This is the hardest site to respond to. Standing above your father, also fourth from the left, is my own father.

 

This is one of the best thread ideas of the year! I appreciate all the stories and pics. My dad was a WWII Navy vet and there was the coolest pic of him in my grandma's house when I was a kid. Unfortunately it got lost in the shuffle after she passed away. Dad passed away 10 years ago and I was blessed to have the "real thing" around long enough to see his grandkids. I'd love to have that pic but the great memories of time with him will more than suffice.

Keep the pics and stories coming. I could read these all day long.

 

Great story & pics. Tried to rep you but gotta spread more cheer before they'll let me do it again.

 

About two months ago my father showed some pictures which I have never seen in my 59 years. He took them just after he landed in Yokohama, 1 week after the surrender signing, as part of a security detail for a General. They were of hidden kamikazes, buried caches of weapons and some camouflaged mini subs waiting. Unfortunately no scans since my father is not yet going to part with them until...

Also, today, I had my 93 year old Pearl Harbor patient walk in with some broken glasses. He was on the Pennsylvania at Pearl Harbor and served aboard her for the entire war. He also dropped off his WWII newsletter that he puts out every month using his word processor.

 

I posted this in my Nov. chapter thread for Veterans Day. It is considered in my family as "Mom & Dad's wedding picture" as it was taken a couple of hours after after they were wed at the interdenominational chapel at Randolph Field, San Antonio TX Sept 1945.

 

kingslayer,

First of all, Welcome to FTE!!!!!!!!
You will find that this site is VERY GOOD. . . . no. . . GREAT!!!
There are a fantastic bunch of people, here!!!! Welcome!

As I write this, I have 'a chill'.
I have been in contact with exactly TWO other people that has had family/loved ones serve on LSM 185!!!!!

Is your Dad still alive????
What was his name?? (If you don't want to put it in the thread, please PM me.)

My Dad passed away, on May 11th of this year.


To all:
I recently got a call from my dear old Mom, and she said that the American Legion Post (La Plata, MD) is creating a 'museum' of sorts, and asked for anything of my Dad's that they could display.
Dad had a SILK dress uniform made (in either the Philippines or in Japan), to wear home, when he left the Navy.
It's been worn. . . . ONCE.
Mom has loaned that to the Post, along with Dad's cover and I have the only photos.

Dad's silk dress uniform is going on display, as well as some photos and Dad's service ribbons.
Dad wouldn't want any 'big deal' or 'fanfare'. He wasn't that kind of guy, but, we are proud to have Dad's stuff put on display.

 

I have pictures of my Dad and Father in Law from WW2 that I've scanned into the computer and then made copies to Discs. Also have a picture of my Mom working at Boeing along with some memrobila that he had sent back. When the WW2 memorial was opened I added my Dad and Father in Law to it and also included a picture of each.

 

BlueOvalRanger ( Keith) Sorry it took so long to reply--concerning the LSM185 crew--my Dad is top row 4th from the left. I am so sorry for the loss of your Dad, and yes, mine is still living, but drives a toyota. He was just 17 in that photo. I don't know much regarding the LSM's war activities (I am his daughter, he doesn't talk war to me). I know they were in Japan. I know the commander refused to bring the ship in close several times during operations, or you and I wouldn't be here. If you need the second group photo where they are all flinging their hats, let me know. Opps, his name is Darrell Wood.
Best use an email if you need the second photo--laniew91@gmail.com

 

I've enjoyed this thread a lot. Thanks for starting it. I recently found another forum with hundreds of pictures of WWII aircraft doing their job. I thought you guys would like to visit it. Go to:
Mission4 today.com
Merry Christmas everyone

 

That is really cool that two members here have fathers that served together.

I recently saw some photos of my pa pa with my father a few weeks ago. My pa pa has been deceased for about twenty years now. He would tell me very little about the war. It had to be pretty rough.He drove a tank destroyer in Germany.

My father had never even seen these pictures before. I just think they remind me of a time when men did not cry and sucked it up to get the job done. They look like some of the old John Wayne or Lee Marvin movies to me.

This first one is of my pa pa (far right) and two buddies.

