Greetings,
My Uncle is H.L. Gunlock who is 85 and still going strong. All of my life I have wanted him to tell me about his war experiences. My Dad (his youngest brother) says that he hasn't hardly ever discussed them even long before I was born. However, MY son had a project at school and wrote about my Uncle from what scant info we had. I called my Uncle and had my son with me on speaker phone. To my utter astonishment, Uncle Shell (as family know him) said he would be delighted if my son and I came to visit with him and he would tell us anything we wanted to know. I'm just on the fringes of learning about his experiences and with much gratitude to Mr. Steve Cole, have learned about two of his friends who were with him - Private Jimmy Hill and Sgt. Orby Ledbetter.
I just got off the phone with Mr. Ledbetter and what a fantastic thrill! Not only was he with my Uncle during the War, he grew up near his hometown and knew my Granny very well! He even knew my own Dad when "he was a squirt". What an honor and a privilege. He has invited me to visit with him next month and I'm taking tape recorder and son in tow.
So... that's my introduction here. I'll catch up with you all after I've spent some days reading here. I've been a WWII buff for years and must confess feel like I'm about to walk through a sacred journey in living history. Maybe that sounds strange, I dunno.. all I know is that somewhere in my life I found within myself an enormous amount of gratitude and respect for these men. Any time I meet a Vet these words come to mind, "Greater love hath no man than that he would give up his life for his friend."
I have just longed for this for soooooo many years. Forgive me if I sound gushing. I'm just really excited about the opportunities I'm about to experience, and plan to forward to my son so that the Greatest Generation will live long after we are all gone. Nobility and honor cannot die.
Thanks,
Joseph Gunlock
My Uncle is H.L. Gunlock who is 85 and still going strong. All of my life I have wanted him to tell me about his war experiences. My Dad (his youngest brother) says that he hasn't hardly ever discussed them even long before I was born. However, MY son had a project at school and wrote about my Uncle from what scant info we had. I called my Uncle and had my son with me on speaker phone. To my utter astonishment, Uncle Shell (as family know him) said he would be delighted if my son and I came to visit with him and he would tell us anything we wanted to know. I'm just on the fringes of learning about his experiences and with much gratitude to Mr. Steve Cole, have learned about two of his friends who were with him - Private Jimmy Hill and Sgt. Orby Ledbetter.
I just got off the phone with Mr. Ledbetter and what a fantastic thrill! Not only was he with my Uncle during the War, he grew up near his hometown and knew my Granny very well! He even knew my own Dad when "he was a squirt". What an honor and a privilege. He has invited me to visit with him next month and I'm taking tape recorder and son in tow.
So... that's my introduction here. I'll catch up with you all after I've spent some days reading here. I've been a WWII buff for years and must confess feel like I'm about to walk through a sacred journey in living history. Maybe that sounds strange, I dunno.. all I know is that somewhere in my life I found within myself an enormous amount of gratitude and respect for these men. Any time I meet a Vet these words come to mind, "Greater love hath no man than that he would give up his life for his friend."
I have just longed for this for soooooo many years. Forgive me if I sound gushing. I'm just really excited about the opportunities I'm about to experience, and plan to forward to my son so that the Greatest Generation will live long after we are all gone. Nobility and honor cannot die.
Thanks,
Joseph Gunlock
