This isn't going to be long. My grandfather grew up during the Depression, became a B-17(g for you nerds) pilot, flew 50 (twice the required 25) missions over France and Germany, retired, became an accountant and a father of four, lived a long, decent and prosperous life. He had Parkinsons later in life, and died Saturday at around 4pm. This wasn't surprising, but I was close to him and am at a loss but to say that I hope, when I die, I have lived half his life.

I know you are generally good people, and are probably inclined to post something like "I'm sorry for your loss" or "condolences", but instead, share your experiences of your grandparents, or failing that, anyone you knew who served in WW2.

masalaama eugene

My grandmother died when I was very young. I hardly remember her. My grandfather hated my father, and by extension, me. He claimed he wasn't his real son, and tried to kill him when he was younger. He hated my father, and anything to do with him, including me. He's dead now. My father paid all the expenses of his funeral. I never knew my other grandparents.

I wish you and your family comfort and peace, and remind you to be grateful for the good times you've had and the memories you've made.

My grandfather served in Africa (an old war map of El Alamin(sp) of his is floating around somewhere) and the Pacific for 5-6 years. It was hard to comprehend how someone who had survived so much could in the end die to cancer in such a way. Like your grandfather, if I live half the life he did I'll be a happy man.

My other grandfather also fought in WW2, mainly the Pacific though I'm not sure on the exact details, he didn't like talking about it.

It really would be great if the survivors of WWII veterans could find a site to post scans of old diaries, plans and documents. This **** is too precious to be lost

There are some pretty good museums that do that kind of thng. Might be worth looking into.

My grandfather on my mother's side served in the U.S. Coast Guard from 1942 to 1946. He was a radio operator. I do not know what patrol routes he took or where he was stationed at the time. My grandmother might know that. She still has his discharge papers.

My grandfather was instrumental in shaping my political beliefs. If he were still alive today and free of the wretched Alzheimer's Disease, I can just imagine him on Election Night. He did love my sister and I. Although I did not see that for I was oblivious to that. And I was a very selfish and conceited person in my younger days. I really regret that.

At his funeral he was given a full honor guard complete with 21-gun salute. I shall never forget that day. His ashes are buried @ Riverside National Cemetary.

Rest in peace Robert Wyman.

My grandfather died a few years ago. Aside from my parents, he was probably the one person who mostly affected me. Till the very end, he lived in his old, big ranch house. Our summer cottage was right near it, and when I was young I spent much of my summers there. When I was a child, it was like some dream land with all the hundred years old buildings, with all kinds of old farm tools and stuff, surrounded by old forests and lakes and everything. I consider myself extremely lucky to have spent there so much of my time.

He was an infantry sergeant 1st class (in the US terms) in WW2. He didn't like to talk about it though, and one of the few things I remember was his military hat he had brought from the war. It had a very clean bullet hole in it... One inch lower, and he would have probably died.

My grandfather on my mother's side served as infantry. It's very hard to glean much information out of him since he was completely silent about it until a few years back, and even now he never goes into any specifics. He treated every socialist with great antipathy for a long time. He burned all the letters he sent to my grandmother once he got back and resumed his life as a farmer. He served near the middle of the Finnish front, he was often behind enemy lines, he seemed to be the "runner" of his squad. He was shot through the shoulder, but he survived and he's still alive. My grandmother didn't serve, but she still recalls blackouts at night, and hearing heavy soviet bombers formations passing overhead, headed for Helsinki.

Both my grandmother and my grandfather (deceased) on my father's side served as radisti (radio-operators) through the Winter War and the Continuation War. That's how they met, actually. My grand-mother has kept some old soviet pistol that she was given for self-defence. As neither directly saw frontline combat they are/were both somewhat more open about what they saw. She frequently tells of missing out on a christmas party which was strafed by Soviet aircraft, and of her brother who was a fighter pilot who died. My grandfather told my father about meeting a man on a tranport train with a bullet lodged in his head who was quite alive, yet dead the next morning.

Rest in peace, our great generation. We owe them so much. May those that are still alive live their lives gently and happily to the end. May we never have to make the sacrifices they did.

Only grandparent I have left is a grandmother who suffers from dementia. She didnt remember me at all the last time I saw her. Pretty upsetting that.

