IamA 92 year old WWII veteran from Wisconsin, AMA!

I know this is probably a silly question, but old age and history fascinates me. Do you have any stories passed down from relatives about the late 1800's?

Yeah, my great aunt told me when she was a little girl that she remembered many times that their was a family of indians that walked across their farm.

My grandfather told me that when he was a little kid that they lived in a log house, and their parents had a bed. Under it their was a drawer and they would put the kids into it at night to sleep. My grandpa said he remembered seeing the stars through the cracks.

Do you still live in WI? If so, where? I never heard of Boscobel. Going to look it up. Cool to spend time with your grandson like this. The times spent with my grandpa, a Korean war vet, remain as my best memories ever. God bless you and your loved ones. Thank you for your service. Cheers from Milwaukee.

I'm actually OP's (the grandson) friend. Boscobel is in southwest WI. Small town of about 3000. Not a whole lot to do here but we've grown up here our whole lives, and there is some beautiful areas here. But it's rather a small area with lots of other smaller towns around it.

I know you?

Do people actually scream Medic! Medic!?

Yes, I've had them holler at me in the hospital ward.

Thank you for doing this. You say you were a medic, was it ever difficult for you coming to "work" and seeing the ravages of war up close?

It bothered me sometimes because we had a lot of patients who were injured in WWII.

I've heard that American support for US involvement in WWII was more controversial than many think today; what were some of the attitudes on the war in the years leading up to it?

Well Great Britain was always after us to join and help them out. My family was for helping Great Britain.

Did you make any friends during the war?

Yeah, but they strayed away shorty after. We were all miles apart.

Ever pen a letter or meet for a followup?

Yes, several for a short time. Me and another communicated for a long time, but he stopped answering, so i assumed he died.

How grateful are you to have such a nice great- grandson? ;)

I couldn't be happier or more pleased.

That must be nice to transcribe :)

Well I'm his great-grandson so he wasn't talking about me! 😂😂

Did you stay in the military after the war? How was the t adjusting back to civilian life after the fighting had ended?

I didn't see any of the fighting, so it was easy. After the war I raised chickens for restaurants.

How many chickens did you sell a month on average? Was it a good business or was it hardly livable?

We would dress out 500-600 a month. And yes, it was hardly livable.

Worst injury you ever saw?

A man who was sun burnt and blistered on all sides of his body including his armpits.

When it comes to Hollywood and their interpretations of World War II on the big screen, what would you say are the most accurate and/or close to home?

I think "Hacksaw Ridge" had one of the best interpretations of the War.

What was the most horrible thing you saw?

A plane wreck at an airshow in Livingston, WI. I was 50 feet from where he wrecked. He wanted to land by doing a flip, but nose planted into the ground.

Can you tell me when this happened? I've got family in Livingston and I'd like to see if they remember this.

Probably around 1937

Sir, thank you so much for your service. I, myself, am retired from the USAF. Which theater did you serve in and where was the toughest action that you saw?

I was drafted after the shootings stopped, but was still in the medical wing at Walter Reid Hospital in Washington, D.C.

What's the best/funniest thing that happened while you were there?

I was working on a ward with only one nurse. We called and ordered a pizza, and a man kept driving back and forth from street to street, and once he actually found us the nurse said "here's your money; now go."

What is some of the best life advice you've been given throughout your life OR what is some general good life advice you would give young people today?

That if you are going to do a job, do it to your very best ability, or don't do it at all. Also if you're working at something you don't like. Quit and find something you like.

Do you think the Packers will win tomorrow?

I had high hopes of it, but I heard Jordy is hurt, and now it is a bit questionable to me.

What is the best curse word used to describe the enemy that you've come across?

Also, what do you think about when you fly?

"Them dirty bastards"

What is the kindest thing you saw someone do?

I was delivering mail, and saw a car in the ditch on it's side, and their was a lady in the back seat. A man from the rescue squad crawled in their and got her out.

What do you feel like our country has forgotten that we need to remember? Please, list as many as come to mind.

Many people have forgotten and don't understand how crazy the war was.

Was there a moment before Pearl Harbor happened when people you were around knew the US would be involved some way?

We didn't know it, but we sure guessed it, but never the way it did.

Thank you for doing this AMA, and thank you for your service!

Do you think veterans care has helped significantly since WWII? Would you change anything based on what you've experienced?

I think veterans are treated very royally actually. I would change some of the people in charge of it. Some of them think that the veterans are working for them so that they are God Almighty, but their are also those that treat you like saints.

What was one of your most interesting stories from the war? Any interesting wound a soldier received?

There was a guy who had both of legs cut off, and he came out one day and one day he came out with two legs. Over time I saw him walking on his own with his new legs. He was in the other ward so I don't know how he got it.

Grandson: Gotta remember this was in the late 40s not 2017, so yeah must have been crazy for him to see.

Wow thank you for taking the time to do this AMA, and thank you for your service, sir! I was wondering what is your fondest memory from your time serving? Also, do you have any advice for people going in to the medical profession now? Thank you for your time.

Helping patients get comfortable and relieved from pain and suffering. If you enjoy seeing people become relieved from pain, I would certainly advice going into the profession.

I just wanted to say sir that you look outstanding for your age. How do keep fit?

I've got no proof, but i've taken a tablespoon of honey and vinegar almost every day.

I'm a Veteran who has witnessed some horrific events that have haunted me for many years. Do the images ever go away?

I don't really know because I was never in the front lines.

What advice would you give to an upcoming first time parent?

To love and cherish that baby from birth on.

Would you rather fight 100 duck-sized horses or one horse-sized duck?

The 100 duck-sized horses.

