me your don't live in Poland have a US flag in your room. Where is the EU flag? I got Polish and EU hanging side by side.

BTW Marmot that find was pure luck and I am very jelous of you, I wish I had the same stuff :(

[Mamon]

Grandfather on my father's side was in the U.S. Navy Pacific Theatre in WWII, oil tanker if I remember correctly.

Grandfather on my mother's side was an officer in General Franco's army during the Spanish Civil War, a surgeon.

[mustamato]

My own grandfather served in 7th company, 35th Finnish Infantry regiment
during the Finnish-Soviet Continuation War, 7./JR 35, 2nd batallion, 1st Division,
VII Army corp (hm, maybe VI, too lazy to check it up now), Karelian Army.

He was part of a anti-tank crew during the offensive phase (Op Barbarossa),
participated in 5 battles according to the documents from the Finnish war archive, but
got injured seriously in the 5th battle and later died in a field hospital, leaving 4
children (of which on of them is my father of course) and a wife. Some pics from
back then:

http://img11.photobucket.com/albums/v33/mustamato/avresatillfronten.jpg
Regiment departs for the front in the summer 1941

http://img11.photobucket.com/albums/v33/mustamato/6kompani_lagarmat.jpg
Making food out in da bush

http://img11.photobucket.com/albums/v33/mustamato/kompanichefer_jr35.jpg
Some of the company commanders in the regiment

http://img11.photobucket.com/albums/v33/mustamato/kompanichef_ger_order.jpg
Company commander gives orders to his squadleaders during combat

http://img11.photobucket.com/albums/v33/mustamato/saamajarvi_4foton.jpg
Battle of Säämäjärvi where my grandfather was badly injured. Basically
the Red Army counter-attacked with a regiment after a artillery barrage that
lasted nearly 6 hours, the regiment was defeated, but with huge losses also on
the Finnish side, the burial of the Russians took 2 days, with the assistance of
civilians in the area

http://img11.photobucket.com/albums/v33/mustamato/saamajarvi.jpg
Grandfather, top photo, nearest camera (atleast I think it´s him)

http://img11.photobucket.com/albums/v33/mustamato/hjaltegravfalt.jpg
Where my grandfather is buried

Interesting to read about you other guys grandfathers by the way :)

[WolverineBlue]

One grandfather was a doctor in the Finger Lakes region of New York, the other ran a deli in Marin County, California.

My dad was in US Army inKorea and Viet Nam, retired at the rank of brigadier general. I was born in Wurzburg, Germany, when he was a brigade commander in the 3rd Infantry Division. I apparently was "Marne Baby of the Year." :oops:

[HooyahCQB]

My paternal Grandfather flew a Kingfisher in the US Navy in WWII. I'm really not sure where but I think he flew in the Pacific theatre.

My mother's dad was in the Army, but he died before I was born, so I do not know much about him.

[MetalBoy]

My great grandfather (mother's father's father) fought for the Austrian army throughout WWI. The tragic thing was that he survived the whole war but was shot dead after the armistice was signed. He was on his way home to Austria when he was killed by enemy troops who hadn't received the message that the war was over.

[Tengu]

my polish grandfather served in the US army during ww2. He didn't talk about it much.

[mmackem]

Good thread.

My maternal grandfather and his brother both joined the Duke of Wellington's Regiment in 1937, initially they both served in the same battalion, but after the outbreak of war in 1939 they were split up, my grandfather served at Dunkirk in 1940 and later in Northwest Europe in 1944/5, for some reason in late 1944 his Infantry battalion was converted into a postal battalion (well somebody's got to do it :) and he was one of the first units to liberate Bergen Belson concentration camp, because at that moment he was not 'front-line' infantry he had to stay behind and bury/burn the body's.
His brothers battalion was shipped out to India and he was killed in 1941 fighting the Japanese in Burma.

My Paternal Grandfather was a sapper and served at Dunkirk in 1940, and in Normandy and Northwest Europe in 1944/45. Both Grandparents survived.

