And to those who truly saw combat, the “good stuff”, as Michael calls it, is what they don’t want to remember or talk about. It’s only the “armchair generals” who think war is glorious.
Mike is still too young to look upon anything having to do with sex with much interest. He’s into a real ‘War’ story. He wants to know how Granpa fought the Natzi’s.
The “panty raid” comment suggests to me Grandpa and his buddies did (ahem) ‘grown-up’ things that wouldn’t have been suitable to tell a child.The whole idea is to show that Michael isn’t interested in the recreation the soldiers had in their off hours (even the naughty ones); he wants to know about the war (and yes, it referred to World War II).—I regret not asking my uncle details of some of the things he did in the war. He was one of the first GIs to meet up with the Russian army at the Elbe River. (We still have some of the Russian coins he was given when they swapped souvenirs.) He saw combat in the Battle of the Bulge, and was involved in the capture of Germany’s rocket scientists.By the time I was old enough to realize the importance of the things he’d done, he had passed away.
The cancer stick in the hand and mouth turns me off. Especially in the house, practically in Mikes face. I can’t believe it seemed so normal when this was written.
Nabuquduriuzhur: I don’t find the hilarity in a 403 Forbidden notice..NightShade09: I know what you mean. A former pastor was a dive bomber pilot in WW-II and chaplain in Korea. Regulations required wearing ribbons aboard ship, so he got interesting reactions when he came aboard. In addition to the assumed good conduct and theater of operation ones, he also had Navy Cross, DFC with two oak leafs, and an Air Medal with three oak leafs. He didn’t talk about it until about retirement time, when he started an autobiography. Unfortunately, Alzheimer hit hard and too rapidly for me to show up with a tape recorder and get an “as told to” credit.
There was a big project to record the experiences of WWII and Korean vets which are now stored in the Library of Congress. My DH was a fighter pilot in the Pacific Theater flying off the Langley (the second Langley…for those who are history students.) I’ve tried to write down most of his exploits, for the family, before it’s too late. I know most of them by heart, so he can’t embellish them. Believe me, they don’t need embellishment. So in a way, being a fighter pilot is perhaps a more impersonal type of war compared to hand to hand combat on the ground.
Every now and ten he will remember something I haven’t heard before, so I scurry to take notes. There aren’t many left of his old squadron, and one succumbed to Altzheimer’s a few years ago. My DH was awarded the DFC and the Air Medal among others. Sorry if TMI…
Boys his age think combat is the most cool part of the war and many of them sign up at 18 thinking they were going to lead a glamorous and heroic life only to return home damaged and depressed – or dead. Grandpa needs to shut down Michael’s ideals about the war quick.
One uncle was in both theaters of WWII—European and Pacific. He was Army-Air Corp. He was in the European Theater and received a Silver Star. In the Pacific Theater he was at Hickam Air Field on Dec 7, 1941, where he received a Purple Heart. He never talked about his “experiences” let alone to me. His awards were discovered in his stuff after he passed. The certificates had his name and service number so we new it was him and not made up. I sure would love to hear some of his stories.My other uncle is the first Marine and person to be buried in the Northern Wis VA cemetery. He’s another one with a secret past in the Marines. We know he was discharged a Sgt. He was in Korean War but again no stories. I think being a Marine myself I might have been able to get one or two stories from either but I’m not hedging my bet.My dad has started to tell some of his stories. He’s 80 and a Korean War vet.My friend in hospice is a WWII vet. He’s a Purple Heart veteran having lost a leg in a mine field in Germany. He told a few stories to those of us who also served but not much to anyone else.Our WWII and Korean vets are passing away fast. We really need to record their stories. The Vietnam Vets are close behind.
westny77: As Canadians tell USAns, the slowest speed of sound on record was the time it took a bugle call to cross the Great Lakes: September 1939 to December 1941.
FYI: One third of the world’s population is Muslim. (That’s about 2 billion – with a ‘B’ – people. The US population is about 350 million. That’s about 1/6 the number of Muslims.)
Recently, Iran had a group of young people beaten for dancing and having fun to the American song “Happy.” And an ISIS sniper killed an Iranian general.
That should prove not all Muslims are the same.By the way, the NBA’s all-time top scorer is a Muslim – Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
ORMouseworks almost 10 years ago
Wait until you grow up, Michael, you’ll be changing your tune quite quickly! ;)
Ol Skool almost 10 years ago
Michael, to Grandpa, that was important stuff.continue Grandpa
QuietStorm27 almost 10 years ago
How boys change as they get older. That would definitely be good stuff to my 15 year old son.
freewaydog almost 10 years ago
I’d rather hear about other things than pantie raids too! :D
MIHorn Premium Member almost 10 years ago
And to those who truly saw combat, the “good stuff”, as Michael calls it, is what they don’t want to remember or talk about. It’s only the “armchair generals” who think war is glorious.
