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#2339410 - 06/06/08 04:44 AM
Re: How to approach grandfather about his war experiences, or just let it go?
[Re: Hookem]
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TFF Guru
Registered: 05/30/03
Posts: 12120
Loc: Denton, Tx, USA
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We never knew about what my grandfather did or saw in Italy and Europe. He fought with the 179th in the 45th Division of the US Army. Fighting Thunderbirds! They saw some of the most vicious fighting of the entire war.
Battle of Anzio was the pivotal point for their division, then they were moved to Belgium for the battle of the buldge.
I have spent years researching their movements, officers, battles, ect.
My Grandfather would not talk about the war at all.
Here's what I would recommend. Depending on how open your grandfather is to this. Set up a video camera on a tripod. Have as much memorabilia set aside as possible. Photo's, loot, guns, and most importably, all of his service medals and awards.
The service medals will establish a time line in themselves. For example, there is a service medal for those that landed on D day, battle of anzio, the battle of the bulge, ect.
Start with his immediate company, and start having him tell about this fellow soldiers. He spent more time with his company than anything. Then work up to the Battalion Commander.
ANy awards, certificates, medals, ect are good conversation pieces.
You might be suprised by what you hear.
Good luck. I just wish we could have done this with my grandfather. But he would NOT talk about the war. He would tell you to read about it in history books, he was done with that part of his life.
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#2339605 - 06/06/08 05:51 AM
Re: How to approach grandfather about his war experiences, or just let it go?
[Re: Michael Bristow]
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TFF Celebrity
Registered: 08/22/06
Posts: 6682
Loc: Carrollton
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A side note: People of that generation were taught growing up to not give advise unless it was asked for. They simply do not talk as much as people do today.
I know there are those who cannot speak of it because of the deep emotional scars experienced by everyone in combat situations, and I am not downplaying that at all. However some men don't speak about their role in combat simply because they were not asked.
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-Marcus Tullius Cicero, 63 BC
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#2339785 - 06/06/08 06:45 AM
Re: How to approach grandfather about his war experiences, or just let it go?
[Re: COFF]
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TFF Celebrity
Registered: 08/08/02
Posts: 8244
Loc: Fruitvale, Texas
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ASK for crying out loud---- After all he is your Grandfather Spoken from a Grandfather (Also Great) 
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"Stay the course"
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#2339799 - 06/06/08 06:49 AM
Re: How to approach grandfather about his war experiences, or just let it g
[Re: Hwy_Man]
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TFF Guru
Registered: 01/23/06
Posts: 23804
Loc: Dallas
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Approach with caution and respect! Few of these stories, are Fond Memory’s, their mostly Dark Chapters. Good advice.
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I've got information man! New shite has come to light! -- The Dude 
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#2339816 - 06/06/08 06:53 AM
Re: How to approach grandfather about his war experiences, or just let it g
[Re: Hooker]
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Extreme Angler
Registered: 01/25/07
Posts: 2975
Loc: Lake Palestine
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ASK for crying out loud---- After all he is your Grandfather Spoken from a Grandfather (Also Great) Up until 8th grade, I always told myself that when I was older, I would simply ask him and figured there would be no problem in doing so. Then something happened in my math class that really made me fear asking ANY veteran about his experience. Long story short, there was a substitute teacher that was a 'Nam vet and he was known quite well for his stories, etc. I don't recall exactly what happened, but a kid yelled something war-like and the teacher started to lose it. He pretty much dove under the desk, started yelling things, and started throwing anything he could find, almost as if he was trying to throw grenades. Anyway, that experience essentially instilled fear of talking to veterans about their war in me; even for my own grandfather. I WILL talk to him in July, though. I will find a way to bring it up gently, just as you all have suggested. I will get it recorded. I won't let this go with my grandfather (unless, of course, he simply doesn't want to talk about it). Thanks!