Of my four Great-Grandparents all four fought in the First World War, and two of them were killed(which must be a bit of a record, they both left behind year old children, hence me), one was killed with the BEF in 1914, the other died at the Somme in 1916.

My two Grand-Parents served in the Duke's regiment, and my 4
G. Grandparents in county regiments. I decided to sod tradition and joined the Grenader Guards. :)

[Falco]

My maternal grand father served in the Canadian Navy for the duration of the war and my paternal grandfather was a journalist covering it.

[usa320]

Both my grandfathers served in the second world war with the US Army. Both have passed away though since.

grandfather on my dad's side fought with a mechanized division (forgot which one) as a seargent. He took part in the storming of Omaha beach durring D-Day. Still got his flag, his helmet, his scrapbook, and a .38 Lueger he took from a German he offed.

Grandfather on my moms side was a private. He was first a radio operator, later he repaired radio equipment. He spent time in France, Germany, and somewhere in the pacific, i think Saipan or something.

Also had an uncle-or actually hes more of a half uncle, who flew B-52's out of guam durring nam... He came home just before Rolling Thunder commenced because he got ill with a nasty case of food poisoning.

Right now ive got 2 cousins serving- one in the Air Force as an F-16 pilot, the other is in Iraq with the 82nd ABN, id imagine hell be home shortly though.

[kotrf]

My grandfather served in World War II. He drove a tank with (I believe the 21st) armored division through Europe. They never fired a shot. He said he always just ran them down because it saved ammunition. Thus when he returned after the war my grandmother would never let him get a driver's license.

My great grandfather came to America but then returned to China to fight the Communists.

[James]

1. USAAF, Europe, WWII. USAF, Korea, MIA.
2. USCG, North Atlantic convoy duty, WWII.

[Catch22]

On my fathers (mixed russian-german origins) side, my grandfather was a engineer of the Red Army. I don't have many details I just know he fought in Crimea region, and then Ukraine. My great grandfather was killed during the Russian Civil War about 1918 I guess - he was a head of central post office in Moscow then.

About my mother (polish) ancestors I got even few details - grandfather was probably a decent man, only thing I know that they were forced out of their house when it was made local SS commander quarters.

[Catch22]

oops, sorry double post

[Geezah]

Grandfather on my Dads side was 486th, 833rd Heavy Bombardment, Rear Gunner, Sergent Wilbur S. Everman
http://www.486th.org/Photos/Crew2/PetersenG.jpg
LT Gene Petersen's crew, 833rd Squadron.

Left to right, back row: SGT Lyle J. McKenzie (BG), LT John H. Gillick, Jr., First Navigator, LT John W. Fox, Jr. (CP), LT Charles B. Cashin, Bombardier, 2nd Navigator and Gunnery Officer, LT Gene Peterson (P). Left to right, front row: SGT Herbert L. Huff, (FE/Top), SGT Wilbur S. Everman, (TG), SGT Matthew S. Caggiano, (R/O), SGT Patrick J. Netzel, (WG), SGT Darrel T. Koll, (WG).

Photo was taken July 1944, somewhere in England. LT Peterson and crew trained at Rapid City, S. Dakota. SGT Netzel was transferred to Italy before the crew had their first mission. On November 30, 1944, their plane was shot down over Merseberg, Germany. All of the crew bailed out over Belgium and eventually were returned to their base in England.


My Grandfather on my Mums side was in the Dads Army(Home Guard) in the UK, I have no details on him.

[tacticalmanta]

One grandather was in the US Army Air Corps during WW II, stationed in Miami Beach.

The other was a Jewish fighter in the woods of Poland, helping families escape NAZIs, Russians, and Poles.

[WolverineBlue]

Geezah -- great pic. The B-17 is my favorite bomber from WWII. Close race between the fighters of that era: P-51, P-47, P-38, Spitfire, Hurricane, Me109 and FW190...they were all gorgeous aircraft.

