What It Was Like to Be an American G. I. in WWII
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Date: 2022-12-29
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Comments and reviews: 20
CobraKelly
My grandfather was drafted into the war. My grandma was pregnant with their first baby when he had to go. he saw his firstborn child for the first time when she was 4 years old! A Kentucky boy from the middle of nowhere, I can't imagine how strange, exciting, and utterly terrifying it must've been for him travelling overseas, seeing many places and people so different and far from home and having to fight and see the horrific things. He stormed Normandy Beach and was shot by a German soldier at exactly the same time he was shooting the guy back. He only survived by God's grace and by pulling the dead body of that German soldier on top of himself seconds before losing consciousness to blood loss. Nearly had to have his arm amputated but put up enough of a fight that he got to keep it, although it never was of much use again. but you'd never know it at a glance. Never complained, never discussed any of it, and never wore a shirt without long sleeves again. He also didn't get sent home to recover, he got patched up, sucked it up, and was back in battle. Got a purple heart he never mentioned, too. He died the day after my 2nd birthday after a long, painful battle with cancer. He fought to live one more day because he couldn't bear the notion of ruining my birthday. They don't make men like him these days. Today's boys have no idea what fighting, serving, sacrificing, bravery, endurance, strength, or being tuff is. These girls of today are no better. likely worse. All I know is if lots if things dont go back to how they once were: we are doomed.
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My grandfather was drafted into the war. My grandma was pregnant with their first baby when he had to go. he saw his firstborn child for the first time when she was 4 years old! A Kentucky boy from the middle of nowhere, I can't imagine how strange, exciting, and utterly terrifying it must've been for him travelling overseas, seeing many places and people so different and far from home and having to fight and see the horrific things. He stormed Normandy Beach and was shot by a German soldier at exactly the same time he was shooting the guy back. He only survived by God's grace and by pulling the dead body of that German soldier on top of himself seconds before losing consciousness to blood loss. Nearly had to have his arm amputated but put up enough of a fight that he got to keep it, although it never was of much use again. but you'd never know it at a glance. Never complained, never discussed any of it, and never wore a shirt without long sleeves again. He also didn't get sent home to recover, he got patched up, sucked it up, and was back in battle. Got a purple heart he never mentioned, too. He died the day after my 2nd birthday after a long, painful battle with cancer. He fought to live one more day because he couldn't bear the notion of ruining my birthday. They don't make men like him these days. Today's boys have no idea what fighting, serving, sacrificing, bravery, endurance, strength, or being tuff is. These girls of today are no better. likely worse. All I know is if lots if things dont go back to how they once were: we are doomed.
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James
There was a total of 16 million Americans who served in WWII. 11. 2 million in Army 4. 2 million in the Navy and 660, 000 in the Marine Corps.
Because in 1939 there were only 174, 000 in the Army, there was a critical shortage of experienced soldiers to train the big expansion that had to be done ASAP. As a result, my grandfather, who was not career army, but had served in WWI as an officer - was called back into service. This despite having 10 kids and being in his late 40s! This may have been because he was in the DC National Guard between the wars - but not sure he was still in at the time the war broke out because of his age. They put him at Fort Lee as it was fairly close to the family home in DC.
Of his 10 kids, 7 went into the service including my dad, 2 of his sisters, and 4 of his brothers. 2 were too young and one was disabled. My dad volunteered but was initially rejected because of a hernia, but was later drafted into the Army after he got the hernia fixed and ended up serving in India, China and Burma. I think just about every American man (and a large percentage of women) who was of military age and healthy, eventually served as the manpower requirements of the war was enormous.
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There was a total of 16 million Americans who served in WWII. 11. 2 million in Army 4. 2 million in the Navy and 660, 000 in the Marine Corps.
Because in 1939 there were only 174, 000 in the Army, there was a critical shortage of experienced soldiers to train the big expansion that had to be done ASAP. As a result, my grandfather, who was not career army, but had served in WWI as an officer - was called back into service. This despite having 10 kids and being in his late 40s! This may have been because he was in the DC National Guard between the wars - but not sure he was still in at the time the war broke out because of his age. They put him at Fort Lee as it was fairly close to the family home in DC.
Of his 10 kids, 7 went into the service including my dad, 2 of his sisters, and 4 of his brothers. 2 were too young and one was disabled. My dad volunteered but was initially rejected because of a hernia, but was later drafted into the Army after he got the hernia fixed and ended up serving in India, China and Burma. I think just about every American man (and a large percentage of women) who was of military age and healthy, eventually served as the manpower requirements of the war was enormous.
