Thanks Dad

[JohnReid]

And all the other vets out there!

 

[tonydawe]

Lest We Forget

I thought I'd share with my fellow Planeteers, a few personal images of members of my family who served in war, and who I remember on this day.

From left to right.

The death plaque given to my family on the death of my Great Great Uncle Walter Dawe, who was killed in action Feb 22, 1918 at Messines in Belgium.

A very touching photo of my Grandfather Vernon Dawe, home from North Africa in 1942 for a few weeks leave before embarking for New Guinea, holding my 2 year old father in his arms.

My Father Philip Dawe, stripped for action at the Australian Army Task Force Headquarters at Nui Dat in South Vietnam, 1968. (When this photo was taken, I was the same age as my Dad was in the previous pic.)

All gone, but definitely not forgotten.

Thank you.

 

[vergilius]

great pics
Sadly enough I can't post one of my uncle who died just across the border with holland in 1944 as a member of Brigade Piron.
I've got a big portret of my grandfather on mothers side but I haven't got the equipment to scan it in. He was a corporal in the luftwaffe.
As the smart ones know with this short explanation, I've got family on both sides. Mom being German and my dad Belgian.
Strangly enough the German grandfather survived (with his health wrecked) but the Belgian uncle didn't.
I remember my grandmother telling about a (german) uncle who died during the invasion of France.
From the first world war I only know of my (german) great grandfather who served with the zeppelins and was awarded the iron cross 1st class. Pretty heavy for a ordinary farmerboy.
I've done my time in 1992 and eventually became a first sergeant but luckily didn't have to go to war.

Many thanks to those who gave their lives for our freedom.

 

[lock-n-load]

thanks for the pix, we should all post more. I will post some when I get home this weekend. How about some of our current Planateers???

 

[lock-n-load]

As promised, here are some pix from my album.
The first is my grandfather, Paul W. Rakow, getting a GI haircut on a beach at Okinawa.
The second is my father-in-law, Anthony J. Mignogna, training near Pikes Peak in Colorado in 1944 in preparation to being sent to the Pacific(!)...only in the U.S. Army does that make sense!!
The third is yours truly, at Fort Bragg in 1986, in preparation for a training jump. I was fortunate to have served during 4 years of peace during the Ronald Regan administration. For me, it was like scout camp, where they let us play with parachutes, machine guns and night vision equipment!!
I cannot currently locate the pic I have of my uncle, Fred Rakow, who received a bronze Star while serving in the 2nd Marine Division at Guadalcanal, Saipan and Tinian. His unit was held in reserve during the fighting at Tarawa.
These guys are who inspired me, to not only volunteer to serve myself, but to take an interest in military history that also led me to this hobby as a way to recognize and honor their sacrifices.

 

[Arnevdpm]

Hello there

My name is Arne and I come from Germany. I´m now 36 years old and I have a little family since 2005. I love them all, my wife Katja, my girl Isabell (2 years 5 months) and my boy Florian (5 months). I´m a model builder like you. My specials are the US Army, Marines and Air Force in World War 2 and the japanese Army and Air Force in World War 2. There, I build all: Planes, Tanks, Trucks, Jeeps and Figures.
Since a few months I recognize a new thread of specials. I build and paint Figures of the american History and the roman History in 54mm or 50mm.

In this thread I would like to say thank you to my Grandfathers (in Germany we say Opa). I didn´t know so much of there live in World War 2. From my Opa on mothers side I know only, that he served since 1943 with the Reichsarbeitsdienst and then went to the Wehrmacht. In March 1945, he was in the Ruhrpocket, as his Commander say, that the War for him and is comrades is over. The should be gone home. So they went, after hiding there weapons and stolen a few civil thinks. He was still alive till 31st December 1995 and he never spoke about the 2. World War but this.
My Opa on fathers side told a little bit more. He served with the Wehrmacht on the Westfeldzug 1940 with the 79. Infantrieregiment in France. This was the traditional Homeregiment of my Hometown. In 1941, he had an bad accident with an motorcycle, so he stay till 1944 in a hospital. Then, he want as a driving school teacher to Jena (today East Germany), where he met my grandmother (we say Oma in Germany). They married. My Opa received a second wound in World War 2 in the Chechoslovakia against the Russians. A bullet penetrated his neck under the right eye and go out on his neck on the shoulder. My Opa told me, he didn´t feel it, till he feel his blood. He than went to hospital again and the war for hin was over. My Opa on fathers side lived till 04th February 2004.
I remember both well, because they both good to us childrens.

My wife Katja lost both grandfathers in World War 2. The dad of her dad died on 29th September 1942 in a foxhole near Stalingrad and the dad of her mother died in 1942 near Leningrad.

Greets
Arne

 

[Jamie Stokes]

Thanks Pop

My Grandfather on my Mums side died recently.
He served as a Wireless Operator - Air Gunner (WOP-AG) in the European Campaign. He met & wooed my grandmother, who served as a nurse during the same period. (she's still alive)

They came out to Australia as Soldier Settlers at the end of WW2.

I never served in uniform, yet I appreciate what the services do for us dumb civilians, so remembrance day is a good way of respecting all those who gave up all their tomorrows so I could enjoy today.

Respect to all who serve, and served.

Message ends