What do you like/dislike about Wisconsin ?

Have you moved ?

I like the four different seasons we have, and the older I get the more I dislike the cold weather.

Yes, we moved to Arizona for a bout 10 months until my wife got home sick and I couldn't make a living.

Thank you for your service! How long were you in the service after VJ Day, and how was veteran care back then compared to the current VA system ?

13 months after VJ Day. Back then they didn't have things we had today.

What was Basic Training like in the lead-up to the war? I can't imagine what it would be like to do basic training with millions (9% of the entire country) in such a short time frame.

It was something that nobody was ever used to. And no one knew what is was like or what it would be. Edit: It was really training to break you down so that you would obey orders.

Are you going to watch the Packer game tomorrow? If so, what's your favorite game day snack? Go Pack Go!

Yes, I don't usually snack much, but popcorn would be the most common.

Thank you for doing this, and thank you for your service. I have tremendous respect for anyone that fought in WWII, I can't even begin to imagine what that would be like. My question is a general one, what is it like serving in such a great conflict? Is it possible to ever relax and have fun or are you on edge and terrified the entire time? What goes through your head at a time like that?

You've got to relax and have fun or you would be put through a psych ward. I thank god that I didn't have to see it and only saw the aftermath.

Thank you for your service. Do you have one story that you could share that changed your view on the war, or life in general?

This guy had a pair of tiny swimming trunks on and fell asleep on the beach. We had him lay in a bed and sleep in salve.

Grandson here: Not quite what you were asking, but he said this has made him worry about people in the sun!

When did you see the first death ? Was it in war or the medical practice before war ? How was it ? How did you feel ?

The first I remember was my baby brother.

Hello Sir.

First, thanks so much for your service.

My question: what's your best advice for young men looking to join the military?

It's a wonderful chance for a person to prove their ability in the service. If they want, they can work their way up.

Are you able to forget some of the horrific memories you obtained during war, or are they still vivid in your mind?

I didn't have the experiences that some of the guys had in the first line, so I don't really know. Edit: Some of the horrendous stories my friends have told me about their experiences on the front lines. The situations they encountered, and then i think about how they do this for the government officials sours me very much.

Were you a part of the The Rheinwiesenlager ?.

No, I was stationed in D.C.

Air Force medical services veteran here.

How did you get into the medical corps, during a time when full mobilization of warfighting units was needed? Was it based on intellectual aptitude? Luck?

Thank you for your service, Sir.

I was put into the medical corp after the fighting was done. I was just selected.

How did you meet your wife?

She worked at a factory in Fennimore, and she was friends with my sister. One day my sister brought her home.

The Beatles. Did you get to experience the Beatles?

I never went to a concert.

I know you saw terrible things. By the way thank you for serving your country! Were were you deployed and what units were you in?

I was deployed in D.C. I don't remember the name I had.

What are your best memories while serving the military & what cool places did you visit/ were stationed in? Also, what branch of service were you in, if you don't mind the barrage of questions lol.

Working at the hospital. Norway was probably the coolest place, and I was in the army.

Thank you for your service. Do you think the Packers will go all the way and win the Super Bowl?

They would have a much better chance if Nelson was in there.

Grandson here: I think we have a good chance of winning if we beat the Cowboys, but it will be tough.

What is your favorite Green Bay Packers memory? Predictions for Sunday?

Thank you for your service, sir. I'm proud to live in a land with you in it.

When Bart Star made the quarter back sneak to win the Super Bowl or the Ice Bowl. I'm questionable about the win now that Jordy is out.

Hello and thank you for your service! I'll give you a break, what do you think of the Badgers new coach Paul Chryst? You guys looked pretty good last year, watched them vs W Michigan in the Cotton Bowl.

I don't know much about him.

Thank you for your service!!! What is something from the "greatest generation" that you miss the most that doesn't exist today?

Families were more families than they are today. They were more close-nit than they are today.

I also have my dual-engine pilots license.

How long did that take?

A couple months.

What is one of the most interesting rumors you heard while serving during the war? Did it turn out to be true? How far fetched but some what believable things did you hear that you remember being rumored? Thank you for your service and helping build the greatest country ever to be birthed.

What we heard was that once we left camp hope, we would be shipped overseas, but it stopped in D.C.

Do you remember Karl Rendlesbaker at Rice Lake airport?

BTW - I was the guy that installed all of the weather computers at the regional airports for Wisconsin Aviation DOT in the early '90s.

No I do not.

Did you develop any tendencies that you still carry on to this day from serving in the war? Thank you so much for your service!

I kind of slacked off, but for many years it was keeping my shoes shined.

Thank you so much for your service sir! As the son of a navy pilot, I know what a strain being deployed has to be on family relations. I'm thinking about going into reserves as a pilot after college to get flight hours for the airlines, I'm just wondering, did you do any of your flying for the military? If not, what made you want to get your dual engine rating? Also, what did you fly?

No I did not fly for the military. An instructor on the field said he would get in a dual-engine plane if enough people singed up for it. I was the first person on the list.

Did you have your PPL prior to this?

Yes I did.

What was life like when you were a child growing up? What did you do for fun etc?

We made our own fun. We didn't have many toys although I had a few tractors and a dump truck.

What race were you? What country were you in? What role ( ground troop, bomber etc) Did you involve to help or hurt the holocaust and on what way?

I am caucasion. I only ever stayed in the US, and was a medic. And I helped by keeping others alive.

Were you able to save any Jews from the holocaust or save people who rescued Jews from the holocaust

No that was just not applicable from where I was stationed.

How do you feel about today's generation of "men" compared to he MEN of your generation?

I think Men nowadays do not treat women how they should be treated.