I spent many many hours in conversation with my grandfather who fought in ww2 so I know the feeling of these men rather well
Discussion
My upstairs neighbor while I was a kid did 25 missions in the 8th from 43-44 and taught me and my brothers the meaning of hard work and sacrifice. He will always live in my heart. Unfortunately we as a society have moved on… the forth turning will change this.
Fourth *
How did he feel? Did he think we fought the wrong enemy?
No he believed the story straight up like many men in his generation, but as the years went by he started to kind of wonder? Is this what winning looks like? It was a deep confusion on his part.
I can imagine. Hard to fight propaganda back then. Most people still believe it today.
He was 17 when he enlisted. 21 when the war ended. He was too young to have a good understanding of why he a midwestern farm boy was in east Africa lol
It would be a brutal experience to go through fighting in a war, internalizing the war narrative(s), and forming a sense of identity from it only to have it eroded over the coming years by contradicting actions by the government and other sources.
Had to ask my Mom for his info because she’s got everything saved.
John Weis 1921-2005 RIP.
Staff Sergeant USAAF, 8th, 303rd bomber group, Molesworth GB. Tail Gunner. Served from 1942-1944.