Obituary of Hero

I was cleaning out some drawers recently and came upon an obit of one of my wife's uncles - sounded like quite a guy to say the least - thought you might be interested - it was dated October 23 1999 - Charles "Dutchy" Schnappauf of Cooper Street in Pringle, died Saturday at the VNA Hospice, Heritage House in Wilkes-Barre -

Born in Pringle he was the son of the late Martin and Flora Schnappauf - He was a member of Scared Heart Church in Luzerne - He was employed as a ................... He was a decorated Army Combat veteran of World War II who participated in the first wave of the 29th Division (115 regiment first battalion) invasion of Normandy on D-Day - he also served in the military as a special aide to general rank officers as an interpreter and military policeman -

"Dutchy" was on the boxing team and entertained troops as a boxer in Special Services as well. He won various titles in several divisions including the European Theater of Operations welterweight championship. He also boxed professionally having won over 200 bouts and fought for a world welterweight title against Chalky Wright

He was preceded in death by brothers Martin, Joseph (my father-in-law) and John - ...........

Sounded like he was a member of the greatest generation

What exactly made him a hero? I am of the firm belief that the term hero is tossed around so often that a true hero gets lost in the applause of every Tom, Dick and Harriette that ever served in the armed forces, fire department or police agency.

The greatest generation? Sure if you are a white male.

I believe that most of the guys that fought in that war were heroes - they did a fantastic job and many paid the ultimate price - you will never be able to put together a group of men to do what they had to do anymore - all you have now is a bunch of spoiled brats that if they were ever called to serve they would either riot or flee to Canada

When I was young I would hang around a smoke shop where a lot of these veterans hung out after the war - I would listen to the many stories that they would tell about the war - many of them went through hell - and I will tell you something - those kind of heroes are real hard to find today = they don't call it the Greatest Generation for nothing - we are raising a bunch of wimps now a days - when you are on a burial detail picking up dead soldiers that have turned black and when lifting them up they fall apart it gets to you as was the case of a neighbor vet who ended up needing shock treatments every once in awhile to put his mind right - I experienced combat in Korea and I'll tell you something unless you went through it you have no idea what it does to you

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Originally Posted by fishermccann

The greatest generation? Sure if you are a white male.

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If you were a white male - what in the world does that have anything to do with fighting a war - from the comments you make sometimes I kinda wonder how old you are - it does show how limited your experience in life has been - remember - MAGA

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Originally Posted by JoePa

I believe that most of the guys that fought in that war were heroes - they did a fantastic job and many paid the ultimate price - you will never be able to put together a group of men to do what they had to do anymore - all you have now is a bunch of spoiled brats that if they were ever called to serve they would either riot or flee to Canada

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The men and woman that have served in all areas of the service can definitely be considered heros but those opposing the war can often be considered heros just the same. Protesting is the basis for democracy, without being able to voice your opinion democracy is dead and all those who died fighting oppression have died for nothing.

A person can serve in the armed forces without ever setting foot on or near a battlefield. There is nothing heroic about that and treating him as such certaainly demeans that individual who acctually puts his life in peril to save a fellow soldier.

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Originally Posted by sawbill

A person can serve in the armed forces without ever setting foot on or near a battlefield. There is nothing heroic about that and treating him as such certaainly demeans that individual who acctually puts his life in peril to save a fellow soldier.

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Agreed. I also think assuming those who serve now are all a bunch of wimps shows he doesn't know anybody in our forces. Based on some I know personally I sure as hell would not want to be taking them on. We may have a small and poorly equipped army but that has nothing to do with those who would actually fight to defend our arses.

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Originally Posted by sawbill

A person can serve in the armed forces without ever setting foot on or near a battlefield. There is nothing heroic about that and treating him as such certaainly demeans that individual who acctually puts his life in peril to save a fellow soldier.

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Truer words than those, were never spoken!

I'm with Sawbill. Joe, what exactly did this man do to warrant the title "hero"? The obit sounds like the man was behind the front lines more than on them?
I have seven uncles who saw action during WW2. (5 Army, 2 Navy) In my genealogy research, which I hobby with, I've collected all of their military records. 3 were sappers who were in various theaters of the war, one was a tank gunner who landed on Juno beach, (little test for you JP. Where was "Juno Beach"?) 1 was infantry who went thru Italy, Belgium, Holland and Germany and the 2 navy boys were on ships in the Atlantic and Pacific respectively.
None of them were heros? Just ordinary boys doing an extraordinary job. None, that I ever overheard, even talked about their experience, save one uncle who I remember telling a few funny stories. And none of them had any mention of their war time experiences in their obits.

