Which historic military sites have been the most memorable for you?

I agree with you on visits to Gettysburg. I have a particular connection there, as my great-grandfather fought on the northern side of Oak Ridge on the first day as a member of the 104th NY Volunteers. In addition, I have a copy of his memoirs, and plan to start up a blog of my visits to the sites where he and his unit were engaged -- I've already visited Gettysburg, Antietam, and Appomattox Court House.

At Gettysburg, you are free to explore all the positions along both lines. And they usually have mowed a path that generally follows the center of mass of Pickett's Charge across the fields between Seminary Ridge and Cemetery Ridge that you are free to walk. It is pretty gentle grade all the way along until you reach the Emmittsburg Road, and then slopes up to the Angle. I guesstimate the slope there to be less than 10%. I was at the Angle several years ago with a group of German visitors when several re-enactors in Confederate garb did the walk -- it made for a spectacular opportunity for the Germans to chat with some knowledgeable people!

Before my visiting Gettysburg I did some research on the battle from beginning to end. I was very glad that I did since many of the monuments, and places we went on the tour were places and people that I would otherwise have not recognized! The bus tour with its sounds of the opening battle was excellent, and started a very informative and fulfilling visit. My visit there, was a great influence on my involving myself in a long period of active military Civil War Reenactmet, where I created my own unit, the "Northeast Topograpgical Engineers," (a unit still in operation after my retirement from active reenactment) and one in which I was pleased to accumulate a file of over 1,000 maps, drawings, plans, and sketches drawn by myself, and just as many again, by the other members of the unit.

I had visited Gettysburg at least 5 times. My Aunt lived in Fairfield, which is within 8 miles. I remember seeing it when Dad brought us back from Okinawa. I started reading about the Civil War from then on. Also did reenacting with the 15th Texas Infantry for a couple of years. Still have my Confederate Uniform. All my relatives loved to go to Gettysburg with me when we visited Pennsylvania. I would give them the history of the battle. Looking across the field of Pickets charge was just as chilling as looking at the bluffs that overlooked Omaha beach. We were never as tough as those men.

Me and the wife in 1863!

I do my best, I want to think I recall hearing FDR on the radio in December of 1941.

The aura of the Arizona memorial tugs on your emotions while you are there. Especially seeing the oil bubble up from below.

Reenlisted there once. A very profound place to do so.

I was stationed on Ford Island and had a chance to really see the damage done, our boat passed the Arizona and the mooring spots of all the rest of the battleships to and from work each day. I also was privileged to know 4 sailors and a marine that survived the attack. Their stories really made me understand the horror of the day more than any movie or documentary.

Although I have been all over the South Pacific, and to the DMZ in Korea, I'd have to agree that standing on Iwo Jima has to be the most historically significant to me.

Pearl Harbor is number one. Sailing thru the area of the carrier battle for Midway is a close second for a carrier sailor.

Little Big Horn and Pearl Habor.

I spent 12 years of my career (two separate tours) in Hawaii, and I spent many days at Pearl Harbor. When I was on Career Planner duty, nearly half of the Marines I reenlisted wanted to do it at the Arizona Memorial st morning colors. I also took a team of about 20 Marines to the USS Missouri where we busted rust, and cleaned up the Marine gun turret when they were making her ready for the public. Hawaii will always have a warm part of my heart. Best duty of my career.

SSG Bethany Viglietta - Shit, those places are intense (all American Military Cemeteries are for me) for me, and I have no direct family connection. You should be proud.

I've been there a number of times and it is impressive as you state. Patton's wife Beatrice wanted to be buried next to "Georgie" but was not allowed. Her family scattered her cremains on top of his grave some time after the war, so she's with him none-the-less. As I recall it's located at Ham, Luxemburg, just outside Luxemburg City. In 1953 we visited Bastogne (I was 12 years old) and I climbed on the Sherman tank in the city square, at that time it was filled with junk, beer cans and other stuff. Since then it's been cleaned and painted original colors, the Germany 88 hole is impressive. My youngest uncle was a combat engineer and wounded at Bastogne, he celebrated his 17th birthday in a hospital in England. When his platoon leader was present to pin his purple heart, he was also thinking about paddling his butt, he was still a baby in the lieutenants eyes. There is a military organization for those kids, as I recall "Underage Combat Veterans" or something to that extent. Kind of like the Navy Seabee' who had an upper age limit of about 55. Many lied and were in their 70's while in the Pacific. A bunch of old fart HERO'S. TeePee

Agree. Should be on everyone's bucket list.

I've stood next to Patton's grave in Luxembourg and looked at at so many American graves, the gleaming white crosses and stars of David. What a magnificent place.

We were recently at the Wall (Vietnam Memorial) and my wife commented that the memorial was very sad. I told her that maybe war memorials should be sad as a reminder of the terrible cost that we pay for the act.

I was going to comment Arlington also, though that primarily due to my father and mother being buried there.

Yes..... Arlington counts big time!

Every American should go there at least once!

MGySgt Rick Tyrrell I plan to go in a year or two.

Wow! Hats off to both of you. One of the ultimate examples of the USMC bravery and combat skill. I'd love to visit Iwo. Tarawa and Guadalcanal as well.

Been there a few times when I was Stationed in Japan we do carrier quals there and seeing from the top of the mountain how hard it most of been.

Wish I had the chance to climb Suribachi, but we were on Iwo Jima for less than an hour to refuel.

2nd from right (1st LT). Vet from the Mexican War.

That's neat

That's definitely The Old Breed.

My great great grandfather was a private in the 22nd Alabama Infantry, CSA. He has my undying respect for what they put up with and lived through.

Yep, it was actually pretty tasty water as well!

MSgt Thomas Mason - Verdun was a tradgedy of epic proportions. So was the Somme.

MSgt Thomas Mason - I was lucky enough to go deer hunting with a Ranger commander who went of those cliffs, Lt Kerschner I worked with his son he was a very humble, quite man with a DSC for his actions on that day and the following 2 days.

President Teddy Roosevelt's youngest son, Quentin, was shot down and killed in the Somme in 1918 and buried along an isolated road where he remained until after World War 2. He was eventually relocated to the Normandy cemetery to rest beside his oldest brother, Teddy Roosevelt Junior. Quentin's final service was attended by thousands of German soldiers as Germany had tremendous respect for President Teddy. Quentin was killed when he attacked a half dozen German fighters, shot in the head he crash landed in German territory. General Teddy Roosevelt junior is a significant father of the American Legion.

I have been to Pointe du Hoc where the Rangers scaled the cliffs. Funny they didn't realize the ropes attached to the hooks they fired up the cliff would become water-logged and too heavy to reach the tope of the cliff? Each time I also toured St. Mere Eglise and had a hard time dealing with the paratroopers hanging dead from the trees and roof top. I didn't want to think about it, but couldn't work it out of my mind. My son was a Ranger in the 75th. The preplanning was a sorry story of failure, exacerbated by much heavier ground fire causing the drops to be made in the wrong places. Image them not knowing of the hedges they would need to penetrate? The losses were horrendous!