[Loco]

My maternal grandfather was recruited at 18yrs old and served in an infantry battalion in spanish civil war in North Front in the republican side, he was in the fights near the hills of Bilbao, the retreat towards Santander and finally Asturias, was caught prisionner late 1937 and spent 18 months jailed, after that he had to do "again" the military service, around 6 years more, because he was said he never served in a "true army" and anyway, he was a f"·## red who had to prove being a "good spanish", so he spent in all about 8 years wearing an uniform. The other grandfather was a merchant sailor, too old for serving in the war, although he had even harder experiences than the first grandfather, and after the war he was in the jail about 2 years, but his youngest brother fought as volunteer in the rebel side. The younger grandfather still alive, the elder one died before I was born but his last years were good; his brother, the one who fought in Franco´s army, still alive and strong. Of what I listened at home, the post-war time was harder than the war itself for everybody, specially for civil people, but my grandfather is nor traumatized nor rancorous, he usually never talks about the war, but if you ask him, he always answers shortly, but never this kind of stupid questions of "did you kill anyone?" or similar. In some way, I envy him because he had some experiences as a teen that I´ll never have, although at the same time I would like to have the chance of having his experiences with the warranty of surviving, not suffering all the calamities like him, something it´s imposible, isn´t it? Anyway, nonsenses :backhand:
In resume, my grandfather was a front soldier, but after that, he developed a very interesting life, I see that war is only one chapter in his long life book.

[gilgoul]

when i was growing up i loved to hear my grandfather's war stories to me at the time was he was just about the coolest person in the world and i never could get enough of his tales of being a young marine on guadalcanal during world war 2 so i thought this would make a great discussion.

so i ask where did your grandfather serve?

On my mother side, my grandpa joined the foreign legion, don`t know what unit, and became a POW, escaped twice, retaken twice, they finally send him to Auschwittz where he died in 1942.
On my father side, my my grandfather apparently joined a Spahis regiment, and stayed till the end of the war.
My grand uncle though did much bigger, joined the Allied forces after the operation TORCH (he was in some kind of resistance movement before} and finished the war as a Sherman platoon comander, after fighting at Monte Cassino and all of the Italy campaign.

[littlefrench]

the father of my mother was in Indochine and in Algeria, his father was in the WW1.
the father of my father was in Algeria, the uncle of my greatmother was warrant officier in the WW2.

[juhae]

Fought around Petrskoi (the town on shore of Lake Onega) and later in Syväri (Podporoze.) (This (http://www.sodatkuvina.cjb.net/images/Jatkosota/Kartat/41VanhaltaRajaltaSyv%E4rille.jpg) picture may be used as reference.)

During the retreat of 1944, a mortar shell landed near him, and succesfully sent him to hospital for the rest of the war. I still remember how he used to put his hands against a lamp and show the fragments from the shrapnel still inside. Creepy.

As he passed away over ten years ago, I unfortunately can't go interview him anymore, but I'm waiting for a proper moment to go through all his photographs, journals etc.

[seventy6er]

My dad was in US Army inKorea and Viet Nam, retired at the rank of brigadier general. I was born in Wurzburg, Germany, when he was a brigade commander in the 3rd Infantry Division. I apparently was "Marne Baby of the Year." :oops:

Hey cool, Würzburg is my hometown and place of birth, too!

[citizen-k]

Polish army's artillery or something during the first 5 minutes of WW2.

He left his home after he had a fight with his parents and joined the army.
(all his brothers went to the university, one of them was in the Polish resistance, but he is the only one who survived)

After that he was in Russia, some camps etc... this part was always blur to us though...

A few years ago he got some medals from the Polish government for his service.

[rom2]

one of my grandfather did WW1 with the french on the front from 1917 to the end and then fought in africa and participate to the invasion in the south of france (he was on the 1st division blinde , but i'm not sure )
my granduncle was a fighter pilote for the luftwaffe .
stuka from 1940 to 42 and then ****e wulf 190 to 1945 , he s been shot down near berlin in 1945 february ........

[W(M)D]

My grandfather served in the NAAFI LOL

[Rinkka]

Both Grandfathers fought in the finnish army during WW2. Both of them are dead now but I remember them not wanting to talk too much about it.. I don't blame them.