The second looks like the coliseum in the background. We really do not know.

The third one is the picture that shows on my phone when my dad calls. He said that pa pa used to speak of a horse that he rode all over Europe. He wanted to bring it stateside, but was not allowed.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/cajun_croc/8308902173/" title="IMAG0059-1 by cajun croc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8220/8308902173_44ec4b66e7.jpg" width="304" height="500" alt="IMAG0059-1"></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/cajun_croc/8308902557/" title="IMAG0058-1 by cajun croc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8081/8308902557_be2d47d423.jpg" width="322" height="500" alt="IMAG0058-1"></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/cajun_croc/8309952466/" title="IMAG0057-2 by cajun croc, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8354/8309952466_d2d7b67eed.jpg" width="500" height="342" alt="IMAG0057-2"></a>

 

Sucking it up may be a slight misconception. Anzio, below Rome, was to be a surprise end around of the Germans who had stalled the Allied advance at Casino. This end around would be repeated by MacArthur at Inchon. At Anzio General Lucas, who was way too cautious, delayed his advance inland and allowed Kesselring to surround his forces with 100,000 Germans with heavy field artillery on the high ground. The four month bombardment took its toll and when Truscott finally broke out the toll was 7,000 KIA, 36,000 wounded or missing and not said 45,000 rendered incapable of fighting due to battle fatigue, shell shock and any other psychological trauma one can come up with. Granted they were tough but many came home traumatized and kept their mouths shut while their families had to deal with it. There was no acknowledgement of PSTD at that time. Just trying to get a combat soldier to talk is practically impossible since they have walled it off. My father fought in New Guinea, landed at Leyte, landed at Lingayan Gulf, Manila (very brutal) and did 10 months in Japan. The war is he joined, went to Camp Stoneman, shipped out of Fort Mason, became a sargeant, had a good time in Japan, and took a cross country ride on a train from Seattle to Fort Dix to be mustered out. That sums up what he says.

 

I do not wish to sound unappreciative. My grandfather was a very tough person to get along with. I would really like to know more of what happened to him and his platoon, but he would never disclose much. He told me one story on different occasions , but it was to graphic for me to repeat on this site. No doubt that they had PTSD. I can look back now and still remember a very mean, mad at the world individual. He took some of it out on my mother and brother. He never singled me out, like he did my my mother and brother, but I was always more like my father. He never thought of them as his family. I would be lying if I said that it never mattered what he thought of my brother and mother. I do not wish to portray him as a hero, but the pictures I have shown remind me of those heroic moments in all the great war movies.

 

I've heard stories about the skipper of that LSM being called "Old Shakey" and had a nervous disorder, that eventually lead him to being 'relieved' of command.

Dad said that the LTJG was the 'true' skipper of the boat.

Dad didn't talk much about the war, except to say that he was more scared of a typhoon that they rode out (off the coast of the Philippines), than at any other time. October, '45, I believe.
He talked about how 'his boat' would ride up one side of a wave, and as it went down the back side, you could see the Keel plates 'shudder'!
I 'think' this was called Typhoon Louise.

Dad always laughed, and said, "Bud, I've only been afraid, two times in my life. Both times, they were named 'Louise'. A typhoon. Your Mother."

 

I love all of these stories and Amazing photos! I never heard of "old Shakey" or the typhoon. It is a shame your father is gone, or we could have connected the two on the phone.

 

It is truly a shame.

Dad has a 'diary' of the LSM's log, from the time it was commissioned, until he left 'the boat', for home.
I recall this 'log' stating that they left San Diego, en route to Pearl Harbor, and arrived at Pearl Harbor ONE MONTH later!! (LSM was no speed demon. 12 knots max speed. . . . 8 knots cruise speed.)
I'll go up to Mom's house and try to find it.

He also had a handwritten address book, with just about everyone's name, address and phone number.

This book was very small.
I'll try to find it.

Dad always said that he was very humbled, knowing that he was in Tokyo Bay, the day that the Japanese surrendered, and that they thought enough of him, to surrender on his birthday!!

My Dad was a man of a few words, but, his wit and sense of humor was un-matched!!

Geeeeez. . . . I miss him, so.