My maternal grandfather and his three brothers all served overseas in WWII. I can't imagine how my poor great-grandmother dealt with that mentally. They all came back from the war although the youngest, who was an army paratrooper, was injured so badly that he never was able to work again.
My paternal grandfather wanted to be a pilot but he was colorblind so they didn't let him in. One of his brother's was in the army and met his lovely wife in France. War bride!
One of my uncles was in the navy in Vietnam and my father was drafted into the army although he was stationed the whole time in El Paso. In the hospital there, though, so he certainly saw the effects of the war.
Reading this I realized I don't know about either of my grandfathers' experiences during the war and they are both dead now. I'll have to ask and see if there are any stories.
My great uncle met his wife during WWII, she was a nurse and they were both stationed in the Pacific (I think).
My great aunt worked on a military base (or with military personnel) during the War and she and some friends had decided to go to Alaska after the war, but everyone changed their minds except my great aunt who told everyone she was going and so she was going. She took a bus from Georga to the NW and then a boat to Alaska, where there was a job waiting for her. She started going by her middle name and sort of reinvented herself. She met her husband there and they got married and spent their first year of marriage living in a hotel and eating room service.
Coincidentally, I got this email from my friend Dave this morning:
I'm sure something similar like this has happened to you all at some point in your life, but I just had to share an interesting experience...
While doing my daily hr to 1 1/2 hr commute to work *groan*, I sometimes listen to NPR. (I know, I know, how grown up of me)... While listen to NPR, a piece came up on war vets.... (ok no big deal).... but its the strangest feeling to all of a sudden hear your father's voice chime in...
[link]
I had no idea he was going to do this. What are the odds of just randomly turning on the radio to catch this? The other funny thing listening to it, was hearing the beginning of the story.. as the editor started the piece off talking about a vietnam vet living in the Ozarks... I did start to wonder if my father knew this guy... and then hearing my dad's name and voice... I just started to laugh.
Funny how things like this happen.... Just thought I'd share my odd occurance...
My father was stationed in New York City for at least some of the war, plus I think he worked at some of the air bases around this country. He was an airplane mechanic. He died before I could figure out that there might be an interesting story in why a healthy single man wasn't overseas. I also regret not laying claim to his collection of swizzle sticks from War-era New York City. Mother was/is virulently anti-booze, and I'm sure she threw them away as soon as she could.
My father's father was in the Austrian Army during WWI, on the Italian Front. I don't think my maternal grandfather saw active service, and I know my father didn't.
I don't know much of anything about my family history. The death of my mother's mother and my father's father, both tragically, have kept them (and me and my brother) mum on the subject. I would like to know, though.
I do know that I am a descendant of Capt. James Lawrence: [link]
One of my great-grandfathers was gassed in WWI and was never healthy again. Of course,this worked out well when my dad had polio and needed someone to recuperate with.
My mother's father was sent to MIT to study nuclear stuff but the war ended before he finished his training. He did later serve in Korea, though.
My dad's father was too young for WWII.
Aimee, that's HILARIOUS! Thanks for the link. I am a little amazed at how well Jason Alexander moves--especially when he's on that guitar.
Aimee, that's HILARIOUS! Thanks for the link. I am a little amazed at how well Jason Alexander moves--especially when he's on that guitar.
Isn't it awesome! And, as usual, William Shatner cracks my shit UP.
The Tramp Stamp showed up on the latest Robot Chicken. Suddenly this term is everywhere!
I want my funky new glasses to arrive so I can be all hip and stuff.
