WW2 the last heroes (1 Viewer)

[Currahee Chris]

I have to give a shout out to Currahee Chris for having Iron Maidens "The Trooper" as his Avatar

The Bugle sounds the charge begins!! {bravo}}{sm4}

 

[Mitch]

Chris...

Cross wires here but, my comments were about the WW1 generation. I had not mentioned WWII. I do think we hold our own country's era's dear but, I would think the WWI era was far more important world wide than the US civil war. The former encompassed the world. a different generation I meant in the fact that they rallied in their thousands from the UK and commonwealth or then, empire to fight for king and country. A different sort of thinking and pride in ones country was held then to now. The difference between the wars of WWI and WWII without any politics getting thrown in is that both united country and further afield on the whole and history will, and has remembered this. Modern conflicts have been rather highjacked to a certain extent with the population rallying against actions and, conflicts being seen as very unpopular for both the UK and the US. That may be the differences I was getting at.

It changes little for the troops on the front line as they are still as brave as the ones in WWI and WWII. its all the rhetoric surrounding the why and, such that will see history look at some of the post war conflicts differently to WWI and, as you discussed WWII
Mitch

Perhaps, though it might depend on where one lives as well. Certainly I feel a very strong contention could be made for the generation that fought the american civil war or even the revolution as our greatest generations. Certainly people living within living memory of those events might tend to agree. No, unfortunately, perhaps I am a tad cynical, I think some of the luster of the WW2 generation will fade as we get further removed from the events. Battles like Normandy, Bulge, Iwo will fade into distant memory like Gettysburg, Yorktowne, etc. Certainly the historians of the future will see WW2 for what it was but not sure the general consensus of the populace would agree.

Regarding the current conflicts, who knows as they are current and the epilogue has yet to be written. I just know scores of these young men and women have served 3,4,5 some as high as 9 deployments in the combat zones. Admittedly, the intensity of the battles may not be what some of the WW2 generation but in terms of frontline time, time deployed away from friends and family, there are scores of men and women on active duty that got WW2 vets beat hands down in terms of combat time.

Ever thought of it at this angle? Perhaps the WW2 generation was the greatest generation because of the mobilization effort that EVERYONE- both abroad and on the homefront- underwent. I once said to a good friend of mine "Thank God we don't have to face the Nazis these days as I don't know if we'd have the stomach for it." He looked at me and said "Oh, I dunno, the blood of those old horses runs through us today."

I've often thought that the generation before the WW2 generation was the greatest- onset of the industrial revolution which played a huge part in propelling the US towards international superpower and then getting their families and communities through the depression and then WW2.

Interesting discourse but alas, I have taken this thread wildly off topic- sorry Rob. {sm2}

 

[Rob]

No probs mate, always good to read your views.

I think today's young soldiers are indeed heroes, they are helping to protect us from acts of terrorism that would be visited upon us.

However for me the second World War generation is the greatest. I say this from a British perspective as in 1940 a whole nation stood up and faced the Germans in a moment in History that was truly
pivotal. Whilst today's young men are fighting for our security , the men and women of that moment
were fighting for not only our freedom but our very existence. Across the channel waited hundreds of aircraft and Tanks and thousands of soldiers poised to invade. The freedom of the world hung in the
balance , every civvie played their part , stuck weeks of bombing death and destruction and won
through. Today's young soldiers are keeping us safe and I would never denigrate what they are doing and how vital there role and sacrifice is. It's just that the people of all countries of the WW2 Gen
rid this world of a disgusting plague that threatened everyone with decades of killing, hatred and
persecution.

That's only my way of looking at it but I'm opens minded and interested to hear all views on this.

