The Pacific war in color

[Wizzard]

On the Smithsonian Channel. Fantastic series if you have not seen it. Very well done and educational.

[Jess from VA]

Just finished watching.   

(I can't tell you how glad I am I missed that war.)

Remember, RJ's dad went off to one of those island invasions (and never came home).  (Iwo?)

[Wizzard]

yep, remember RJ telling me that himself. I miss ole RJ

[9Ball]

My Dad was one of the Marines that stormed the beach at Iwo Jima.  I recently got a copy of a newspaper article that describes what he did dodging sniper fire and incoming mortar rounds to rescue and save two of his buddies by dragging them to cover and applying pressure to their wounds to stop the bleeding.  The details were from his Bronze Star award presentation.

He never talked about this and looking back I can understand the he probably suffered from PTSD.  He only lived to be 68 years old.

That was a different time and many made the ultimate sacrifice for us.

[Wizzard]

My Dad was one of the Marines that stormed the beach at Iwo Jima.  I recently got a copy of a newspaper article that describes what he did dodging sniper fire and incoming mortar rounds to rescue and save two of his buddies by dragging them to cover and applying pressure to their wounds to stop the bleeding.  The details were from his Bronze Star award presentation.

He never talked about this and looking back I can understand the he probably suffered from PTSD.  He only lived to be 68 years old.

That was a different time and many made the ultimate sacrifice for us.

  They were real men

[Jess from VA]

Except really I think they were mostly boys.  Who grew up way faster than than they should have.

Edit:  I tried finding info on average age in the Pacific island assaults and could not, I did find the average US age in all WWII was 26.  But I'll bet its younger in the landing craft. 

[Wizzard]

I was amazed at the women pilots. Had no idea there were that many women involved at that time.

[RP#62]

My dad was in the Philippines in '44 in the navy when he was 20.  He still won't talk much about it.  Once in a while he lets some stuff slip.  When were in the Naval Aviation museum in Pensacola he was showing us his station on the PBY and the finer points of using the 50 cal. 

-RP