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Bizarre
Many G. I. s experienced a wide range of emotions and challenges during their time in the military.
One example of what it was like to be an American G. I. in WWII is the story of Private First Class (PFC) Joseph R. Beyrle. PFC Beyrle was a paratrooper with the 101st Airborne Division who was dropped behind enemy lines on D-Day, the Allied invasion of Normandy. After his plane was shot down, PFC Beyrle was captured by the Germans and spent the next two years as a prisoner of war (POW.
During his time as a POW, PFC Beyrle faced many challenges, including malnutrition, illness, and hard labor. Despite these challenges, he never gave up hope of returning home and continued to fight for his freedom. In July 1944, PFC Beyrle escaped from a POW camp and made his way to the front lines of the Allied advance. He was eventually able to make contact with American forces and was returned to the United States as a hero.
PFC Beyrle's story is just one example of the many experiences of American G. I. s during WWII. Many other G. I. s faced similar challenges and persevered through them, serving their country with honor and bravery.
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Many G. I. s experienced a wide range of emotions and challenges during their time in the military.
One example of what it was like to be an American G. I. in WWII is the story of Private First Class (PFC) Joseph R. Beyrle. PFC Beyrle was a paratrooper with the 101st Airborne Division who was dropped behind enemy lines on D-Day, the Allied invasion of Normandy. After his plane was shot down, PFC Beyrle was captured by the Germans and spent the next two years as a prisoner of war (POW.
During his time as a POW, PFC Beyrle faced many challenges, including malnutrition, illness, and hard labor. Despite these challenges, he never gave up hope of returning home and continued to fight for his freedom. In July 1944, PFC Beyrle escaped from a POW camp and made his way to the front lines of the Allied advance. He was eventually able to make contact with American forces and was returned to the United States as a hero.
PFC Beyrle's story is just one example of the many experiences of American G. I. s during WWII. Many other G. I. s faced similar challenges and persevered through them, serving their country with honor and bravery.
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Steve
My Dad was the third person drafted in his home county in 1941. and his year was about up when Pearl Harbor was attacked so he was in for the duration. After marrying my Mom in 1942 he was off to North Africa and Italy for the remainder of the war. going from Private to Master Sargent in rank. At the war's end he naturally wanted to come back to the US ASAP. To gain enough points, it was suggested he join the reserves for six years. He was told that (after WWII) no one would start another war anytime soon. So he did. and along came the Korean War in 1950 when he was called up for that. I don't think he ever trusted anything the government ever told him after that.
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My Dad was the third person drafted in his home county in 1941. and his year was about up when Pearl Harbor was attacked so he was in for the duration. After marrying my Mom in 1942 he was off to North Africa and Italy for the remainder of the war. going from Private to Master Sargent in rank. At the war's end he naturally wanted to come back to the US ASAP. To gain enough points, it was suggested he join the reserves for six years. He was told that (after WWII) no one would start another war anytime soon. So he did. and along came the Korean War in 1950 when he was called up for that. I don't think he ever trusted anything the government ever told him after that.
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Expat47
R. Lee Ermey was hired to TEACH an actor how to be a Marine drill instructor and ended up playing the part himself.
If you're interested in what WWII was like there are a few films that are as close to accurate as possible.
The D-Day landing in Saving Private Ryan is said by those that survived to be among the best/worse.
A Band of Brothers mini-series is said to be an accurate accounting of the infantry in Europe and the battle of the bulge.
Letters from Iwo Jima and Flags of Our Fathers are also good at an honest accounting.
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R. Lee Ermey was hired to TEACH an actor how to be a Marine drill instructor and ended up playing the part himself.
If you're interested in what WWII was like there are a few films that are as close to accurate as possible.
The D-Day landing in Saving Private Ryan is said by those that survived to be among the best/worse.
A Band of Brothers mini-series is said to be an accurate accounting of the infantry in Europe and the battle of the bulge.
Letters from Iwo Jima and Flags of Our Fathers are also good at an honest accounting.
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anthony
My great granddad fought in the South Pacific 158 regimental bushmaster. Not a large group a small group of men who had special training to go in and do gorilla warfare taking out Japanese patrols liberating small villages and what not he never talked about the war up until about a year before his death he mentioned something about killing 10 to 12 Japanese a day. He threw himself into work he was a very smart man even won many bowling champions he did anything and everything that kept his mind off of the war.
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My great granddad fought in the South Pacific 158 regimental bushmaster. Not a large group a small group of men who had special training to go in and do gorilla warfare taking out Japanese patrols liberating small villages and what not he never talked about the war up until about a year before his death he mentioned something about killing 10 to 12 Japanese a day. He threw himself into work he was a very smart man even won many bowling champions he did anything and everything that kept his mind off of the war.
