Tonight, as I watch different YouTube clips of “Saving Private Ryan” for the Umpteenth time it dawned me that I really regret not speaking with my great uncle about his service in WWII…
Seriously, there’s a small regret in my heart… I’m wish I could’ve connected with him more and learned about his youth.
My dad said he was a waist gunner on a B-24 Liberator (… I think. Because I don’t remember hearing the “Mitchell” ever mentioned… which is the B-25).
Anyway, it seems kinda glamorous to be firing a 50 Cal at an incoming 109’s (or 190’s)… Yet, as I learned later in life their bullets were larger than our 50 Calibers… So, I’m sure that made things quite serious… dangerous… well, all together terrifying!
Wait. Was he stationed in the Pacific?? Hmmm…. see… I can’t remember. So many questions come to mind.
One thing is for sure… I really doubt that he’d agree that FRANTICALLY firing a 50 Cal at incoming/racing fighter planes because your life depended on it was very glamorous.
I better count my blessings - AGAIN!
R. I. P. all US/Allied Service Personnel.
Leave a Reply