I feel like I am driving history, a story.

[Alan_Hepburn]

Another vet here: my Grandfather was in the Canadian Army in WWI - injured during the Battle of Paschendale. My Father was RCAF in WWII - wireless operator on a Lancaster bomber crew. I was 82nd Airborne M60 machine gunner during the Vietnam era; our younger son is currently nearing retirement from the USN; his daughter is about 3 years in to her enlistment in the USAF - that's 5 generations of the family, all serving during a wartime era...

For all the vets out there - thanks for stepping up!

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[Cburd61]

Here is my story. My Dad was a WWII PT boat sailor serving as a gunner/radioman in the remote Philippine Islands disrupting Japanese barge traffic and occasionally taking on a Japanese warship. He told some great stories growing up. He taught me how to drive on his brother’s 1948 CJ-2 and I remember him telling me the CJ was just like the Jeeps he drove through the jungles in the Philippines during WWII. Just found this picture of my Dad in 1945 while he was serving over there. Over the past 10 years I was able to acquire these two gems and I sure wish he was still around to take a spin in one and maybe even reenact this picture. Maybe I should reenact it. We have always been Jeep people and with these two WWII examples it is great to see the very few veterans from that era that are still alive come up at car shows and parades and start telling stories did this or that in one of those Jeeps.

I’ve always been fascinated with PT boats. The Mosquito Fleet. When I was about 6, we rented a house with an apartment on the garage. The guy renting it was Ray Starkey, who was on the 109 with Kennedy. He told me the story of the crash, and the ordeal that followed. He told me things about it that aren’t in any of the books about it. I had both books about PT 109 at the time, (still have them), and to this day, I wish I would have got him to autograph them. You don’t think about that kind of thing when you’re that young, I guess.

 

[Geoarch]

Another vet here: my Grandfather was in the Canadian Army in WWI - injured during the Battle of Paschendale. My Father was RCAF in WWII - wireless operator on a Lancaster bomber crew. I was 82nd Airborne M60 machine gunner during the Vietnam era; our younger son is currently nearing retirement from the USN; his daughter is about 3 years in to her enlistment in the USAF - that's 5 generations of the family, all serving during a wartime era...

For all the vets out there - thanks for stepping up!

I like "thanks for stepping up" better than thanks for your service.

 

[Lost1wing]

Great stories! My grandfather didn't talk much about WWII to anyone, even my father who was Navy. That is until my son enlisted in the Army. Then the family got bits and pieces of what he went through if they happen to be in the room when my and him were chatting. I think he is the reason why my son is pushing 12 years of service. My grandfather only served 4 years in the Army during WWII. When he came home he signed up with the Airforce. Retired from the Airforce and signed up with an Airguard unit. He double dipped with a second retirement from the Airguard. That was when you can still double dip.

Thanks to all the Veterans and current military.

 

[Minty JL]

Great stories gents!

Cheers to my fellow veterans, past, current and future!

 

[High Alextude]

my late grandpa Jim, otherwise known as Raddy. Jeeps have been in the family for awhile - I’m glad to have owned many before they end up in ruin.

 

[TheDerb]

Another Army vet here- I was a 19D during OIF/OEF. My grandfather was a Marine. I’ve posted this photo before, but this is my Grandpa with the rifle in the middle… this would have been around the time if the Korean War. And right behind him? A ubiquitous piece of equipment that still lives-albeit in a far more comfortable package- as a background to a lot of this family’s photos even 65 years later.

its funny- I originally fell in love with the cj7 my uncle drove me around in in the very late 80s. So it’s been every generation for us.

 

[Geoarch]

my late grandpa Jim, otherwise known as Raddy. Jeeps have been in the family for awhile - I’m glad to have owned many before they end up in ruin.

That looks like an M38-A1 Korean War period.

 

[Geoarch]

Another Army vet here- I was a 19D during OIF/OEF. My grandfather was a Marine. I’ve posted this photo before, but this is my Grandpa with the rifle in the middle… this would have been around the time if the Korean War. And right behind him? A ubiquitous piece of equipment that still lives-albeit in a far more comfortable package- as a background to a lot of this family’s photos even 65 years later.

its funny- I originally fell in love with the cj7 my uncle drove me around in in the very late 80s. So it’s been every generation for us.

M38-A1 round fender. Great photo

 

[Tommyd]

It’s an honour to read of his and your stories thanks for sharing. Extraordinary life and service. From the other end of the planet there’s a story not unlike that in this family. With a bag of medals and a German standard issue Erfurt revolver trophy of war to boot.

I think we all breath the air freedom based on their sacrifice.

Jeep: everlasting symbol of service above self in the name of a free world.

The preeminence of the USA in this world is based on the sacrifice of those fine young men and women who gave all for the cause of freedom.

I really hope USA never turns inwards bc the moment it does it will give up said preeminence and leadership of the planet.

It would be just what the darkest forces of authoritarianism wants, and make all the sacrifices that have gone before in vein.

yours and you paps story very timely. Now more than ever the world needs the leadership of the USA acting in unison with her many allies. My two cents.

Aside from the fact the family car was an early 60’s J100 wagoneer, I always be a Jeep tragic based on the fact it is the ever lasting symbol of service above self and freedom.

Amen to that!

 

[GI Grandpa]

Great story, thanks for sharing...I learned to drive on my neighbors Navy Surplus M38A1 and have been driving Jeeps ever since. I retired in 2014 after 36+ years in the Army and I can't imagine driving anything else.

 

[70deuce]

Cburd61, my Dad was in the same PT boat squadron as JFK was. He knew of him while he served but never saw him as the squadrons probably had 75 boats operating out of 30 small bases scattered all over the islands In the South Pacific.

 

[Geoarch]

Great story, thanks for sharing...I learned to drive on my neighbors Navy Surplus M38A1 and have been driving Jeeps ever since. I retired in 2014 after 36+ years in the Army and I can't imagine driving anything else.

We had those M-151s in Vietnam, but they weren't really the same.

 

[GI Grandpa]

We had those M-151s in Vietnam, but they weren't really the same.

We had M151A1's when I first joined before we switched to the HMMWV, all aluminum and made by Ford and AM General so never really a Jeep even though we all called them Jeeps ?

 

[starrskream]

Another vet here: my Grandfather was in the Canadian Army in WWI - injured during the Battle of Paschendale. My Father was RCAF in WWII - wireless operator on a Lancaster bomber crew. I was 82nd Airborne M60 machine gunner during the Vietnam era; our younger son is currently nearing retirement from the USN; his daughter is about 3 years in to her enlistment in the USAF - that's 5 generations of the family, all serving during a wartime era...

For all the vets out there - thanks for stepping up!

Brother of the silk, AATW!
I was c co 3-325(after the change over from 4-325) 4th went to Italy and 3rd came here. i think they only changes numbers not the troops lol. funny story, i got there like 6 months after the change over and my DD214 still says 04325 lmao.

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