RE: Former MIlitary Here???

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All Forums >> [Current Games From Matrix.] >> [World War II] >> Norm Koger's The Operational Art Of War III >> RE: Former MIlitary Here???

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RE: Former MIlitary Here??? - 8/21/2007 8:39:34 PM

wolflars

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quote:

ORIGINAL: golden delicious

Every designer should have a scenario where his ancestors can get wiped out.

Grandfather at Iwo Jima.

Other grandfather with 82nd (Sicily, Normandy, AND Market-Garden). BTW he hasn't been on a plane since Sept'44. Flat out refuses.

Father was at Hue during Tet.

Great grandfather at the Somme (and despite best efforts nobody can say what unit).

Step-father was a Ranger. His grandfather was a Legionaire in North Africa before he went AWOL to come to the USA.

My wife can claim an uncle at San Juan Hill, several cousins in a Tennessee Regt at Shiloh, and even further back a shipping captain who smuggled arms into Virginia when those rowdy colonists had had enough of king and country (sorry Ben!) Then those nasty Redcoats caught him and burned his house down for that. Before that her family was involved in all sorts of cool stuff going back centuries. The church kept good records and her family was of some note and wealth back in the day (unlike my family of simple Scandanavian farmers). We are planning to go to Wales to look into her family history more.

So if Ben's suggestion becomes a requirement, I have some good battles to choose from

But then again, after reviewing this list, these topics have been done too many times already

.....hmmmm

< Message edited by wolflars -- 8/21/2007 9:15:17 PM >

(in reply to golden delicious)

Post #: 31

RE: Former MIlitary Here??? - 8/21/2007 9:14:14 PM

wolflars

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Joined: 6/8/2006
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quote:

ORIGINAL: Telumar

quote:

ORIGINAL: golden delicious

Every designer should have a scenario where his ancestors can get wiped out.

Hehe..

quote:

ORIGINAL: golden delicious

My most impressive military connection is that my neighbour is a retired Brigadier. Apart from that there's my Grandfather, who was a Captain in the RTR, serving in northwest Africa and northern Europe. Promoted to Major on discharge, mentioned in dispatches.

No military career here, too. As regards history, both my grandfathers fought in Russia. One was wounded when a grazing shot blew off his right ear, the other one served as a medic and was severely wounded when an artillery shell hit his car, killing his comrade who drove the car (they had changed their seats just minutes before..). Basically that's all i know - they didn't tell much about the war and i don't know in which units they served.
My grand-uncle participated in the battle for France, 1940, i've got some interesting photos (actually i only know that he was there from the photos..- later he also fought in Russia). Maybe i can post some of them the coming days if someone is interested.

Personally, I find all this fascinating.

At first I thought the thread was going to be a bunch of self placating boasting about our glorious service resumes. I thought �boring� and reluctantly posted mine in such a way that I hope my bitterness shows. Maybe, given more time I will be as nostalgic about my service as others. I just can�t get over being told that despite my contract ending, despite all the years I served that I was being �involuntarily extended� for what ended up being two more years. They told me this BEFORE asking whether or not I was going to re-enlist (which up until that moment I had planned to). They called it a retroactive policy, I called it blackmail. Anyway�..

But back to what I wanted to mention was:

I find it amazing that we, who are separated by miles and sometimes oceans, can share some glimpses into each others family military histories (or even just people we met who have some connection to a battle like Narva or wherever). I remember when I was a kid meeting my friends grandfather who was on a U-boat that had been taken out by British destroyer. When he told this story I was speechless.

Or even consider the possibility all of our ancestors fighting one another--in most cases only a couple of generations ago. And now, here we are, chatting casually about it. It is amazing.

For example, and I almost forgot about it but something about Telumar's post triggered it....I was at Ft. Polk a few years back and there was this German Infantry Officer visiting on some NATO officer exchange program. He was a captain and teaching a course to us regarding counter-insurgency techniques. Afterwards, I spent some time talking to him about history and the follies of our two nations. Turns out his grandfather was in the 9th SS PzD and fought at Nijmegan where MY grandfather was. 60 years later, here are the grandsons sharing a cup of hot coffee on a foggy humid and miserable Louisiana morning where a soldier from one nation (whose country isn't even involved in the war) is going to teach fieldcraft to another nation's boys. Again, simply amazing.

