One more WWII Vet gone....
03-17-2008, 08:05 PM
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One more WWII Vet gone....
Well, talked to my mom today. She said that my Grandpa went into the hospital yesterday to have an anurism(sp??) operated on. The doc told him about a month ago about it and he said he's lived a good life and was'nt worried about it. I guess he decided that it did'nt matter either way and went for the operation. Well he passed on yesterday on the operating table.
Sad to see him go. Only got to see him about once a year when I'd go pick my daughter up from my aunts house. Taught me about hunting, fishing, guns and pistols. Drank my first beer with him and his best friend after I caught my first northern pike. It was a Genny cream ale, Grandpa cooked up the pike in batter and we sat around talking. I believe I was 12
Don't worry John Law, you can't touch him now!!
Said he was at Normandy, always admired him for that. Did a book report on Normandy, but he would'nt really talk much of it. After watching Saving Private Ryan I admired him more and all the others that invaded the beaches that day, they all had ***** the size of basketballs. He later said he went in a few days after D-Day, I believe he was maintenance, 383 or something and served under General Patton. Told me of when he got the bayonet from the wharehouse. A guy I later talked to said he could'nt have gotten it from a wharehouse cause the bayonet was made in 39'. Grandpa said it was a huge wharehouse full of guns, bayonets and they took what they wanted. Got himself a couple old Mausers.
The days we'd go out fishing and then in the winter time going out hunting. As Grandpa got older we started to do a bit more spot hunting......Grandpa would drive down the road real slow and I'd look to see if I could spot any deer close enough for us to get to. Never panned out for us, it was good to ride in heated truck and talk with him though. My first look at a Playboy, found in the bottom of one of Grandpa's gun cabinets, yeah it was pretty old, but to a young kid.....it was amazing!!
When I went off to the Corps I would write occasionally and sent letters from time to time. Much to busy in my young life. After I got out I moved back home for a couple years and visited them all the time, Grandpa and Grandma. What a relationship, they'd argue and he call her an old hag or goat and she'd snap right back at him. Then it would get silent and I'd be watching tv as they both slept.....in the middle of the afternoon. They always had an army of dogs, Grandma would rescue them and Grandpa would complain....until the day Grandma said, "your Grandfather brought that one home." Always humble, they never had a fancy car, never anything new or remotely new. Usually just an old pick up truck ate up by the salt and crud of living in Western New York. Lived in the same old house for as long as I can remember and Grandpa as far as in my lifetime never worked for anybody. I screwed up one night. We went out to dinner with the two of them and as Grandpa slipped off to the bathroom I grabbed the check and went to pay for it. The waitress said, "does John know your paying for this?" They were regulars and this place, heck the road is named after him. I said no and paid, Wow Grandpa was not happy. Well, long story short Grandma ended up slipping the $40 into my wifes purse somehow. Well, she snuck it back into the house and I believe they ended up mailing it to us!!
I'm glad that Grandpa got to meet my wife, my wife and he adored her. I know she'll miss him and so will the three kids, but I'm not sure they really understand. Until we go back up this summer and don't visit Grandpa's house. I told myself that the Marines have hardened me and believed I would make it without doing what comes natural and not sure if he would want me to, but I'm gonna miss the old fart and talking with him and him farting while I'm trying to watch tv and he's napping.....not to mention his old dogs!!
John Sliker Thank you for all you've taught me and given to me. The best man I have ever know, bar none and hands down.
And thank you guys for letting me vent this.......
Sad to see him go. Only got to see him about once a year when I'd go pick my daughter up from my aunts house. Taught me about hunting, fishing, guns and pistols. Drank my first beer with him and his best friend after I caught my first northern pike. It was a Genny cream ale, Grandpa cooked up the pike in batter and we sat around talking. I believe I was 12
Don't worry John Law, you can't touch him now!!Said he was at Normandy, always admired him for that. Did a book report on Normandy, but he would'nt really talk much of it. After watching Saving Private Ryan I admired him more and all the others that invaded the beaches that day, they all had ***** the size of basketballs. He later said he went in a few days after D-Day, I believe he was maintenance, 383 or something and served under General Patton. Told me of when he got the bayonet from the wharehouse. A guy I later talked to said he could'nt have gotten it from a wharehouse cause the bayonet was made in 39'. Grandpa said it was a huge wharehouse full of guns, bayonets and they took what they wanted. Got himself a couple old Mausers.
