I apologize, and I have deleted my post.

No worries I was a tad harsh...

I wonder if we gave these old guys a tape recorder, a supply of batteries and tapes, and the promise not to listen to the tapes until they say it's ok or after they're gone, if some would be more open to the idea of sharing with us the stories most of us will never know what it's like to live?
While I can understand why they may not want to "tell" us - face to face - I wonder if the relative anonymity of the tape recorder would prove to be easier, more cathartic, for them?
Just a thought.

Could be a good idea but my dad passed back in '79 so I guess he's out.

Best way that I have found to get the Vets to open up a bit is to get them with other Vets of the same era. If there is anytime that they are going to talk about their experiences, thats it.

Like Kevin, my Father passed a long time ago. He was on Battleships with the US Navy.

Joe A

My grandfather and grandmother served in the Army during WWII. My grandfather was shot by Germans while his squad was clearing a house. A German soldier was in the basement and shot him with a machine gun through the floor. He was sent to a hospital for his recovery where he met my grandmother, who was a nurse. My grandfather never spoke of the war, nor why he walked with a pronounced limp. After he died last year, I found his Purple Heart medal and warrant in a box.

Those men and women should be honored for their sacrifices, David

When I was a young lawyer, two of my mentors were Vietnam veterans. One never talked about it. The other did, once. He was a platoon leader, his radioman was shot through the head, he and another man worked their way around to the rear of the enemy position and killed them. His recounting was as terse as that. Then we went back to drinking. We were at some bar in San Diego with bottles covering the entire wall. I barely made it back to the hotel, threw up in the bathroom, had to go to court the next day with an incredible hangover. I learned not to drink scotch with the guy after that.