Touchy impression or a part of war that must be told???

[Rathdown]

Just out of curiosity, how many (besides me) responding to this thread are actual veterans?

 

[thecardigankid]

Just out of curiosity, how many (besides me) responding to this thread are actual veterans?

I'm a veteran...

 

[ButteMT61]

Just out of curiosity, how many (besides me) responding to this thread are actual veterans?

My family has many many Vet's. I am not one. The only thing I wanted to do out of high school was fly choppers - when my brother and I went to the USMC recruiters, they told me I was too tall, but 'we have other things for you...' I declined, he went to Paris Island, then Quantico /OCS after graduating to learn to fly...
Does that mean I'm not supposed to reply here, or is it just curiosity?

 

[thecardigankid]

My family has many many Vet's. I am not one. The only thing I wanted to do out of high school was fly choppers - when my brother and I went to the USMC recruiters, they told me I was too tall, but 'we have other things for you...' I declined, he went to Paris Island, then Quantico /OCS after graduating to learn to fly...
Does that mean I'm not supposed to reply here, or is it just curiosity?

You're perfectly fine posting here, I think him asking that has different intentions. You are fine and I welcome any input you might have to the original topic of discussion for this thread.

 

[Gene]

Just because it's something people don't want to see doesn't make it off-limits to reenact. The unsung people and the dirty jobs are just as much a part of history as the Airborne, Rangers, Commandos, 1st SSF, etc.

For most, I'm sure it was a pretty miserable existence. Graves Registration is certainly no exception. I'd say go for it, reflect that it wasn't pretty, show that. MAKE PEOPLE THINK.

 

[Phantomfixer]

Just out of curiosity, how many (besides me) responding to this thread are actual veterans?

22 years brother 22 years
But I do not think a vets opinion should weigh more or less than anyone elses on this subject or in the forum.

 

[Phantomfixer]

As far as a mess hall/ tent, those of us that went to Reading in the mid to late 90s and up to what 2006? remember the AAF mess tent/chow hall. I will not name names but Dan could cook!!! I remember a cold Thursday night set up. It was raining, no heat anywhere, and Dan , God bless him, made spaghetti and meatballs!!! very good and hot. Thanks Dan!

 

[V.C. Brunswick]

Out of curiosity, what would a tastefully done Graves Registration display include? The only things I can think of would be some examples of regulation grave markers and a collection of dog tags a la Saving Private Ryan.

 

[thecardigankid]

Out of curiosity, what would a tastefully done Graves Registration display include? The only things I can think of would be some examples of regulation grave markers and a collection of dog tags a la Saving Private Ryan.

There were platoons whose only job was to lay out and survey sites for permanent cemeteries so that plots were ready for when bodies had to be buried. There were others who sorted and inventoried the personal effects found on the bodies of soldiers and placed them in effects bags to be sent home to the next of kin, a lot of times those who inventoried the personal effects were key in getting a positive identification of the body. There were collection points as well where the bodies and their effects would be sent their separate ways. A lot of paperwork had to be done, and any of those jobs I described above can be done tastefully, Graves Registration wasn't just Casualty Collection Platoons, they did other jobs too that was all a part of the process of giving our soldiers a decent burial.

 

[ButteMT61]

You're perfectly fine posting here, I think him asking that has different intentions. You are fine and I welcome any input you might have to the original topic of discussion for this thread.

OK, cool. Thanks for clarifying that. I was hoping it was just out of curiosity... I often have felt guilty that I never served, so maybe I have a thin skin there...

 

[thecardigankid]

OK, cool. Thanks for clarifying that. I was hoping it was just out of curiosity... I often have felt guilty that I never served, so maybe I have a thin skin there...

Don't feel guilty for not serving, as long as you went on to live a good honest life you have nothing to feel guilty of.

 

[Gene]

A lot of paperwork had to be done, and any of those jobs I described above can be done tastefully, Graves Registration wasn't just Casualty Collection Platoons, they did other jobs too that was all a part of the process of giving our soldiers a decent burial.

I have the footlocker and personal affects of a man who was in a Casualty Collection Platoon. He drove the trucks that carried the dead to the cemeteries. Something tells that was not a desirable job, but I suppose you didn't think about it.

 

[Rathdown]

You're perfectly fine posting here, I think him asking that has different intentions. You are fine and I welcome any input you might have to the original topic of discussion for this thread.

