re: Relatives that served in World War 2

My maternal grandfather was USAAF. He served with the 389th bomb group, 566th squadron. He was a waist gunner and radio operator. He participated in Operation Tidal Wave as a waist gunner. In '44 he was flying missions out of Hethel as a radio operator. His B-24 was shot down by flak and crashed at Quedlinberg. The B-24 was split in half. The entire back of the aircraft, from the bomb bay to the tail, caught fire and everyone in that part of the aircraft died. If he were still a waist gunner I would not exist today. He was able to parachute to "safety". He was a POW in Stalag Luft IV and participated in the Black March toward the end of the war. They were liberated by the Brits.

My paternal grandfather served in the Navy as an MOMM3. I don't know much about his service other than he served on a supply ship in the Phillipines and then eventually a destroyer (USS Whitney).

They are both my heroes. Neither of them ever talked about their service.