I once worked with a man who was in our corps of engineers who were the first wave on the beach. Fred was one of the mildest and humblest men I have ever met. It was another older employee who told me the story about how his regiment was cut down. Fred was department manager in a lumber yard. You would have never ever pictured him as a warrior. I only mentioned it once to him and he swelled up and walked away. His name was Fred Wilks, he was a true hero.

Some of you missed or ignore the line about being in the first wave on D-Day.

I am thinking his being remustered to special Services was not his preference.

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Originally Posted by terrym

Agreed. I also think assuming those who serve now are all a bunch of wimps shows he doesn't know anybody in our forces. Based on some I know personally I sure as hell would not want to be taking them on. We may have a small and poorly equipped army but that has nothing to do with those who would actually fight to defend our arses.

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H

Hey Terr' where did I say that those in service today are wimps - if you take the time to read what I wrote you will find that I was talking about wimps not going into service - as so often the case people don't even read what is written and they go off half cocked making comments - it would be nice if people actually read what was written become they shoot themselves in the foot - MAGA

Don't some of you find it a little ironic that Joe ends his posts with MAGA,the man in charge is known as Private bone spur,because that was his excuse to avoid being in the service.Meanwhile born spur shows no repect whatsoever for true heroes like Mueller & McCain.

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Originally Posted by Blue Lk

Don't some of you find it a little ironic that Joe ends his posts with MAGA,the man in charge is known as Private bone spur,because that was his excuse to avoid being in the service.Meanwhile born spur shows no repect whatsoever for true heroes like Mueller & McCain.

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We do. He doesn't.

I ddn't vote for Trump because what he did during his life - nothing to brag about that's for sure but let me tell you something - he is cleaning up the swamp and the sewer that is in Washington and is doing things the average American wants done - Mueller and McCain may have done better things in their life times but they sure aren't representing the people now - they are part of the problem - McCain especially - he is no Republican - he is just another progressive liberal - he is a bum -

I honestly think that Trump is changing for the better in his personal life - I believe Pence has a lot to do with that - in the meantime we are working hard to Make America Great Again - and remember this when the chips are down you can always count on the U.S. to be there when you need help -

JoePa, Still waiting for your response to my quiz to you regarding "Juno Beach"? And dont google it! Be honest and tell us where you think it is?

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Originally Posted by JoePa

I ddn't vote for Trump because what he did during his life - nothing to brag about that's for sure but let me tell you something - he is cleaning up the swamp and the sewer that is in Washington and is doing things the average American wants done - Mueller and McCain may have done better things in their life times but they sure aren't representing the people now - they are part of the problem - McCain especially - he is no Republican - he is just another progressive liberal - he is a bum -

I honestly think that Trump is changing for the better in his personal life - I believe Pence has a lot to do with that - in the meantime we are working hard to Make America Great Again - and remember this when the chips are down you can always count on the U.S. to be there when you need help -

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Calling a person undergoing treatment for brain cancer a bum; how wonderfully "Christian" of you.

I watch a lot of WW2 series, and the one thing that is apparent in most, is that the US is always painted has having “won” the war.
I’m a numbers person, overanalytical to a point, but Americans lose sight of what other countries contributed...or should I say sacrificed.
Canada, with a population of only 11 million in 1939, had 1 million enlist over the course of the war. We suffered some 42-45000 deaths or about 4.5%.
The US had a population of around 130 million and 16 million enlisted. Military deaths were around 400,000....or 2.4%.
Soviet Union...so often forgotten, had between 8-10,000,000 military deaths.

My point being, Canada entered the war two full years before the US. Our involvement in nearly all military conflicts should be recognized by Americans..but instead they use the fleeing during the Vietnam war to say we’re a safe haven.
I get tired of “America first.”

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Originally Posted by Nina Martin

I watch a lot of WW2 series, and the one thing that is apparent in most, is that the US is always painted has having “won” the war.
I’m a numbers person, overanalytical to a point, but Americans lose sight of what other countries contributed...or should I say sacrificed.
Canada, with a population of only 11 million in 1939, had 1 million enlist over the course of the war. We suffered some 42-45000 deaths or about 4.5%.
The US had a population of around 130 million and 16 million enlisted. Military deaths were around 400,000....or 2.4%.
Soviet Union...so often forgotten, had between 8-10,000,000 military deaths.

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There are a pile of ware documentaries that are not that bias but most of them were made well after the war and many outside of the US.

I forget the names of the programs but in November when the History Channel actually has history documentaries on it you can find some really good ones that look at all sides of the war, including the ones that show that every German was not a Nazi.

There are some really good Russian documentaries as well but they are very bias, they just show things from their side.

If you have a chance to talk to some vets from that era, the majority by far will speak of a war between kids fighting for their country and home land, no matter what side they were on, they were all the same and scared to death of what was going on around them every day.