No agenda or hidden intentions on my part, just a general curiosity about the hobbies in which people indulge themselves and why, for instance, someone would take up reenacing rather than, say, train spotting. However, it seems as if this may have caused things to drift off topic, and for that you have my apologies.

 

[thecardigankid]

No agenda or hidden intentions on my part, just a general curiosity about the hobbies in which people indulge themselves and why, for instance, someone would take up reenacing rather than, say, train spotting. However, it seems as if this may have caused things to drift off topic, and for that you have my apologies.

No worries, it happens! Train Spotting, I did that the first 18 years of my life (had railroad tracks right behind my house growing up). I took up reenacting before I was in the military and the reasons I did it then are the same reason I do it now, I learn better through hands on and reenacting gives me small hands on insight into what they experienced.

 

[thecardigankid]

I have the footlocker and personal affects of a man who was in a Casualty Collection Platoon. He drove the trucks that carried the dead to the cemeteries. Something tells that was not a desirable job, but I suppose you didn't think about it.

Is there any way you might be willing to share what you have? Pictures or what have you?

 

[Spitfire]

No agenda or hidden intentions on my part, just a general curiosity about the hobbies in which people indulge themselves and why, for instance, someone would take up reenacing rather than, say, train spotting. However, it seems as if this may have caused things to drift off topic, and for that you have my apologies.

I did serve my 14 month of national service. Drafted as I was. No war, no nothing - not in Denmark anyway. Does that make me a "veteran"? I think not.
Found it a lot a time wasted on nothing. Waiting around for someone to tell you what to do next. That's why I don't do reenacting. I did it for 14 months.

 

[thecardigankid]

I did serve my 14 month of national service. Drafted as I was. No war, no nothing - not in Denmark anyway. Does that make me a "veteran"? I think not.
Found it a lot a time wasted on nothing. Waiting around for someone to tell you what to do next. That's why I don't do reenacting. I did it for 14 months.

Everyone has their reasons as to why or why not they do it. My father likes what I do but he says the same thing "I don't do reenacting because I did the real thing for 30+ years." I respect that. And yes spitfire in my eyes though you only 14 months and didn't do anything extraordinary you still served when your country asked you to and that makes you a veteran. I know quite a few people (more than I could count) in my generation here in America that would downright refuse even doing 14 months service for this country. You are a veteran.

 

[ButteMT61]

My dad was Air Force - 23rd Bomber Squadron in the 50's. He told me he felt guilty (family trait?) that he had never seen combat. I said to him: "Really Dad? You signed up right after WWII and were (luckily I think) between two wars - you were lucky, and the chances you would see battle were likely pretty high"
Not exactly a dodger...but we all have our own thoughts.
I asked him about his gear too - he has none of it, sans some jacket patches. Just never wanted to keep it he says. So I'm looking for a D1 for him, or I'm going to have one made.

 

[1961MJS]

My dad was Air Force - 23rd Bomber Squadron in the 50's. He told me he felt guilty (family trait?) that he had never seen combat. ...

Hi

My Dad was in WW2, in the 17th Weather Squadron in the South Pacific. You didn't have to be in combat to die. Everyone who wasn't a devote Jew came near death from bad pork on Guadalcanal in 1945. One guy that made Dad VERY mad, blew off his weather briefing and flew through a storm into a mountain near Finschafen. Dad didn't feel very sorry for HIM, but felt VERY SORRY for his crew. No combat, lots of dying.

Look up the development of the aircraft in the 1950's. The B-58 Hustler wrecked at least 5 planes and as many as 15 just in development and initial deployment. The Air Force just wasn't safe.

Later

 

[V.C. Brunswick]

Hi

My Dad was in WW2, in the 17th Weather Squadron in the South Pacific. You didn't have to be in combat to die. Everyone who wasn't a devote Jew came near death from bad pork on Guadalcanal in 1945. One guy that made Dad VERY mad, blew off his weather briefing and flew through a storm into a mountain near Finschafen. Dad didn't feel very sorry for HIM, but felt VERY SORRY for his crew. No combat, lots of dying.

Look up the development of the aircraft in the 1950's. The B-58 Hustler wrecked at least 5 planes and as many as 15 just in development and initial deployment. The Air Force just wasn't safe.

Later

Good point. We remember those who gave their lives in battle but, unfortunately, we don't always think of the noncombat deaths from everything from sickness to training accidents.