79 Years since Victory in Europe

[Swagman]

Been looking in vain in the daily newspapers for any mention of VE day, 8th May 1945. May we never forget the sacrifices of the "Greatest Generation"

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.

[gamekeeper]

Lest we forget....

[Bill in Oregon]

Dad was in the Sudetenland with the 97th Infantry on V-E Day. Everyone was relieved, but the fact the war in the Pacific seemed far from over tempered the joy.
He would have been 99 last Friday.
He is on the right with three other members of the Medford, OR, High School Class of 1943. Just small town kids -- and heroes in my eyes.

[Grizz]

Lest we forget....

Roger on that. The old history channel, now the story channel, ? , has been running in-depth histories from that struggle . . . a lot of stuff I missed or forgot. Humble thanks for the soldiers and their families for their massive sacrifices, it's a wonder that anyone survived . . .

[AJMD429]

.
Those who don’t have a basic understanding of WW2 have a hard time contributing intelligently to public policy, but the youngest generations haven’t been taught anything substantial about that war.

One of many reasons to either home school or to participate aggressively in your local school board meetings and push teaching of history.

[jeepnik]

Dad was in Germany. The war in Europe may have officially ended, but there were still hold outs shooting and being shot. No one just throws a switch and it all stops.

His brother was somewhere in the Pacific. His swim with the sharks hadn’t happened yet. The way he told it explosion in the water were like a dinner bell to the sharks.

[Old No7]

Lest we forget....

Amen. "The Greatest Generation"

My late father had 2 voyages on the legendary Queen Mary -- neither was a pleasure cruise! He told us more land-lubbers got sick while she was at the dock than when they finally got out to sea. He's somewhere in this image below...

Old No7

Dad QnM.jpg

[Bill in Oregon]

It has been an honor being a Baby Boomer and child of the Greatest Generation, and now we are dying out as well. I wonder if this war will be fully forgotten when we are gone.

[rock-steady]

My grandfather was a BAR gunner in the 45th Division in France and Germany and was at the liberation of Dachau. He died while turkey hunting in March of 1969.

His two brothers, my great-uncles, were in the US Army in the Pacific Theater.

One brother was shot through the neck by a Japanese sniper and played dead until dark when he crawled back to friendly lines. He died in 1991.

According to family lore, the other brother was hit in the head and presumed dead. He was found in a field hospital sometime later by a soldier who knew him and recognized his name on the medical chart and he eventually made it home. He died in 1968.

Salute!