I hope I go out in a blaze of glory well before my brain deteriorates to the stage of not remembering my daughter and her son.

All of my grandparents are still alive thankfully. On my dad's side, i haven't seen them in about a year, due to my dad leaving home. On my mum's side, my grandparents are seperated, and i don't see either of them that often.

my grandfather died around about 2 years before i war born thanks to his work with mustard gas during WW2, shame i only ever knew one grandparent.

sorry for the loss... how old was he?

My grandad on my mum's side died of cancer a month before I was born, and he did three tours of duty in Africa in the second world war.

The rest of my grandparents are alive, including my grandad on my dad's side who was drafted into the German army, and fought on the Russian front.

He's Ukrainian by the way, which is why my surname is Pysanczyn.

And damn proud of it I am.

I have yet to meet my grandparents. In my whole life I have only talked to my one of my grandmothers on the phone, and she didnt understand me (she lives in africa..exactly all of them do) and I did not understand her. But I am pretty sure we tried to get the same thing across...."I love you", cause I know thats what I said at the end.

I've only known my mother's parents, who are bot still alive. I've never been very close to them since they live about 11 hours away from me. My grandfather is having some trouble these days getting around, but is still working hard writing books about early spanish exploration of the Americas, and is waiting for Castro to die so that he can go back to his home country after all of these years. One of my goals is to learn spanish well enough to read my grandpa's books.

Though my grandfather served in the RCAF, that was some time after WWII. My grandmother was only little during the war. She lived in England though, so I've been told of how they had to get to shelter during air raids and stuff. Unfortunatly my great grand parents have all passed away, so I don't know anything about their expiriences with the war.

Remembrance Day was last week, but still, Lest We Forget

My grandfather died when I was 8. I've not once looked into his military experience, because it's just something that never interested me. I can, however, post the details that I do know.

During WWII my grandfather, Matthias Benner, earned himself two purple hearts. One for being shot, and the other for, well, basically for being blown up. He was on a hill that did just that.

I have no memories of him outside of his medical bed that was put into my grandparent's house. I've seen pictures of him holding me, though, and I can honestly say that he's the best man that I have ever known. After WWII he owned his own construction company and fathered 7 children with my grandmother. After receiving two purple hearts, what was the thing that did him in? Cancer. The man was so strong that God himself had to kill him. I'll never forget being at his side as he laid in the bed. Not once did he ever make it known to any of us, his grandchildren, that he was in pain. The smile never left his face.

And that's just how I remember him. Smiling.

My grandfather died when I was six, so I never really got to know him. I don't know the whole story, but he was in the Coast Guard and the biggest thing I know of that he did was piloting one of the landing barges during D-Day that brought the troops to the beaches.

My grampa was/still is a professor at one of the top universities in belgium. He's got a great pension now apparently, and well... I like him, he shows me little experiments all the time

Holy... he isn't at Gent or Leuven is he? Can I have a name, I know loads of profs over here. If you feel uncomfortable posting it, maybe PM? Exciting!

In all sincere seriousness, Sine Nomen, I'm very sorry to hear that. All the best, man.

Both my Grandfathers fought in Africa and Italy during WW2. One was a Coldstream Guard (also did medic work) and the other a Sergent.

They're both now dead and I realise as I get older that they were the two most respectable men I've ever known.

I lost one uncle and 1 aunt.....:(

All my grandparents are stil alive although i haven't met one, they were all born around the time of ww2, but i know that my grandad served in cyprus in the 60's

Ruby Bradley

I'm trying for the life of me to remember exactly how she was related to me, but I can't remember at the moment. So, relative will have to do for now.

My grandfather served in WWII in Germany as a medic and translator. He's alive and well, about 86, and he tells me stories of when his division ran out of ammunition, they had to sneak into a Nazi camp and steal a crate load of armorments. Also another one of my favorite's is when he met General Patton and rode with him in a jeep. He said he was quite a nice guy and offered my grandpa a cigarette.
It's not just his wartime experiences that make my grandfather one of the most respected people in my life. He is also probably the kindest and most enthusiastic human being I'll ever know. I regret the day his life comes to an end, but I try not to think of that. Right now I want to create memories of him that will last forever, that I will never forget.

my grandfather died on nov 2 2004, he was born in 1920. served in wwII and was a college proffesor. not much more to say but he was a great honest guy:(