[mustamato]

Fought around Petrskoi (the town on shore of Lake Onega) and later in Syväri (Podporoze.) (This (http://www.sodatkuvina.cjb.net/images/Jatkosota/Kartat/41VanhaltaRajaltaSyv%E4rille.jpg) picture may be used as reference.)

During the retreat of 1944, a mortar shell landed near him, and succesfully sent him to hospital for the rest of the war. I still remember how he used to put his hands against a lamp and show the fragments from the shrapnel still inside. Creepy.

As he passed away over ten years ago, I unfortunately can't go interview him anymore, but I'm waiting for a proper moment to go through all his photographs, journals etc.

The war archive in Helsinki should have a lot of him as well, I ordered papers
on one of my grandfathers from there, together with his batallions war diary for 5
months (it was hand written by some dude that had gone in school in the 20´s so
it was not easy to read). I got like 150 A4-papers from them in a letter. In the
papers there is listed all the battles he participated in and so forth.

As I said earlier my fathers father was in the 1st Division, and fought a battle
at Kirvesjärvi (as can be seen in your map). The regiment was later sent north
towards Säämäjärvi (can also be seen), north of the lake there was a encircled
Red Army regiment that fought for their lives, and the battle of Säämäjärvi
became quite bloody with the Red Army regiment annihiliated. Unfortunately
my grandfather also died of the injuries he received in the battle.

[Nawlins]

My grandfather on my dad's side didn't serve, but all five of his brothers did, in WW2. One of them was a fighter pilot, which is pretty cool... he still flies, he has a couple of Cessnas.

My grandfather on my mom's side served on a ship with the Navy during Vietnam.

[Fintin]

my grandfather on my moms side drove a sherman up utah beach in the second wave. my grand father on my dads side garded the panama canale. some interesting stories about heards of cattle being guned down from france....

[WARPIG]

I have a grandfather and great grandfathers that were killed during the Korean occupation by Japan because of thier royal lineage. I also have a grandfather that served in Germany during WWII. I want to give thanks and pay respects to all of your grandfathers. Especially to the vets that served in WWII and in Korea. If it had not been for their service and sacrifice, I would not exist. My mother's family was able to return to Korea after being refugees for 2 generations. My father, and I have served in your honor as US ARMY NCOs. Proud to serve in your footsteps.
My freedom, my existance, my service is a direct result of those who serve, in Wars that are popular, and those that are not.

[memphiz]

moms side:
-my great great great great etc grandfather & brothers were officers in the Belguim army in WW1
-grandpa was a RCE (Royal Canadian Engineer) was over in Europe during WW2{had 2 brothers one Infintry one Navy}, dug trenches etc. he met...
-my grandma who was a Scottish military nurse

dads side:
-my great grandpa was a Winnipeg Grenadier, defended Hong Kong from the Japanese, he was taken POW in '41 and rescued in '45
-^ his son was in RCAF
my mom had 2 uncles thats served to, one was Navy- and he was murdered and robbed on his ship, and the other one was infintry and he had a land mine thrown at him, and it blew up....

[Marsuitor]

Don't know what my Norwegian side did during the war.. I think my grandfather was too young to serve. My great-grandfather would probably have done something, but i never got around asking before he passed away.

On my father's side, i believe my grandfather served on a torpedo boat with the Royal Navy in Singapore or thereabouts. He later got stationed to the Atlantic and served the remainder of the war aboard a merchant escort ship of some sort, destroyer or a frigate i reckon. Had a habit of pretty quickly changing the subject when i asked him about it...
He had four brothers who also served. On of them was a Lancaster bomber Wing Commander and flew over Europe, the other was a Lancaster Squadron Commander in the Europeen theatre, third one was a glider pilot with the paras and saw action on D-Day and Arnhem if i'm not mistaken and the last one was a Royal Artillery officer who served all through WW2 and retired in 1972.

Other than that, i think all but one of my great grandfathers brothers died in the trenches during WW1.

