The greatest generation

[colonelbuckrobely]

I would love to hear your stories about friends and relatives and general reflections that you have. We need to overcome the malaise
that exists within this new regime in Washington and this might be a good way to start the discussion. I'll go first.

There are two of us here whose father served in the Army and was in London during World War II. By today's standards I think he might have been considered part of bomb damage assessment. I remember seeing aerial photos of bombed out industrial plants in France and Germany. He was a mechanical engineer and pretty darned good at what he did. I will always thank him for my middle name, Grosvenor, named after Grosvenor Square in London.

I really want to hear your stories. My sister might have more to add on our father who I am sure was a Libertarian.

Jump in here, please!

[hasset]

Our father was an Army Engineer and he went around the country setting up ROTC programs at colleges for most of his WWII time. When the war was winding down, he went to Europe (England, Belgium, France and Germany) and was one of the Army Engineer Officers to be part of the U.S. Bombing Survey. This Bombing Survey was made up of 300 civilians, 350 officers and 500 enlisted men. The Survey operated from headquarters in London and established forward headquarters and regional headquarters in Germany immediately following the advance of the Allied armies.

It made a close examination and inspection of several hundred German plants, cities and areas, amassed volumes of statistical and documentary material, including top German government documents; and conducted interviews and interrogations of thousands of Germans, including virtually all of the surviving political and military leaders. Germany was scoured for its war records, which were found sometimes, but rarely, in places where they ought to have been; sometimes in safe-deposit vaults, often in private houses, in barns, in caves; on one occasion, in a hen house and, on two occasions, in coffins. Targets in Russian-held territory were not available to the Survey.

Some two hundred detailed reports were made, including an Over-all Report, of which this is a summary. During the course of its work, the Survey rendered interim reports and submitted studies and suggestions in connection with the air operations against Japan. www.anesi.com/ussbs02.htm#pageii

He was in Europe for 9 mos. but he had been gone so much when he was in the USA that I can remember taking his picture to school to put on the teacher's desk so I wouldn't forget what he looked like. He was a real individual and very complicated, but what a great man!

Our father was a remarkable man but the WWII experience sure did change him. He came home a very quiet person who kept to himself a lot. I never did get to talk to him about his experiences because my mother told me to leave him alone. I am sorry I listened to her. I was very close to my father and I remember how much fun he was before the war. He was an intellectual type and YES, I am sure he was a Libertarian!!!!

As a side note, my daughter bought an engraved brick in honor of my father and it is at the Veteran's memorial in Cedar Rapids. She got one for my husband too who was an MP in the Viet Nam War for 3 yrs.

[colonelbuckrobely]

Great recollections, indeed. Thanks for filling in some of the blanks. I was not aware that cubbieblue was an MP during the Viet Nam War.

[knollwood]

Thanks for sharing. I love to hear those stories.