I quit high school to fight in the Pacific during WWII. I'm fortunate to be alive at 88. AMA!

Do you still (if ever) hold any animosity towards the nationalities you were fighting against during your enlistment?

No. They are our best buddies now.

What's your most shocking experience while in war?

What was your life like after the war?

Well, it has to do with aircraft. I was involved in two aircraft crashes, one flying from Midway to Honolulu, and the other was a chopper that went down. I was reconnoitering an area. Myself and one platoon commander and operations officer were in the chopper. It was a chopper that the Marine corps was phasing out because they had a bad history of accidents with it. It was a KARMAN. The chopper pilots were afraid to fly it. There was a fire but we got out of it. I heard over the intercom, the pilot was saying "This is how you get killed in a chopper". He grounded it and we jumped off. That was the most shocking and scary.

After the war I went to college on the GI bill at Drake University. I was working on a masters but I went back in for Korea and got a commission. I had several jobs -- claims adjuster in insurance, underwriter, and then Veterans Service officer in Dodge County, Wisconsin. I enjoyed it more.

Did everybody in said chopper get out alive?

Yes.

It sounds like everyone did?

Yes, including the pilot. There were 5 of us in there.

drake university in iowa?

Yes

Crazy! You're probably thinking of the Kaman Huskie? AKA Pedro.

Those are long gone by now, but I've been around a few Kaman K-MAX helicopters and they're pretty mind boggling.

Thanks for your service!

This chopper had blades angled at 45 degrees from the body. They are not at all like choppers today.

If you got out you had to run straight forward or get chopped up by the blades. I don't know where they got this design. Yes, crazy.

I believe this is the Kaman.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d4/Kaman_HH-43B_Huskie_USAF.jpg

Not the one I was in. He had two blades.

Did you fly in this helicopter post war or during?

It happened after the war.

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Right now some of the younger generation have a problem with getting jobs. Take one day at a time. That's all you can do. You might be lucky and find something that pays well and you enjoy.

First I want to thank you for your service.

Second, I would like to ask you if you believe our country is better today than it was 60 years ago?

I think we had more fun 60 years ago. I think a lot of young people have too many problems.

What kind of beer do you drink?

I'm drinking 1839 beer (made in Holland).

Dutchman here. Thank you for your service and thank you for liking our beer.

He's laughing.

Would you do it again?

Yes.

How did you feel about the use of atomic weapons in Hiroshima and Nagasaki? Did you agree with the argument that they potentially saved a lot more lives by avoiding an invasion of the Japanese mainland? Thanks for doing this AMA!

EDIT: Spelling

Probably, but I'll tell you. The air force, when they got their B29's and were flying out of Saipan and Guadalcanal -- they devastated Tokyo. The whole center of Tokyo was burned out. I don't think the atomic bomb was worse than that -- the fire bombs they dropped on Tokyo. The firestorms that started carbonized people. Similar in destructive power.

How has the corps changed over the years?

I think basically the Marine Corps is probably the same as when I went in, but I think they are receiving better training and more academic training today.

Whats your happiest memory, ever??

My happiest moment was marrying my wife. She was a great woman. She was a good teacher (mom taught 1st grade).

Why did you keep serving?

I got an income from it, and I enjoyed it.

whats the biggest change you've seen since you were younger?

Increase in technology

What has been your favorite technological advancement?

Well, tanks still make as much noise as they used to . . .

Could you please take a photo holding a sign that says /u/Ww2daughter, or "reddit" or something like that? Just so that we can all be sure that you're there answering. Thanks!

Working on this. Husband is looking for a pen.

What is the most memorable experience you had while in service?

Well, you might say they are all memorable. I loved the Marine Corps. I loved being out in the field, and the Marine Corps treated you right. They weren't oppressive as long as you behaved yourself.

Memorable was a course I taught on how to conduct a night attack. It was a series of five lectures. I learned it all from a very bright Jewish officer who had conducted 3 very successful night attacks. I taught the class during the Korean war. There is a definite method to doing this. You rehearse troops over the type of terrain and you use supporting arms.

How do you think your time in the military compares to that of servicemen today? Thank you for serving.

Well, I think the appreciation of service life is a matter of attitude. You have to have the right attitude or you won't even appreciate living.

