Parts Catalog Accessories Catalog How To Articles Tech Forums
Call Pelican Parts at 888-280-7799
Shopping Cart Cart | Project List | Order Status | Help



Go Back   PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum > General Discussions > Off-Topic Discussion

Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 05-20-2013, 09:58 AM
dynalow's Avatar
Registered User
 
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 1,599
The Greatest Generation

Met one the other day. You have undoubtedly seen them . Standing outside local stores, wearing red blazers and wearing their VFW piss-cutters. Handing out little red flowers to those who stop and make a donation.
Saturday, in case you missed the memo, was Armed Forces Day.
Well, I stopped to chat with this old timer, asked him what branch he was in, when he served, etc. He told me he enlisted in the Navy in 1944, when he turned seventeen and dropped out of High school. He told me he served aboard the destroyer USS Walke. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Walke_(DD-723)
Interestingly, the Walke participated in the Normandy D-Day Landings, then was among the ships sent to the Pacific after D-Day and the liberation of France lessened the need for Naval vessels in the Atlantic. I asked him about his Pacific experience and all he said was he missed most of the late WW2 landings, and never really went in harm's way. He was in the 3rd Fleet, and if he was aboard for most of '45, he probably did see some hot action. He smiled and his eyes sparkled when he talked about a visit to New Zealand and how the folks treated the Americans, how grateful they were, and how they shared their food and drink with the soldiers and sailors, even though they had little to share.
We talked for about 10 minutes. He said he had to sit down. I shook his hand, thanked him and moved on.


.......during the time I spoke to him, only two other people made donations. One guy was wearing an Army cap. The other was a former Coastie.

Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 05-20-2013, 10:15 AM
t walgamuth's Avatar
dieselarchitect
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Lafayette Indiana
Posts: 38,613
Yeah, who can argue with the greatest generation label? Great guys as a group for sure....not too many left either.
__________________
[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 05-20-2013, 10:20 AM
Posting since Jan 2000
 
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 7,166
Thanks for the thread. My dad, uncles and others being WWII vets I've heard about it all my life. For those who haven't I recommend that you strike up conversations like dynalow. They aren't correctly called the greatest generation for nothing.
__________________
2001 SLK 320 six speed manual
2014 Porsche Cayenne six speed manual

Annoy a Liberal, Read the Constitution
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 05-20-2013, 10:52 AM
Pooka
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 664
Some people are born to greatness and others have it thrust upon them.

I have never met any of these guys that thought they did anything that anyone else would not have done, and all of them also say it was a team effort.

For all of you younger types.... Talk to these guys now since they will not be around forever. I am old enough to have been able to talk to the Sons of Civil War vets and even they could tell some weird stories they heard from the old guys when they were young.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 05-20-2013, 10:52 AM
jplinville's Avatar
Conservative
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Dayton, Ohio region
Posts: 302
I have a next door neighbor that barely survived Normandy. He's hard of hearing, but we enjoy a cup of coffee on the front porch nearly daily when it's warm. He recently lost his wife of 65 years...she fell down the stairs, and never fully recovered. She suffered for 4 months, mostly at home. My wife and I cooked for him often during those days. We still cook him meals about once a week.

My kids take turns cutting his grass, and he employed my boy to pressure wash his house a few weeks ago. My son sits and listens intently when he speaks about his time in the military. His own grandkids and great grands ignore him, but my son adores the guy.
__________________
1987 560SL
85,000 miles