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#2339819 - 06/06/08 06:54 AM
Re: How to approach grandfather about his war experiences, or just let it go?
[Re: Hooker]
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TFF Celebrity
Registered: 04/25/02
Posts: 7252
Loc: Mesquite Texas
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My dad never talked about it, we asked 1 time but no response
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 BIG LEO
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#2339830 - 06/06/08 06:58 AM
Re: How to approach grandfather about his war experiences, or just let it go?
[Re: Michael Bristow]
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TFF Guru
Registered: 01/23/06
Posts: 23804
Loc: Dallas
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Battle of Anzio was the pivotal point for their division, then they were moved to Belgium for the battle of the buldge.
I have spent years researching their movements, officers, battles, ect.
I lived in England for awile and was befriended by an English family who were neighbors. The father in the family was a very outgoing, gregarious amicable Englishman who just enjoyed life. And he liked Americans. He fought at Anzio and Monte Cassino and ABSOLUTELY refused to talk about it. He also had an intense hatred for ANYTHING German. All this was really contrary to his personality because he was so friendly and helpful to everybody. Anzio and Monte Cassino involved several torrid battles on the Italian coast between well entrenched Axis armies and Allied forces.
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I've got information man! New shite has come to light! -- The Dude
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#2339860 - 06/06/08 07:06 AM
Re: How to approach grandfather about his war experiences, or just let it go?
[Re: Scagnetti]
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TFF Team Angler
Registered: 03/24/04
Posts: 3857
Loc: McKinney,Tx
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My grandfather was in a tank on D-Day. He talked about his experience one time with me. After that I never asked him about it again. There is a reason they keep that locked up. This is also a man that had to get his name legally changed since his parents immigrated here from Germany.
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#2339907 - 06/06/08 07:16 AM
Re: How to approach grandfather about his war experiences, or just let it go?
[Re: SEV]
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Extreme Angler
Registered: 08/02/06
Posts: 2108
Loc: LONGVIEW
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Some will open up as they get older.My father is starting to talk alot about his time as a paratrooper.Most stories are funny,but now and again he will relate some of the bad in bits and pieces.
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#2339916 - 06/06/08 07:17 AM
Re: How to approach grandfather about his war experiences, or just let it go?
[Re: PINESDABBER]
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TFF Team Angler
Registered: 03/24/04
Posts: 3857
Loc: McKinney,Tx
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My grandfather is 88 and will not speak of it.
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#2340033 - 06/06/08 07:41 AM
Re: How to approach grandfather about his war experiences, or just let it go?
[Re: Scagnetti]
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TFF Guru
Registered: 05/30/03
Posts: 12120
Loc: Denton, Tx, USA
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Battle of Anzio was the pivotal point for their division, then they were moved to Belgium for the battle of the buldge.
I have spent years researching their movements, officers, battles, ect.
I lived in England for awile and was befriended by an English family who were neighbors. The father in the family was a very outgoing, gregarious amicable Englishman who just enjoyed life. And he liked Americans. He fought at Anzio and Monte Cassino and ABSOLUTELY refused to talk about it. He also had an intense hatred for ANYTHING German. All this was really contrary to his personality because he was so friendly and helpful to everybody. Anzio and Monte Cassino involved several torrid battles on the Italian coast between well entrenched Axis armies and Allied forces. Read the Book, "The Rock of Anzio." It will bring it all into perspective and give a good idea what it was like. Through my research, General Clark pulled the amphibious fleet away from Anzio, so retreat wasn't an option. He took some extra time before spearheading inland to build up supplies. Patton and Ike were furious over this. But it was that 7 day delay that saved their arse. But it also gave the Germans time to position their armoured divisions. The Allied forces had three divisions, but where mostly light infantry. They had their artillary units, which the 179th, company M was it for the 45th. That is the unit my grandfather served in. What they didn't realize, the Germans had 7 full divisions, including 3 armored divisions! The Germans literally tried to push the Allies back into the sea! The Allies had no way of retreating if they were pushed back to the beach head, so they literally fought for their next breath of air. It all came down to who put the most shells in the air, won the battle. Fortunately Clark had landed 2-3 months worth of artillary before he pulled the tenders back. They used virtually all those shells over the next two week period!