Cheers

Rob


QUOTE=Currahee Chris;438291]Perhaps, though it might depend on where one lives as well. Certainly I feel a very strong contention could be made for the generation that fought the american civil war or even the revolution as our greatest generations. Certainly people living within living memory of those events might tend to agree. No, unfortunately, perhaps I am a tad cynical, I think some of the luster of the WW2 generation will fade as we get further removed from the events. Battles like Normandy, Bulge, Iwo will fade into distant memory like Gettysburg, Yorktowne, etc. Certainly the historians of the future will see WW2 for what it was but not sure the general consensus of the populace would agree.

Regarding the current conflicts, who knows as they are current and the epilogue has yet to be written. I just know scores of these young men and women have served 3,4,5 some as high as 9 deployments in the combat zones. Admittedly, the intensity of the battles may not be what some of the WW2 generation but in terms of frontline time, time deployed away from friends and family, there are scores of men and women on active duty that got WW2 vets beat hands down in terms of combat time.

Ever thought of it at this angle? Perhaps the WW2 generation was the greatest generation because of the mobilization effort that EVERYONE- both abroad and on the homefront- underwent. I once said to a good friend of mine "Thank God we don't have to face the Nazis these days as I don't know if we'd have the stomach for it." He looked at me and said "Oh, I dunno, the blood of those old horses runs through us today."

I've often thought that the generation before the WW2 generation was the greatest- onset of the industrial revolution which played a huge part in propelling the US towards international superpower and then getting their families and communities through the depression and then WW2.

Interesting discourse but alas, I have taken this thread wildly off topic- sorry Rob. {sm2}[/QUOTE]

 

[Rob]

Sorry for paragraphs all over place,it's this phone again:rolleyes2:

Rob

 

[Mitch]

WWII was so close to WWI in terms of generations and peoples outlooks (again, from a english point of view) that the two are interlinked. The resiliance of this generation cannot for me, be placed alongside any other from any period of history
Mitch

 

[Currahee Chris]

Gentlemen, very well said by both of you. Obviously after speaking with the both of you for some time on this forum the thought would never cross my mind, nor had it, that you both don't fully support your troopers today.

Yeah, I must have missed the WW1 part...sorry bout that {sm4}

Best regards and well said by all!! {bravo}}

 

[Rob]

Am just loving this series. Its quite fresh , new footage and great testaments from the servicemen. One GI just told how in Normandy in 1944 he had to pay $108 for four eggs and exactly twenty french fries!!{eek3}

A Brit veteran describes walking through the Bocage when a young German boy emerges from the hedge in front of him, he said ' like cowboys' we both went for our weapons (his being a Sten) he beat the German to it and had to kill him. He sat and wept at killing his first human being. Soon after a piece of shrapnel hit him in the cheek and came out of his eye socket, he lost an eye and was sent home. These guys have stones of steel in my view. The day the last one passes will be a huge loss for the world.


I've seen there's a companion book, if anyone spots a dvd release announced please let me know.

Rob

 

[Mitch]

It is good. I see Belsen is next that should be interesting listening to the men who liberated that camp. I am also enjoying the WWI series running tonights is about Harry Patch and henry allingham
Mitch

Am just loving this series. Its quite fresh , new footage and great testaments from the servicemen. One GI just told how in Normandy in 1944 he had to pay $108 for four eggs and exactly twenty french fries!!{eek3}

A Brit veteran describes walking through the Bocage when a young German boy emerges from the hedge in front of him, he said ' like cowboys' we both went for our weapons (his being a Sten) he beat the German to it and had to kill him. He sat and wept at killing his first human being. Soon after a piece of shrapnel hit him in the cheek and came out of his eye socket, he lost an eye and was sent home. These guys have stones of steel in my view. The day the last one passes will be a huge loss for the world.


I've seen there's a companion book, if anyone spots a dvd release announced please let me know.

Rob

 

[uksubs]

Nice bit on the dambusters colour footage of micke^&cooly mouse fuel truck Rob

 

[uksubs]

I see tonight on BBC2 is Double Agent:the Eddie Chapman should be worth watching and Hope it better than the film