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DemoTex

(25,396 posts)
Fri Jan 26, 2018, 09:45 PM Jan 2018

Post-WW2 Joy (too good not to share)

My beautiful parents. Dad was an arty officer. N. Africa. Captured by the Germans, and escaped when a British Spitfire strafed the marching column.

Then, Italy (wounded, recovered (Purple Heart)). Winter of '44 in a pup tent. With the first US forces through the gates at the horror of Dachau.

Married my mom, a school teacher. Dad got his PhD at Auburn, and became a professor at the University of Georgia. Incredible couple dedicated to public education.

If I look a tad like either of them, I'm doing good!

Mobile, Alabama
Ca. 1947

46 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Post-WW2 Joy (too good not to share) (Original Post) DemoTex Jan 2018 OP
Thanks for the story and that great pic. TexasProgresive Jan 2018 #1
Wow! What wonderful (and adorable) parents!! Lucky you! nt chowder66 Jan 2018 #2
Sweet MaryMagdaline Jan 2018 #3
You have an impressive pedigree, DemoTex! herding cats Jan 2018 #4
Great story. TomSlick Jan 2018 #5
Two fine examples of the Greatest Generation The_jackalope Jan 2018 #6
I always disliked Brokaw for his obsession with "The Greatest Generation" but Boomerproud Jan 2018 #36
My dad.................... omg................. raven mad Jan 2018 #7
LOL. That's the good life right there! A babe in one hand, a cold beer in the other! PSPS Jan 2018 #8
... orangecrush Jan 2018 #9
Squee! shenmue Jan 2018 #10
👏👏👏👏👏 irisblue Jan 2018 #11
With those genes, how could you go wrong? And a war hero and teacher to boot! MLAA Jan 2018 #12
Seems the apple did not fall far from the trees GeoWilliam750 Jan 2018 #13
Thanks, DemoTex. You're right; it is too good not to share! Glorfindel Jan 2018 #14
Best news I've seen all day Hekate Jan 2018 #15
This is fantastic. WhiskeyGrinder Jan 2018 #16
Thank you so much for sharing. PoindexterOglethorpe Jan 2018 #17
Let's see your pic burrowowl Jan 2018 #18
Was he one of my UGA professors? MRDAWG Jan 2018 #19
DemoTex, I would like to thank your parents for all they did. VOX Jan 2018 #20
Wonderful! I was a military brat too and know Mobile well. nolabear Jan 2018 #21
Wow....Great picture! And a nice story Upthevibe Jan 2018 #22
Beautiful! They look super cool. (nt) klook Jan 2018 #23
Love the picture. nt hay rick Jan 2018 #24
Gorgeous couple. Tatiana Jan 2018 #25
Thanks for sharing this, DemoTex. Aristus Jan 2018 #26
Cheers to you, your folks, and the Greatest Generation! My father was a FailureToCommunicate Jan 2018 #27
What was your dad's area... 3catwoman3 Jan 2018 #28
Very handsome couple! lillypaddle Jan 2018 #29
seems handmade34 Jan 2018 #30
Great story and photo! smirkymonkey Jan 2018 #31
Nice story and pic CanonRay Jan 2018 #32
Thats why theyre called The Greatest Generation. lunatica Jan 2018 #33
You betcha.. whathehell Jan 2018 #38
And downwardly mobile lunatica Jan 2018 #39
Yes whathehell Jan 2018 #41
K & R 50 Shades Of Blue Jan 2018 #34
Beautiful photo, beautiful story, my dear DemoTex! Thank you! n/t CaliforniaPeggy Jan 2018 #35
They were adorable. Thanks for sharing! pnwmom Jan 2018 #37
This picture makes me wish I was there and then. sl8 Jan 2018 #40
My dad was in N. Africa and Italy as well. In the sky. panader0 Jan 2018 #42
WOW Skittles Jan 2018 #43
Thanks for the share benld74 Jan 2018 #44
They are beautiful. :) Thanks for sharing such a nice thing. Hortensis Jan 2018 #45
Very nice looking couple. They raised a fine son! n/t CousinIT Jan 2018 #46

herding cats

(19,564 posts)
4. You have an impressive pedigree, DemoTex!
Fri Jan 26, 2018, 09:56 PM
Jan 2018

They were one nice looking couple. I love your mom's sense of style in that pic!

