Band of Brothers

[moke]

As many of you know I own and operate a Portrait Studio. Today I had the good fortune to photogragh a really cool couple. It was their 60th anniversary portrait! The man, who reluctantly agreed to have his portrait made, is a WWII vet. As the fans of Band of Brothers know, their unit was the 101st Airborne, 406th, Co E. This fellow I photographed was in the 101st 407th...he was in Bastogne, and basically all the places portrayed in the mini-series.

We talked for a long time, he was awesome. He said he met Dick Winters a few times and had known a couple of the other characters in the movie.
He has cancer, and was wearing some sort of portable medication administering device. His caregiver said he only has a few weeks left. I asked if I could visit him at his care facility he and his wife live at and he said he doubts he would have the strength to see me much.

I am a huge history buff, with the Civil War & WWII being my primary focus, so today was a big day for me.

When he left, he laughed and said, "when you get really cold in the winter and finally go inside to warm up, think of us in Bastogne, we were cold like that for almost a month and there was no place to get warm....when you get that kind of cold, that is what I call Bastogne Cold, think of the 101st." and he left.

 

[John Pratt]

Great story. It is really an honor to meet some of these guys. I had a great and unexpected honor like that in Germany. I was stationed there and since it was time to re-enlist, I chose to do it at the Eagles nest (Kehlsteinhaus; Hitlers house) that was liberated by the "Band of Brothers" unit. It just so happens they were having a reunion at the time and we got to meet and have lunch with several of them right there in the Eagles nest. It was much like an EF Hutton moment (probably an old reference to some) everytime one of these guys would start to talk and tell a story about what they went through. As soldiers we just sat in awe of these guys.

 

[warreng8170]

That's awesome. I too am a military history buff and WWII is my main interest. I get really sad when I think about the fact that these WWII vets, whom I consider to be some of the most amazing people in history, are leaving us in rapid numbers. My wife and I have visited DC a couple of times recently and of course the Vietman memorial was an emotional experience, but the WWI memorial killed me. Seeing bus loads of vets being brought in, lots of them in wheelchairs, really put a human presence on all the books and documentary's I've read and watch over the years.
To some degree it makes me ashamed that I live such a take-take-take lifestyle when I consider the physical and emotional sacrifices these men made for us.

It's too bad that you won't get to spend any time talking with this gentleman. I'm sure that he has some great stories that could be told.

 

[BKelley]

The WWII veterans one and all deserve our deepest appreciation. My father in law was one of them. He and his kind kept me safe and warm while they endured untold miseries and even the ultimate sarciface. God bless each of them.

Ben

 

[moke]

The WWII veterans one and all deserve our deepest appreciation. My father in law was one of them. He and his kind kept me safe and warm while they endured untold miseries and even the ultimate sarciface. God bless each of them.

Ben

AMEN!!!

 

[socdad]

Thanks for sharing your story. It brought up memories of my father; he passed away 30+ years ago, my freshman year of collage. He severed in Patton's 3rd Army in December of 1944. I've been sitting here recalling his stories, which I took for granted as a kid, and would give anything to hear again …

 

[clapiana]

thanks for sharing

 

[t001xa22]

I was lucky enough to have my dad around until '95. He was with the Marine Corps in the Pacific. He made most all of the island campaigns including the first occupation of Japan after the surrender. The unfortunate part was that he would not talk much about it. He might talk about the few good times, such as making raisin jack beer, but hardly ever anything about the other things. He was very proud of serving his country, and of being a Marine. I will forever be in awe of their sacrifices, and indebted to them for their service.

 

[OLDMAN5050]

This generation of Veterans will soon be gone..............My Father been gone almost 20 years, one of my prized photos of him is when he was in uniform before he shipped out to WW11.....................Thank God he made it back or I would not be here.......

 

[moke]

Thanks to all for sharing your stories..these guys and anyone who went to war, went through unimaginable things they deserve every ounce of respect we can give them. We live under the blanket of freedom that was provided by them, for us.

Bill---I got the "Pacific" min series for Christmas last year...in case you have not seen it, it is the Pacific version of the Band of Brothers. I think, It is as good as Band of Brothers....if you have not seen it, pick one up....especially with your Father being there.

David---you may appreciate this one, as you know I am in LE and the big thing a few years ago was "Cop Cards" I took them for many Departments and made 15 or so 8x10's of my friends and have them on the "Wall of Fame" in my Office. My father could not enlist because he had broken his elbow at one point and could not fully extend it. So he became an LAPD Officer. He passed away in 2002 and I took his personal stuff and threw it in a box. A couple years ago I was going through and found the very small photo that they had taken for an ID card in his uniform!!! He is 21 or so and has that "look" that we all had when they handed us our first uniform!! It is now hanging in an 8x10 on the top of my "Wall of Fame" I fully understand your attachment for your photo.