By stephen stallebrass (Drstallebrass) (62.253.32.5) on Tuesday, February 04, 2003 - 07:43 am:

Hi all,

I've been listening to the interactions between various members for a while and contributed a few times myself in the past, and I have to say I'm getting sick of people confusing respect for the veterans with something completely different. Something more like that of compulsiveness and obsessiveness.

It's wonderful that their is so much love for them and I know that BoB has helped bring this out and facilitate it. I also think its great if you want to engage with them but there is a time and a place and that is at public functions NOT by fan mail or turning up at their doorsteps uninvited.

As you have probably guessed I do not agree with this writing of endless letters, no matter how it is justified, even if it is only the one letter, you know that the vets will write back because thats the kind of good nature these people have. This practice is selfish and not showing any respect at all.

I would suggest that if you feel like writing then don't, just think about it a while and consider the vets, this urge to write is usually emotionally driven and no consideration is given to the burden and affect this has on the vets. I know how you must feel I wanted to write and seek contact myself when I first watched BoB and read the book, its natural and a good human response, but I didn't for this exact reason.

Their are many alternative and genuine ways of showing respect without bombarding them with mail, it just takes a little careful consideration and imagination.

And don't forget that these heroes were not the only heroes during World War II there are many other vets, some have even been forgotten and it is these that could do with some love, admiration and respect. I also find that it is these vets that enjoy telling you their stories the most, they are also the most interesting.

One final note and this may not be popular but its my opinion, and it is this: there are a lot of hypocrites that openly discourage this practice of writing to the vets that have done just this, you know who you are!. I am not talking about members of these vets family.

I think it would be a wise decision if when individuals join this forum they are given instructions not to seek personal addresses of veterans and be informrd of the effects that such practices have on some vets. What do you think?

Steve Stallebrass

By Marigold Papa (Marigold) (203.160.183.79) on Tuesday, February 04, 2003 - 08:44 am:

Very nice Steve I hope this thing won't have to be brought up over and over again

gold

By Jonathan Jones (Jonjones) (213.122.249.156) on Tuesday, February 04, 2003 - 02:36 pm:

Steve,

I will openly admit my guilt over this issue. I once visited the "Wild Bill" site that's run by members of his family. I posted some comments that centred around my Great Uncle's experience in the battle for Arnhem. I was asked to pass on my Great Uncle's regards to Wild Bill, from one member of the airborne to another.

That should have been that but a few weeks later I received a letter from Wild Bill asking me to forward his sentiments re: Market Garden and regards to my Great Uncle. This was some miracle as I can't even remember leaving my private address at the "Wild Bill" site! There should have been no way I could have been contacted. The last thing I wanted to do was add to Wild Bill's labours.

As it was, I forwarded the mail to my Great Uncle and that was the end of it.

Jonathan.

By Aya (Aya) (165.21.83.230) on Friday, February 21, 2003 - 10:21 am:

Hi.

I didn't know where to post this follow-up note to my last message in the other off-topic thread, so I'll just plonk it in here.

FOR THE LOVE OF ... I CAN'T FIND THAT JAPANESE WWII VETERAN.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

I've been waking up as early as anything this week just so I could spend at least an hour before reporting for work, to walk around the memorial parks near my office. I don't usually eat during lunch (if I do it's just grab-and-go-don't-forget-my-latte) and I've been spending my lunch breaks scouring the other side of the business district where there are other war memorials. I tried very hard not to leave office too late in the evening, so that I'd still have time to continue searching elsewhere for the elderly gentleman before I'd have to head home.

NOTHING. NO ONE LIKE HIM.

I came back from work this evening dragging my feet to the letterbox, opened it to collect the household mail, dragged my feet into the lift, dragged myself some more down a few stairs to my floor, opened the door, kicked off my shoes, sorted through the mail and found something amongst it which in a nano second turned me into a hyper super excited screaming jumping up and down monkey girl.

I left a very long note somewhere. I recall having deleted my snailmail address. Then again, my note was so long, I'm having second thoughts / doubts now if I'd really deleted my snailmail address.

Jonathan: You're not alone feeling guilty in that sense. I got a letter from Mr Guarnere, too.

My week-long hunt for one Japanese WWII veteran has yielded nada but I received something else in return from ANOTHER WWII veteran.

I'm not quite sure what to do right now (other than QUIT SQUEALING like a stuck pig). I just know my spirit and strength feels renewed. I don't work weekends and tomorrow I don't have to return to office for overtime. So I'm going to start out as early as possible and go to the remaining war memorial areas strewn across the Singapore and its surrounding islands.

Wish me LOADS of luck again. I'll be bringing Mr Guarnere's handwritten letter with me.