Do you think dropping out of high school hindered you during your military schooling?

What was the funniest event during WWII? And Korea?

It didn't matter because I took an entrance exam to get into Drake, no problem. After I got into Drake I was given a certificate of graduation from my high school.

Funniest moment during WWII service: There were a lot of them. Some of the people in my unit were natural actors. In artillery unit I was in there was a guy who was from a family of acrobats, and they worked in the circus! This guy, in the gun pit, where we were firing large guns. This guy used to get on top of the rammer (long pole shoved into breech), and he'd stand on his head on it.

How did the media portray WWII, as opposed to what it was like actually fighting in it?

I think the media was generous during WWII, more amenable to the effort. Nobody liked Adolf Hitler.

I guess this isn't a question so much about your military experience, but what was it like for you growing up in the Great Depression?

My father always had a job. Some of my friends had families that were suffering, but we ate, lived in a house. The most my Dad ever made was $100 a month, rent was $25. I had 1 brother and 2 sisters. This was at 1310 23rd Street in Des Moines Iowa. My buddy, Warren Sulser, lived right across the street. Warren died in the war. Warren had 2 brothers, Pete, who was captured during the invasion of Africa.

1310 23rd Street in Des Moines Iowa

Nice house.

"For Crying out loud" (Dad's actual words when I showed him this picture).

It was white when I lived there, but the same, without the white picket fence out front. Next door (to the right) was a civil war veteran. They didn't have to pay federal taxes because of being a civil war veteran.

Big back yards there.

21st century. Yeah, it's that cool.

Great, now time traveling nazis are going to know exactly where to hit this guy in the past.

He's laughing.

How did Truman's desegregation affect you? If you could go back, would you do it all the same, and if not, what would you change?

It didn't affect me. You just accepted people for what they were. I never had an issue with it. They had a lot of southerners in the units, and the south by nature is more militaristic than up north.

Volunteer state checking in. Can confirm.

I have a lot of respect for Tennessee volunteers. One of the best National Guards was Tennessee. Puerto Rican National Guard was also highly respected.

What's your view on war today?

It looks like the Middle East is a problem. I don't believe in letting the whole area go down, because it will destroy us too.

How did the government treat you as a veteran after the war?

I was treated good. They are talking about cutting veterans benefits now. I had no complaint. Jobs were plentiful. I got the GI bill, so I got 4 years of college out of it. I got $50 a month, and that was livable.

If you had not quit high school, what do you think you would have done in life?

I would probably have finished high school and then starved to death ;-)

How were you impacted by PTSD, or how did it affect your friends when you returned? Almost every veteran I know from the GWOT has some kind of PTSD, and its often treated by medication or therapy- but all too often by alcohol. Can you describe your adjustment back to American society in the wake of your numerous deployments?

I felt a little strange back in civilian life. PTSD was called shell shock, but I wasn't affected much. Our training was different back then, and we had many knocks and shocks before we got over there. The games we played growing up were much rougher back then.

Both are tougher questions:

What is the most thoughtful thing an enemy soldier did for you?

Mind telling us a story about someone who didn't make it? Why were they so special and what did they do?

Didn't have close contact with enemy.

My best friend, Warren Sulser. We went to school together for 12 years. We played together, and he lived across the street. He was also in the Marine Corps.

What was your first day on the navy ship like? Your most stressful day in the service?

I hadn't been on a ship before. My first ship was a navy transport to ship me overseas. I was on a ship that had been used in WWI, not the most comfortable. I left from Oakland to Hawaii, and then went further from there.

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It's hard to say because everything is changing so rapidly. The Marine Corps gave me a good education. When I was out on Midway, there was a University of Midway, so I took classes.

As a current west point cadet, what advice can you give me for after I graduate, commission and become a platoon leader? Already tracking the "listen to your NCOs" bit, most definitely going to do that, but I'd like to hear your opinion.

Always be true and honest to your cause and to your job. Treat every man in your platoon as an individual who has a family and has certain desires. Do not play favorites.

What are your thoughts on the current ongoing war?

Frankly I don't think we'll ever get rid of warfare. We've had them from the time people organized into tribes until the present. When people have disagreements they resort to their weapons.

