Introduction to the WW2 Site - Please Say Hi Showing 1,451-1,500 of 4,899

[Heather]

Thank you!
Mike wrote: "Heather wrote: "Popping in to introduce myself...I'm New to this group. I love a good WW2 book, especially European theatre/holocaust, but would love to expand my knowledge in other areas!"

Welcom..."

[Heather]

Thank you Colin, sounds like a very intriguing book!

[Trina]

Hello all just saying hello! Was told to introduce myself. I'm actually a senior at university, studying history and secondary education. My specialty is German history and holocaust studies, and press during WWII which is what I wrote my my thesis on. Looking forward to getting to know some people in the group. I aam new to good reads

[Mike, Assisting Moderator US Forces]

Hi Trina, welcome to the group. I'm sure you will find plenty to interest you here.

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

Hi Trina and welcome to the group. I hope you find a few things of interest here and you enjoy you time in the group.

[Manray9]

Trina wrote: "Hello all just saying hello! Was told to introduce myself. I'm actually a senior at university, studying history and secondary education. My specialty is German history and holocaust studies, and p..."

Trina: Welcome. Please don't be shy about pitching in.

[Geevee, Assisting Moderator British & Commonwealth Forces]

Trina wrote: "Hello all just saying hello! Was told to introduce myself. I'm actually a senior at university, studying history and secondary education. My specialty is German history and holocaust studies, and p..."

Welcome Trina and glad you found us. If you want to share any information or conclusions from your thesis I know many people will be interested.

[Denise]

Hi
I am WW2 Bomber Command Groupie but diverge in all directions within WW2. I look forward to picking up some books for my wish list (most of the ones on my to read list are on my book pile waiting for me to read them) from here :)
Dee

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

Hi Denise and welcome to the group. I must confess that I am a keen reader on RAF Bomber Command as well, I hope you find a few things here of interest.

[Geevee, Assisting Moderator British & Commonwealth Forces]

Welcome Denise and a very interesting subject area too.

[Denise]

Rick please have a look at my book shelves for lots of ideas :)

[Denise]

Oh and Rick n Geevee I have loads of groups n pages related to WW2 aviation on FB too :)

[Geevee, Assisting Moderator British & Commonwealth Forces]

You're going to fit in just fine Denise :)

[Denise]

:)

[Lilo]

Hi, Trina and Denise. Welcome to the group.

[Denise]

Thanks Lil :)

[Mike, Assisting Moderator US Forces]

Welcome Denise, watch out for rapid TBR growth here. Enjoy.

[Denise]

Have asked new young Aussie author Justin Sheedy to join the group. His fiction work could be autobiographical :)
Dee

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

Sounds good Denise, the more the merrier :)

[Manray9]

Denise wrote: "Hi
I am WW2 Bomber Command Groupie but diverge in all directions within WW2. I look forward to picking up some books for my wish list (most of the ones on my to read list are on my book pile waitin..."

Welcome, Denise. Glad to add a groupie to our group.

[Colin]

Denise wrote: "Hi
I am WW2 Bomber Command Groupie but diverge in all directions within WW2. I look forward to picking up some books for my wish list (most of the ones on my to read list are on my book pile waitin..."

Check out my book Night Fighters, you find it of interest.

[Kristen]

Hallo Denise: Under the Wire is also on my reading list. I can highly recommend Peter Monteath's P.O.W. Australian Prisoners of War in Hitler's Reich. I reviewed it positively (you can check it out on my website if interested http://www.kristenalexander.com.au/re...). Re Bomber Command experiences, if you have not already read it you (and others!) should dip into Peter Rees' Lancaster Men. The Aussie Heroes of Bomber Command. Peter had such a good response to it he has started collating material for another volume. I also reviewed this one (twice!)and reviews if you are interested are on my website see for example http://www.kristenalexander.com.au/re.... Following on from Monteath's POW account I have just started Ted Barris' The Great Escape. A Canadian Story. Very good. Denise wrote: "Hi
I am WW2 Bomber Command Groupie but diverge in all directions within WW2. I look forward to picking up some books for my wish list (most of the ones on my to read list are on my book pile waitin..."

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

Hi Kristen, good to see you here and I hope you enjoy the group. Fully agree with you about Peter Rees' book; Lancaster Men. The Aussie Heroes of Bomber Command.

by Peter Rees

[Denise]

Thanks all. Need to clear the book pile before I can add more books. Will read the reviews Kristen as I trust your judgement :)
Dee

[Lilo]

@ Manray9:

"Groupie"? Is that's what we are called now? I never was a groupie when I was young, so I am a groupie now. I like it. Makes me feel young. :-)

[Denise]

Welcome to the club :)

[Mark]

Hello to all. From bits of friend’s posts I’ve noticed that this group is very active and professional and I hope to occasionally participate.

