When was the last time you had a meet and greet with a WWII veteran?

SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL — Mon, 06 Jun 2016 21:04:39 -0400

RallyPoint meet Sergeant John E. Walker Sr of Virginia Beach, Virginia (Truck Driver 1941-45) a WWII Veteran. I met him at the Hampton Medical Center Veteran Affairs. It was an honor, especially on D-Day(Anniversary). WWII Veterans are a dime a dozen, please greet and meet them if you have the time. If you have some stories RP, please share of these brave, honorable Veterans that paved the way.

Response by TSgt Joe C. made Jun 6 at 2016 9:07 PM

TSgt Joe C. — Mon, 06 Jun 2016 21:07:21 -0400

We should do this every day we can! Great share SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL!

Response by SFC William Farrell made Jun 6 at 2016 9:08 PM

SFC William Farrell — Mon, 06 Jun 2016 21:08:09 -0400

Way to go SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL. Wish him all the best from me if you see him again Joe. My Dad who is still alive and his brothers, my later father in law and others that I have known were all WWII vets.Unfortunately not many left. I was at a Veteran's Day ceremony at the New Hampshire Veterans Day Cemetery two years ago when the keynote said that about the Vietnam vets, they are a dying generation. I looked at my brother lie WTF!

Response by SSG Warren Swan made Jun 6 at 2016 9:09 PM

SSG Warren Swan — Mon, 06 Jun 2016 21:09:11 -0400

Awesome SFC. But that dime a dozen are getting more and more rare. And one day it'll be us. Hopefully we'll be remembered with as much fondness as the WWII vets, and respected as much as most of us respect the Nam vets. How come you weren't at Parade Rest talking to him?

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 6 at 2016 9:21 PM

Capt Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 06 Jun 2016 21:21:17 -0400

Sergeant Walker. My stepdad was a WW-II truck Driver. He was 40 years old at discharge in 45. He passed away in 1990. It would be a hoot if your and he worked together.

Anyway, happy anniversary of D-Day. You guys were all awesome.

Response by CW5 Andrew J. Foreman made Jun 6 at 2016 9:36 PM

CW5 Andrew J. Foreman — Mon, 06 Jun 2016 21:36:55 -0400

Two in the last year. We met one, Mr. Erbe, in Hospice care at the VA Hospital in Hampton Virginia. He was at Pearl Harbor and a retired warrant officer. He was full of energy and had great stories. Unfortunately he passed away shortly after that. The pic is with me, my wife and son with him. The second was Saturday at a Greek Festival. He and his wife were there. They shared some pics of him in Germany. He was at the Battle of the Budge.

Response by SFC William Farrell made Jun 6 at 2016 9:37 PM

SFC William Farrell — Mon, 06 Jun 2016 21:37:37 -0400

As an aside note regarding WWII vets SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL, some of them were pretty opinionated such as my late father in law. When I first met my late wife after being discharged i remember sitting in the living room and chatting. He says I heard you were in the Army and he asked what I did and where i served. I told him what I did and told him I was first in Korea and then in Vietnam. With dead seriousness he asked me if i was one of those drug addicts and baby killers! I was flabbergasted!

Response by Maj Kim Patterson made Jun 6 at 2016 9:38 PM

Maj Kim Patterson — Mon, 06 Jun 2016 21:38:00 -0400

SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL I actually have lost count, I've had the honor to meet so many and chat with them. I just lost a dear friend who invited me to his 90th birthday party 9 years ago. Last year was the first year we weren't able to celebrate together, we were both too ill. I volunteer with another that helps organize a lot of the Honor Flights from KS. Almost every weekend, I dance with others because I now qualify for the "senior" dance. Two weeks ago, I enjoyed a Joe Diffie concert with another one. I often stopped at the TLC, just for a chat when I made a visit to the local VA. Might be the KS air but I still see them and feel honored to share the halls with them. In fact, I feel honored to share the halls with all who have served.

Response by PO2 Robert Aitchison made Jun 6 at 2016 9:43 PM

PO2 Robert Aitchison — Mon, 06 Jun 2016 21:43:17 -0400

I have this honor on a somewhat regular basis when they come aboard the USS Iowa.