Aya

By Aya (Aya) (165.21.83.250) on Friday, February 21, 2003 - 11:56 am:

My 16-yr old bed collapsed on me when both my cats were running around the house and jumped all over my bed (ah well something to that effect) so my parents had that bed trashed while I was at work this morning. My mattress is now on the floor as I await sunrise tomorrow (when my new bed will arrive) so with all the intermittent inward squealing and freezing to DUUUHHH for a while before squealing again I have also been jumping up and down on that mattress with as much gusto as I could possibly muster.

God forbid any springs inside should sproing right out before the night is done. Fyi also my feet are aching like crap because I have been walking around in 3" office heels looking for that vet.

I've said this at least 3 or 4 times to other people this week and I'm going to say it again: I ought to go stun-gun myself in the head.

That's all for now. 0100hr in Singapore. I should go get some rest. It's been a HECK of a week. Have a great weekend, everyone.


Aya

By Marigold Papa (Marigold) (203.160.183.79) on Saturday, February 22, 2003 - 03:36 am:

Congratulations on the letter you received Aya and lotsa luck on finding the old man. Poor bed! :P

gold

By Jonathan Jones (Jonjones) (213.122.245.102) on Sunday, February 23, 2003 - 07:41 pm:

In March 2001 the German town of Russelsheim was in a state of consternation. The past had finally caught up with it.

On August 26 1944 the USAAF Liberator "Wham! Bam! Thank you, Ma'm" was brought down. Events following this became known as the "Russelsheim Death March" where a frenzied mob of the townsfolk gave the captured downed crewmembers such a beating that only three of them survived.

Following much soul searching, the mayor of the town invited the two crewmen still alive in 2001 back, to receive a formal apology. It must be pointed out that this was not a unanimous decision, but the desire of the mayor prevailed.

Unfortunately, one of the two remaining crewmembers was too ill to make the journey, but the former tail gunner did. In a ceremony attended by roughly 100 townsfolk a formal apology was offered. The tail gunner said that he did not hold any ill feeling in his heart for Germany or the town in particular.

As a sequel, thanks to the publicity of the ceremony, the daughter of the pilot of the stricken plane was able to make contact with the tail gunner.

Sombre regards, Jonathan.

By Aya (Aya) (165.21.83.198) on Sunday, March 02, 2003 - 11:13 am:

I have no visual of my target. Mission abort.

By now he's probably already returned to wherever he calls his home. His smattering of English was still fathomable. It would have been really very nice to have had that 2nd chance to chat with him. If he'd wanted to, in the first place.

Ah, well... back to my Liverpool vs Manchester United 'live' match.

By Marigold Papa (Marigold) (203.160.183.79) on Sunday, March 02, 2003 - 05:01 pm:

Awwww....at least you tried Aya

gold

By Flynn (Flynn) (192.169.41.37) on Monday, March 03, 2003 - 01:26 am:

Aya,

Sorry to hear that. I was looking forward to what he had to say. However, please don't abort your mission as you may meet another veteran whom I'm sure would present the same emotions.

Let us all know how you get on. Don't give up.

Flynn

By Kerry Jones (Kerry) (213.51.0.208) on Thursday, August 14, 2003 - 01:09 pm:

I didn't know where else to post this, but it is something I would like to share with you all.
I live in Holland, in the town Sittard. Since watching BOB, I have really come to realise what the soldiers had to go through to free our country. I have great respect for all of them, thanks to them we now live in a free Europe. Not all of the soldiers killed in battle are burried in the big war cemetaries here in Holland. In the small town of Buchten (just outside Sittard), an american soldier is burried in the local cemetary. His grave always has flowers on it, the people in the village take care of that! And on the day we remember our dead (may 4th) his grave is full of flowers! I am glad he is not forgotten, and if I see the grave has no flowers, I will lay some for him. We must not forget the people who died for our freedom!

By Brook Seifert (Brook_Seifert) (63.175.99.199) on Thursday, August 14, 2003 - 02:41 pm:

what is the name of the soldier that is buried in that cemetary? Does his grave marker list anything else besides his name?

By Kerry Jones (Kerry) (213.51.0.208) on Thursday, August 14, 2003 - 04:21 pm:

I know it lists his name and company, I'll look next time I go there (probably saturday). Why do you ask?

By Kerry Jones (Kerry) (213.51.0.208) on Sunday, August 17, 2003 - 02:56 pm:

Sorry, he was a Dutch soldier. His name was Teeven, he was from the north of holland.

As we live just 30 minutes drive away from Margraten, we visited the war cemetary there today, to pay our respects. We were surprised at the amount of people there. The soldiers who died for our freedom have not been forgotten.

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