AliCom almost 10 years ago
Mike is still too young to look upon anything having to do with sex with much interest. He’s into a real ‘War’ story. He wants to know how Granpa fought the Natzi’s.
Can't Sleep almost 10 years ago
The “panty raid” comment suggests to me Grandpa and his buddies did (ahem) ‘grown-up’ things that wouldn’t have been suitable to tell a child.The whole idea is to show that Michael isn’t interested in the recreation the soldiers had in their off hours (even the naughty ones); he wants to know about the war (and yes, it referred to World War II).—I regret not asking my uncle details of some of the things he did in the war. He was one of the first GIs to meet up with the Russian army at the Elbe River. (We still have some of the Russian coins he was given when they swapped souvenirs.) He saw combat in the Battle of the Bulge, and was involved in the capture of Germany’s rocket scientists.By the time I was old enough to realize the importance of the things he’d done, he had passed away.
summerdog86 almost 10 years ago
The cancer stick in the hand and mouth turns me off. Especially in the house, practically in Mikes face. I can’t believe it seemed so normal when this was written.
hippogriff almost 10 years ago
Nabuquduriuzhur: I don’t find the hilarity in a 403 Forbidden notice..NightShade09: I know what you mean. A former pastor was a dive bomber pilot in WW-II and chaplain in Korea. Regulations required wearing ribbons aboard ship, so he got interesting reactions when he came aboard. In addition to the assumed good conduct and theater of operation ones, he also had Navy Cross, DFC with two oak leafs, and an Air Medal with three oak leafs. He didn’t talk about it until about retirement time, when he started an autobiography. Unfortunately, Alzheimer hit hard and too rapidly for me to show up with a tape recorder and get an “as told to” credit.
hillsmom almost 10 years ago
There was a big project to record the experiences of WWII and Korean vets which are now stored in the Library of Congress. My DH was a fighter pilot in the Pacific Theater flying off the Langley (the second Langley…for those who are history students.) I’ve tried to write down most of his exploits, for the family, before it’s too late. I know most of them by heart, so he can’t embellish them. Believe me, they don’t need embellishment. So in a way, being a fighter pilot is perhaps a more impersonal type of war compared to hand to hand combat on the ground.
Every now and ten he will remember something I haven’t heard before, so I scurry to take notes. There aren’t many left of his old squadron, and one succumbed to Altzheimer’s a few years ago. My DH was awarded the DFC and the Air Medal among others. Sorry if TMI…
JanLC almost 10 years ago
Lynn’s Notes:
My dad talked a lot about the war, and any time the subject came up in the strip, I received letters from veterans happy to see it mentioned.
loves raising duncan almost 10 years ago
Uh… I think Mike is a little young for that kind of war story!
capricorn9th almost 10 years ago
Boys his age think combat is the most cool part of the war and many of them sign up at 18 thinking they were going to lead a glamorous and heroic life only to return home damaged and depressed – or dead. Grandpa needs to shut down Michael’s ideals about the war quick.
rfeinberg almost 10 years ago
Panel 4: Hands do not bend that way.
sundogusa almost 10 years ago
One uncle was in both theaters of WWII—European and Pacific. He was Army-Air Corp. He was in the European Theater and received a Silver Star. In the Pacific Theater he was at Hickam Air Field on Dec 7, 1941, where he received a Purple Heart. He never talked about his “experiences” let alone to me. His awards were discovered in his stuff after he passed. The certificates had his name and service number so we new it was him and not made up. I sure would love to hear some of his stories.My other uncle is the first Marine and person to be buried in the Northern Wis VA cemetery. He’s another one with a secret past in the Marines. We know he was discharged a Sgt. He was in Korean War but again no stories. I think being a Marine myself I might have been able to get one or two stories from either but I’m not hedging my bet.My dad has started to tell some of his stories. He’s 80 and a Korean War vet.My friend in hospice is a WWII vet. He’s a Purple Heart veteran having lost a leg in a mine field in Germany. He told a few stories to those of us who also served but not much to anyone else.Our WWII and Korean vets are passing away fast. We really need to record their stories. The Vietnam Vets are close behind.
hippogriff almost 10 years ago
westny77: As Canadians tell USAns, the slowest speed of sound on record was the time it took a bugle call to cross the Great Lakes: September 1939 to December 1941.
Can't Sleep almost 10 years ago
FYI: One third of the world’s population is Muslim. (That’s about 2 billion – with a ‘B’ – people. The US population is about 350 million. That’s about 1/6 the number of Muslims.)
Recently, Iran had a group of young people beaten for dancing and having fun to the American song “Happy.” And an ISIS sniper killed an Iranian general.
That should prove not all Muslims are the same.By the way, the NBA’s all-time top scorer is a Muslim – Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.