To all who served

jddens · Post by **jddens** » Fri Nov 11, 2011 11:18 pm

Navy 1969-1973........my hero is my Dad, a WWII B-17 pilot. He flew 35 bombing missions over Germany, came back one time full of holes on 2 engines, tail gunner dead, had the crew lined up with chutes ready to jump but made it back............he was 20 years old. I can only imagine.........God Bless them all............John

alexander38 · Post by **alexander38** » Sat Nov 12, 2011 3:47 am

WOW ! we have an F-4 jockey (the plane that proved, thrust will make any thing fly) and the son of a Fly Fortress, I'd love to set and talk with ya with a fine cigar and Crown. K9th did you fly the gun or no gun F-4 ? and Jddens for your Dad to make it 35 missions over Germany is a feat in it's own right for sure. Thank you and please Thank your Dad ...BZ !!

prowlersfish · Post by **prowlersfish** » Sat Nov 12, 2011 9:03 am

WW-II Vets the Greatest generation . Something to be proud of without them I would not want to know where we would be today.

My hero is my son in-law , a Navy corpsman . 2 tours in Afghanistan Boots on the ground with the marines

rossjo · Post by **rossjo** » Sat Nov 12, 2011 4:24 pm

My Uncle's B-17 was shot down over the Zuider Zee (water) in Holland. Only survivor off many plane shot down that night. A Dutch fisherman picked him up and he spent 2 years in German POW camps - pretty rough. Still alive at 89 and doing well. Still goes to all of the WW2 POW gatherings.

My father was on Tinian in WW2 - lightening the bombers so they could carry the H bombs to Japan.

Father in law was in Europe as well.

Those WW2 vets were great - as are the Vietnam ,Korea , Gulf, Afghanistan. vets !

DAVIDLOFLAND · Post by **DAVIDLOFLAND** » Sat Nov 12, 2011 5:27 pm

Thanks to the Vets!

My hero - My Daddy was the ball turret gunner in A B-24 in South Pacific. On his fifth mission, his crew shot down 6 confirmed Zeros (more than any other single plane, on a single mission, in that theater), before they were shot down themselves, crash landing on a Japanese held island. They were miraculaously rescued after 3 days, and when they got back to their outfit, all of their gear was alrady gone, as it was so rare for a downed crew to return from that area. Every man on the 10 man crew received the Distinquished Flying Cross (not many Tech Sargeants got that). He received 10 days combat rest leave in Sydney, Australia (where he had his 21st birthday), then went back to fly 35 more missions.

He's 88 now, and not doing so well in a nursing home, but I'll be proud of him forever.

EM63 · Post by **EM63** » Sun Nov 13, 2011 1:13 pm

Take him to your boat for a trip (may be with nurse)

--
Greetings - Heiner

DAVIDLOFLAND · Post by **DAVIDLOFLAND** » Sun Nov 13, 2011 2:54 pm

Thanks Heiner,

That the DFC all right. He never leaves home without his DFC Society cap. This photo was taken in 2005.

We got him out a couple of times this Summer, but it took 2 grown men to get him on board. Not sure if he's gonna make it 'til next Summer.

Islanddr08 · Post by **Islanddr08** » Sun Nov 13, 2011 10:29 pm

Thank you to all the men and women, and families who have sacrificed so much. I did three years army, panama and desert shield/storm (9 months sucking sand). I just spent 8 years living in Europe and glad to be home from some really ungrateful and American hating people. I stood tall and let them all know that there are some proud and non-*** taking Americans that stand our ground for the respect of this great nation. I wish all Americans that visit Europe would let them know this and stop kissing up to their two faced pretences and apoligising for our nations decisions. God Bless America and everyone in it. I'm glad to be home this Veterans Day and Very happy to see that people are supportive and very involved. If anybody knows and Organisation called SOS or anyone involved in it give them my most gracious thank you. Thank you all and God Bless our Families.

rossjo · Post by **rossjo** » Mon Nov 14, 2011 1:45 am

Same age as my father and uncle - 1923 ... great guys ... talk about guys who love the US!

398 Bomber Group (England, 8th Air Force), 600 Squadron Oct 21, 1943

Top Row: Lt. Donald E. Nason, Pilot, Lt. Joseph J. Byser, Copilot, Lt. Anthony A. Anagnos, Navigator, Lt. Charles D. Fiery, Bombardier
Bottom Row: Sgt. Ralph L. Lab, Mechanic, Gunner, Flight Engineer, Sgt. Luster T. Harrah, Radio Operator, Sgt. Paul W. Stonich, Ball Turret Gunner, Sgt. John (Jack) R. Lantz, Left Waist Gunner, Sgt. Raymond C. Beus, Right Waist Gunner, Sgt. George A. Whitney, Tail Gunner

My uncle Jack (Lantz) (I went to this week long WW2 POW meeting): http://www.postandcourier.com/news/2009 ... ten/?print

prowlersfish · Post by **prowlersfish** » Mon Nov 14, 2011 6:46 am

Like the Photo Ross ,

Islanddr08 . lets keep politics and negativity out of this please . Save that for the Pontifications section .BTW We have many members from Europe on here .

Trojan Boat Forum

To all who served

Thank Comrades