[S'13]

Have a grandfather on my fathers side who served in the Polish army at the time of the Second World War, his brother served in the Red Army.
On my mothers side I have a great-grandfather who served in the British army on the Western Front in the First World War, he lied about his age and joined the army after his older brother was killed in the war.

[FinnishMF]

Somewhere in Karelia during winterwar and ww2 :|

[Ryan94]

My Grandfather served for the Waffen-SS in WW2.
He was a member of the 6. SS-Gebirgsdivision "NORD" in Finland and then in France. (where he was captured by the Americans in March ´45)

Btw. he hasn´t seen anything of the war, he told me, he never fired a round to the enemy, cause he had to bring up the field kitchen of point A to B, with a special kind of donkeys.

[RSK]

Both of my grandfathers were about 13 to 15 years old when the war ended in 1945. They lived around the city of Knin in the province of Dalmatia, Yugoslavia.

Upon the occupation of Yugoslavia by the Axis Dalmatia was incorporated into the Independent State of Croatia.
http://www.pavelicpapers.com/documents/isc/index.html

Upon the establishment of the ISC mass murder and the Ustasa program of genocide against Serbs, Jews and Gypsys began thankfully my grandparents survived the Ustasa slaughter of 1941-1942, mostly thanks to the Serbian Chetnik Uprising of 1941 against the Ustasa.
http://www.ravnagorachetniks.org/istorija_e_2.asp

My greatgrandfathers from my fathers and mothers sides were both Chetniks in with the Dinaric Chetnik Division under the command of Duke Momcilo Djujic who was under the command of allied General Dragoljub Draza Mihailovic in Serbia.

As Chetniks with the DCD, my g. grandfathers helped establish a safe area for Serbs of Dalmatia, Lika, W. Bosnia from further Ustasa slaughter.

But,as you can read on http://www.ravnagorachetniks.org/istorija_e_2.asp the DCD was attacked by Communist bands under the command of Josip Broz Tito.

With the backstabbing actions of G. Britain giving aid to the Communists my Grandfathers in the DCD retreated to Italy and further into the free world. Settling in England and Canada.

As for my grandfathers they stayed behind in 'occupied' Yugoslavia under Communist rule not being able to get good jobs or security because their fathers were Chetniks and fought on the allied side.

Picure Links:

One of my g. grandfathers
Standing Top Right:
http://www.pogledi.co.yu/galerija/dcd/jedinice/7V.jpg

DCD Commander Vojvoda "Duke" Momcilo Djujic:
http://www.pogledi.co.yu/galerija/dcd/vojvoda/index.php

Officers and Guerills of the DCD:
http://www.pogledi.co.yu/galerija/dcd/vojnici/index.php
http://www.pogledi.co.yu/galerija/dcd/jedinice/index.php


Cheers!

RSK

[MARINO]

250th Division, Spanish Volunteers againts comunist, they fight with Germanya against Reds Leningrad, he was in artillery. And the brother of my other Grand -Father in Sidi-Ifni against Morocco, were he died.

[Royal]

RSK - while I agree that Britain stabbed the Chetniks in the back (not one of Churchuills finest hours) to support Tito and keep Stalin sweet, I find it strange that your grandfathers went to Great Britain...

[RSK]

Most of all the Chetniks that escaped Tito's knife were first sent to camps in Italy (Ebola is one of them) and Germany.

After the camps when the Chetniks were "released" they spread out across Europe, mostly Belgium and France.

After that most left for England and Wales and from there to Canada, US, and Australia.

[MVSpartan117]

One of my grandfathers was on a submarine in the Pacific during World War II, ehe was a Master Chief, he doesn't talk about it much, he lost a lot of friends.


My other grandpa served in Korea, Infantry. He got shot while in Korea and his blood froze him to the ground. He was eventually rescued by his buddies.

[Midtown]

WW2 both theaters. Was shot durring the battle of the bulge, and over in the pacific also, he never talked about any of it, but I read his journal after he passed away, I've got his uniform still, medals r us on that thing. I'm very proud of him.