The days we'd go out fishing and then in the winter time going out hunting. As Grandpa got older we started to do a bit more spot hunting......Grandpa would drive down the road real slow and I'd look to see if I could spot any deer close enough for us to get to.
Never panned out for us, it was good to ride in heated truck and talk with him though. My first look at a Playboy, found in the bottom of one of Grandpa's gun cabinets, yeah it was pretty old, but to a young kid.....it was amazing!! When I went off to the Corps I would write occasionally and sent letters from time to time. Much to busy in my young life. After I got out I moved back home for a couple years and visited them all the time, Grandpa and Grandma. What a relationship, they'd argue and he call her an old hag or goat and she'd snap right back at him. Then it would get silent and I'd be watching tv as they both slept.....in the middle of the afternoon. They always had an army of dogs, Grandma would rescue them and Grandpa would complain....until the day Grandma said, "your Grandfather brought that one home." Always humble, they never had a fancy car, never anything new or remotely new. Usually just an old pick up truck ate up by the salt and crud of living in Western New York. Lived in the same old house for as long as I can remember and Grandpa as far as in my lifetime never worked for anybody. I screwed up one night. We went out to dinner with the two of them and as Grandpa slipped off to the bathroom I grabbed the check and went to pay for it. The waitress said, "does John know your paying for this?" They were regulars and this place, heck the road is named after him. I said no and paid, Wow Grandpa was not happy. Well, long story short Grandma ended up slipping the $40 into my wifes purse somehow. Well, she snuck it back into the house and I believe they ended up mailing it to us!!
I'm glad that Grandpa got to meet my wife, my wife and he adored her. I know she'll miss him and so will the three kids, but I'm not sure they really understand. Until we go back up this summer and don't visit Grandpa's house. I told myself that the Marines have hardened me and believed I would make it without doing what comes natural and not sure if he would want me to, but I'm gonna miss the old fart and talking with him and him farting while I'm trying to watch tv and he's napping.....not to mention his old dogs!!
John Sliker Thank you for all you've taught me and given to me. The best man I have ever know, bar none and hands down.
And thank you guys for letting me vent this.......
03-17-2008, 08:30 PM
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Sorry for your loss. Its sad to lose that generation, a few years ago i got to be roommates with my grandpa for almost 2 years who was a Navy Seabee in WWII . It was good to get to know him better and the history that he knew while he was around. I get your stories, those guys seemed to always have a good sense of humor. You can learn a lot from that generation they have seen and been though a lot none of us ever will.
03-17-2008, 08:33 PM
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My sincere condolences. What you just "vented" are good memories that you can tell your grandchildren. When you say he lived the good life - without all the material things - you hit the nail on the head. Again, sorry for your, your family, and grandmother's loss.
03-18-2008, 08:09 AM
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When you write memories like that down,, print it and put it away for your kids when they are old enough to really understand it. Do a book of them so they know their family. When kids are young they have short memories and it is nice to preserve some things for them!!
03-18-2008, 12:50 PM
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Sad news indeed, Dodgeguy71. Prayers to you and your family.
My Uncles that fought in WWII are all gone now, too. The greatest of men, I wish I lived closer as a child and could have spent all my free time w/ them. A true loss for the young men of America is when these guys pass on!
Thanks to you for your service in preserving America's Freedoms and prayers to your family.
Kurt
My Uncles that fought in WWII are all gone now, too. The greatest of men, I wish I lived closer as a child and could have spent all my free time w/ them. A true loss for the young men of America is when these guys pass on!
Thanks to you for your service in preserving America's Freedoms and prayers to your family.
Kurt
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03-19-2008, 02:55 PM
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Sorry for the loss. Sounds like a great guy.
Carl has a good point. I lost my Grandfather last year. Before he went my Mom gathered all of his stuff from WWII and made a scrap book of it with pictures, service medals and certificates, orders, etc. He was a tailgunner and was shot down twice. Tough old man. Learned a lot from him too. Anyway, the scrapbook will be nice to show my kids when they're old enough to appreciate it and their lineage.
Carl has a good point. I lost my Grandfather last year. Before he went my Mom gathered all of his stuff from WWII and made a scrap book of it with pictures, service medals and certificates, orders, etc. He was a tailgunner and was shot down twice. Tough old man. Learned a lot from him too. Anyway, the scrapbook will be nice to show my kids when they're old enough to appreciate it and their lineage.
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