@Telumar, I would be interested in seeing any photos you post.

< Message edited by wolflars -- 8/21/2007 9:30:42 PM >

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Post #: 32

RE: Former MIlitary Here??? - 8/21/2007 10:31:18 PM

Veers

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All four of my grandfathers (two step-grandfathers) were in WWII.
One I don't know anything about. One was infantry in a Highland Rgt. One was a clerk with the 8th Hussars (for a time, at least). Another was an aircraft mechanic on a carrier.
When I was younger the church I went to had a an older congregation, so I met a few veterans of WWII. One was a polit over Burma, and the other was in the UK 1st AB, and fought in Arnhem.
My hometown has had rather bad luck with Afghanistan. Of a population of under 8,000 we've had one soldier killed (who was the brother of my sister's good friend), and one wounded (who was a good friend of me, personally-He was fortunate, as he came back in one piece with no brain damage, as in his vehicle a diplomat was killed, another lost a leg, and another had brain damage.)
I was going to enlist at the end of the summer that I finished high-school ('04), but I met Frances, and, therefore, stayed home. Can't say I'm not happy to be here with her, but I also can't say I don't feel a twinge of guilt for not signing up.

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Post #: 33

RE: Former MIlitary Here??? - 8/21/2007 10:32:32 PM

rhinobones

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quote:

ORIGINAL: bjmorgan

. . . Ft. Puke Louisiana

Think it's supposed to be Ft. Polk, but Puke sounds more appropriate.

USMC 1969-73 Ground Radio Tech/Operator.

Regards, RhinoBones

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Post #: 34

RE: Former MIlitary Here??? - 8/21/2007 10:33:03 PM

Veers

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And that is a very interesting point, Wolflars.

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Post #: 35

RE: Former MIlitary Here??? - 8/21/2007 11:38:50 PM

wolflars

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Veers

All four of my grandfathers (two step-grandfathers) were in WWII.
One I don't know anything about. One was infantry in a Highland Rgt. One was a clerk with the 8th Hussars (for a time, at least). Another was an aircraft mechanic on a carrier.

These are not Canadian Regts, is that correct?

Do you know which carrier by any chance?

quote:

and, therefore, stayed home

Probably not missing much.

(in reply to Veers)

Post #: 36

RE: Former MIlitary Here??? - 8/21/2007 11:58:15 PM

Veers

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quote:

ORIGINAL: wolflars

quote:

ORIGINAL: Veers

All four of my grandfathers (two step-grandfathers) were in WWII.
One I don't know anything about. One was infantry in a Highland Rgt. One was a clerk with the 8th Hussars (for a time, at least). Another was an aircraft mechanic on a carrier.

These are not Canadian Regts, is that correct?

Correct. Except for my grandmother on my mother's side, all of my grand parents immigrated to Canda.

quote:

Do you know which carrier by any chance?

Unfortunately not.

quote:

quote:

and, therefore, stayed home

Probably not missing much.

Aye, at least my parents don't have to worry about hearing about me on the evening news.

_____________________________

To repeat history in a game is to be predictable.
If you wish to learn more about EA, feel free to pop over to the EA forums Europe Aflame Forums.

(in reply to wolflars)

Post #: 37

RE: Former MIlitary Here??? - 8/22/2007 4:42:44 AM

Zort

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My father was an Naval fighter pilot in WW2. During the battle of the Coral Sea when he came back from his mission his carrier the Lexington was on fire and listing. He then was air ops on the Gambier Bay which was the only US carrier to get sunk by naval shell fire. He was in the water for 36 hours.

One of my brothers was a Marine fighter pilot in Viet Nam and was shot down and para'd over the water and got picked up by a helo.

Me, I just went to lots of different ports, the ones in Australia were some the best of the ones I went to and drank lots of beer.

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Post #: 38

RE: Former MIlitary Here??? - 8/22/2007 5:28:57 AM

SMK-at-work

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Well my dada was 16 in 1945 - the most exciting thing he did in the war was get a pass to deliver papers to a local military base that made him the envy of his schoolmates!!

My oldest grandfather was born in 1899 and was conscripted right at the end of WW1 but never saw service, my other one was too young also.

I have nothing to boast about other than fortuitous timing that prevented any of my direct-line rellies having to risk it all!!