Boomerproud

(7,952 posts)
36. I always disliked Brokaw for his obsession with "The Greatest Generation" but
Sat Jan 27, 2018, 02:13 PM
Jan 2018

your parents' story is remarkable. You have every right to be extremely proud, both during and after the war.

raven mad

(4,940 posts)
7. My dad.................... omg.................
Fri Jan 26, 2018, 10:16 PM
Jan 2018

I won't even post it here except to say he'd have adored your folks!

PSPS

(13,594 posts)
8. LOL. That's the good life right there! A babe in one hand, a cold beer in the other!
Fri Jan 26, 2018, 10:22 PM
Jan 2018

No wonder they're smiling!

MLAA

(17,288 posts)
12. With those genes, how could you go wrong? And a war hero and teacher to boot!
Fri Jan 26, 2018, 10:31 PM
Jan 2018

Good looks and character.

VOX

(22,976 posts)
20. DemoTex, I would like to thank your parents for all they did.
Fri Jan 26, 2018, 11:30 PM
Jan 2018

Over the years, some picky folks have scoffed at the “Greatest Generation” label, but good lord, look at your parents’ accomplishments— plus, kids! All that time spent in service to others, which, sadly, we have precious little of today.

My dad was older at the outbreak in December, 1941, pushing 40 (in the 60s, I was the only kid around whose parents’ age matched the decade). But they were drafting up to age 45, so he enlisted in OCS for the Air Corp Technical and Training Command (“We Keep ‘Em Flying”). His orders: the dangerous Santa Monica, California theater, attached to the Douglas Aircraft plant there. Laugh now, but not one Japanese plane made it past the lifeguard stations. And that’s where he met my mom, who assisted GIs with finding places to live for the duration. She kiddingly called my dad’s paddleball injury “Purple Heart.”

Hailing from El Paso, Santa Monica beach looked like paradise to my dad, so they bought a house nearby in 1947 for $11,000, paid for with the help of a GI loan.

They did well.

nolabear

(41,960 posts)
21. Wonderful! I was a military brat too and know Mobile well.
Fri Jan 26, 2018, 11:35 PM
Jan 2018

And they look like a young, hopeful pair don’t they? Dreaming dreams that included you.

FailureToCommunicate

(14,014 posts)
27. Cheers to you, your folks, and the Greatest Generation! My father was a
Sat Jan 27, 2018, 12:52 AM
Jan 2018

chaplain during the war, and afterwards worked with wounded vets to secure their civil rights as disabled citizens.

lunatica

(53,410 posts)
33. Thats why theyre called The Greatest Generation.
Sat Jan 27, 2018, 12:55 PM
Jan 2018

We Baby Boomers benefitted greatly by the GI loans and the social services that Franklin Roosevelt started for them. I think that maY have been the last time our government really took care of their veterans AFTER a war. They became the Middle Class.

whathehell

(29,067 posts)
38. You betcha..
Sat Jan 27, 2018, 04:52 PM
Jan 2018

FDR's New Deal was largely responsible for America's Post War Middle Class. By the 1960's, we had the Largest Middle Class in the world...
I think you can thank subsequent Republican administrations with their Tax Cutting, Off-Shoring, and Union Busting, for the fact that America now has the Smallest Middle Class in the developed world..

whathehell

(29,067 posts)
41. Yes
Sat Jan 27, 2018, 06:29 PM
Jan 2018

The RW leadership would like to return this country to a Two Tier society of Rich and Poor with, perhaps, a very small middle class to attend to their needs. I have read that a Middle Class has always had to be fought for.

panader0

(25,816 posts)
42. My dad was in N. Africa and Italy as well. In the sky.
Sat Jan 27, 2018, 06:30 PM
Jan 2018

He flew A-20s, a small three man bomber. He did 25 missions out of England
beforehand, (B-17) then 25 out of N. Africa. He lived in a tent as well.
He had some great stories.

Hortensis

(58,785 posts)
45. They are beautiful. :) Thanks for sharing such a nice thing.
Sat Jan 27, 2018, 07:22 PM
Jan 2018

Look at those rolled up slacks and bobby socks. They were also very cool.

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