Meet on the level, leave on the square. Great words to live by

Were we directed from Washington when to sow and when to reap, we should soon want bread. - Thomas Jefferson: Autobiography, 1821.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 05-20-2013, 12:20 PM
elchivito's Avatar
ĦAy Jodido!
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Rancho Disparates
Posts: 4,075
My father was an engineer at Normandy. Utah Beach. The engineers came ashore first to clear it and cache ammo. All my uncles fought. One survived Tarawa. One was army during the war and then re-upped to the marines for Korea. I remember that particular uncle broke down in tears and begged his son; my cousin, not to enlist during Viet Nam.
For the most part they never spoke about their experiences. I think they probably talked among themselves when they were on hunting trips that were mostly just excuses to get together in private and drink. I know what I know about their service from looking things up.
What's a piss-cutter?
__________________
You're a daisy if you do.
__________________________________
84 Euro 240D 4spd. 220.5k sold
04 Honda Element AWD
1985 F150 XLT 4x4, 351W with 270k miles, hay hauler
1997 Suzuki Sidekick 4x4
1993 Toyota 4wd Pickup 226K and counting
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 05-20-2013, 12:26 PM
Inna-propriate-da-vida
 
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 1,969
Quote:
Originally Posted by Pooka View Post
Some people are born to greatness and others have it thrust upon them.

I have never met any of these guys that thought they did anything that anyone else would not have done, and all of them also say it was a team effort.

For all of you younger types.... Talk to these guys now since they will not be around forever. I am old enough to have been able to talk to the Sons of Civil War vets and even they could tell some weird stories they heard from the old guys when they were young.
Spent many an hour whiling away the time at the local American Legion, buying $1 beers for the old timers in exchange for their stories.

Think they really enjoyed the telling more than the drinking, but getting free drinks in exchange for the telling was like a dream come true for many of them.
Even the ones who wouldn't share easily would eventually get caught up and enter the conversation.
__________________
On some nights I still believe that a car with the fuel gauge on empty can run about fifty more miles if you have the right music very loud on the radio. - HST

1983 300SD - 305000
1984 Toyota Landcruiser - 190000
1994 GMC Jimmy - 203000

https://media.giphy.com/media/X3nnss8PAj5aU/giphy.gif
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 05-20-2013, 12:55 PM
The Safety Geek
 
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Sudbury, Massachusetts
Posts: 254
Give this video 55 seconds. If this doesn't move you, nothing will.
Grandpa, were you a hero in the war? [VIDEO]
-Antony
__________________
1992 500SEL 25K
1995 E320 40K
1995 SL600 120K
2002 JX8 Sport 43K
2005 Volvo S40 95K
2006 Isuzu NPR 304K (Frankencamper)
2007 Crown Victoria 150K
2014 Smart Electric 20K
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 05-20-2013, 12:56 PM
Fold on dotted line
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: SE Mich
Posts: 3,284
Quote:
Originally Posted by elchivito View Post
My father was an engineer at Normandy. Utah Beach. The engineers came ashore first to clear it and cache ammo. All my uncles fought. One survived Tarawa. One was army during the war and then re-upped to the marines for Korea. I remember that particular uncle broke down in tears and begged his son; my cousin, not to enlist during Viet Nam.
For the most part they never spoke about their experiences. I think they probably talked among themselves when they were on hunting trips that were mostly just excuses to get together in private and drink. I know what I know about their service from looking things up.
What's a piss-cutter?
It's a flat, folding cap that tucks under the belt. Also called a garrison cap because it was used in garrison, whereas saucer caps were used outside of garrison, especially if you were an officer.

The piss cutter is a nicer name for the garrison cap, mwhich looks like something that you know of that has folds in it...
The other name for a garrison cap is a c*** cap, at least in the Army.
__________________
Strelnik
Invest in America: Buy a Congressman!

1950 170SD
1951 Citroen 11BN
1953 Citroen 11BNF limo
1953 220a project
1959 180D
1960 190D
1960 Borgward Isabella TS 2dr
1983 240D daily driver
1983 380SL
1990 350SDL daily driver alt
3 x Citroen DS21M, down from 5
3 x Citroen 2CV, down from 6
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 05-20-2013, 01:03 PM
waterboarding w/medmech
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Coming to your hometown
Posts: 7,987
That vessel was def in harm's way during the Pacific war... long lasting ship, lots of history, three wars...