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Post #: 39

RE: Former MIlitary Here??? - 8/22/2007 11:53:32 AM

Monkeys Brain

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quote:

ORIGINAL: SMK-at-work

Well my dada was 16 in 1945 - the most exciting thing he did in the war was get a pass to deliver papers to a local military base that made him the envy of his schoolmates!!

My oldest grandfather was born in 1899 and was conscripted right at the end of WW1 but never saw service, my other one was too young also.

I have nothing to boast about other than fortuitous timing that prevented any of my direct-line rellies having to risk it all!!

Heh here is one nice story about my grand grandfather. He was born in 1898. He fought in WW1 on Eastern Front in Galizia, later was captured by Russians in 1917 etc...

But there is nice story that father told me - well Toma that was his name had some captain that had a dog and one time that captain was going on a leave and left to my grand-grandfather a big sum of money to buy for the dog only best meat, you know, liver etc... dog was truly a gentlemen's dog lol.

But Toma with his friend bought a wine etc and they got drunk, you know young people like that... for this money so he didn't had any money for that fine meat for dog. Father told me that in a few days dog was so hungry that he jumped and catched in the air a dry bread that they throwed to him LOL

And then captain arrived and he saw that dog have lost quite a few kilograms and he asked what is that and Toma said "Captain, you know we are training the dog and he run's a lot so that's why he is so skinny".

< Message edited by Monkeys Brain -- 8/22/2007 11:55:28 AM >

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Post #: 40

RE: Former MIlitary Here??? - 8/22/2007 12:33:00 PM

golden delicious

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quote:

ORIGINAL: wolflars

Great grandfather at the Somme (and despite best efforts nobody can say what unit).

Really? You've asked the Ministry of Defence? This information is supposed to be available upon request.

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Post #: 41

RE: Former MIlitary Here??? - 8/22/2007 4:57:55 PM

LOK_32MK

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1978-1980 (26 months) compulsory military service
honorably discharged as a 2nd Lt. from a Greek Commando Battalion (similar to US Rangers)

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Post #: 42

RE: Former MIlitary Here??? - 8/22/2007 5:21:46 PM

Marc von Martial

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quote:

ORIGINAL: bjmorgan

While in Germany I also was lucky enough (if you want to call it that) to act as a forward observer when the squadron's self-propelled howiter battery (M109A1) went to Grafenwoehr to fire. (One of the battery commanders I served with was Tommy Franks, then a captain, and really good commander.)

Been there too few times, although much later.

Served in 5. Rak.Art./Btl. 42 (MLRS) stationed in Hemau near Regensburg.

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Post #: 43

RE: Former MIlitary Here??? - 8/22/2007 6:50:46 PM

Trick37_MatrixForum

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[/quote]
8). My Papa's father (my great-grandfather on my mom's side)�joined the Northern Cyclist Battalion in Berwick when WW1 broke out in 1914.� His unit never left England as a whole, but he was called up to be sent to France as a replacement after the fateful attack by allied forces on 1 July 1916.� He was assigned to the 21st Battalion of the Northumberland Fusiliers (aka the 2nd Battalion of the Tyneside Scottish Brigade), 34th Division.� He was first on the line in the Lille sector (Armentierres) from July 1916 to February 1917.� They then moved to the Arras sector, and he was in the line there until September 1917, when they were moved down to the Villeret lines (just north of St Quentin) for a surprise attack on the German lines.� He was severely wounded here, and was sent back to England for treatment of his wounds.� He lost an eye and was partially blinded in the other.� He was then sent back to France after the Germans attacked in March 1918.� He was assigned to the Queen's Westminster Rifles of the 16th London Brigade, 56th Division, and was just in the lines when 5 German divisions attacked the Arras lines in the Battle of Gavrelle (the British units destroyed the 5 German divisions, and the held the line, although the lines bent.....but never broke, thus saving Arras).� He was wounded again in July 1918 during a trench raid, and then he was fatally wounded on 4/5 November 1918 during the Battle of Sebourg (near Vallenciennes).� He was taken to the 1st Casualty Clearing Station in Cambrai, and this is where he died on 6 November 1918.� He's buried in the Cambrai East Military Cemetery, plot II.A.42.

"Respect" to everyone else here who has family that served, and/or gave all.

[/quote]

Okay, how do I insert a picture from my computer into a thread????????

