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Post by LTB on Dec 10, 2023 5:01:19 GMT -5
“ Of the 16.1 million Americans who served in the WWII global conflict, little more than 119,000 are still living as of this year, according to the National World War II Museum. An average of 131 of them are dying each day, the museum estimates, citing U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs statistics.” At this rate I estimate most if not all will be gone by May 2, 2024  |
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Post by roly on Dec 10, 2023 5:34:40 GMT -5
I posted on another thread that I am running out of family, friends, and heroes.
Those who served are heroes to me.
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Post by RufusTeleStrat on Dec 10, 2023 11:25:33 GMT -5
I was fortunate enough to take my Dad to the dedication of the WWII memorial in DC. That was memorable. He is gone now but he wore his uniform and as did many others alive back then and able to attend. Touching memory.
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Post by reverendrob on Dec 10, 2023 14:52:41 GMT -5
I still remember the last gasp of the WW1 folks. |
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Post by Taildragger on Dec 10, 2023 15:15:32 GMT -5
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Post by Mfitz804 on Dec 10, 2023 15:34:15 GMT -5
WWII was a long time ago, those still hanging on have clearly defied the odds.
My grandfather served, he died when I was a teenager. Those who have survived to this point, even if they were 18 when they served, must’ve taken good care of themselves.
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Post by LTB on Dec 11, 2023 21:12:13 GMT -5
Dad Was a WWII Veteran passed away 2021 2 weeks before his 95th birthday. My grandfathers WWI one died in 1971 and the other in 1986. I was 4 years old when The Last Civil War verteran that Taildragger mentioned died.
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Post by Taildragger on Dec 11, 2023 21:16:34 GMT -5
My old man was a USN, WWII, combat Vet.
He passed in 1992.
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Post by oldnjplayer on Dec 12, 2023 6:53:19 GMT -5
My Dad was a Army medic in the Pacific front. Died in 1958... years ago I found his discharge papers etc. He actually received a few commendations.
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Post by LTB on Dec 14, 2023 7:12:53 GMT -5
My Dad was a Army medic in the Pacific front. Died in 1958... years ago I found his discharge papers etc. He actually received a few commendations. That was an important but tough job!! He died way to young |
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Post by Mike the marksman on Dec 14, 2023 8:22:02 GMT -5
My great uncle Jim was drafted in 1944, and arrived in Europe in early 1945 for the last few months of the European conflict. He was wounded in the hip and had a limp the rest of his life. He finally got a hip replacement in 2002 and could walk comfortably, then got pancreatic cancer and died a year later, when I was 17:(
He was the one who introduced me to firearms and shooting, he was a cool guy. I miss him.
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mikem
Wholenote
Musician soundman musician soundman
Posts: 233
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Post by mikem on Dec 14, 2023 8:33:02 GMT -5
I still remember the last gasp of the WW1 folks. Back in the 80's I was booking marching bands for annual civic parades; Memorial/Veterans Day. My brother was dating a cute trombone player at that time (she played in my bands). Her father was a WW1 veteran that marched in those parades until he was around 92 years old. He was tough as nails - even at that age.
Those WW1/2 vets are of the greatest generations. They did what they had to do...totally selfless.
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Post by rickyticky on Dec 14, 2023 13:09:10 GMT -5
The USA entered WWII after the Pearl Harbor attack. That was 82 years ago. Can't expect people to live forever.
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Post by LeftyMeister on Dec 14, 2023 13:09:25 GMT -5
I met some of the Tuskegee Airmen crew at an airshow maybe 15 years ago. It was humbling.
I believe they’re all now gone.
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LadyJazzer
Halfnote
Retired, but still gigging
Posts: 72 
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Post by LadyJazzer on Dec 14, 2023 16:22:28 GMT -5
My dad was USN Pilot; flew PBM-5 "Mariner" as squadron commander. They flew anti-sub missions in Pacific armed with bombs, and rescued downed pilots. He died in 2017 at 95, two months after his birthday. He was one of the fortunate ones who got to do the "Honor Flights" to Washington, D.C. (from Dallas).
I also got to meet some of the Tuskegee Airmen on a flight to San Antonio. There were about 15 of them on our aircraft going to a reunion in San Antonio. I got to sit next to one of them and listen to them trade "war stories" and jive each other around. As you say, "It was humbling." I mentioned that my Dad was a WWII pilot and they invited me to bring him around to their party at the hotel the next evening. I took them up on it, and me and my father went over there and he stayed about an hour swapping stories. It was an event I'm sure he remembered the rest of his life.
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Post by rickyguitar on Dec 14, 2023 19:17:14 GMT -5
My dad was a WW2 and Korea vet. Died in 87.
When I was a kid everybody's dad had served. I do not remember 1 kid who's dad did not.
3 generations in my family have close to 50 years service.
It is sad for me to think they will all be gone because they were all my heroes.
*Crisp salute*
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Post by LTB on Dec 14, 2023 19:45:13 GMT -5
Lady Jazzer, I would have loved to have been able to converse with Tuskegee Airmen. That is so cool!
rickyguitar, same here. Seemed like everyone’s dad served in WWII when I was growing up in the 50’s and 60’s.
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