[Geezah]

Geezah -- great pic. The B-17 is my favorite bomber from WWII. Close race between the fighters of that era: P-51, P-47, P-38, Spitfire, Hurricane, Me109 and FW190...they were all gorgeous aircraft.

Thanks, you may enjoy this website,

http://www.486th.org/

[MapleLeafInfantry]

Royal Airforce Pilot ww2, europe
mli

[DrunkenMaster]

my grandfather fought as a marine in Guadalcanal. Guadalcanal is a ten square mile island in the Soloman Island chain, and largely jungle. It was discovered in 1568 by the Spanish but it was part of the British Empire when the Japanese occupied it early in WWII. The U.S. forces chose this as their first major large-scale invasion of a Japanese held island. Guadalcanal was a major turning point in the war. Many ships were sunk (on both sides), but Japan was forced to retreat. It is said that prior to Guadalcanal, the Japanese had always advanced against the US, yet following the battle, they always retreated.

The battle hinged around the airfield which the Americans named Henderson Field, a muddy airstrip hanging onto the edge of the island. It was considered "an unsinkable aircraft carrier". Fighting started on 7th August, 1942 when 11,000 Marines landed at Lunga Point and ended in U.S. victory on 8th February, 1943. There were 24,000 Japanese casualties and 6,000 American.

Before the Pacific theater he was stationed where i live now in Ocean City, MD and patroled watch along the beachs for enemy German subs

[Marsuitor]

my grandfather fought as a marine in Guadalcanal. Guadalcanal is a ten square mile island in the Soloman Island chain, and largely jungle. It was discovered in 1568 by the Spanish but it was part of the British Empire when the Japanese occupied it early in WWII. The U.S. forces chose this as their first major large-scale invasion of a Japanese held island. Guadalcanal was a major turning point in the war. Many ships were sunk (on both sides), but Japan was forced to retreat. It is said that prior to Guadalcanal, the Japanese had always advanced against the US, yet following the battle, they always retreated.

The battle hinged around the airfield which the Americans named Henderson Field, a muddy airstrip hanging onto the edge of the island. It was considered "an unsinkable aircraft carrier". Fighting started on 7th August, 1942 when 11,000 Marines landed at Lunga Point and ended in U.S. victory on 8th February, 1943. There were 24,000 Japanese casualties and 6,000 American.

Before the Pacific theater he was stationed where i live now in Ocean City, MD and patroled watch along the beachs for enemy German subs

Hey mate,
you might want to take a look here: http://media.militaryphotos.net/photos/WW2_relic_pictures_from_the_Solomons
Went over to the Solomons last July for some sightseeing and diving. Mostly Guadalcanal and Western Province. Absolutely incredible how well preserved WW2 stuff is over there. And absolutely incredible how anyone could be fighting in that terrain and in those conditions. You should really be proud of your Grandfather.
If you're interested in finding out things about the battle in detail, probably including the excact sites your grand fought, i might be able to get you in touch with some interesting characters. PM me if you wish.

Cheers,
Marcus

[Apogeumus]

My grandfather served in Wołyńska Brygaga Kawalerii (Wolynska cavalery brigade) during german invasion on Poland in 1939. His unit fought with german 4 panzer division in battle of Mokra during first day of invasion. Polish cavalery gave them a hard lesson p-) . But he died before I was born so I don't know any of his war stories :(

[droopy]

Granfather from my father side fought in Russia with the germans artilery.
Grandfather from my mothers side was in the border guards during WW2

[intrinsic]

My Grandfather served in the Imperial German Army in France,eastern front and against the Italians in the battle of the river osonso,He was a assualt pioneer (Stormtrooper) post ww1 in the Freikorps in Berlin. My father thats another question altogether!! And me well where do i Start

[pAt]

my grandfather(Dads side) was with a french reserve regiment. when he was 18 he went off to the war i never met the guy myself becuse he had a heart attack before i was born. My other grandfather (moms side) worked on the tug boats during the war he helped get the ships out of Halifax harbour

[Maine Finn]

My dad's father was a career Coastie. He was an RMC.

