War Stories

[Big Man]

Old joke: What's the difference in a war story and a fairy tale? A fairy tale starts with "once upon a time" and a war story starts with "this ain't no s - - t".

That being said, does anyone have any interesting "war stories" to share? I've got a few that may be of interest to the group. First, some background information. My great grandfather (1843-1943) was in the American Civil War. During a big family reunion held in 1928, one of my great aunts who was interested in family history interviewed several of the family members in attendance. I was fortunate enough to find her notes in a "box of junk" that was given to me a couple of years ago. From those notes, I found two very interesting "war stories" as told by my great grandfather.

My great grandfather personally knew his great grandfather (1755-1859). The following story was told to my great grandfather by his great grandfather who was in the American Revolution: "He and his brother-in-law [Edward] Ross were captured by the Indians. They were kept three years before they could escape. They hid in a hollow log, where the Indians sat down and said that they would 'hunt no more till day'. They traveled for days and days, till they heard a cow and rooster. They were taken in and fed small portions of food, being almost starved to death."

Another story I found was told by my great grandfather about his Civil War experience. He joined the Confederate Army in 1862, and was assigned duty in a prison camp in the mountains of western North Carolina. According to my great grandfather, one of his duties was to serve on the firing squad. He related: "It was the custom of the day for the condemned man to be visited by his family before his day of execution. On one occasion, there was a man from my hometown. He had a little daughter who came up to me and said, 'please, Mr. Brown, don't kill my daddy in the morning.' I talked it over with my friend, and that night we told the Sergeant of the Guard that we were going to the spring to get some water. We hit the gate and never looked back." My great grandfather and his friend made their way across the mountains to the Cumberland Gap, where they joined the Union Army and served out the remainder of the war.

My Dad told me an interesting story about WW II. He said that when they were stationed in France, he and his buddy, Jack Kaminski, decided one day that they wanted to go to Paris and "see a movie". Not having any type of transportation, they "liberated a bicycle" and rode double towards Paris (probably 20 or so miles away). They didn't make it too far until they were discovered and had to return to base. What really makes this story funny, is to see my Dad and his buddy side-by-side and to picture them riding double on a bike.

My Dad is the tall one.

Sorry for the long post, but I thought these stories were interesting, and that others may find them interesting as well. Anyone have a story or two to share?

 

[TailendCharlie]

My Uncle Walts war story

Its really not much of a war story as much as its his own observation of how things in the Army we're run,you see my Uncle Walt was in a construction unit and my other Uncle Julian was in intelligence,any way the running joke or argument between the two of them was who had a better job,the debate ran for years in my granmothers living room. The best line I heard from my Uncle Walt was that Army intelligence was a oxymoron and my Uncle Julian would say "Who are you calling a moron",then it was on.Boy, I sure miss them both.Bless their hearts

 

[Retro Rob]

Dad in Bastonge

Dad was a replacement 320th Infantry, 35th Division, Patton's 3rd Army. He was designated 1st scout for his group. Just before Bastonge, knee deep in snow, his sergent says" take us through those woods" my Dad tells him it's full of krauts. Sgt. says no, our artillery cleared 'em out. Into the woods they go. My Dad walks ahead of the group, eventually sees I soldier in a "white suit" running through the trees ahead. Dad yells "Hit the Deck" as he takes a shot at the guy. The Sgt. yells ******** It Those are Americans !!! 2 German MG 42s open up on the squad, killing all but my Dad (11 GIs). He lay motionless for what seemed like hours, untill someone walked up to him and tap him on the helmet with there rifle. Getting up he realized he was a POW. Surrounded by Germans he put his hands in the air. He turned around to see a pile of dead GIs. He saw his best friend Pat Dempski from Buffalo, laying yards from where dad was. He had a bullet in his forehead. The 19 year old was supposed to be at the rear, but he felt safer near my Dad who was 26.
The two Germans who took my Dad prisoner lead hem to a Bunker that had a small stove going. There was a German radio opperator, wearing a headset and talking on the radio. Dad sat between his two captors scared to death. The guy to his right reached in his own coat and pulled out a photo of his wife to show my Dad. My father got out the picture he carried in his little Bible of Mom and my oldest sister. The German looked at it and in broken english said "too bad, too bad". My Father realized he hadn't eaten all day and got a Hersheys Bar out of his pocket, The other German snatched it from him, broke it in half, and gave half back to Dad. His english was somewhat better, he said "50-50, thank you very much !" Just then a vehicle pulled up, the bunker door opened and my Dad said comming down the steps was the most "beautiful pair of boots he had ever seen". The officer was impecably dressed, from his long wool coat to his visor cap with skull and crossed bones. He asked my dad where they were going and where had they been. Dad really didn't know a thing, he said "all my guys are dead out there, I'm only a private." With that the officer yeld instructions to the two guards, Dad said he knew enough German that he said to "take him out and kill him " The officer and the radio guy left quickly. The other two instructed my Dad to get up and walk out, with them behind him. He was waiting for a bullet in the back of his head. The Malmady Massacare was only a or two week before, and Dads outfit had passed that area American POWs were executed. As the 3 of them left the bunker Dad realized everyone else had left. It was just him and the two Germans. The one with the other half of Dad's Hershey Bar asked him where he was from. Dad said New York, the German replies "oh Yankees" The other asked NY-Duetchland, how far. "Along Ways" he sighed. The 3 walked quite a ways when they started hearing a faint squeeling noise in the distance, one German ran to the top of a hill for a better look. He excitedly motioned for Dad and the other to join him. As they crested the hill Dad saw in the distance dozen of American tanks heading down the road, Pattons Armored divisions. The two Germans handed their rifles to Dad. The three walked together in the snow to join the American troops. The two Germans couldn't have been happier. Dad turned them over to the MPs, he shook their hands and said goodbye, and thank you. Dad told the MPs to take good care of they, that they were supposed to kill him. He always regretted not getting their names and addresses, at the time he was happy just to be alive. In the weeks after the Bulge my Dad ended up with trench foot. They almost cut off his foot but the Doctors were able to save it, but no more infantry. Dad finished the war with the 390th Bomb Group in Framlingham England working on B17s. He had the time of his life. But thats a whole nother story. My Father died two years ago. He was part of the greatest generation that ever lived, he helped save the world. No matter what I do in my life it will never compare to the sacrifice that he and so many others made, and continue to make for us. My Dad was my Hero, but more important he was my best Friend. I will always miss him.

 

[Maj.Nick Danger]

That was an amazing story.

My uncle was in the Aleutians but never said a word about his experiences to anyone, not even my mother. I wish I could find something out.