Pacific Paratrooper reboot…..
Pacific Paratrooper will now only publish one post per week.
I first started this website to honor my father and his HQ Co./187th/11th Airborne Division and that is what we intend on doing once again. Smitty never said, “I did this” or “I did that,” it was always – “The 11th did IT!”
From the beginning, Everett A. Smith (AKA: Smitty), will be re-introduced, his entrance into WWII, the letters he wrote home and the world that surrounded them at the time.
The Farewell Salutes will continue, as will the Military Humor columns. If there is someone you wish to honor in the Salutes, don’t hesitate to give me similar information as you see for others.
As a member of the 11th Airborne Association (Member # 4511) myself, I am privy to their newsletter, “The Voice of the Angels,” and I will be using quotes and stories from that publication. Matt Underwood, Editor Emeritus, JoAnn, Editor, and the officers of the Association have been of great assistance to me and I thank them very much for their help.
This website is ever changing and being updated, because further knowledge is always being learned. Smitty told me and many others, “I try to learn something every day. When I stop, Please, close the lid.” I have never forgotten that motto to live by and I sincerely hope you all do the same.
Please, DO continue to share what stories you know and/or a link to data you’ve uncovered and put them in the comments. I am afraid no emails will be opened. If you are not a blogger, you can Follow by clicking the Follow button in the top right-hand corner of each post.
I thank you all for your contributions in the past and hope you will continue to do so. If you are new to this site – WELCOME!! We have a wonderful group of people participating here – join them.
Please remember that these countries, in the following posts, were in a horrendous war and NOTHING written or quoted here is with the intent to disparage any people or nations. And, I have tried to limit the amount of gory details without shading the facts. I hope I succeed.
As always – Click on images to enlarge them.
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Military Humor –
Some definitions you may want to keep in mind:
ARMY – a body of men assembled to rectify the mistakes of the diplomats
Critical Terrain: Terrain that if not secured, grabbed, taken or camped out on — you are screwed.
DRAFT BOARD – the world’s largest travel agency
MILITARY EXPERT – one who tells you what will happen next week – and then explains why it didn’t
NEW GUINEA SALUTE – waving the hand over the mess kit to ward off the flies
PACIFIST – a person who fights with everybody BUT the enemy
Pound The Crap Out Of: Somewhere between disrupt and destroy and slightly more than neutralize.
Technique: A noun, used in the phrase: “That’s one technique.” Translated – That’s a really screwed up way to execute this operation and you will probably kill your entire unit. But if you want to do it that way – go ahead.”
WAR – a time that starts off paying old scores and ends up by paying new debts
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Farewell Salutes –
Robert Arens – Lansing, MI; US Army, WWII, ETO, Purple Heart
Charles “Stu” Bachmann – Bertrand, NE; US Army Air Corps, WWII, ETO, SSgt., B-17 tailgunner
Alvin Cawthon – Tucumcari, NM; US Army, WWII / National Guard (Ret. 42 y.)
Elbert Edwards – Southaven, MS; US Army, WWII, 1st Lt.
Juan Gutierrez – USA; US Army, WWII, PTO, 200th Coast Artillery Regiment, Bataan March, POW, KIA (Luzon, P.I.)
Eddie Hrivnak – Lakewood, OH; US Navy, WWII, PTO, frogman
David Mottoli – Lawrence, MA; US Army Air Corps, WWII, ETO, 25th Fighter Squadron / Grumman (Ret.)
Don Newman – South Bend, IN; US Army Air Corps, WWII, B-17 pilot instructor
George Samson – McGee’s Mills, PA; US Coast Guard, WWII
John Toppi Sr. – Providence, RI; US Navy, WWII, PTO, USS Warwick
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Posted on March 4, 2021, in ABOUT, First-hand Accounts, SMITTY, Uncategorized, WWII and tagged 11th airborne, 1940's, ABOUT, Airborne, Army, aviation, family history, History, Military, Military History, Pacific War, Smitty, WWII. Bookmark the permalink. 203 Comments.
For Airborne; ‘May this Leap Day bring you luck as you bound forward, with each step filled with joy and each leap taking you closer to your dreams.’
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That is terrific, Nick! Thank you.
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Congrats on such an amazing website. I should have mentioned that sooner!!! Your father would be so proud!
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Thank you. I’ve followed your site for quite a while. Good to see you back.
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Reblogged this on Ned Hamson's Second Line View of the News.
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Thank you, Ned.
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What a wonderful service you have done for your father. I’ve very much enjoyed reading your blog since 2013. Keep up the great work. I salute you.
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Yes, you and I have stuck together for quite a while. And don’t think I don’t appreciate it!! I don’t have much time (some days none) to comment on other sites, but please know, I do stop in!!
