Calling all WWII, Korean War veterans
by Rick Catlin. Islander Reporter
Many readers in the Islander circulation area, including many World War II and Korean War veterans, are now back north in cooler climates.
Although I’ve been writing the WWII veteran stories for the past five years in the bi-weekly “Greatest Generation” column, and added Korean War veterans last year in the “Forgotten Generation” column, there are still veterans in our area I haven’t been able to reach.
If you are a WWII or Korean War veteran or have a friend who fits the category who has not had his or her story printed in The Islander, please contact me at 941-778-7978.
This is a fraternity that is not accepting any new members, and I believe every veteran of both WWII and Korea has a story to tell, whether the veteran was a cook stateside, or in combat on the frontlines in Europe, the Pacific, or the 38th parallel in Korea.
Some veterans have expressed a reluctance to tell their stories, saying that they’ve tried to forget.
I understand that. My father was a WWII veteran and was at Bastogne during The Bulge, but spoke very little about his experiences. Sadly, my dad is no longer around to tell me what he did in the war, and I’m determined to not let that happen to others.
I’m also a veteran, although my war was 20 years later in the jungles of southeast Asia.
The point is simply to have your story told so that you can give something personal of yourself to your children, grandchildren and great-grandkids. It is your story.
The columns are not written to glorify war or those who wore a uniform in the conflicts, but simply to tell the story of ordinary people in extraordinary times. I look forward to meeting and talking with each and every member of “The Greatest Generation” and “The Forgotten Generation.”
Again, if you’re a WWII or Korean War veteran, please call me at 941-778-7978.
“The Greatest Generation” and “Forgotten Generation” columns are for Island, Longboat Key, Perico Island, Palma Sola, Village Green and Cortez veterans, man or woman, who served in the armed forces of any allied country (U.S., Canada, Britain, Holland, Norway, France, Poland, Australia, New Zealand, the Philippines, etc.) during World War II. |
