Along the Way

Veteran’s Day: WWII in Pictures

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One of the greatest treasures my dad left behind were his pictures he had from World War II. He served in the army during World War II. I wrote about him in a previous blog  Lessons from the Greatest Generation. I came across them again a few months back. I thought I would share some of them in honor of my dad and Veteran’s Day. He wrote on the back of many of his pictures. I wish he would have written on more of them! I hope you enjoy these pictures as much I do. It captures a piece of my dad’s life and many soldiers from WWII.

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My dad is the middle guy in the top row.
My dad is the middle guy in the top row.

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Written on the back of the picture "Ray and myself. These hats we have on are our oversees caps.
Written on the back of the picture “Ray and myself. These hats we have on are our oversees caps.
My dad...I think in Italy
My dad…I think in Italy
This is my favorite picture. A soldier reading a letter from home.
This is my favorite picture. A soldier reading a letter from home.
On the back my dad wrote "Close up. Taken in Venice."
On the back my dad wrote “Close up. Taken in Venice.”

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"Two drunks. Jack & myself" is what my dad wrote on the back of this picture.
“Two drunks. Jack & myself” is what my dad wrote on the back of this picture.
My dad
September 10,1944 written on the back
my dad is on the left and his best friend, Ollie on the right. They talked every week on the phone until Ollie passed away 5 years before my dad.
my dad is on the left and his best friend, Ollie on the right. They talked every week on the phone until Ollie passed away 5 years before my dad.
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My dad in Rome or Venice. And note the kids photobombing. 🙂 Photobombing has always been a thing
"Note - myself milking the cow. We very seldom get fresh milk but when we run into a milk cow we help ourselves." What my dad had written on the back. You can see him milking the cow.
“Note – myself milking the cow. We very seldom get fresh milk but when we run into a milk cow we help ourselves.” What my dad had written on the back. You can see him milking the cow.
September 1944. And of course my dad had a dog.
September 1944. And of course my dad had a dog.
Gun Crew was written on the back along with every person's first and last name and where they were from.
Gun Crew was written on the back along with every person’s first and last name and where they were from.
"German prisoners. I am sitting in the front." Written on the back.
“German prisoners. I am sitting in the front.” Written on the back.
"German Prisoners"
“German Prisoners”

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My dad
My dad
I think this was in Northern Africa
I think this was in Northern Africa
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My dad and Stan
The only colored picture my dad had. Probably the Alps. On the back was his dad's address...
The only colored picture my dad had. Probably the Alps. On the back was his dad’s address…

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Another favorite. On the back it says "This is one of the dinkiest they have over here. They say when this train looks as big as one in the States it's time to go home."
Another favorite. On the back it says “This is one of the dinkiest they have over here. They say when this train looks as big as one in the States it’s time to go home.”
Dated September 10, 1944 "myself laying in the haystack."
Dated September 10, 1944 “myself laying in the haystack.”
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Another northern Africa pic.

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My dad. Never saw him smoke a pipe in my life!
My dad. Handsome. Never saw him smoke a pipe in my life! Cigarettes on the other hand 😉
Florence, Italy
Florence, Italy
kitchen
kitchen
Cold. Alps again I believe
Cold. Alps again I believe

4 responses to “Veteran’s Day: WWII in Pictures”

  1. Grace Avatar
    Grace

    That was really neat! Thanks for sharing all those pictures of your dad. He was definitely one of the “Greatest Generation!”

    Reply
    1. Faithinflipflops Avatar
      Faithinflipflops

      Thanks, Grace!! I didn’t put all of them up…just picked some of my favorites!

      Reply
  2. Barbara Garrett Avatar
    Barbara Garrett

    My Uncle Harry, truly a hero!!! Love the pictures from 1944. I was born in July of that year. Love, Cuz Bobbie

    Reply
  3. The Tale of a Veteran, His Daughter, and Her Whiskey Dog | Faithinflipflops Avatar
    The Tale of a Veteran, His Daughter, and Her Whiskey Dog | Faithinflipflops

    […] Today is Veteran’s Day. My dad was a veteran of World War II. One of his brothers told me at my dad’s funeral that my dad left for the army a young man and came back an old one. He also struggled with alcohol the rest of his life. Two months before he passed away, I was up late. My dad had a vivid flashback to 60 years prior when he was under attack in a pasture somewhere in Italy. He came rushing out of his room like a young man (he only got around with a walker at this point). He thought I was a German. He was in his 80s and it was a real to him as if it had just happened. Veterans pay a price to protect us that lasts a lifetime. I have blogged about my dad and his service in Lessons from the Greatest Generation and Veteran’s Day: WWII in Pictures. […]

    Reply

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