Another WW2 vet almost gone.

My wives grandfather will be dead in a day or 2. He is terminal and now in Hospice care.
He was drafted into WW2 at the age of 24, he is now 92. His heart is weak and he has pneumonia. his wife died in 2002.
He is my son's last great grandparent, kinda sad.
On one good note. We went to see him on Christmas eve.

Thank him, if you can, for me and my family's freedom.

WW2 Vets are passing away at a very fast rate, I have an uncle who is 87 and has Dementia and was also drafted right after high school in 1942 and served in the 76th Infantry Division, sounds like he was a good man. But then All Veterans are Good Men!

As ssghelton said - > thanks to the veterans, all of them. We lost my dad in '84 at age 83. Probably one of the oldest WWII enlistees. USN. Now, we're getting down to fewer and fewer.

My great uncle gave up the fight with heart problems on Weds before Christmas, we laid him to rest last week. He was on the USS Enterprise for most of the Pacific action. Sad to see this Greatest Generation getting fewer and fewer.

Dave

Sorry to hear that.

Vito

My condolences G G

Something I will never forget is having the opportunity to take my 88 year old Dad on the Honor Flight this past fall. WW-II and Korea.

Your family is in our prayers. It is so sad to loose these heros of the "Greatest Generation" that gave us the freedom we enjoy today. Time takes us all eventually,..but there is a special place for the defenders of God and country.

Guru,

I'm very sorry to hear that. Under the circumstances as you have explained them, my condolences in advance. Its great that you all got to visit for Christmas, and made it into a new year, bringing end and closure to an old year as a complete family.

You say something though that I have to ask about. You said "terminal". When I hear terminal, I think of cancer. Are you saying cancer? The reason that I ask, is that lately on the news when I hear of someone's passing, more and more I am hearing cancer at advanced ages, and find that astounding. Generally speaking, when I think of seasoned persons like your grandfathers age of 92, I think of passing naturally of old age. Its hard for me to fathom that someone makes it that far, naturally, and then comes down with cancer as I'm hearing more and more of these days. I guess that I would prefer that persons pass naturally, of old age, and have grown to expect that.

And one last thing Guru. Afterwards, you might want to take the hospice staff member off to the side and pat him or her on the back, and I mean that in the best of ways. Those people are far better than I will ever be, God love them. When a person gets to hospice, as you pointed out, its near the end. For the folks that work hospice, their patients never get better. They don't get to send their families all happy and joyful. The next patient, and the next, and the next, never go home. They never get better. In my life and line of work, as with probably most, things can get better. Hospice workers and folks that answer 9-1-1 calls? Far better people than I will ever be. God love them all because I couldn't do what they do. I don't have it. They do. One of my sisters used to work geriatrics (elderly) in the hospital that she works at, and some went home, and many never did at that advanced age. She used to come home so depressed because a lot of the patients passed away on the floor she worked on because of their age. But at least some went home to their families, unlike hospice. They have no victories, so to speak, and they face it every day. Know what I mean?

Mark

Yes, they are the GREATEST GENERATION!!!

Very sorry to hear - Heartfelt thanks to your granddad, may he be comforted and peace be with him.

I lost my Dad 3 days ago. 90 years old. Army vet from WWII, 1940 to 1945. He was drafted at 21. Will have his funeral this Friday. The military is participating in the service. He was proud of serving his country and we are thankful for all of their sacrifices for us.

Sorry To hear that .. THose folx ARE Truly The GREATEST GENERATION , My Airplane riveting Mother and Aunts Included in the Group ....last Nite,Played Euchre with a guy that was only 19 and was in a tank at the Battle of the BULGE . exactly 65yrs ago.. He also knew My Dad ,. We Lost Dad in 2008 ,age 93 , He was in 4 island Battle campaigns in Pacific / Amphibious Tank Army went in When Marines did ...purple Heart /multiple wounds more than twice ... We took him back to Hawaii in 2000 and 2002, he still knew his way around from WW2 days.. HE WAS A DANDY !. my sisters aked Me to write and give his eulogy.. Wrote one I was proud of , but the Computor Ate the Eulogy the nite before His funeral. i was a little Anxious - but mysteriously at Peace . began to Rewrite from scratch At midnite ,, the Most truthful words describing his legend of life flowed like a Torrent into my mind From GOD Above ,. telling his Story faster than i could type , in a Marching fashion of contrasts filled with Energy that So much captured and mirrored My Dads Life and humor , very different stlye from the 1st attempt. Words came in 10 minutes and I tweeked and admired it for another hour .LOL.. When I gave the final address at the end were All choked up including the Priest . Eulogy for DAD is Over in YOUR STORIES about 50 stories down

I know this is a sad time for the family. As time passes things will look brighter. You will have the memories for ever. My Dad never served in the military. He was 33 years old when the war broke out. He was also a farmer supporting the war effort. I am sure a lot of service men, and women ate his lima beans. Stan

He has Pneumonia, heart failure. He has been drugged to make him comfortable, Wife says so.

He is nearly blind, hasnt driven a car in over 10 years. He can barely walk, as of Christmas tiime.

No cancer that I know of.

There's not many left from serving in that war.
One of my former co-worker's is in his 90's and is legally blind. Another one died a few weeks ago and he was a Airborne Ranger that scaled those cliffs. Several of the men I served with during the Korean War died in 2001 about one year after having a reunion. One of them could run 50 miles and both were heavy smokers.
Hal
PS; Here's one that is still living I served with and he collects some of those old Army vehicles.

Sorry to hear about your grandfather.....we lost a close family friend on 12/31/10 at age 91....

I did all of his yard work for him when I was a teenager. He and his wife had no children of their own and my folks always included them at Holiday Events. One of the nicest gentleman I have ever met. Here is a part of his obituary.

"Earl served as a pilot in the Army Air Force during WWII. He finished with 63 missions participating in the Rome-Arno, Northern Apennines, Southern France, Northern France, Rhineland and the Central Europe battles and campaigns."

Someone can correct me if I am wrong, but I believe the pilots/crews were only required to fly 25 missions.....these guys/gals were truly members of a great generation.

Tim

Sorry for your family's loss.