I found this old picture of my dad and me when I was about 4.

[catbyte]

He was a Marine Raider, 1st Marine Division, WWII, first wave Guadalcanal, a veteran of Peleliu, Okinawa, and other assorted South Pacific hellholes. Purple Heart & Silver Star. He was the best dad a little girl could ever have. I lost him in 2000 to ALS and I miss him every day.

When I think of what that ungrateful, vile piece of shit said--and thinks--about veterans, it fills me with a rage I didn't think was possible. I truly hate that despicable, pathetic, empty shelll of a man.

/Rant off.

[Phoenix61]

1. What a great photo! nt

[MaryMagdaline]

2. Catbyte 45 doesn't deserve your dad's service

[asiliveandbreathe]

3. Wonderful photo..so many good memories..cherish always..thank you for sharing..

I know I have photos of Dad in uniform from WW2..I haven't taken a look through all the photos for years..I have the letters and cards from him to my Mom, as well as his draft papers..1942 to indefinitely it says..I must get back to them...

Thanks again for sharing...

[Wellstone ruled]

4. Bet millions are digging through

the old Photo albums as you were. Just so happen to have the Old Man's Photo from Xmas 1942 in full Uniform holding me. When I saw your post,had to go to the dresser draw and pull it out. Have to say,the old Guy looked pretty smart in that uni. Because of his age at the time,he served State Side Quarter master Corp.

[hunter]

5. My dad and my wife's dad both put themselves at risk of ground service in the Korean War.

It was just stupid luck they didn't serve there.

My father-in-law got used as a guinea pig in nuclear bomb tests instead. My dad was a nearsighted Radar O'Reilly medical clerk.

My grandparents defeated the Nazis and Imperial Japan, one Army Air Corp grandpa, two building and repairing Liberty and Victory ships, one USO organizer.

One of my wife's uncles was killed by the Nazis in the very last days of World War II. Another was held prisoner by Japan in China.

Fuck off and die Trump, you pathetic loser.

[ellie]

6. That is a nice photo!

I agree with you. I had the same reaction: I am so filled with rage that I am scaring myself.

[peacebuzzard]

7. wish I could see the picture. link is off?

my father also served in Japan/Korea in the 50s.

[catbyte]

8. That's odd. I can see it.

I'm not sure what else I can do.

[peacebuzzard]

23. I can see it now! Must have been my end.

That is a classic photo. Our fathers were in the same line of duty. I hope to dig up some pictures I have in storage one day.
Precious indeed.

[ffr]

9. You are not alone.

I may have policy differences with soldiers, but I hold even the simplest of them with respect for their service. I especially appreciate the ones who think things through and adhere to a higher ethical code.

[bucolic_frolic]

10. Thanks for sharing

Reminds me I need to get back to my family history project. Dad, also a WWII vet, did a lot on family history, but the rest of my family, nuclear and extended are just not interested.

[N_E_1 for Tennis]

11. Thanks for sharing catbyte...

Looks like a very comfortable time.

[BHDem53]

12. Great picture, catbyte.

My dad was with the first Army group on Guadalcanal 48 hours after the Marines. We lost him on 10/01/2006 after his third bout of cancer. The smartest man I've ever known.

[peacebuzzard]

24. sorry to hear this,

[catbyte]

28. I'm so very sorry. Was your dad there after they evacuated the first wave?

If he landed before, maybe they knew each other. I'm still so upset that that thing insulted our dads like that.

[sarge43]

13. For your father, catbyte. Always faithful

Duty honor courage.

[catbyte]

15. Thank you, sarge43. That brought me to tears.

He was always my hero. He suffered through bouts of malaria for decades after returning. I remember there was always a bottle of quinine water in a cupboard just in case of a relapse. After he passed, I found a bottle of it he still had stashed in that cupboard, after all those years.

I'm almost...ALMOST...glad he's not here to see how far this country has fallen. I don't know if he'd be more angry or heartbroken; probably an equal measure of both.

Thank you again.

[FailureToCommunicate]

16. ...

[sarge43]

20. You're welcome, catbyte

Anyone who endured those "shitholes" earned a seat at the high table in Valhalla.

[ancianita]

14. Wonderful.

Please channel that love and anger and tell your story to every Republican you meet.

[Joinfortmill]

17. Nice

[malaise]

18. Lovely

Thanks for posting this Catbyte

[FailureToCommunicate]

19. Thank you catbyte. We are not worthy of the Greatest

Generation. We ( somehow) allowed this abomination to occupy The People’s House. I am glad my father -also a WWll vet- passed before this horrible era came into being.

We MUST do EVERYTHING to make sure this nightmare ends on November 3rd. For our sacred memories of our fearless parents, if nothing else.

[catbyte]

21. Absolutely.

I'll bet your dad was just like mine. He never bragged, never even talked about it, really. The only things he ever told me were that it was "hotter than hell" there and that there were some "big-ass typhoons" in the Pacific that he had to ride out on carriers. It wasn't until the last 6 months of his life that I found out what he really did. His buddies would visit him every day in the nursing home and they'd sit for hours shooting the breeze and talking about what it was like back in the day. I was so lucky to have a boss that let me work two days a week and I could spend the rest of the week with my folks. I remember one time, one of his buddies sidled up to me as we were leaving for the day and said, "You know, your dad was a real hero." It didn't surprise me in the least. He was always mine. And still is.

We owe them everything.

[FailureToCommunicate]

22. Yes. Yes we do.

[Skittles]

26. did you see my reply to PCIntern regarding the pacific

https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=14020611

[catbyte]

29. Wow. I think I understand that. When I was listening to my dad and his buddies, their memories

were so vivid it seemed like the war was 2 years before instead of almost 60. Some things are so deeply etched in your brain you never forget. My dad was an avid hunter before the war. He never hunted again after he came back. When one of his friends asked him why he never hunted anymore, dad said that he'd seen and caused enough death to last a lifetime. I can't imagine what he went through. He was 17 when he landed on Guadalcanal.

[Skittles]

31. I remember my grandfather talking to his buddies about Dunkirk

knowing what they went through during the war and then seeing these assholes here acting like wearing a mask is such a huge sacrifice, it is sickening indeed

[Laura PourMeADrink]

25. I know. Who do you go to to feel better? I have to think that

the key is to capture the attention of "most people". How? We must somehow infiltrate the middle? The apolitical. But how? We all know there's a monster. Futile to just commiserate with each other. Must broaden.

[denbot]

27. What a sweet image.

Peace to you and yours catbyte.

[catbyte]

30. Thank you. You, too.