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Hello GP, I’ve been away from WP, and will continue to be; (cornered like a boxer expecting for punching to cess) may be not as bad but it is the idea. Semper Fidelis is not just a say but a way to be, and you are, and it is great to know somewhere somehow there are people you can count on. For that it is not only to your father to be proud but a much larger family that understand what you are doing on WP so God Speed !
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Thank you very much. I also appreciate you returning to read my posts. As you said, it’s great to know there are some people out there you can count on!
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Looking forward to reading and seeing from the beginning. Thanks for your efforts to honor and preserve more than memories. You are an inspiration to those who need to remember 🙂
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Thank you so much for those kind words – and I sure hope I inspire some to remember!! That will mean I actually contributed something.
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I am looking forward to your new format, GP, and I love the definitions – LOL
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Aren’t those definitions funny (I think because they are partially true!) lol
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They are hilarious!
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it feels so good reading al the stories and knowing more of history
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Thank you, Marylou.
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Sorry I’m late for this one, GP. You always manage to strike the right tone and balance with these posts. There’s a true skill in that.
By the way. I left you a message at my blog.
Have a wonderful rest of the week. Hugs.
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No problem – nowadays, as you know, I’ll only be doing one post per week. Besides I know how busy you are.
I read your message, but not the links. That will have to be later today or tomorrow I’m afraid. If I can’t get to Pearl’s latest episode till late, please don’t be concerned. Saturday I finally have a covid shot appointment, but I really have to travel for it, so I don’t know how much of my day will be taken up. Seems FL has forgotten that the south part of our county has people in it and have the vaccination spots in central, west and north.
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No worries about any posts or links from me, GP. Safe journey. Wishing that everything about it goes smoothly. Hugs.
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I’m eager to work on Wild West clockwork figures!! Without even reading the story, I already have two in mind.
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Awesome! (There’s already a clockwork jackalope.) By the way, the links were to the old story. This one will be much different.
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To start off, I was thinking clockwork armadillo, stagecoach and cameo figures that can come to life (same size though, not human size.
I have some picture ideas to start out with, but you have the imagination.
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You have done, and are doing, your father proud. You have also, over the years, filled in a giant, complex area of history with so much detail and so much interest to all your followers and fellow researchers. We look forward to whatever you feel like writing about henceforth!
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You have always had great encouraging words for me, Hilary. I hope you know how much I appreciate it!!
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You are so good to keep these stories alive. I also love Smitty’s motto, and I do try to learn something new every day. I like to watch Jeopardy and Master Minds to keep my mind sharp and learn new info. Bactrian and Dromedary camels. 🐪 🐫, one hump Dromedary, two humps Bactrian. How you remember? The letter D has one hump, a B has two humps. See… learn something new every day.
Have a great week! 🙂
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I love it!! I’m starting off the day with something new. Dad had learning tricks like that for memory – thank you!
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And I will read in yours , your father’s and his unit honour and dedication. Cheers sir.
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Thank you very much, Kelly!
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You have put up a treasure trove of information for all of us, GP. I will still be following your posts as things change.
Michael’s tree is getting petty big now, much taller than me! 🙂
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I appreciate that, Lavinia. I would be heartbroken if I lost you!
That is so great to hear about Michael’s Tree!! 🌲 The past photos you sent are now dated on the back and in a frame. It’s like watching his sequoia grow!
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So this isn’t the end, is it?
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No, not yet at least.
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Good, or I’ll miss you. 😉
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Thank you. That’s so kind of you to say.
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I don’t know how you kept up the pace so long, GP. Your website is a genuine fount of information. A reader can return to it again and again.
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I do hope people will continue to return. And I hope they continue to do their own research as well. There is still so much more information to be collected.
Thank you for a wonderful comment and please stay safe.
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You, too, GP.
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I love the military, paramilitary, commando
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Well then, the 11th Airborne should interest you. They were the beginning of what we have today.
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Thank you for your kind words
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Are you a World War two vet?
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No, I am not. The Gravatar image you see s my father and the information is from my father and historians.
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Very cool!
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It’s good to know that you’re sticking to your dad, and the roots of your blog. I’ll be there every week, GP. Looking forward to your posts.
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I am thrilled to hear that, Jennie. Your interest and enthusiasm help to inspire me.
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I’m so glad, GP. 🙂
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I love your blog.
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You are very kind to say so, John. Thank you.
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You are very, very welcome. You blog always gives me thoughts of the times that my father was in the Pacific.
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As much as I’ve read, watched and heard about the Pacific, I still don’t know how they went through it day after day – for years!
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I can’t either. During the Vietnam War, I went to the Philippines and went home after 15 months. I went to Thailand and went home after 12 months. My father went to the Philippines and then to New Guinea, and didn’t go home until after the war ended. That really must have hard.
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You had quite a taste of it yourself though. My father did New Guinea first and then the Philippines.
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That is amazing. Thanks for sharing.
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💫⭐️✨⭐️✨⭐️💫
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Thank you, Yvette.
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