A Few of FR's Finest..Every Day..02-6,7-07..WW2: The War, The Era, The Monument, The FReeper Vets

February 6, 2007 | Dolly Howard

[DollyCali]

A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day

Free Republic made its debut in September, 1996, and the forum was added in early 1997.   Over 100,000 people have registered for posting privileges on Free Republic, and the forum is read daily by tens of thousands of concerned citizens and patriots from all around the country and the world.

A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day was introduced on June 24, 2002. It's only a small room in JimRob's house where we can get to know one another a little better; salute and support our military and our leaders; pray for those in need; and congratulate those deserving. We strive to keep our threads entertaining, fun, and pleasing to look at, and often have guest writers contribute an essay, or a profile of another FReeper.

On Mondays please visit us to see photos of A FEW OF FR'S VETERANS AND ACTIVE MILITARY

If you have a suggestion, or an idea, or if there's a FReeper you would like to see featured, please drop one of us a note in FR mail.

We're having fun and hope you are!
~ Billie, Dutchess, DollyCali, GodBlessUSA, Aquamarine~

World War II (abbreviated WWII), or the Second World War, was a worldwide conflict fought between the Allied Powers and the Axis Powers, from 1939 until 1945. Armed forces from over seventy nations engaged in aerial, naval, and ground-based combat. Spanning much of the globe, World War II resulted in the deaths of over sixty million people, making it the deadliest conflict in human history. The war ended with an Allied victory .

Names & words like Adolf Hitler,Nagasaki, Normandy, the Holocaust, Pearl Harbor, Nazi, Adolph Eichmann, Rudolf Hess Auchwitz, , Iwa Jima, Atomic Bomb all bring sharp memories and often tears to those who lived through the time & bring images of a sad history for those of us who followed. .

Some 63 million people, or 3% of the world population, died in the war (though estimates vary): about 24 million soldiers and 38 million civilians. This total includes the estimated 9 million lives lost in the Holocaust. Of the total deaths in World War II, approximately 80% were on the Allied side and 20% on the Axis side.

Allied forces suffered approximately 17 million military deaths, of which about 11 million were Soviet and 3 million Chinese. Axis forces suffered about 8 million, of which more than 5 million were German. In total, of the military deaths in World War II, approximately 44% were Soviet soldiers, 22% were German, 12% were Chinese, 8% were Japanese, 9% were soldiers of other Allied forces, and 5% were other Axis country soldiers. Some modern estimates double the number of Chinese casualties originally stated. Of the civilian deaths, approximately 90% were Allied (nearly a third of all civilians killed were Soviet citizens, and more than 15% of all civilians killed in the war died in German extermination camps) and 10% were Axis.

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Many civilians died as a result of disease, starvation, massacres, genocide--in particular, the Holocaust--and aerial bombing. One estimate is that 12 million civilians died in Holocaust camps, 1.5 million by bombs, 7 million in Europe from other causes, and 7.5 million in China from other causes.[7] Allied civilian deaths totaled roughly 38 million, including 11.7 million in the Soviet Union, 7 million in China and 5.2 million from Poland. There were around 3 million civilian deaths on the Axis side, including 2 million in Germany and 0.6 million in Japan. The Holocaust refers to the organized state-sponsored murder of 6 million Jews, 1.8-1.9 million non-Jewish Poles, 200,000-800,000 Roma people, 200,000-300,000 people with disabilities, and other groups carried out by the Nazis during the war.

The Soviet Union suffered by far the largest death toll of any nation in the war, over 23 million. The Holocaust was the organized murder of an estimated nine million people, including approximately six million Jews. Originally, the Nazis used killing squads known as Einsatzgruppen to conduct massive open-air killings, shooting as many as 33,000 people in a single massacre, as in the case of Babi Yar. By 1942, the Nazi leadership decided to implement the Final Solution, or Endlösung, the genocide of all Jews in Europe, and to increase the pace of the Holocaust. The Nazis built six extermination camps specifically to kill Jews. Millions of Jews who had been confined to massively overcrowded ghettos were transported to these "Death-camps", in which they were either slaughtered on arrival or put to work until the Nazis could find no more use for them, at which point they were put to death by shooting or mass poisoning in gas chambers. .