I have long appreciated the sacrifices of the WWII generation along with the generation of their parents primarily comprised of WWI veterans with vivid war memories, who faced the reality of sending their sons (and in some instances daughters) away to witness their very worst nightmares. Born in 1921, three years after Armistice, my father was caught up in the swell and when America declared war he dropped out of college, enlisted with the Army and served in the Pacific Theater.

This afternoon I shared another cocktail and long conversation with my good friend and very humble WWII veteran, Colonel J. Shelton Scales USMC (Ret), who will turn 97 years old in April. Although he resides in assisted living his health is good enough that his physician issued a written prescription for an occasional vodka tonic or whisky sour delivered as room service by the attendant on duty! He is blessed with an exceptionally clear mind and is willing to share his innermost thoughts and details of days past. He also enjoys books by reading through a large magnifying glass apparatus. The 1940 graduate of UNC Chapel Hill became the commander of the 3rd Battalion 23rd Marines in the 4th Division at Iwo Jima. Of the original 24 battalion commanders, whom 5 died and14 were wounded on the island, he is 1 of 2 still living today. Reflecting upon D-Day at Iwo Jima the colonel once stated: "Feb. 19, 1945, is forever branded on my brain, and I could not let this date pass without acknowledging the enormous debt to those young men whose lives were so violently terminated. Those dead had their futures cancelled.” On D-Day + 4 he witnessed the flag being raised on Mount Suribachi through his binoculars not knowing if it was Japanese or American until he noticed the stripes. In true fashion to his character he says that it was the second most beautiful site he had ever seen, the first was a few weeks after Pear Harbor witnessing his wife walking down the isle on their wedding day. Back in 2012 the colonel asked me to be the Memorial Day quest speaker at his facility. To stand in the chapel in front of the officer who witnessed so many deaths was a huge honor. Later in the year for health reasons the colonel was unable to perform as the guest speaker at his local Virginia Elks Club on Veteran’s Day. When they asked him to suggest a replacement he volunteered my name. As I am not a veteran, to fill in for such a man and speak to other veterans (one Navy veteran in the audience witnessed the bombing at Pearl Harbor) was yet another special moment to give thanks back to others. Attached is a link to a video taken several years ago that includes Col. Scales.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lO_JjE...

One additional WWII connection is through one of my oldest son’s best friends and former roommate, whose last name is Currey. The fellow’s grandfather, Francis S. Currey, as a private first class in the Army received the Medal of Honor in WWII for action on 12/21/44 at Malmedy, Belgium. It appears that he is but 1 of 8 WWII MOH recipients still living from the “Greatest Generation”. I’ve told the grandson to stay close to his grandfather. Last year he was with his grandfather to ring the bell at the New York Stock Exchange. Currey’s MOH citation is as remarkable as any in history that I have ever read. What a hero. There was even a G.I. Joe action figure made of him that came complete with the assortment of weapons he used. Mr. Currey once sent me a fine postal letter along with a formal card containing several quotes including one from President Abraham Lincoln “Any nation that does not honor its heroes will not long endure.”

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_...

[carl]

now that's an introduction!

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

Hi Mark, welcome to the group and its good to see you here. I am sure you will have lots to contribute to the many different discussions. As Carl stated, that's a great introduction, thanks for taking the time to post the stories.

[Manray9]

Lilo wrote: "@ Manray9:

"Groupie"? Is that's what we are called now? I never was a groupie when I was young, so I am a groupie now. I like it. Makes me feel young. :-)"

She called herself a Bomber Command Groupie.

[Manray9]

Mark wrote: "Hello to all. From bits of friend’s posts I’ve noticed that this group is very active and professional and I hope to occasionally participate.

I have long appreciated the sacrifices of the WWII ge..."

Welcome, Mark.

[Mike, Assisting Moderator US Forces]

Welcome Mark. thanks for the stories. Always great to have another author here. Your book is on my TBR and I know some of our members have read it and rated it highly.

George W. Hamilton, USMC: America's Greatest World War I Hero

[Mark]

Thanks to all for the kind words and welcome. I look forward to membership and good times ahead.

Yesterday Colonel Scales mentioned he was a friend of E.B. Sledge and naturally he fully appreciated his book “With the Old Breed”. Of the multitude of books on Iwo Jima I’ve enjoyed reading a few however I’ve yet to read the colonel’s favorite: “Iwo Jima: Legacy of Valor” by Bill D. Ross. It’s likely very similar to other accounts, but I still need to read it.