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940-230-3682
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#2340034 - 06/06/08 07:41 AM
Re: How to approach grandfather about his war experiences, or just let it go?
[Re: Michael Bristow]
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TFF Guru
Registered: 04/24/07
Posts: 22362
Loc: walking my pitbull
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We never knew about what my grandfather did or saw in Italy and Europe. He fought with the 179th in the 45th Division of the US Army. Fighting Thunderbirds! They saw some of the most vicious fighting of the entire war.
Battle of Anzio was the pivotal point for their division, then they were moved to Belgium for the battle of the buldge.
I have spent years researching their movements, officers, battles, ect.
My Grandfather would not talk about the war at all.
Here's what I would recommend. Depending on how open your grandfather is to this. Set up a video camera on a tripod. Have as much memorabilia set aside as possible. Photo's, loot, guns, and most importably, all of his service medals and awards.
The service medals will establish a time line in themselves. For example, there is a service medal for those that landed on D day, battle of anzio, the battle of the bulge, ect.
Start with his immediate company, and start having him tell about this fellow soldiers. He spent more time with his company than anything. Then work up to the Battalion Commander.
ANy awards, certificates, medals, ect are good conversation pieces.
You might be suprised by what you hear.
Good luck. I just wish we could have done this with my grandfather. But he would NOT talk about the war. He would tell you to read about it in history books, he was done with that part of his life.
as a vet myself, i wouldnt recommend doing this. any 1 thing here could trigger a response you dont want, and he doesnt want. get him by himself, and ask him if he would mind talking about his expereriances(i dont spell real well) with you. i wouldnt make a big deal about it, because he doesnt want that, i promise. like someone mentioned, let him know how proud you are to be family to someone who served, and you just want to know more about it than what you read about and see on tv. if he's not comfortable, dont push it. you'll get a negative response. if he wants to talk about it, you wont really have to say much, just give your undivided attention. i hope this helps, and i hope he will be willing to fill you in on his experiance.
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#2340512 - 06/06/08 09:23 AM
Re: How to approach grandfather about his war experiences, or just let it go?
[Re: 240yam]
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TFF Team Angler
Registered: 04/21/03
Posts: 3350
Loc: lake bridgeport,tx USA
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Anzio and Monte Cassino tend to be overlooked as they were on the "third" European front...Italy. Both were terrible, hard fought campaigns.
Edited by bridgeportguide (06/06/08 09:23 AM)
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#2340529 - 06/06/08 09:28 AM
Re: How to approach grandfather about his war experiences, or just let it go?
[Re: BridgeportGuide]
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TFF Guru
Registered: 01/23/06
Posts: 23804
Loc: Dallas
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And neither the commanders nor the troops had a lot experience in doing these massive beach assaults.
_________________________
I've got information man! New shite has come to light! -- The Dude
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#2340553 - 06/06/08 09:34 AM
Re: How to approach grandfather about his war experiences, or just let it go?
[Re: Scagnetti]
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TFF Team Angler
Registered: 12/07/06
Posts: 3468
Loc: England
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My grandfather was an aircraft mechanic in WWII. He used to talk about a specific aircraft he worked on alot. It was called "The Deacon". My uncle was watching the show called "Mail Call" on TV one night and there it was, the deacon, in the flesh. Guess who enters stage left. Thats right, my grandfather in all his youth and exuberance. there was no doubt. His movements and mannerisms were the same then as they were of the man I remeber. He was only on screen for maybe 5 seconds. My uncle ordered a copy of it online and made copies for our entire family( he had 6 brothers and sisters). That was alot of copies but man it is a cool memento to have.
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