I've been thinking about my dad's military service lately, which is what attracted me to this group.  He was In General MacArthur's staff on Manilla (staff sergeant, personnel records, payroll, etc.).  Born in 1921, he was probably never more than thirty miles from his family's barely-getting-by farm outside of Cosby, Missouri, population 114 by the most recent census.   And then in his early 20's he was on the other side of the world.

 

My two favorite war stories of his were that they let the soldiers on his troop ship sleep on the deck at night because it was so hot below, and that one night, Tokyo Rose broadcast that their ship had just been sunk with all aboard drowned.  They didn't know if that was just part of her psychological effort to demoralize or if there was a submarine coming for them.  I never knew Dad to lie or exaggerate.

 

As I said, that is what attracts me to the mementos those young men brought back to prove to others and later to themselves that they had actually been there.  I especially enjoy seeing the buckles dated during WWII, naming the serviceman and linking to Manilla.  If any of you can part with one (or fifty), I'd appreciate hearing from you.  I'm in my seventies now, and it's time to indulge myself a little.  Thanks 

 

Good luck with your search.