< Message edited by Trick37 -- 9/2/2007 12:58:24 AM >

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Post #: 44

RE: Former MIlitary Here??? - 8/22/2007 6:57:07 PM

Trick37_MatrixForum

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quote:

ORIGINAL: golden delicious

quote:

ORIGINAL: wolflars

Great grandfather at the Somme (and despite best efforts nobody can say what unit).

Really? You've asked the Ministry of Defence? This information is supposed to be available upon request.

I'm assuming that you know his name, right? If so, try the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, and do a search of his name (just click "search our records" once on the site). You should be able to get something. Once you do that, you can search for the unit's "War Diaries," which were the "Intelligence Reports" back in WW1. These will give you information of his unit(s) that you won't believe. You can also see if any of his units that he was assigned to kept what's called a "Roll of Individuals" which may give the units that he was assigned to while in France (dates and everything). (I'd place my great-grandfather's here, but I can't seem to upload it from my computer.) After that, the War Diaries will be even more helpful. (I've traced my great-grandfather's footsteps in the Somme (Picardie), Canal du Nord, and Nord-Pas-de-Calais.)

Let me know if I can help you in any way (by searching, etc).

< Message edited by Trick37 -- 8/22/2007 7:01:50 PM >

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Post #: 45

RE: Former MIlitary Here??? - 8/22/2007 7:04:22 PM

Trick37_MatrixForum

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By the way, I know a guy on another board that was a Military Policeman assigned to Patton's 3rd Army in France during WW2. He was on Patton's staff as a part of his MP guard. Very cool stories that he tells, especially since Patton's my favorite general, and a hero of mine.

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Post #: 46

RE: Former MIlitary Here??? - 8/22/2007 7:57:29 PM

pzgndr

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quote:

Infantry. Volunteered for the first 11 years. �involuntarily retained at the convenience of the United States government� for the last two.

wolflars and I had similar but different experience. After 11 years, I took a voluntary separation because the Army was drawing down from 18 to 10 divisions. He couldn't leave; I couldn't stay. Reality makes no sense at times.

(in reply to morganbj)

Post #: 47

RE: Former MIlitary Here??? - 8/22/2007 9:58:12 PM

wolflars

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quote:

ORIGINAL: golden delicious

quote:

ORIGINAL: wolflars

Great grandfather at the Somme (and despite best efforts nobody can say what unit).

Really? You've asked the Ministry of Defence? This information is supposed to be available upon request.

LOL�when I say �best efforts� you should interpret that as �very little effort.� What I mean here is nobody in the family seems to remember. His daughter (my grandmother) paid very little attention to these matters. Additionally, virtually all of the family�s records (photos, birth certificates, death certificates etc) were lost in a fire in the 1970s.

I suppose I could contact the Ministry; however, I have little more to go on than this: George Harrison from Liverpool, British Army. No rank, no date of birth, etc. I suspect G. Harrison is a common name. The only reason I know he was from Liverpool is because of a family joke about G. Harrison of the Beetles. We know he was at the Somme because, despite the family�s faulty memories about such things as birthdates, something as magnanimous as the Somme resonates.

@Trick37

Thanks for the link. Unfortunately, graves registration won�t help because fortunately he lived through the war. Perhaps, one of the links will lead me somewhere�

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Post #: 48

RE: Former MIlitary Here??? - 8/22/2007 10:07:08 PM

wolflars

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quote:

ORIGINAL: golden delicious

Ministry of Defence

Defence -----------Defense

Two peoples separated by a common language.

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Post #: 49

RE: Former MIlitary Here??? - 8/23/2007 3:48:12 AM

B/snafu

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U.S. Army-enlisted
1990-basic then jump school at Ft.benning--first gulf war ended on bus ride to Ft. bragg
staioned at Ft. Bragg- first assigned to 18th Avn Bde under corps- then 82nd Avn bde
Got out 1994----came very close to going back in after college through the warrant officer pilot program--but decided to carry a gun for civilian masters instead. Not ashamed to say with the current rate of deployments for the troops--in a way I'm glad I forwent flight school back then---know some guys that have been rolling the dice with 3 to 4 current deployments under their belts.

