Veterans Day Roll Call 2016

[UcMiami]

Just had a thought - and a question - my uncle was in the merchant marine from 1940 - 1946, and in some ways that was as brave as you could get - heading into harms way almost unarmed and as prime targets in generally pretty slow moving boats. He survived, but the losses were terrible in that service, especially in the atlantic. I have visited the memorial in London, don't know where the one in the US is, but when we celebrate veterans, do any of you reflect on those 'veterans' of the merchant marine that might as well have been in one of the military services for the risks they took? Obviously that was a 'special situation' that hasn't been repeated as there has been very little naval warfare since and except of very isolated instances none against non-combatant shipping (unless you count piracy.)
Anyone else with connections to WW2 merchant marine?

 

[msf22b]

I count 7 members whose service began in the 50's, that puts them in their 80's.
And 20-odd whose service, like mine was in the 60's. that puts them in their 70's.

i never quite considered that the composition of the board (fandom) is quite so replete with seniors.

 

[Kibitzer]

I count 7 members whose service began in the 50's, that puts them in their 80's.
And 20-odd whose service, like mine was in the 60's. that puts them in their 70's.

i never quite considered that the composition of the board (fandom) is quite so replete with seniors.

Really, just a bunch of (us) old farts.

 

[Sam Velleca]

Army, 1957-1959 Tech Escort, 200 man bomb disposal team.

 

[vtcwbuff]

Just had a thought - and a question - my uncle was in the merchant marine from 1940 - 1946, and in some ways that was as brave as you could get - heading into harms way almost unarmed and as prime targets in generally pretty slow moving boats. He survived, but the losses were terrible in that service, especially in the atlantic. I have visited the memorial in London, don't know where the one in the US is, but when we celebrate veterans, do any of you reflect on those 'veterans' of the merchant marine that might as well have been in one of the military services for the risks they took? Obviously that was a 'special situation' that hasn't been repeated as there has been very little naval warfare since and except of very isolated instances none against non-combatant shipping (unless you count piracy.)
Anyone else with connections to WW2 merchant marine?

Google American Merchant Marine memorial.

 

[UcMiami]

Google American Merchant Marine memorial.

Thanks - sometimes I can be pretty stupid!
The United States Merchant Mariner suffered more casualties than any other American service during World War II, 1 of every 26 mariners would not return home. Facing submarines, mines, armed raiders, destroyers, aircraft, “kamikaze,” and the elements. About 8,300 mariners were killed at sea, 12,000 wounded of whom at least 1,100 died from their wounds, and 663 men and women were taken prisoner. Some were blown to death, some incinerated, some drowned, some froze, and some starved. Sixty-six died in prison camps or aboard Japanese ships while being transported to other camps. Thirty-one American merchant ships vanished without a trace to a watery grave.
American Merchant Marine memorial

 

[bizarro aj]

US Army special forces 1978-1982

 

[arty155]

USMC 1972-2003

 

[ocoandasoc]

U.S. Navy 1967 - 73 DD-764, DL-5, DD-824

 

[Jewels]

U.S. Army 68'-71' (Vietnam 68'-69' Chu Lai)

 

[UpstateNY]

Americal Division - 1/6 198th Brigade
Chu Lai
Republic of Vietnam
1969 - 1970

MOS - 11 Bravo

 

[uconnfan68]

Just had a thought - and a question - my uncle was in the merchant marine from 1940 - 1946, and in some ways that was as brave as you could get - heading into harms way almost unarmed and as prime targets in generally pretty slow moving boats. He survived, but the losses were terrible in that service, especially in the atlantic. I have visited the memorial in London, don't know where the one in the US is, but when we celebrate veterans, do any of you reflect on those 'veterans' of the merchant marine that might as well have been in one of the military services for the risks they took? Obviously that was a 'special situation' that hasn't been repeated as there has been very little naval warfare since and except of very isolated instances none against non-combatant shipping (unless you count piracy.)
Anyone else with connections to WW2 merchant marine?

My father was in during the war and for a few years afterward. Did a few North Atlantic convoys. Never really talked much about it. Wish I could still talk with him. The memory I do have is him telling us about being in India in 1947-8, when they were protesting for independence. He and a few others were on rickshaws in the middle of a huge crowd trying to get back to the ship. He said they just yelled "long live India". No issues.

 

[RSHERMVIKES]

Irving Cohen drove Gen. Eisenhower in England (passed away 2014) a neighbor
Gen. Ron Welch CT National Guard sniper in Rangers (an ex-East Lyme HS wrestler of mine)
Steven Welch son of Ron above served in Iraq
Capt. Jason Hamill Killed in 2006 in Iraq (ex-wrestler ELHS of mine)
Doc Hohenstein WWII navy (my Uncle passed away 1980)
Jake Hotsky Navy WWII (passed away 1991) a neighbor
Greg Kapral Capt. Military Police Operation Desert Storm (ex-wrestler of mine)
Bill Tomaszek US Army, 2008-2012 (ex-wrestler of mine)
Jason Ashburn US Coast Guard (ex-wrestler of mine)

 

[Fiftyish]

U.S.Navy 1967-1972
BUPERS Washington, D.C.
YN2

 

[Rixxx]

My Dad, USN 1943-1946, Pearl Harbor, Machinist Mate 3rd Class, Aircraft Repair, Propeller Specialist
He, too, did not speak much at all of WWII.

 

[huskeynut]

My father - US Navy, flight mechanic, WWII
My uncle - US Army, sergeant, WWII - survived the Battle of the Bulge
My father-in-law - US Navy, destroyer escort, WWII
Our son - US Navy, submariner, PO3 - presently serving.

Bravo Zulu.

 

[RSHERMVIKES]

When Capt. Jason Hamill was Killed in 2006 in Iraq (ex-wrestler ELHS of mine) I'll never forget that he was buried in Dallas/Ft. Worth National Cemetery in Arlington, TX. They had a Memorial Service for family and friends that couldn't get to TX in East Lyme, CT a week later where he went to HS (raised in Salem, CT).
The group that goes around the country protesting at soldiers funerals showed up at Jason's Memorial Service, and if it wasn't for the Motorcycle club that makes it a point to travel to Military Funerals with close to 200 members all on bikes to make sure the funerals are not disrespected and protect the deceased soldiers family from the nuts, blocked the protesters a 1/2 mile away from the Church with their motorcycles each rider holding the American Flag screaming down the protesters!

 

[TylerTx]

Major, Field Artillery, U.S. Army, Retired 1971 - 1992 MOS 13A52
Germany 1972-1975
Oklahoma 1975-1978
Korea 1978-1979
Oklahoma 1979-1983
Tampa (Central Command) 1983-1986
Germany 1986-1989
Leavenworth KS 1989-1992