h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

*raises a to Lil's Dad and all others that have gone into harm's way*

My grandfather was D day +12 through Omaha beach, and marched on Berlin as part of Patten's Army. He has some stories, but doesn't like to talk about it much. I do know that he got the Purple Heart twice, and both the Silver and Bronze star. I'm definitely proud to have his blood in my veins.

Courtesy

[]-had lots of things to say but promptly forgot them all and shouldn't really be allowing time to write a long post

One of my grandfathers served in the Navy. My paternal grandfather was on a destroyer (I think) as a deck gunner in the Pacific. Had an uncle who was a radarman in Korea, and cousins who all sailed away for our country. The only thing that kept me out of the Navy was my health. I developed my pacifisim later.

[º0O]

*raises for Lil's dad*

My great great uncle died in the WW1 battle of Jutland, but as far as I know he's the only member of my family to have died in war; some others fought in WW1 but none in WW2. My grandfather was in a reserved occupation during WW2.

Z, I'd love to stuff her full of cheese...unfortunately, she hates it. In fact, it's hard to get her to eat almost any food that's high in protein, since she doesn't like cheese or meat.

It's a dilemma. I did talk to one friend, though, who had a similar problem when he was a kid, and he suggested either soy or whey protein powder, the flavorless kind, mixed into any and everything I can think of.

I'm dubious, since those are formulated for adults.

[S&T]

*Toasts David with and the fathers with .*

Since we're sharing, my father ran away from home at the age of 16 and went right out to Seattle. There he lied about his age and joined the Merchant Marine in 1944, at the tail end of WWII. He was shipped off to the Pacific Theater, where he served as a guard on a troop transport ship. No medals, just lots of interesting memories, like landing in Honolulu and hitting the town with some buddies from the ship, picking up some local prostitutes, and taking the ladies out to slide naked down the irrigation flumes on the outlying pineapple plantations.

I've got backlog overload, so I'll confine myself to answering Amy's direct question for the time being.

No, Amy, I'm not afraid of you any more. At the time, I'd lurked a few conversations where I perceived you to be, um, ~fierce~ in the defense of your positions. Sort of like turning into . A fair analysis, or do you thing it was a misperception on my part?

*sits with assorted drinks in front of her for toasts.*

Both my paternal great grandfathers were RFC ground crew in WWI, one of them was killed in WWII by a lone German bomber dropping a bomb on his shop in Canterbury about midday. Both of my grandfathers stayed in this country, my maternal grandfather was in the Pay Corps looking after payments to families, and my paternal grandfather was in the Fire service. One of mum's uncles made it onto literally the last ship out of Singapore as it was leaving but left his mates behind.

And, in the vein of World War II and other war reminiscences, this afternoon I had the opportunity to tour a hidden side of Fort Stanton, the German internment camp. During the war, there were about 425 Germans, the crew of the luxury ship Columbus, interned at Fort Stanton. Not prisoners of war, being non-combatants, but internees. They kept themselves busy with lots of work and even built themselves a gym and a big swimming pool! Several of them are buried at the cemetery next to Fort Stanton, but their graves are segregated from the Americans.

And to return to an earlier topic, I just unsubbed from a conversation that was rather interesting, but I've just had it with people with no sense of humor.

I suggested that we replace a front page item with something the beeb would never go for, quite in fun. This person chose to respond seriously, and when I asked them why they were so serious, he or she (not sure) replied to the effect of throwing out silly ideas wasn't okay.

You know what? No wonder the only place I go is here. Everywhere else I've been lately, people have been far too serious. I come here for intelligent silliness, not bombastic, humorless b.s. I get enough of that in my RL.

My father was in the Army Air Corps (which became the Air Force after WWII) and taught pilots how to use bombsights, I think because he had a lot of experience in using lenses for photography before the war.
My father-in-law served in the Marines in the South Pacific, and would never talk about his service, which I gather was rather grim.

I'm kind of the odd one out, as my brother served as a "lifer" (career AF), and my sister did one tour in the AF, as well.

and a Thank You to the vets of WWII.

SC

Welcome SC.

I was the odd man out to. Actually both my brother and me. I'm 4F, otherwise would have probably joined the SEALS. All men on both sides of the family did military service.

Courtesy

Courtesy, I believe that you would have made an excellent SEAL. They like em like you.

[Hyp]

MR, just forget it, the forum was a serious one for the development of h2 and there HAVE been some stupid comments going on around there so people are feeling a bit edgy. Plus you have to agree, it IS a *serious* place Time and a place for everything and all that...

I think people are too serious these days... including me! I need to play more and work less.

SC- Hi!

Lentilla: Indeed. Anyone for a fight?

Snowball fight!