Heroism

[Bob Sacamano]

I always read stories like this and ask myself if I could do it. I probably wouldn't be able to.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_F._Merrell

He was 18. And I'm a 26 year old man left wondering.

 

[Jon88]

That's pretty awesome.

My grandfather fought in that war. I heard one story where a German tank was approaching and his friend ran off with the rifle. He stayed and hid with his pocket knife. When they passed he went back to his platoon and everyone was gone.

I guess had he not been sent on whatever mission it was he would have been killed.

My other grandfather was supposed to be in a plane, but he got a bad ear infection that burst. The plane got shot down.

I guess it was meant for them to live as well as everyone else, including me.

 

[bbgun]

Seems like he had a twin of sorts in the Pacific.

http://formerspook.blogspot.com/2010/03/medal-of-honor-day.html

 

[Jon88]

I've talked to people who've fought in Vietnam and the Iraq war.

I'm more into modern heroism myself, but to each his own.

I loved hearing their war stories. They didn't mind talking about it, and I loved hearing it.

 

[Jon88]

When I feel like typing a long story I'll tell you what they told me.

 

[SaltwaterServr]

When I feel like typing a long story I'll tell you what they told me.

Would love to hear it.

 

[Jon88]

Would love to hear it.

I've heard stories from Vietnan and Iraq.

I'll post it here on this thread tomorrow.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

Any tales about "fragging"?

 

[Jon88]

Any tales about "fragging"?

No, kills and a close call.

When I feel like typing it up and doing it justice I will - tomorrow.

They were interesting - to me.

 

[SaltwaterServr]

Any tales about "fragging"?

Of all things, why would you pick intentional fratricide? Honest question.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

Of all things, why would you pick intentional fratricide? Honest question.

Just curious as I heard that it's happened prior to Vietnam. But not on that scale.

 

[SaltwaterServr]

Just curious as I heard that it's happened prior to Vietnam. But not on that scale.

Pretty much every war has had it I would expect. It was mentioned by one guy I interviewed for my novel. Afghanistan, 2004. It didn't come to pass, but from his words it was daaaaaang close.

 

[burmafrd]

fragging is as old as war. Stupid officers get their men killed and usually SOMEONE will do something about it.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

fragging is as old as war. Stupid officers get their men killed and usually SOMEONE will do something about it.

I know it's old. But in Vietnam something like 235 officers were killed.

 

[Hoofbite]

And yet he went on, staggering, bleeding, disregarding bullets which tore through the folds of his clothing and glanced off his helmet.

I can only imagine what this would look like if you were the enemy. Some guy just single-handedly slaughters about a dozen of your teammates and you shoot him only to see him continue coming.

 

[joseephuss]

Richard Blumenthal(politician) and Brian Dennehy(actor) could tell some stories about Vietnam. Of course they would all be lies.

 

[SaltwaterServr]

fragging is as old as war. Stupid officers get their men killed and usually SOMEONE will do something about it.

See if you can find yourself a copy of "Follow Me and Die" about the 28th ID in WWII. At the end of an operation that should have ended with a lot of the leadership hanged, we (IIRC) left a number of our own wounded men to walk out on their own or die in a forgotten aid station in the forest. So many screw ups, yet so many men went beyond the call to do what only a man can do.

 

[burmafrd]

Huertgan Forrest was an incredible atrocity forced on our troops by the First Army Commander Courtney Hodges; an insane and stupid attack that should never have happened. Culpability for that went down from him and was prevalent. The nickname for the 28th ID from that time on was "The Bloody Bucket" due to the shape of the division emblem which was red.

Bob, there were more in WW2 it just was not talked about or reported. Of course there were many times more troops involved then as well.