My mother's father served in the Army during World War Two, here in Portland on the harbour defences. There's a book my mom has somewhere with his Company picture - if I can find it, I'll post it here.

Both of them have passed on. I didn't really get to know them all that well. I was too young.

~Emily

[bigblock]

My dad's dad was in the 5th Armored Div. and was hit on D-Day.

My mom's dad was in the Army Air Corp US he was a truck driver that got to go to Australia and India.

[HappyCat]

My grandads both had jobs as teachers and were exempt from serving, for medical reasons or teaching people involved in the war effort. So if either grandparent had lived past my birth I wouldn't have got any good stories anyways. My dad, however, was in Vietnam.

[Wilco]

Noone for grandfather, but my Great Uncle was killed in Vietnam when his jeep he was in hit a landmine along with two other South Vietnamese troops, they believed that one of those two troops had to do something with it.

[cut]

My paternal grandfather and all his brothers served in the various forces, my grandad was in the navy, torpedoes & depth charges, two of his other brothers were in the army and one was in the RAF. The one in the RAF is the only one I know about he was killed in action so my dad was named after him.

On the maternal side my grandfarther was younger so he was still in training when we won the war.

[NcDeuce]

Anyone who fought in WWI is tough as whit leather.

[HumanShield]

Army Germany, after ww2.
He would tell me how they would move the exhaust on the duece 1/2 to be around head level, and blow the hats off the germans. :lol:

[Kicius]

My grandfather served as a cavalryman during German invasionof Poland in september 1939.

(don't know if "invasion" is politicaly correct now. The Germans are our allies :D )

The unit was 1 Pułk Ułanów Krechowieckich from Suwalska Brygada Kawalerii.

During the meeting engagement with german infantry, his horse was killed and my grandfather lost his shoe under horse's corpse. Its cery hard to run in one cavalry shoe. :lol:

During the ocupation he was a memeber of AK. Nobody in my family exactly knows his role in resistance but interesting fact is, that he has a pistol hidden in his house. Usually conspirators didn't have weapons in their houses.

Probably he needed that pistol to kill himself in case of troubles. It means that he was important in AK structure. But as I said - no hard evidence.

After the war Soviets arrested him and he spend few years in coal mine with no pay.
I was to young before he died to remember whole story.

[Marmot1]

My grandfather served as a cavalryman during German invasionof Poland in september 1939.

(don't know if "invasion" is politicaly correct now. The Germans are our allies :D )

The unit was 1 Pułk Ułanów Krechowieckich from Suwalska Brygada Kawalerii.

During the meeting engagement with german infantry, his horse was killed and my grandfather lost his shoe under horse's corpse. Its cery hard to run in one cavalry shoe. :lol:

During the ocupation he was a memeber of AK. Nobody in my family exactly knows his role in resistance but interesting fact is, that he has a pistol hidden in his house. Usually conspirators didn't have weapons in their houses.

Probably he needed that pistol to kill himself in case of troubles. It means that he was important in AK structure. But as I said - no hard evidence.

After the war Soviets arrested him and he spend few years in coal mine with no pay.
I was to young before he died to remember whole story.
maybe in the same coalmine in which my grandpa was.... of course also without pay

[Kicius]

Who knows.

Greetings

[mocking_loudly_died]

Wing Commander RAF - recipient of UK DFC and American DFC.
Might scan some interesting photos later.

[Maine Finn]

My paternal grandfather:

http://img6.imageshack.us/img6/2473/RMCFizell1.JPG

He's buried in this cemetery, in Augusta, Maine.
http://img6.imageshack.us/img6/9978/MaineVeteransMemorialCemetary.JPG

My maternal grandfather's unit picture:

http://img6.imageshack.us/img6/5126/BatteryC240CA2.JPG

Close-up of him:

http://img6.imageshack.us/img6/6479/PrivateWAPolvinen1.JPG

[Brozozo]

My maternal grandfather served in the Polish underground during WW2 and then with a Polish SF unit in the 50's. My paternal grandfather was with the Polish underground as well but escaped ( :| ) conscription after the war due to his father's high-strung connections.