Grandad, what did you do during the War?

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**Mattlov**

Sgt_Scruffy wrote:My grandfather on my dad's side served as a captain of liberty ships in World War 2 in the atlantic. He had his boat shot out from under him by a german u-boat. He survived but died before I was born.

My father served on a minesweeper during the blockade in the Cuban missile crisis. All my uncles save one were in Vietnam. One was in the 101st where he received 2 purple hearts. Another was with MACV and the Green Berets before becoming an AH-1 Cobra pilot. He retired a few years ago a CW4. My other uncle who didn't make it to 'Nam served as a JAG officer in Germany during that time.

It is because of these men that I took the road I took. They are my personal heroes.

(personal info removed)

I salute you sir, and thank you for protecting us.

**Kilkrazy**

A lot of men felt ashamed they could not enlist, even though for very good reasons. My great uncle lost his trigger finger in a cricketing accident in the 20s, and had to sit out WW2 as a building inspector.

However, they also serve who only sit and wait, or whatever the quotation is. Inspecting buildings was an important job given the amount of demolition, rebuilding and new building that was done at the Home Front during the war.

**Mekniakal**

My grandfather was a career soldier in the marines. He was a Sergent Major and was in World War Two, the Korean War, and Vietnam. After he retired from the Marines, he earned the "simulated" rank of Colonel in the Coast Guard.

My great grandfather on my dad's side was a Turkish General in World War I.

Truth be told, I have a lot of relatives in the military,

**Chrysaor686**

I honestly don't like talking about my World War II heritage, as I'm of full-blooded german descent. Both of my great grandfathers served in the Nazi military, while both of my great grandmothers moved here with their children during the war.

However, my grandfather on my mother's side served in the Korean War. I believe he was a paratrooper.

My uncle served in Vietnam. He got both of his legs blown off by a bouncing betty that got caught in some undergrowth, so I'm relatively surprised at how much he enjoys talking about it (Even if he mainly focuses on how many Vietnamese he killed, and in what ways he did so).

**Tacobake**

My own grandfather was too old, but his brother went, as we say here in Canada.

On my mother's side, my grandmother's two brothers (my uncles) were career military; one army, one navy?, I don't know if they served in WWII. I do not know much about it at all, really. They are the ones I presumably take after.

We are more a pioneering family than a military family. Canada, you know. Lumberjacks and everything.

**dasgibby**

Well, My great granddad was in the navy during the spanish american war, My other greatgrandda was in the 3rd cavalry, In the 20's. My grandda an his brothers were all in WWII he was navy in the pacific, my uncles were, in the other services, one in the marines in the pacific (He saw several beach landings, one in the army air corp in england, and the most notable was my uncle John who was captured by the germans in the battle of the bulge, then the dutch underground helped him escape. He was a Parratrooper, but I'm not sure if it was 82D or the 101st airborne. he also got a purpleheart for being wounded. his youngest brother was in the us army in the korean conflict.

**Corey85**

My wife's Grandpa was in the navy and never saw any combat, but his brother fought in the battle of the bulge, among others. My grandpa is a bit younger and didn't serve during WW2, but he was in the airforce and mostly trained others to fly.

**inquisitor_bob**

My grandfather on dad's side was in the Chinese army during WW2. Grandmother always talked about how she and her 7 kids had to run all over the country from the Japanese till the war was over. When the communist took control in 1949 my grandfather was able to get her and 6 of the kids out to Taiwan. He stayed behind and was eventually captured and executed by the communists.

**SPARKEYG**

Granddad on dad's side was an airplane mechanic for the USAAF in Europe, then working in the X plane program. On moms side many navy types, including one KIA pilot in the Pacific and another that stayed in till he made MCPO.
Dad started as an MP during Vietnam retiring 25 years later after Desert Shield/Storm and finishing in the Balkans.