Veteran's Day
Here's a fun photos featuring David W's Dad; you know, the guy who worked for the Good Humor ice cream company. Here he is, on a photo that is dated "May 1944". David's Dad had a cool (no pun intended) nickname: FROSTY! David says that his Dad's middle name is Deforest, and apparently "Frosty" is derived from that. Frosty (I'd like to think that he and I are on a friendly basis now) is posing with an alligator who was the camp mascot. His name was Oscar. I would not want an alligator, even a small alligator, to be that close to my face, but I guess it all worked out OK for Frosty.
Two late additions: David found the next two photos; he wrote, These were taken in the Apennine Mountains of Italy. He served as a Rifleman in the 363rd Infantry Regiment, 91st Division in the Italian Campaign 1944-1945. So much for warm, sunny Italy. Where are the pretty girls on Vespas? Where are the large helpings of delicious food? If I were David's dad I would have asked to speak to the manager.
Here's Frosty heating up a tin cup, probably making himself a nice cup of coffee. Anything to stay warm! It's pretty amazing that David has these photos, they are real treasures. Thanks, David!
In the interest of sharing, here is a photo of my Dad in 1973, when he was in Vietnam. He served in the Navy for 20 years, and in this picture he's receiving some sort of ribbon or medal, but the Admiral (?) is blocking whatever it is. My dad received the Bronze Star, but he got that when he came home, and my family attended that ceremony. I'm proud of my Dad!
And finally, Sue went to visit her dad and took this photo of him; as you can see, he is a veteran of the Korean War. Thank you for your service, Lou!
13 comments:
Major-
Do folks still pose for pictures while holding dangerous, exotic animals-? This definitely brings back memories. I have images of my dad in uniform; and even some from overseas.
Many thanks to all our veterans.
In the first photo, Oscar looks a might thin. I mean, I know he's a young gator and all. But he looks like he needs fattening up. A nice duck dinner perhaps.
Frosty's face reminds me of Abraham Lincoln; sans the beard.
It's pretty amazing that DW still has these photos. And pretty amazing that these photos were taken in the first place... and that they survived the trip home.
Major, my dad was also a Navy man (WWII, Philippines). But that was before my time.
Sue, your dad looks like someone you wouldn't want to mess with; tough and determined. And yet, he made all those trips to Disneyland and took all those great photos... he must also have a fun-loving side to him. Interesting guy, Mr. Perry.
Thanks to DW, Sue, and Major for the salute to all those that did their part to keep out nation safe.
Happy My Wife's Birthday!!!
Actually, My parents and grandparents weren't veterans (although my grandfather ran a shop that repaired ships in WWII), but my father in law was. His family was part of the huge 1800s German immigration to Texas and he went to "German School" and spoke fluent German. Therefore, he was used to question German prisoners in Europe in WWII. He also fought in Korea, but one would assume his German came in less handy then.
These are great pictures! I wish I had a cool nickname like "Frosty!"
It's great to see Major's dad and, as always, Lou!
Happy Veterans Day, guys!
A good Veteran's day to all. Dad did his part in the Air Force, WWII. Miss him a lot.
Nice to see you Lou, thanks for everything you did, in service and out. I guess you were in a kind of in-service at Disneyland too, and you did a great job! We all thank you for all your photos and time spent in the park, obeying your CO, Sue.
Thanks Major, happy V-day to you too.
Here's to all the Veterans world wide, and especially those close to us! My dad was in the Korean war, and all I really know about it he took a lot of 8mm Videos of dancing girls. He bought the camera in Korea, as well as some cuff links that I still have. I'm not sure what happened to the camera, but it was a "wind up". My dad was not an American, but by serving in the Army he was able to get his green card. I think that is the story, but who knows. My Grandfather and Grandmother also served in WWII in Europe. My Grandfather saw Mussolini being hung and would tell that story like "pass the butter". My grandmother was a nurse taking care of the wounded in London. The children were sent to Scotland when things got "rough", so my mother didn't have the same stories, but the influence of war torn Europe is certainly still in me. My dads parents farm was basically occupied by the Nazi's (quietly), it was Norway who was neutral when it was invaded. There were Nazi flags still hidden in the barn decades later when I went back. There were no alligators anywhere, and I am also, not a fan...although I do have an alligator belt...which is another story. It's interesting to see smiling faces in the face of danger in these photos. Congrats and thank you to all the veterans, Mr Pepp, and Mr. Perry!
Thank you to all the veterans out there. I was on my way from my AM shift and stopped for breakfast, I received free tacos for being a veteran myself. My father and Uncle are veterans also. To be able to share the day with them again would be heavenly.
The 1st photo was taken at Camp Blanding, Florida (home to more than a few alligators...). This is one of my favorite pictures of my Dad- I like the fact that they are both smiling...:). The two images of Italy are from very tiny prints (approx. 1 1/2"x 2 3/8"), but they still have good detail. From my Dad's stories from the time- it wasn't always cold & snow. He shared a dinner with an Italian family at their farm & while on leave from the front lines, he was able to visit the Vatican & the city of Pompeii.
Great to see pictures of Major's Dad & of course Sue's Dad Lou.
