Greatest Generation
My Great Uncle, Gene Salefski, is a Marine who served in WWII. He fought in Pacific battles on Saipan, Tinian, and Okinawa and was part of the occupation force in Japan (He was with the first group sent into Hiroshima).
His stories are absolutely incredible, as evidenced by the photos below where two of my Uncles (in their 70’s) are on the edge of their seats, as am I, hanging on every word of a man in his 90s. He does not brag or boast about his experiences. To the contrary, he very rarely talks about it at all. When he does, it is about his buddies and the “Japs” in a humorous, almost “aw, shucks” fashion that is so riveting hours pass like minutes.
I made offers to take him, and his beautiful wife Lenore, to DC on my dime. He never accepted (too proud?). With the help of my family, and the Central Illinois Honor Flight program and its contributors he finally went. :thumbsup There are no words to describe the level of respect and admiration I have for these men, our Greatest Generation.
Thanks for the post Ralphie!
Central Illinois Honor Flight[video=youtube;3-FOHpP2WX8]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-FOHpP2WX8&feature=player_embedded#at=28[/video]
My Uncle, at 0:38.
[video=youtube;UuwiuY0K3h0]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UuwiuY0K3h0&feature=related[/video]
