Re:World War II in the Pacific, narrated by my grandpa
by brudgers on Thursday May 29, 2014 @02:49AM
(#7815072)
E. B. Sledge's autobiography, With the Old Breed describes his combat experiences as a Marine in the Pacific and is worth reading if your interested in that history.
My grandfather served in the 504 PIR. He never talked with me about his experiences at great length, but the two vignettes he related that stick with are both about his being terrified, the one I remember from my teens was: They were holed up in a house in the Ardennes. It was night and he had to urinate so badly that he took the risk of stepping outside [historically. the 504th was trucked in from reserve to stop Panzer Group Piper and stem the rout]. As he relieved himself, he looked up and for a moment mistook the snow covered saplings for enemy soldiers.
The second, is from my early twenties. Blunt and simple: being in a trench in Italy while the Germans dropped antipersonel bombs on him was more 'unpleasant" than I could imagine. That was true. He had a successful professional career after the war. but fought depression up until his death. I'm both sad that I miss him, and glad that I do.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0891419195/ref=redir_mdp_mobil...
My grandfather served in the 504 PIR. He never talked with me about his experiences at great length, but the two vignettes he related that stick with are both about his being terrified, the one I remember from my teens was: They were holed up in a house in the Ardennes. It was night and he had to urinate so badly that he took the risk of stepping outside [historically. the 504th was trucked in from reserve to stop Panzer Group Piper and stem the rout]. As he relieved himself, he looked up and for a moment mistook the snow covered saplings for enemy soldiers.
The second, is from my early twenties. Blunt and simple: being in a trench in Italy while the Germans dropped antipersonel bombs on him was more 'unpleasant" than I could imagine. That was true. He had a successful professional career after the war. but fought depression up until his death. I'm both sad that I miss him, and glad that I do.