In a short presentation such as this no attempt will be made to do a depth study of this war but rather to provide some links for those with an interest to know more.

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WW2 time line

WW 2 Europe

WW2 Pacific Timeline

Eyewitness to History WW2

Pacific Naval Battles

Wikipedia – WW2

Mini Biographies of Military & Political Leaders

Best of History Websites

Voices of WW2

The magnificent World War II Memorial Official Site was dedicated on May 29th of 2004, but this wonderful memorial cannot be shared with most WW II Veterans here in Ohio or elsewhere. They are now in their 80s to 90s.

The majority are on limited, fixed incomes, lack help. A twelve-hour bus ride is not an option for these heroes.

According to Veterans Affairs statistics, about 1,200 WW II Veterans die each and every day. The overwhelming majority of them will pass away without ever having an opportunity to visit the memorial they have waited over 60 years to see. We are changing that.

FReeper Warrior Queen works with the Cleveland USO & volunteers now with a remarkable group. Here are some of her comments…. We now fly WW II Veterans, one Saturday a month, in large commercial aircraft to the Washington, DC area. The program is called Honor Flight and the purpose is to fly America’s elderly veterans to visit the memorials dedicated to recognize their service and the sacrifices of their friends.

We are a federal nonprofit (501c3) organization. We are doing everything we can to make this activity FREE for the veterans. Sadly, Honor Flight does not receive any corporate or government sponsorship. We are asking for donations to cover airfare, tour bus services, food, tee shirts, scooter/wheelchair rental, oxygen and operational costs. We’re hoping that, by getting the word out, public support will continue to grow.

The more support we receive, the more veterans finally get to visit their memorial. Over the past two years, we have transported a total of 463 members of “the Greatest Generation.” We are now joined by other programs in North Carolina, Utah, Michigan, Oklahoma, and Illinois. Next year, our combined goal is to fly over 5000 WW II Veterans.

We conduct regular operations out of Dayton and Columbus. We plan to expand to Cleveland in 2007. Round trip, same day flights from Cleveland into Baltimore Washington International (BWI) would cost about $120.00 per seat. We then handle ALL the ground operations/logics from BWI, around Washington DC and back to the airport. We provide a deluxe motor coach, meals, tee shirts, name tags, motorized scooters, oxygen, etc. Our cost is about $50.00 per person.

It is our hope that we will pick up the cost of all ground expenses so that organizations from around the country pay only for their airfare. The cost will be about $120.00 a piece< to make the dreams of hundreds of WWII Veterans from Cleveland come true. Our policy is that the WWII Veterans don't pay a penny. . We will be serving as the "parent" organization to similar programs across the country. Recently we had about 20 people from across the nation that want to learn about how to proceed with an Honor Flight, HonorAir, Hero Flight, etc. program.

An office is opened that is staffed with volunteers to answer the phone, a national toll free number (1 888 FLY-VETS) and a national web site (presently under revision) www.HonorFlight.org. .

Time is NOT on our side. Since early January 2005, thirty-seven World War II veterans on our waiting list have passed away without visiting their memorial. In another 3 to 7 years, almost all WW II Veterans will be gone.

We remain committed to do everything we can to help those surviving veterans view their precious memorial. They are ordinary men and women who collectively and literally saved America and the
world.

If you would like more information or would like to help, please visit our web site at www.HonorFlight.org, email me at HonorFlight@aol.com
or call (937) 864-7261.

Erwin (Earl) Morse, Captain, USAF Retired
Founder of Honor Flight, Inc.
P.O. Box 214
Enon, OH 45323
Phone: 937 864-7261

More Honor Flight Information

Submitted by FReeper Bev ..the Bev in Bevlar; wife of Larry.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1012827/posts He is also registered at: http://www.wwiimemorial.com. The above site is where Freepers paid tribute to him. I cherish this website!!!

Lawrence Fredrick Zacker was born in Carroll Iowa November 4, 1915. He was 26 years old, married with children on December 7, 1941. The ARMY, NAVY AND MARINES wouldn't take him because he had very flat feet. He quit his job as Used Car Manager at a Los Angeles car dealership and went to work at Northrop building the P-61 Black Widow planes. He was doing his part for the war effort but felt he needed to participate as a soldier/sailor. In the summer of 1942, the United States Merchant Marines took him - flat feet and all after he begged the examining doctor to pass him.