A salute & heartfelt thanks to all veterans, past & present, on this day.
-DW
And a salute to all the Veterans from me. And thanks for sharing these pictures. The courage and sacrifice involved. And a special thank you to my Mom and Dad, my uncles, and my grandfather for their service covering WWI through the Vietnam era. From support services to flying missions over Germany, jumping hedgerows in France and into the Cold War. Seeing action of which I simply can not imagine. KS
KS, A thanks to all the Veterans definitely including your ancestors. I can't imagine what it was like in WWI, except for the movies I've seen. Wow.
My Dad flew in a B-24 Liberator on 10 or 12 missions as a waist gunner. He never talked about it. I second your comment on seeing action I simply can't imagine. The only thing I remember Dad saying about it that it was cold. I got to get up inside a B-24 they had parked in a show out here and it struck me how chaotic and awful it must have been in that steel tube.
Sorry folks, once again I was away from my computer for most of the day - this time taking care of my mom. She’s fine by the way, just 87 years old.
Nanook, I guarantee people still pose for pictures while holding dangerous animals! Probably things as bad as king cobras, or some such thing. Many people are not smart. Hey, if you’d be willing to share some photos of your dad in uniform next November I’m sure everyone would be happy to see them!
JB, I guess I don’t have much of a mental reference for how fat or thin a young gator should be. Maybe the one Frosty is holding wanted to be on TV (it adds 20 pounds you know). I agree that it is very amazing that DW’s photos exist, I doubt many soldiers were toting any sort of camera around. And where do you get film in war-torn Italy? I’m sure Lou could be tough, but I think he was probably a sweetheart as long as you didn’t rile him up!
Stu29583, Happy Mrs. Stu29573’s Birthday! Wouldn’t you love to have seen your grandfather’s shop? My dad’s family was of German origins, but during WWII they scrubbed much of their German-ness off to show that they were true-blue Americans. My dad always regretted that his parents didn’t teach him German. And yes, “Frosty” is a pretty cool nickname!
DrGoat, it’s quite a thing to be from a generation when many of our parents, or other near-relatives probably served in a big war. While I would have gone had I been called up in a draft, I am very glad I did not have to do so. The folks that were willing to give the ultimate sacrifice can’t be thanked enough.
Bu, my best friend’s father served in Korea, he just passed at the age of 92. My friend has told me some pretty harrowing stories of what his dad went through, including having a bomb fall on the ship he was serving on… the bomb did not detonate. Crazy. WOW, your grandfather was there when Mussolini met his demise, that is a famous moment in history. I knew a lovely woman at one of my old jobs, she was from German, and she says she remembers that at the end of WWII, her father buried his black uniform in some remote area. Black uniform = SS. Yikes. I have faux alligator shoes!
MRaymond, free tacos for breakfast! Or were they breakfast tacos? Yum. A pretty nice little bonus. Thank you for your service.
DW, yes, that is an awesome photo of your dad! I assume the smaller photos were taken with a Minox camera, which makes sense, since those were so small and light weight. I’m glad your dad didn’t have to freeze his tootsies off the entire time… I wonder what delicious things he got to eat with that family? Thank you again for sharing!
KS, wow, sounds like so much of your family served in many different wars. As I said to DrGoat, I am glad that I did not have to go to war, because the idea was very scary. Maybe that makes me a wuss, oh well. I don’t want people shooting at me, call me crazy. Like you said, it is hard to imagine what the experience was like, but my dad would not talk about Vietnam, he would just look at his thumbs and clam up.
DrGoat, I watched the Ken Burns documentary about WWII, which was fascinating, and helped to put it into perspective for those of us who watched lots of John Wayne movies. Wow, those guys in the airplanes were REALLY at risk, thank goodness he made it home safe and sound. That’s when you really appreciate the “greatest generation”.
God Bless America and thanks to Vets like your dad Major...
Gratitude to all the Vets, Living and dead. My grandparents had four boys go to WWII, three came home. I’m named for John who was lost at Saipan. Another fought with 2d Armor from Normandy to Berlin. Thanks to good friends I have a few pictures of that conflict, the like of which we pray will never come again.
Thanks Major, David W (I see where the smile comes from), Lou and Sue.
Dr. Goat...My hat is off to your Dad for his bold service. You are right about being separated only by a thin tube of aluminum. I had the rare opportunity to fly in a privately owned B-25 years ago. Standing behind the pilots as the engines turned over, the shell just shook and flexed. Something I was not prepared for. It was the flight of a lifetime to a prearranged spot out in the Mojave Desert where we did VERY low altitude bombing runs with 3 water filled full sized oil drums out of the bomb bay. Imagine people shooting at you on the way over and back. All 3 of my uncles ended up making it a career. 2 of which to full bird colonels and the other a lieutenant colonel. Never really talked about the experience much. One was an early 25 mission survivor as a navigator, the other 50 missions as a pilot. Both B-17s. A third as a grunt turned combat lieutenant arriving Normandy DD+3. A special generation. All HS grads. All did 30+ years of service at command levels. Dad was part of the ferry Command running the radios in delivering various planes around the world. Mom was a recruiter. KS
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