U.P. Northwoods
Full Member
This is but a portion of a collection that dateds back many years. I magine my interest was piqued when a wee lad of 5 my gramps had me at a Sons of the Union Veterans meeting at the old local GAR Hall He had invited 3 vets from the Span/Am War and there I was sitting on their laps admiring their medals and such. I can remember the old campaign hats. One was wearing his uniform. They had to of been at least in their early eighties.
By the 70's I was all about getting as much into my brain about the Second World War as possible. I have been involved with the WWII vets marching in parades, monument dedications, static displays, speaking engagements etc. I believe God truly blessed us with these men and the sacrifice they gave.
In one of the following pics is a rain jacket pullover that my father in-law wore. He was one of my greatest heroes. He was in the 1st Naval Beach Battalion. They were the Bastards of the Navy as much of their work was done with Army Combat Engineers. They were the first to go in to the beach. They would do everything from guiding incoming landing craft to where they were suppose to go to administering fisrt aid to wounded and calling in coordinates for ship to shore shelling of bunkers and such. He first landed at Algiers in N. Africa, then Sicily, Salerno, Anzio, So. France and Okinawa. He never spoke about it, he couldn't. His losses were many! What he did leave was a journal and it says it all.
Another hero is my very dear friend George Koskimaki. George was a member of the vaunted 101st A/B Div. he was Genl. Maxwell D. Taylors personal radioman throughout the war. He jumped at Normandy, Holland and was one of the Battered Bastards of Bastogne. He has written three outstanding books chronicling the heroic efforts of the 101st throughout the war. If interested his books are D-Day, Hells Highway, and The Battered Bastads of Bastogne.
Today they are dying at a rate of 1000+ a day and soon will be gone but for a few. Please thank a vet. Shake their hand and tell them "Well Done, well done". I love them all and God Bless them all, those that have protected us and the greatest nation on earth!
By the 70's I was all about getting as much into my brain about the Second World War as possible. I have been involved with the WWII vets marching in parades, monument dedications, static displays, speaking engagements etc. I believe God truly blessed us with these men and the sacrifice they gave.
In one of the following pics is a rain jacket pullover that my father in-law wore. He was one of my greatest heroes. He was in the 1st Naval Beach Battalion. They were the Bastards of the Navy as much of their work was done with Army Combat Engineers. They were the first to go in to the beach. They would do everything from guiding incoming landing craft to where they were suppose to go to administering fisrt aid to wounded and calling in coordinates for ship to shore shelling of bunkers and such. He first landed at Algiers in N. Africa, then Sicily, Salerno, Anzio, So. France and Okinawa. He never spoke about it, he couldn't. His losses were many! What he did leave was a journal and it says it all.
Another hero is my very dear friend George Koskimaki. George was a member of the vaunted 101st A/B Div. he was Genl. Maxwell D. Taylors personal radioman throughout the war. He jumped at Normandy, Holland and was one of the Battered Bastards of Bastogne. He has written three outstanding books chronicling the heroic efforts of the 101st throughout the war. If interested his books are D-Day, Hells Highway, and The Battered Bastads of Bastogne.
Today they are dying at a rate of 1000+ a day and soon will be gone but for a few. Please thank a vet. Shake their hand and tell them "Well Done, well done". I love them all and God Bless them all, those that have protected us and the greatest nation on earth!