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Post #: 50

RE: Former MIlitary Here??? - 8/23/2007 2:53:40 PM

golden delicious

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Trick37

5). My cousin, Gary (on my mom's side), is from Northumberland County, England (Seahouses), and he spent 5 years with the French Foreign Legion (2nd Parachute Regiment) from 1985 to 1990.� He's now a police inspector in Surrey County.� (His sister was a police officer, too, but wasn't in the military.)

Whereabouts in Surrey? (n.b. you don't generally say 'county' after the county's name over here as in the US, as town names have a different structure. e.g. Norwich in Norfolk)

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Post #: 51

RE: Former MIlitary Here??? - 8/23/2007 2:56:55 PM

golden delicious

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Trick37

I'm assuming that you know his name, right? If so, try the Commonwealth War Graves Commission,

That's assuming the Great Grandfather died in action. Otherwise this would be the place to go;
http://www.veterans-uk.info/service_records/service_records.html

It's possible you won't be able to get anything with the information you have. But you should be able to establish more details about him through the public records office (register of births marriages and deaths). If you find the birth certificate of the grandmother, you should be able to track down the marriage certificate of the parents and this will have their ages. Alternatively if you know the date when he died then that would provide the same information. Date of birth plus first name and surname would probably be enough to narrow down to one individual.

< Message edited by golden delicious -- 8/23/2007 3:04:34 PM >

_____________________________

"What did you read at university?"
"War Studies"
"War? Huh. What is it good for?"
"Absolutely nothing."

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Post #: 52

RE: Former MIlitary Here??? - 8/23/2007 2:59:52 PM

golden delicious

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quote:

ORIGINAL: wolflars

Defence -----------Defense

Two peoples separated by a common language.

Hardly separated. To be honest the differences between US and British English are much less than that between Dictionary English and common teenage slang.

_____________________________

"What did you read at university?"
"War Studies"
"War? Huh. What is it good for?"
"Absolutely nothing."

(in reply to wolflars)

Post #: 53

RE: Former MIlitary Here??? - 8/23/2007 7:45:17 PM

Trick37_MatrixForum

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quote:

ORIGINAL: golden delicious

quote:

ORIGINAL: wolflars

Defence -----------Defense

Two peoples separated by a common language.

Hardly separated. To be honest the differences between US and British English are much less than that between Dictionary English and common teenage slang.

Funny story....I was in high school in North Chicago, Illinois (next to the Great Lakes Naval Training Center), and we had a girl from Scotland in the class. I don't know if she was an exchange student, or if she was over with her military parents, but in the States for the first time.

Anyway, right in the middle of class one day, she turns to someone next to her and asks, "Can I borrow your rubber?"

The class erupted in laughter because a "rubber" int he States is a condom. What she wanted was an "eraser," but she didn't know that. She was terribly embarrassed by that.

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Post #: 54

RE: Former MIlitary Here??? - 8/23/2007 7:46:10 PM

Trick37_MatrixForum

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quote:

ORIGINAL: golden delicious

quote:

ORIGINAL: Trick37

5). My cousin, Gary (on my mom's side), is from Northumberland County, England (Seahouses), and he spent 5 years with the French Foreign Legion (2nd Parachute Regiment) from 1985 to 1990.� He's now a police inspector in Surrey County.� (His sister was a police officer, too, but wasn't in the military.)

Whereabouts in Surrey? (n.b. you don't generally say 'county' after the county's name over here as in the US, as town names have a different structure. e.g. Norwich in Norfolk)

Let me get back with you on that.

I know about the countis and stuff---I said it like that for the benefit of non-Brits.

Sorry it took me a while....I kept forgeting to check.

He's in the Burpham area.

< Message edited by Trick37 -- 9/2/2007 12:46:32 AM >

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Post #: 55

RE: Former MIlitary Here??? - 8/27/2007 6:27:16 PM

Telumar

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quote:

ORIGINAL: wolflars

@Telumar, I would be interested in seeing any photos you post.

Okay..just some. Let's start with this one: My grand-uncle in uniform. I think this was in winter 39/40.

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Post #: 56

RE: Former MIlitary Here??? - 8/27/2007 6:33:48 PM

Telumar

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And here with his platoon (he's the first from right), in the background probably the Wildflecken. It's a casern named after the said mountain, but i don't know in which unit he served, probably the 169.Inf Div, which was formed in this region, went to Lothringia in 40 (which would fit to a later photo) and then to PzGruppe2 (?), and later in 41 to Finland.