December 7, 1941

[Vinnie P.]

Re: December 7, 1941

Loren and others...the envelope and letter are framed, and we won't give/lend it to the library system for Ozone Park, NY which is part of the NYC library system, it would be forever lost...
I recall my dad talking about being on the ship before it was commissioned and sailing out of the Columbia river for sea trials...and when completed, to the south pacific...of the many conversations we had about it, the most vivid one that stays with me was the invasion of Iwo Jima...and the 2 LST's that were along side his during the first assault...they were both taken out by direct hits before making shore...his boat returned to the ship and completed 3 more landings that day dropping off the brave infantry men...yes, the Greatest Generation, never to be equaled again...

Ozark was chosen to transport select occupational units to Japan. In an operation that took two days working around the clock, 911 officers and men were transferred to her at sea by breeches buoy from 9 aircraft carriers, 3 battleships, 2 cruisers, and 6 destroyers

Here are 2 photos during the transfer described above...He didn't identify or remember either ship...

dad1.jpgdad2.jpg

[Michael J.]

Re: December 7, 1941

It is a small world, my uncle was a Marine, who landed on Iwo Jima in the second wave of troops, and was wounded within 100 yards of stepping out of the LST......

[Tim G.]

Re: December 7, 1941

Vinnie, that's an amazing envelope. Thank you for the picture.

[Reba W.]

Re: December 7, 1941

Note the censor check stamp in the lower corner. Guess your dad didn't pass any secrets.

[E B.]

[Wes S.]

Re: December 7, 1941

Loran:
Thank you for starting post, I wish I had checked it sooner, its been a busy week. My father fought the Japanese my father-in-law was a B-17 Navigator flying over Europe. Got a ride on a 17 two years ago, after 30 minutes I was ready to hurl. His records show flight lengths of 8 to 10 1/2 hours typically at 33,000 feet. These guys were real men and real hero's. They sacrificed for all of us.

[Vinnie P.]

Re: December 7, 1941

Vinnie, another comment that your father penmanship excellent, not as today’s non readable, even printing....

something that I didn't get from his genes!!! Mine is terrible...

[Gary S.]

Re: December 7, 1941

I too was late in seeing this post but want to add my appreciation for the Greatest Generation. My mind seems to always be aware of the sacrifices made by that generation, probably because I am one of the lucky people in that my father is still alive (age 95 and my mother at age 91, married 73 years). Dad served in WWII in the Naval Air Corp flying in blimps doing California shore duty search for enemy ships. His brother was a bottom turret gunner on a B17 bomber named San Antonio Rose and completed 25 missions to Germany and such (18% survival rate for the bottom turret gunner). He was a hell of a marksman growing up on the farm and that must have helped him shoot down two enemy planes. I am not sure today's cupcake generation can fathom being taken right off the farm, having never flown, and being put in a revolving, vibrating glass ball hanging off the bottom of a bomber. One time the plane was shot up so bad, the pilot told the crew to bail. Three did and were captured. My uncle and the rest of the crew stayed with the plane and they made it back. One week after my uncle completed his missions, the plane he was assigned to got a new crew and was shot down with three captured and eight killed. Some pictures for your appreciation are attached. Note the use of Western Union Telegrams....no phones, no email, no FaceTime, etc. Parents back then were left in the "dark" for days, weeks, months not knowing if their kids were OK.

BomberCrewNamed copy.jpgTelegramClaytonToParents copy.JPGSeymourClaytonB17PixCrash copy.jpgSeymourClaytonWWIIAward copy.jpg

[Tim G.]

Re: December 7, 1941

Gary, that's great stuff, thank you for sharing. I wish I could meet your folks and thank your dad.