Dark Jedi
05-21-2007, 11:41 AM
Well, I was raised, for the most part, by my Grandparents. Grandpa was a WWII Marine, and the last surviving member of the Marine Special Forces Recon teams in WWII (that we can find).
I have been asking for several years now for his stories. You see, this aspect of WWII history is sadly lacking in documentation and history. I hate to see such a critical part of the Pacific War history pass without a trace.... but I run in to a roadblock.
Most of what they did was not documented. They were often given verbal orders and told "Get the job done, don't tell me how." On top of that, these men were very tight long after the war. Grandad's friends were all Marine Recon buddies. They swore an oath of honor that no one tells the things they had to do to survive.
Well, to an old Pacific War Marine, an oath of honor is not something that will ever be broken. Ever.
I have asked him to work around it without bending it or breaking it, but he will not, and today gave me the final answer: "No. Nothing, not now, not ever." I respect his oath, and I respect his wishes. But I am saddened by this historical loss.
Such history, knowing that the Marines landed on Iwo Jima 15 days before the main assault happened... knowing the recon of Okinawan bunkers and tunnels 3 weeks before the landings was key to that operation's success... and knowing we will never know the details. This saddens me.
I have been asking for several years now for his stories. You see, this aspect of WWII history is sadly lacking in documentation and history. I hate to see such a critical part of the Pacific War history pass without a trace.... but I run in to a roadblock.
Most of what they did was not documented. They were often given verbal orders and told "Get the job done, don't tell me how." On top of that, these men were very tight long after the war. Grandad's friends were all Marine Recon buddies. They swore an oath of honor that no one tells the things they had to do to survive.
Well, to an old Pacific War Marine, an oath of honor is not something that will ever be broken. Ever.
I have asked him to work around it without bending it or breaking it, but he will not, and today gave me the final answer: "No. Nothing, not now, not ever." I respect his oath, and I respect his wishes. But I am saddened by this historical loss.
Such history, knowing that the Marines landed on Iwo Jima 15 days before the main assault happened... knowing the recon of Okinawan bunkers and tunnels 3 weeks before the landings was key to that operation's success... and knowing we will never know the details. This saddens me.