He served in the Atlantic and Pacific theaters during the war years and was "bosun" on a ship off the coast of Normandy June 6, 1994. His service to his country did not go unnoticed and at the end of the war, he was contacted by the US Navy and given the opportunity to enter the Navy as an Ensign. He declined and returned to civilian life but often regretted his decision. He was a true flag waving patriot!!

After returning to civilian life, Larry became a Realtor and lived in Sana Diego for many years. In 1973, he retired and we moved to the mountains of N CA to the little town of Fall River Mills. We received an offer we couldn't refuse - Columbia Helicopters needed a watchman and we would be paid while we literally vacationed in our motor home. All we had to do was look after the helicopter during the evening hours. We traveled with Columbia for 4 years and had the time of our lives. In 1979, we decided to settle down once and for all. We bought a small acreage on the river - just a mile from the ocean on the beautiful north coast of Oregon.

In 1994, he received a special invitation, including a seating badge, to attend the 50 year remembrance of the Normandy invasion. He refused to attend because the draft dodging Bill Clinton was going to be there to strut around.

Larry will always be my hero because I knew his heart. I was Blessed to be his wife. He served his country with pride and honor. Larry died 10/31/03.

MY WAR
by William Barrows

Submitted by FReeper Wheelbarrow. A short excerpt presented here from the essay

FOUND HERE

"…..we pulled into what I thought was Liverpool (but later documents said it was Grenock, Scotland). En route we fought off and sank a German submarine that Hitler had boasted sank us, so when a British search plane came out to find us (or the remains) it was a jubilant dockside welcome that greeted us on arrival.

In England our troop train took us to a camp near North-witch for about a week, then again we were put on a train and taken to Southampton and loaded on assault ships to take us to Utah Beach in France where, like the guys who took the beach head, we had to climb the cliffs to get to the trucks that would take us to the combat area.

In France we traveled on mostly country roads (the German Air Force was still something to worry about, and there was a big German submarine post back behind at St. Nazzaire). We bypassed Paris and eventually wound up near Nancy (the last city of any size we’d encounter), the HQ. of General Patton’s Third Army and my 26th Division. Soon after to the east we were dropped from the trucks and began the march to the “front lines” some 20 miles away….."

1-09-07 ~ Hall of Fame #18

THIS WEEK'S THREADS 2-05-07 Military Monday

Opinions by our own 'King of Ping' Every Thursday at the Finest The guy's good, folks!

[potlatch]

Prayers for Freeper, Heart of Georgia

[dutchess]

Wonderful thread dolly. Will try to post my WWII vet. dad's picture tomorrow with a little background. What's special is he (in the beginning throws of Alzheimer's) and mom went on a senior bus trip to the WWII memorial shortly after it opened and a few months before mom died suddenly.

Can't hang out today...dad fell getting out of his chair...is fine but shook up and needs a little extra TLC. (plus we're in the throws of a serious snow!!!) ((((dolly))))) ((((WWII vets. and families))))

[jaycee]

Sorry about your dad falling...glad he wasn't hurt badly. Am I correct that your mom visited the World War II Memorial and not long after that she died unexpectedly? That is so sad. I am sorry and send my love and sympathies to you and your family.

[jaycee]

That is one of the most beautiful roses I have ever seen. Just gorgeous!

[DollyCali]

sorry dad about your dad's falls.. I DO UNDERSTAND THE conflict/concern when that happens & the resulting guilt when we spend to much time away. a balancing act for sure with one's own sanity & also the need to "be there" & be supportive

Looking forward to what you have to be your tribute to your dad. It he "with it" enough to be able to see what you post & the other things with the memorial section?

[LS]

Actually, most WW II books are not divided into either Pacific Theater or Europe. For the Pacific, one of the best is Ron Spector, "The Eagle Against the Sun."