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Cherry
When I was in the Army I experienced some of the same things these men did. When we marched we carried heavy ruck sacks which included less clothes but we did have to bring at least one pair of socks. Everything had to be put into a protective sack in case it rained. I would say if I was in these males unit as a woman I probably couldn't hack it. The one thing I would hate would be the shower thing because as a female we have our cycles and that would be gross. I commend the men who fought during WW2.
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When I was in the Army I experienced some of the same things these men did. When we marched we carried heavy ruck sacks which included less clothes but we did have to bring at least one pair of socks. Everything had to be put into a protective sack in case it rained. I would say if I was in these males unit as a woman I probably couldn't hack it. The one thing I would hate would be the shower thing because as a female we have our cycles and that would be gross. I commend the men who fought during WW2.
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B.
I was born before D Day. My father fought on Tinian, Truck and Okinawa, his brother went to Aleutians as an official photographer. My father nearly died from tropical amoebas and my uncle nearly froze to death due to inadequate uniforms. Neither liked to talk much about their experiences. However my uncle got to drive (and keep) his Jeep which he drove home along the muddy mess that was the early Alcan highway. His color pictures from that trip are amazing.
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I was born before D Day. My father fought on Tinian, Truck and Okinawa, his brother went to Aleutians as an official photographer. My father nearly died from tropical amoebas and my uncle nearly froze to death due to inadequate uniforms. Neither liked to talk much about their experiences. However my uncle got to drive (and keep) his Jeep which he drove home along the muddy mess that was the early Alcan highway. His color pictures from that trip are amazing.
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james
It wasn't much different in the Vietnam Era. They kept lowering the draft age. In late '67 it was lowered to 18 and a 1/2. College deferments became more rare and most were drafted right out of college. After about 6 months of training you were sent overseas. Mostly draftees were given infantry. Once in Vietnam, the attrition rate was: 1/3rd were killed, 1/3rd were wounded and 1/3rd made it without a scratch. As in WWII, you grew up fast.
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It wasn't much different in the Vietnam Era. They kept lowering the draft age. In late '67 it was lowered to 18 and a 1/2. College deferments became more rare and most were drafted right out of college. After about 6 months of training you were sent overseas. Mostly draftees were given infantry. Once in Vietnam, the attrition rate was: 1/3rd were killed, 1/3rd were wounded and 1/3rd made it without a scratch. As in WWII, you grew up fast.
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Mark
Weird question, I kinda have a phobia of snakes so I study them a little bit. There are ton of venomous snakes in the Pacific Theater and some of our people got bit. There a lot of movies and T. V. shows about the Pacific and Vietnam showing snakes being a problem. What about in Europe, they also have venomous snakes. I have never seen it mentioned anywhere, was snakebite a problem in Europe.
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Weird question, I kinda have a phobia of snakes so I study them a little bit. There are ton of venomous snakes in the Pacific Theater and some of our people got bit. There a lot of movies and T. V. shows about the Pacific and Vietnam showing snakes being a problem. What about in Europe, they also have venomous snakes. I have never seen it mentioned anywhere, was snakebite a problem in Europe.
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Vary
Whatever hardships the GI endured in Europe = Marines in the Pacific Theater incurred far less access to supplies etc. than their Army counterparts. That is not to dis what the Army accomplished - which was considerable. It is simply a matter of historical record that priority was given to the ETO and forces there accessed far more and better logistical support than those in the Pacific.
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Whatever hardships the GI endured in Europe = Marines in the Pacific Theater incurred far less access to supplies etc. than their Army counterparts. That is not to dis what the Army accomplished - which was considerable. It is simply a matter of historical record that priority was given to the ETO and forces there accessed far more and better logistical support than those in the Pacific.
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Kevin
Try using ALL period photos, and those that actually pertain to the U. S. Military next time you upload a vid.
Photos are out there, you just have to look.
Myself, and I'm sure others that are well acquainted with U. S. /Military history, noticed more than a few photographic errors pertaining to the subject.
Other than that, nice introductory vid on this topic.
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Try using ALL period photos, and those that actually pertain to the U. S. Military next time you upload a vid.
Photos are out there, you just have to look.
Myself, and I'm sure others that are well acquainted with U. S. /Military history, noticed more than a few photographic errors pertaining to the subject.
Other than that, nice introductory vid on this topic.
