Old Soldiers.....

[ftncityfatboy]

My dad is a Korean war vet, retired U.S. Army Reserves after umteen years of service. He's 83 yrs old now, and not until several years ago would he even talk about his experiences in Korea. After all these years, I just found out he was in the "Big Red" 1st Infantry Division. Maybe before he passes I can find out what the "Big Red" means. He was kept off the front lines cause he could use a type writer, he became a clerk for a general. Don't really know why I posted this, guess because I was just thinking about it......

Edited September 17, 2011 by ftncityfatboy

[BimmerFreak]

My dad is a Korean war vet, retired U.S. Army Reserves after umteen years of service. He's 83 yrs old now, and not until several years ago would he even talk about his experiences in Korea. After all these years, I just found out he was in the "Big Red" 1st Infantry Regiment. Maybe before he passes I can find out what the "Big Red" means. He was kept off the front lines cause he could use a type writer, he became a clerk for a general. Don't really know why I posted this, guess because I was just thinking about it......

Your dad was in the Big Red One, which is the nickname of the 1st Infantry Division.

Google/search 1st Infantry Division

I served in Bosnia with 1/18 Infantry, 1st Infantry Division back in 96.

[ftncityfatboy]

Your dad was in the Big Red One, which is the nickname of the 1st Infantry Division.

Google/search 1st Infantry Division

I served in Bosnia with 1/18 Infantry, 1st Infantry Division back in 96.

That's the one, he has a jacket with that on it. I forgot the "one". Thanks for the tips, google is our friend....

[Mike.357]

I think it means that the # 1 was red on their unit patch.

[NRA]

Cool....... you really need to get him to share his storys, These things you can pass on to the next generation. We must never forget:usa:

[TMF]

My grandfather served there during the war. He stayed in and retired as a WO4 a few decades ago. I don't remember him ever sharing stories with me until after I got back from my first deployment to Iraq, but all his stories were about girls in the drinky bar. The only combat story he ever told me was about some dumbass N. Korean sniper who engaged him and some buddies a few months after the armistice was signed. Guess he didn't get the memo!

[Guest lostpass]

All the people I know who saw combat don't talk about it easily (I don't press). That seems to hold true no matter what the action, anything from Korea to Afghanistan.

All the military folks I know who didn't see combat won't shut up about being in the service when they could've seen combat. How do you tell someone who was almost deployed at a party? Don't worry, they'll tell you about it.

It's not scientific or anything but from personal experience combat is a bigger deal than most people realize.

[Will Carry]

The Big Red One is one of the most famous divisions in the US Army.

My father spend the last of WWII in Manila as a teletype operator. After six weeks in combat, he started sleep walking. That's a big no no on the front lines. He remembers receiving the teletype of the bombing of Hiroshima and the surrender of Japan. When he got back home they not only paid for his college education but gave hime money to live on. How else could a poor country boy from Alabama get in to medical school and become a doctor for the VA hospital. He treated Viet Nam vets until his death in 1971.

He never spoke of his six weeks in combat but continued to sleep walk the rest of his life.

[TMF]

All the people I know who saw combat don't talk about it easily (I don't press). That seems to hold true no matter what the action, anything from Korea to Afghanistan.

I really have no problem trading stories with other combat arms servicemembers, but I'm uncomfortable with telling them to people that haven't had similar experiences. It's not that I'm ashamed or it brings up bad memories, I just don't feel comfortable doing it. I think for the same reasons I don't like getting military discounts or having people thank me for something I don't think I deserve "thanks" for.

[NRA]

The Big Red One is one of the most famous divisions in the US Army.

My father spend the last of WWII in Manila as a teletype operator. After six weeks in combat, he started sleep walking. That's a big no no on the front lines. He remembers receiving the teletype of the bombing of Hiroshima and the surrender of Japan. When he got back home they not only paid for his college education but gave hime money to live on. How else could a poor country boy from Alabama get in to medical school and become a doctor for the VA hospital. He treated Viet Nam vets until his death in 1971.

He never spoke of his six weeks in combat but continued to sleep walk the rest of his life.

Back in the day when we really took good care of our VETS! as we should