Probably a good overview of the European war would be the Time-Life book with Eric Sevareid: "A Time-Life History of WW II,"

http://www.amazon.com/Time-Life-History-WW-World-War/dp/1566199840/sr=1-1/qid=1170805787/ref=sr_1_1/104-6155388-4740709?ie=UTF8&s=books

[LS]

Actually, most WW II books are not divided into either Pacific Theater or Europe. For the Pacific, one of the best is Ron Spector, "The Eagle Against the Sun." Then there is Martin Gilbert, "The Second World War: A Complete History." Gilbert is indeed thorough, but not the most engaging writer.

Probably a good overview of the European war would be the Time-Life book with Eric Sevareid: "A Time-Life History of WW II,"

http://www.amazon.com/Time-Life-History-WW-World-War/dp/1566199840/sr=1-1/qid=1170805787/ref=sr_1_1/104-6155388-4740709?ie=UTF8&s=books

These should provide a good start.

[lysie]

Wonderful thread, Dolly. Thanks.

Bev, it's so nice to know more about your Larry.

[DollyCali]

Thank you Larry. Saving your recommendations for future reference. The Time-Life one looks appealing to me

[dutchess]

It he "with it" enough to be able to see what you post & the other things with the memorial section?

No...unfortunately not. He's on "basic essential" mode. It's been a little over two years here now.... until six months ago it was missing mom...his cottage in Michigan. Now it's he loves our dogs and are so glad that he's here with us rarely mentioning mom.

I still remember though when I did a few veterans day threads at the Finest that mom insisted dad look at it to try to engage him and she posted under my name. LOL...freaked me out but I cherish those posts now.

Again, appreciate this wonderful tribute!

[DollyCali]

Thanks Lysie. Appreciate you stopping by

[DollyCali]

It is sad to see this happen. As much as my dad was taken much to soon to suit me, he was relatively healthy (biked, walked daily at 74) and had a sharp mind.

[dutchess]

It he "with it" enough to be able to see what you post & the other things with the memorial section?

No...unfortunately not. He's on "basic essential" mode. It's been a little over two years here now.... until six months ago it was missing mom...his cottage in Michigan. Now it's he loves our dogs and are so glad that he's here with us rarely mentioning mom.

I still remember though when I did a few veterans day threads at the Finest that mom insisted dad look at it to try to engage him and she posted under my name. LOL...freaked me out but I cherish those posts now.

Again, appreciate this wonderful tribute!

[WVNan]

Yes, WQ, I am going to pass your info along to our local vet organizations. Maybe I can nudge them to get involved. It's a wonderful thing you are doing. Thank you.

My parents were both involved in war work. My Mom worked at Redstone during the war. It was then an ammunition plant. My Dad worked at Huntsville Arsenal where they made Mustard Gas, etc. Mom was wounded in the explosion of the plant where she worked. The building was demolished and lots of people died. She crawled out alive. I remember that night vividly.

[Aquamarine]

You've been in my prayers Heart of Georgia. May God comfort you and your family on your loss.
Will also continue to pray for you aunt.

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

070201-N-0336C-005 Atlantic Ocean (Feb. 1, 2007) - Wardroom division officer Ensign Sara McPeek gets an explanation of how things run on the flight deck from one of air department's shooters during flight operations aboard Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75). Truman is currently underway conducting flight deck certification in the Atlantic Ocean. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Arturo Chavez (RELEASED)

070204-N-5345W-008 Atlantic Ocean (Feb. 4, 2007) - Four T-45 Goshawk trainers from Training Airwing One and Two perform a formation fly-by for the Sailors of Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) after the completion of flight training operations. Truman is currently underway conducting operations in the Atlantic Ocean. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Kristopher Wilson (RELEASED)

070204-N-4010S-088 Pacific Ocean (Feb. 4, 2007) - An AV-8B Night Attack Harrier II, assigned to the “Blacksheep” of Marine Attack Squadron Two One Four (VMA-214), prepares to land on the flight deck of amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2) during night flight operations off the coast of Okinawa, Japan. U.S. Navy photo by Chief Mass Communication Specialist Ty Swartz (RELEASED)

[Aquamarine]

Nice work on the Prayer Post Dolly, I really like the look of this.

[WVNan]

I think Ollie North has written a book on WWII.

[Aquamarine]

Hi Nan, it's good to see you. Hope everything is going well.

[WVNan]

I'm so sorry about your Dad, dutchess. I hope he gets along okay. I know it's difficult for you.