Here's me in 2014 with a Tuskegee Airman - Lt. Col. Robert Friend

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 6 at 2016 9:44 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 06 Jun 2016 21:44:25 -0400

Every so often when I can make it to a military rites funeral. There are a few WW2 vets still kicking here in Idaho

Response by MCPO Roger Collins made Jun 6 at 2016 9:54 PM

MCPO Roger Collins — Mon, 06 Jun 2016 21:54:47 -0400

Probably in the late 50s or early 60s, quite a few still on subs. As I recall, we thought they were old guys, now I have a better idea of what an old guy is.

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Jun 6 at 2016 10:30 PM

PO1 William "Chip" Nagel — Mon, 06 Jun 2016 22:30:19 -0400

Love seeing all the Pictures of Old Salts and Soldiers. Wonderful Folks that Answered the Call.

Response by Col Rebecca Lorraine made Jun 6 at 2016 10:43 PM

Col Rebecca Lorraine — Mon, 06 Jun 2016 22:43:47 -0400

My Dad. 87 year old marine that never got to deploy, but worked his enlistment at Cherry Point. He was 17-19.

Response by Sgt Joe LaBranche made Jun 6 at 2016 10:43 PM

Sgt Joe LaBranche — Mon, 06 Jun 2016 22:43:56 -0400

SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL, whenever I am at the VA or see a WWII Veteran I try and make it a point to talk with them.

Response by LTC Stephen F. made Jun 6 at 2016 10:50 PM

LTC Stephen F. — Mon, 06 Jun 2016 22:50:14 -0400

Thanks for posting SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL Actually nearly every week I talk with and eat a meal with a WWII veteran and his wife who attend church with us when weather is nice. When it is cold we talk on the phone periodically. This man was Coast Guard enlisted man who was assigned to Higgins boats which assaulted the beaches in the pacific island battle in 19444 and 1945. Before that he worked in the north Atlantic having to put up with U-boat attacks every now and then.

Response by SN Greg Wright made Jun 7 at 2016 12:26 AM

SN Greg Wright — Tue, 07 Jun 2016 00:26:16 -0400

The last WWII veteran I've spoken with was my grandfather, who was a Naval gunner in the Pacific. He's passed on to Davey Jone's locker now, where I expect he's giving that intrepid being a full measure of his opinion.

Response by PO1 John Miller made Jun 7 at 2016 3:14 AM

PO1 John Miller — Tue, 07 Jun 2016 03:14:24 -0400

I actually got to greet WWII and Korean vets a few weeks ago after their honor flight returned to Tucson.

Response by PO1 John Miller made Jun 7 at 2016 3:22 AM

PO1 John Miller — Tue, 07 Jun 2016 03:22:10 -0400

Back in 2010, my ship the USS Pearl Harbor was in Pearl Harbor for December 7th, and a few crew members, myself included, were invited to the Arizona Memorial for the Remembrance Ceremony. I got to meet and shake hands with quite a few Pearl Harbor survivors.

Response by Capt Walter Miller made Jun 7 at 2016 3:43 AM

Capt Walter Miller — Tue, 07 Jun 2016 03:43:19 -0400

I met a Tuskegee airman at an airshow probably 10 years ago. He was actually training to fly B-25s as the war ended. Mr Little was his name.

Response by Cpl Justin Goolsby made Jun 8 at 2016 10:31 AM

Cpl Justin Goolsby — Wed, 08 Jun 2016 10:31:00 -0400

Over the Memorial Day weekend I drove down to DC to pay my respects and I did encounter a couple who I shook their hands and thanked them for setting the example as the greatest generation. I didn't get names or pictures, but I make it a point to pay tribute to the men and women who came before me because I know as a country we haven't treated them the best.

Response by PO1 Michael Fullmer made Jun 30 at 2016 2:23 PM

PO1 Michael Fullmer — Thu, 30 Jun 2016 14:23:39 -0400

It is our (my wife & I) privilege to see & speak to not just WW II but Korean & Vietnam vets as well every week when we take out therapy dogs Rufus & Gracie to the near by Veterans Home. They so love seeing them and talking to us and we so enjoy watching them with the dogs. It's amazing to see them open up and the sparkle in their eyes. The home in our area is primarily for dementia/Alzheimer's patients.

Response by SP5 Joel O'Brien made Aug 26 at 2016 11:00 AM

SP5 Joel O'Brien — Fri, 26 Aug 2016 11:00:31 -0400

I work in a supermarket and we have a couple of WWII vets that are regular shoppers. Some Army, some Navy. A Marine Major was a local celeb for his humanitarian work and was one of our customers as well. He would remind me there's no such thing as a 'former' Marine!