Is there a book on the Battle of the Bulge that lists Francis S. Currey in the index and briefly acknowledges his exploits in the book?

by Eugene B. Sledge
by Bill D. Ross

[Lilo]

Manray9 wrote: "Lilo wrote: "@ Manray9:

"Groupie"? Is that's what we are called now? I never was a groupie when I was young, so I am a groupie now. I like it. Makes me feel young. :-)"

She called herself a Bombe..."

Oh, I get it. I'd thought that members of our group would be called "groupies" now. I would have liked this. :-)

[Geevee, Assisting Moderator British & Commonwealth Forces]

Mark wrote: "Hello to all. From bits of friend’s posts I’ve noticed that this group is very active and professional and I hope to occasionally participate.

I have long appreciated the sacrifices of the WWII ge..."

Welcome Mark and I'm very pleased to see you join the group. Your introduction was quite superb, thank you.

[Lilo]

Welcome to the group, Mark.

Say hi to your friend, Col. J. Shelton Scales and tell him that there are still some people around (for instance me) who feel so very grateful to the veterans who have rescued the world from the evil Axis rulers. (Was your friend only in the Pacific arena or also in the European arena?)

Please, also pass on this message to your this gentleman who served in Belgium.

[Wade]

I would like to take this oppertunity to say hello & welcome to our new members. Our group has really grown in the past year or so and i say it is a most satisfing consequence.Commendations to Mr. Aussie Rick & GeVEE for their continued work above and beyond,so, front and centre gentlemen...WELL DONE!

[Mark]

Lilo wrote: "Welcome to the group, Mark.

Say hi to your friend, Col. J. Shelton Scales and tell him that there are still some people around (for instance me) who feel so very grateful to the veterans ..."

Thank you Lilo. I will pass along your message. I too am thankful to all veterans.

The colonel just served in the Pacific arena. He is a piece of living history. His father, born in 1847 got married for his first time at age 64 and his father’s mother, the colonel’s paternal grandmother, was born on November 2, 1806 and 19 years old when Thomas Jefferson and John Adams passed away. It’s true!

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

Thanks for your kind words Wade, this is a great group full of great people which makes it easy & fun to moderate.

[Lilo]

Mark wrote: "Lilo wrote: "Welcome to the group, Mark.

Say hi to your friend, Col. J. Shelton Scales and tell him that there are still some people around (for instance me) who feel so very grateful to the vete..."

Wow! Wouldn't all these lives lend themselves to life-stories being written? Why don't you get all the info you can possibly get from your friend and write these biographies?

[Mark]

Lilo wrote: "Wow! Wouldn't all these lives lend themselves to life-stories being written? Why don't you get all the info you can possibly get from your friend and write these biographies?..."

Thanks for the thought. Honestly I once considered it and Col. Scales would be very open for me to write his life story as we have openly discussed this. In all seriousness the story of Iwo Jima has been told through many books and several are first hand accounts by heroic Marines. Yes his story is unique, as he was in command of over 900 Marines, but then again deep down one could find something unique about each individual who set foot on the island's volcanic sand and participated in the battle. His close friendship is priceless.

Francis S. Currey lives about 12 hours from me so logistically it would not be a fit, as it would interfere with my main profession as a textile executive.

[happy]

I've been a little lax lately, but

let me add my welcome to
Trina, Denise and Mark

There are a lot of knowledgable people here so be prepared for the TBR list to grow exponentially :)

[Kristen]

Hallo to the group from Canberra, Australia. As well as reading a fair bit of military history for pleasure I research and write about Australian pilots in WWII. Three books now (Clive Caldwell Air Ace, Jack Davenport Beaufighter Leader, Australian Eagles. Australians in the Battle of Britain) and I have just handed in another manuscript on a more detailed account of Australians in the Battle of Britain tentatively named Defending Britain, which is due for publication in September. When not researching, my pet WWII subject is British homefront and the Blitz.

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

Hi Kristen and welcome to the group, I will be looking forward to news on the release of your latest book, keep us posted!

and by Kristen Alexander

[Art]

Interesting. Thanks for the Heads up on your book.

[Geevee, Assisting Moderator British & Commonwealth Forces]

Welcome to the group Kristen.

[Denise]

Kristen sells books too so if you want some unusual ones get on her mailing list :)

[Jeff]

Kristen wrote: "Hallo to the group from Canberra, Australia. As well as reading a fair bit of military history for pleasure I research and write about Australian pilots in WWII. Three books now (Clive Caldwell Air..."
Welcome aboard Kristen. Rick has set-up the premiere site for WWII buffs. Your books look very interesting.

[Lilo]

Mark wrote: "Lilo wrote: "Wow! Wouldn't all these lives lend themselves to life-stories being written? Why don't you get all the info you can possibly get from your friend and write these biographies?..."

Than..."

That's a pity. Looks like an interesting book won't get written.

[Lilo]

Hi, Kristen. Welcome to the group.