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DRAKKENFIRE22
There were some minor errors and generalization, but overall a great video. I forgot about the lister bags. I remember them in Ft Leonardwood, MO during my Basic and AIT. The water was potable. So, they were also used for drinking water as well. Since then, the military use the water buffalo trailer. Except for the segregation, we need to get back to the old ways.
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There were some minor errors and generalization, but overall a great video. I forgot about the lister bags. I remember them in Ft Leonardwood, MO during my Basic and AIT. The water was potable. So, they were also used for drinking water as well. Since then, the military use the water buffalo trailer. Except for the segregation, we need to get back to the old ways.
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Pou1gie1
2: 10 Considering the fact that Black and brown men were not allowed to receive benefits from the GI Bill, they should have never been forced into the draft to begin with. Not to mention the fact that Black ppl had already given this country way too much in the form of developing the whole US economy through the slave trade and literally building the White House.
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2: 10 Considering the fact that Black and brown men were not allowed to receive benefits from the GI Bill, they should have never been forced into the draft to begin with. Not to mention the fact that Black ppl had already given this country way too much in the form of developing the whole US economy through the slave trade and literally building the White House.
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barney
My great grandfather was a marine in ww2. He was in both the Guadalcanal campaign and the Bougainville campaign. He got sick with malaria in 1944 and was sent to a new york naval hospital. They were able to treat the malaria but since he was replaced in his squad he ended but staying at the naval hospital as a guard for the rest of the war.
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My great grandfather was a marine in ww2. He was in both the Guadalcanal campaign and the Bougainville campaign. He got sick with malaria in 1944 and was sent to a new york naval hospital. They were able to treat the malaria but since he was replaced in his squad he ended but staying at the naval hospital as a guard for the rest of the war.
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Yankee
My father was a Staff Sargeant for the 84th Railsplitters division. He passed in 2008 a month after his 83rd birthday. I was the youngest of his 5 kids, born in 1970 when he was 45. He had pictures of him in Europe where it was all bombed out. His wool jacket with the chevrons and rocker patch hung in the basement and coins from all over.
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My father was a Staff Sargeant for the 84th Railsplitters division. He passed in 2008 a month after his 83rd birthday. I was the youngest of his 5 kids, born in 1970 when he was 45. He had pictures of him in Europe where it was all bombed out. His wool jacket with the chevrons and rocker patch hung in the basement and coins from all over.
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Seth
One of my uncles enlisted in December 1941 about a week after Pearl Harobor. He was a Tanker and was in North Africa, Sicily, Italy, France and Germany. He should have been one of the first sent home but of course SNAFU with the Govt. and he ended up as a occupation troop until October of 45 in Germany.
He came home on the Queen Mary.
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One of my uncles enlisted in December 1941 about a week after Pearl Harobor. He was a Tanker and was in North Africa, Sicily, Italy, France and Germany. He should have been one of the first sent home but of course SNAFU with the Govt. and he ended up as a occupation troop until October of 45 in Germany.
He came home on the Queen Mary.
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Piper
We do get a Good-job-for-not-dying inventive. It's called Hazardous duty pay. Lmao. When I was in 11 yes ago, it was somewheres around $400/month. They did take that away depending on where you were deployed. For instance, folks at Kuwait didn't get it. But if you were IN Afghanistan/Iraq, ya got it no matter what.
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We do get a Good-job-for-not-dying inventive. It's called Hazardous duty pay. Lmao. When I was in 11 yes ago, it was somewheres around $400/month. They did take that away depending on where you were deployed. For instance, folks at Kuwait didn't get it. But if you were IN Afghanistan/Iraq, ya got it no matter what.
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newyorker_les
I believe ARMY Drill Sergeant as depicted now in popular culture with the Campaign Hat or Female Drill Sergeant Australian Bush Hat didn't become part of recruit training until the 1960's. So I don't believe there would've been Drill Sergeant as we imagine them now during WWII.
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I believe ARMY Drill Sergeant as depicted now in popular culture with the Campaign Hat or Female Drill Sergeant Australian Bush Hat didn't become part of recruit training until the 1960's. So I don't believe there would've been Drill Sergeant as we imagine them now during WWII.
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Contraband42
My grandfather was a Navy corpsman amd served as a medic in the Pacific front. He never told me much of his time over seas, but when I asked if he ever lost any friends he got quiet for a bit before replying with Yes, I lost a few. I can't imagine what it was like for those men.
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My grandfather was a Navy corpsman amd served as a medic in the Pacific front. He never told me much of his time over seas, but when I asked if he ever lost any friends he got quiet for a bit before replying with Yes, I lost a few. I can't imagine what it was like for those men.
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