If you could do it all over again what would you change? Also, thank you for your service. I'm 18 and I'll my hope is to enlist next year!

I would change nothing. If it were different I might be in worse shape. You have to leave it to the Lord.

Do you have any Chesty Puller stories?

I knew him. My wife knew his wife. There were a lot of stories about him when he was in Central America. He pulled a lot of tricks. He was a colorful character, kind of a John Wayne persona.

Thank you for your service, what was the first moment in war that made you fear for your life or others?

When I went down in a plane. I was single, and you know, you're dumb at that age and nothing bothers you. Everything is an adventure.

What does a sight setter do in battle on a WWII era Naval ship?

You set by a vertical piece of brass, and you set by increments as the ship moves. You have to keep adding and subtracting on a brass ring and it sets telescopic sites on the guns.

This job was done during battle with the larger artillery pieces. Two people worked at this -- a spotter who adjusted the range and a tracker. Adjustments were made after each shot as needed to change angle of barrel as shots are made at other ships.

They put me in there because I could do math quickly in my head.

I'm graduating college in May, and leaving for Army training in June.

What piece of advice could you give for a fellow service member that transcends time and generation?

Behave ;-)

How were you treated when you got back home and what was it like trying to find a job after fighting in the war? Thanks for your service too. My grandfather was in the army during WWII but fought in Europe.

No problem. I went to college on GI bill. The colleges were taking in all the guys coming back. I went to very good schools.

What were your expectations before you arrived in the Pacific? Did you think it was going to be like??

My granddad fought on Iwo Jima. I've heard many stories of how hard the fighting was. Thank you such much for your service. Your generation still inspires me today.

I looked forward to it because I wanted to get into a line unit. I was somewhat excited, and I enjoyed meeting different people and interesting people. saw Diamond Head long before I got to Hawaii. I ended up in a barracks, and then ships to various islands in the Pacific.

Have you spoken with the folks at the National WWII Museum in New Orleans? I know a few of the historians there and they'd very much like to talk to you if you haven't already.

Email me and we'll connect you.

Were there any sweethearts waiting for you back at home?

No. I met my wife after the war.

Thank you for your service first of all! My question: What was the most frightening moment of with the marines in combat?

Answered above -- chopper incident.

What's your favorite food?

Anything I can chew.

Did you interact with any Canadian soldiers? What were they like?

I was not in Europe. If I'd been in Europe I'd probably have connections with Canadians.

Do you think you would have joined were it not for the war? And what was it like going from enlisted to officer? Do you think it made you a better officer?

Hard to answer. At the time we were just getting out of the Depression, and lots of kids joined the military because there was nothing else to do. CCC was quasi-military and the men who joined often went on to serve in military.

How did you celebrate V-E day, how did you celebrate V-J day?

I had a beer. V-J day, yeah.

Good Afternoon and thank you for your service. I wish to ask if and how the war affected you in your academic life? I read that you used the G.I. bill to pursue an education and also took classes at midway. Was there any particular reason that you perused education so heavily? working a full time job and studying is hard, let alone fighting a war and studying, so I am curious if what you experienced changed your outlook towards a future.

I wanted to better myself so that I would be worthy of a better job later on.

That's amazing. Times can be hard now finding work and being loaded with debt. Nothing like I had to go fight to save the world though.

My question is: Are there any places you saw that you would describe as beautiful or would revisit? The Pacific has many great islands. So, any favorite nature or people wise at the time?

Hawaiian islands are beautiful, as well as other places. The islands are most beautiful at dusk, against the sunset.

First off, thank you (both for your service and for the AMA)!!

Second, surely you think about risk differently. Post war, what do you think the riskiest thing you've done has been and why?

Cross the street (we lived on a busy highway).

Thank you for you service, I am curious though, what inspired you to enlist?

Pearl Harbor, WWII inspired everyone.

I am also a Marine Corp veteran (2002-2006) from one to another, Semper Fi.

Have you ever recorded your stories for family members or the public? My grandfather also served in the South Pacific but he died when I was barely in my teens. I never realized how important knowing his history would be to me until the chance was long past. Now all I can do is piece things together and to be honest, it sucks.

Please tell me your story and experiences will live on for your children/grand children to know!

Have you ever recorded your stories for family members or the public?

Doing it right now!