Muscatine

I have been doing some research for the Muscatine Genealogy society about the 174 area men who lost their lives during WWII.  To me, WWII was a big war that happening a long time ago. Back when my parents were small children.  Doing this research has been an eye opener.  These 174 men ranged in age from 17 to 38, they were sons, husbands, fathers.  They were pilots and ships cooks. Some died on distant battlefields, some in prison camps, some right here in the states while training to go fight.   So much has been made about sending the WWII vets to D.C. to see the monument to them.  I guess I just didn't get it, they weren't the first and wont be the last to go fight.  After starting this research project I see what a sacrifice these men both those living and those lost made. I have only gotten through two years of the war but in one year 28 men from this area died.  In the another year I researched 69 men from this area died.  To me that just seems to be mind boggling.    I just wanted to share that I now have a new appreciation for those who served. 

I know what your are saying.  Each year I make a donation to the Veterans  of America, Hospitalized Veterans of America, Disabled Veterans, and Paralyzed Veterans of America.  These men and women deserve our undying loyalty to them and they should have the best medical care available.  One of my uncles was a prisoner of war and was liberated from a German Prison at the end of WWII.  He was one of the lucky ones,

My father was also in wwII he was A tailgunner on A B17 in the 306th bomb squad.he was shot down over Anhelbeck on march 29 1944. he was 1of 3 that survived.he then was held 15 months in a german prision camp stalug 17 then released.I was registering my husband on A vet site to see if we could locate any of his buddys from when they were in nam.I found lots of info there about my dad . I am waiting now for his medals to be reishued to me.vets.com also military .com both good sites.on vets .com they have pics of the prison camps and info.when the traveling wall was here I talked my husband into going finally and it turned out to be the best thing for him. we were there several hours looking for 3 buddys who were always together .they got shot down 2 days before being released.all 3 names were listed together and so were they.It really helped my husband alot to know that.my husbands A little bitter  to the fact he couldnt even wear his uniform home off the plane. you know jane fonda crap.my dad did over 200 missions  very proud of him..his mother enlisted when he was captured at 49 and got in!she thought she would get over seas and find him.good luck with your reasearch maybe those 2 sites will help they tell of there missions and all. have A nice day,