Walke (DD-723) earned six battle stars during World War II, four battle stars in the Korean War, and seven battle stars for Vietnam service.
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 05-20-2013, 01:22 PM
elchivito's Avatar
ĦAy Jodido!
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Rancho Disparates
Posts: 4,075
Quote:
Originally Posted by strelnik View Post
It's a flat, folding cap that tucks under the belt. Also called a garrison cap because it was used in garrison, whereas saucer caps were used outside of garrison, especially if you were an officer.

The piss cutter is a nicer name for the garrison cap, mwhich looks like something that you know of that has folds in it...
The other name for a garrison cap is a c*** cap, at least in the Army.
I've heard the second one, shoulda known. Thanks
__________________
You're a daisy if you do.
__________________________________
84 Euro 240D 4spd. 220.5k sold
04 Honda Element AWD
1985 F150 XLT 4x4, 351W with 270k miles, hay hauler
1997 Suzuki Sidekick 4x4
1993 Toyota 4wd Pickup 226K and counting
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 05-20-2013, 01:29 PM
TheDon's Avatar
Ghost of Diesels Past
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 13,285
Quote:
Originally Posted by elchivito View Post
What's a piss-cutter?
My grandpa was a Marine and called my Army JROTC cover a "pisser cap".. When viewed from the right angle it looks like the certain anatomy of a woman....



Those are piss-cutters, pisser caps, etc.. All branches had them during that time and now I am not really sure.
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 05-20-2013, 01:34 PM
dynalow's Avatar
Registered User
 
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 1,599
Quote:
Originally Posted by Txjake View Post
That vessel was def in harm's way during the Pacific war... long lasting ship, lots of history, three wars...

Walke (DD-723) earned six battle stars during World War II, four battle stars in the Korean War, and seven battle stars for Vietnam service.

The gent I spoke told me that the Walke was a Sumner class DD. I told him I vaguely recalled hearing the name USS Sumner during the 60's, but I didn't recall the name Walke.( In fact, I first thought he said Walker till I googled it) Good reason. She was probably homeported on the West Coast for most of her post-WW2 service. Other side of the world from here.
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 05-20-2013, 01:40 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Phoenix Arizona. Ex Durban R.S.A.
Posts: 6,104
My father was one of them. RN though, not USN. Served in the Indian Ocean and then Burma, before finishing up in Britain.

- Peter.
__________________
2021 Chevrolet Spark
Formerly...
2000 GMC Sonoma
1981 240D 4spd stick. 347000 miles. Deceased Feb 14 2021
2002 Kia Rio. Worst crap on four wheels
1981 240D 4spd stick. 389000 miles.
1984 123 200
1979 116 280S
1972 Cadillac Sedan DeVille
1971 108 280S
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old 05-20-2013, 02:58 PM
Posting since Jan 2000
 
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 7,166
Quote:
Originally Posted by jplinville View Post
I have a next door neighbor that barely survived Normandy. He's hard of hearing, but we enjoy a cup of coffee on the front porch nearly daily when it's warm. He recently lost his wife of 65 years...she fell down the stairs, and never fully recovered. She suffered for 4 months, mostly at home. My wife and I cooked for him often during those days. We still cook him meals about once a week.

My kids take turns cutting his grass, and he employed my boy to pressure wash his house a few weeks ago. My son sits and listens intently when he speaks about his time in the military. His own grandkids and great grands ignore him, but my son adores the guy.

You're a good neighbor JP. You are welcome next door to me any time.

__________________
2001 SLK 320 six speed manual
2014 Porsche Cayenne six speed manual

Annoy a Liberal, Read the Constitution
Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On




All times are GMT -4. The time now is 08:37 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Search Engine Optimization by vBSEO 3.6.0
Copyright 2024 Pelican Parts, LLC - Posts may be archived for display on the Peach Parts or Pelican Parts Website -    DMCA Registered Agent Contact Page