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Would anyone know who (a WW II Marine general, I believe) said: 'Anyone who says he doesn't want to talk about his war experience simply hasn't made up his story yet' ?

There is some truth in that for Americans, but not for most Europeans.

I remember my mother's comment when someone was saying how brave my father had been during the war (remember

The difference between a 'War Story' and a 'Fairy Tail' is the starting line:

Fairy Tail: 'Once upon a time . . .'

War Story: 'No S**T, there I was . . .(or 'I was there . . .)

Remember that 'No S**t, I was there', IS the past tense of: 'OH S**t!!!!, Here they come!!!!'

But then for my war stories, I WAS THERE, NO S**T.

George, I wasn't going to mention that, but since you did, although none of my relatives were as highly decorated, that's the impression I have. One must remember, in Canada 41% of the men between 18-45 were in uniform. That makes every one of them a war veteran. William Manchester said, 'more than 90% of them are as uniformed about the killing zones as those on the home front.' That is his statistic and not mine. I can not believe the figure is anywhere near that high. The fact is many didn't come home. Many spent years ( or life ) in hospital. As Studs Terkel, and many lesser known Canadian writers have said, it WAS a good war. NOT for the civilians or men KIA and severely wounded. President Eisenhower described it as a Great Crusade. Although their ranks are much thinner now, it has been my honour to know many veterans from both wars. We had no Vietnam and Korea is remembered as the 'forgotten war.' It was always the Great War, and after that, 'the Big One'. ( Although Canada lost more men in the First ). I never ask a soldier about combat stories ( I do ask sailors and airmen ), but I ask very direct questions about decorations, units and times of service. From that I can go to the library and study the campaign they were in. At the Legion ( they let me in because of peacetime service) I listen(ed) to the stories of 'overseas'. If a veteran got a VC, CMH or spent his/her time bashing a typewriter, they all did 'their bit' to liberate the world from tyranny. It is something to be proud of. Mistakes were made and it was a brutal war but I am very proud of the contribution Canada and my little family made in ending it.

People who hold it in choke on it and suffer all their lives. Not letting it out contributes to trauma and mental suffering. Americans who are far more verbal than Europeans talk about it and relieve the trauma, and come to peace with it all..

Arthur Kramer 344th Bomb Group,9th Air Force England France Belgium Holland Germany

I had lunch yesterday with a woman who had been a nurse at Saipan, Guam and Tinian. She told me 'I've lost count of the number of boys who've died in my arms. But it's not the wounds or the dying that get you. It's the things they say to you as they go.'

Yes, George... what fun indeed.

their war experiences:

Art, I adore you! Some of my family cannot understand that I have to talk about it. A brother-in-law, who fought in Russia for three years, refuses to do so and just ruminates his experiences. I fully agree: Sharing liberates. I will continue to listen to you, and I hope you will to me.

'People who hold it in choke on it and suffer all their lives. Not letting it out contributes to trauma and mental suffering. Americans who are far more verbal than Europeans talk about it and relieve the trauma, and come to peace with it all..'

My grandfather was in the Canadian Army. He was wounded by schrapnel in 1917 at Pachendale.

He never discussed the war ( except in general terms ). He did suggest they stay out of the army however. He told them hordes ( ? ) of rats were everywhere. They took his advice.

My father joined the Navy, and never regretted it. My uncle joined the RCAF and never came back.

My other grandfather, was a 'D-Day Dodger in sunny Italy'. He would mumble things when he was drinking, but I never paid attention.

A few years ago, I made an appointment with my father to visit the National Archives of Canada. The formalities took months, but we viewed the personnel records of the 3 dead ones.

Canadian soldiers and airmen sent to the concentration camps of Germany and Japan seem to have never really been able to talk to their families about those places.

I think that the scene of the 8th Air force bombardier having a bad dream in 'Best Years of Our Lives' was poignant.

An RCAF man said, 'It took the courage of a steer ascending the slaughterhouse ramp to climb aboard 14 thousand pounds of bombs and two thousand gallons of high octane fuel and fly eight hundred miles into Germany.'

They feel betrayed that they never received a campaign medal and when people ask, 'How could you have done it?'

I've worked all my life in one of those jobs where people ask you for 'war stories'. I never tell them anything bad. I ask THEM to think of what would unsettle them and please don't tell me! LOL

As far as you guys who were actually there, I would like to listen. I don't really have a whole lot of questions, I just want to know about what it was all really like, the good and the bad. Thanks for sharing with us.

Sincerely, kurt bowker

best years

My grandfather was in the Canadian Army. He was wounded by schrapnel in 1917. When he and uncle were getting ready to 'join up' in the summer of 1941, the only time he ever discussed the war ( except in general terms ) was to suggest they stay out of the army. He told them hordes ( ? ) of rats were everywhere. They took his advice. My father joined the Navy, and never regretted it. My other grandfather, was a 'D-Day Dodger in sunny Italy'. He would mumble things when he was drinking, but I never paid attention. A few years ago, I made an appointment with my father to visit the National Archives of Canada. The formalities took months, but we viewed the personnel records of the 3 dead ones. Canadian soldiers and airmen sent to the concentration camps of Germany and Japan seem to have never really been able to talk to their families about those places. I think that the scene of the 8th Air force bombardier having a bad dream in 'Best Years of Our Lives' was poignant.

When people ask me for 'war stories'