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Originally Posted by Fox

There are a pile of ware documentaries that are not that bias but most of them were made well after the war and many outside of the US.

I forget the names of the programs but in November when the History Channel actually has history documentaries on it you can find some really good ones that look at all sides of the war, including the ones that show that every German was not a Nazi.

There are some really good Russian documentaries as well but they are very bias, they just show things from their side.

If you have a chance to talk to some vets from that era, the majority by far will speak of a war between kids fighting for their country and home land, no matter what side they were on, they were all the same and scared to death of what was going on around them every day.

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Of course not every German was a Nazi. That's like saying every Canadian is a Liberal because they are currently in power. My parents were teenagers in the Netherlands during the second world war and experienced first hand German soldiers on occasion confiding with the dutch that they wanted no part in Hitlers ideology. They were forced to fight, kill and gas innocent people or be killed.

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Originally Posted by yellow dog

Of course not every German was a Nazi. That's like saying every Canadian is a Liberal because they are currently in power. My parents were teenagers in the Netherlands during the second world war and experienced first hand German soldiers on occasion confiding with the dutch that they wanted no part in Hitlers ideology. They were forced to fight, kill and gas innocent people or be killed.

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That is my point entirely, the problem with many films and books produced right after the war tend to paint the entire populous with the same brush. There were also many instances of those outside of the axis nations but with those as their heritages to be painted with the same brush as the enemies. The Japanese and German internment camps in the US and Canada are prime examples of those, no matter how many generations you were away from the parent nation you were still painted with that brush.

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Originally Posted by JoePa

If you were a white male - what in the world does that have anything to do with fighting a war - from the comments you make sometimes I kinda wonder how old you are - it does show how limited your experience in life has been - remember - MAGA

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They were not the greatest generation to those they oppressed ,like anyone who was not white or male in your own country at the time. I am 61 years old and my father was a pilot in the RCAF. In my profession I was lucky enough spend time with some of the last surviving veterans of WW1 before they passed.

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Originally Posted by Bushmoose

JoePa, Still waiting for your response to my quiz to you regarding "Juno Beach"? And dont google it! Be honest and tell us where you think it is?

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I don't have to goggle it - it is in France

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Originally Posted by Dythbringer

Calling a person undergoing treatment for brain cancer a bum; how wonderfully "Christian" of you.

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A bum is a bum no matter what is happening to him - what am I suppose to do - lie and say that he is a nice guy just because he is sick - he was always a typical politician talking out of the both sides of his mouth and always grabbing the headlines - with your way of thinking you can't call anyone a bum because after all we are all going to die - some sooner than others

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Originally Posted by fishermccann

They were not the greatest generation to those they oppressed ,like anyone who was not white or male in your own country. I am 61 years old and my father was a pilot in the RCAF.

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Honestly, calling the men and women who fought in WW2 the greatest generation is an American idea. A person could logically argue the generation of human who fought in WW1 was the greatest generation because how much warfare changed from previous wars. It was the first Industrial Age war fought. Early tanks, automatic machine guns, improved grenades, early air bombing campaigns from bi-planes, etc all scaled human killing rates much faster than any other time in our history.

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Originally Posted by Dythbringer

Honestly, calling the men and women who fought in WW2 the greatest generation is an American idea. A person could logically argue the generation of human who fought in WW1 was the greatest generation because how much warfare changed from previous wars. It was the first Industrial Age war fought. Early tanks, automatic machine guns, improved grenades, early air bombing campaigns from bi-planes, etc all scaled human killing rates much faster than any other time in our history.

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It could be argued that the greatest generation would be one that could use diplomacy to keep from having a world wide conflict and ethnic cleansing.

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Originally Posted by Fox

It could be argued that the greatest generation would be one that could use diplomacy to keep from having a world wide conflict and ethnic cleansing.

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Fox - let us all know how you go about doing that when you have evil dictators wanting to enslave people - whenever that was tried it turned out to be a disaster - the only way to stop evil is to fight it

If the U.S. had not entered the war the outcome would probably been different - I know other countries suffered and sacrificed during the war but it was America's industrial might that was the turning point - Churchill even said that if the U.S. did not enter the war England was finished - it was the planes, tanks, trucks, etc. that allowed Allies - including Russia - to finally win

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Originally Posted by JoePa

Fox - let us all know how you go about doing that when you have evil dictators wanting to enslave people - whenever that was tried it turned out to be a disaster - the only way to stop evil is to fight it

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Then why are you not fighting trump? He is evil.

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Originally Posted by fishermccann

Then why are you not fighting trump? He is evil.

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And why are you not fighting Trudeau and Wynn. They are evil .

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Originally Posted by JoePa

A bum is a bum no matter what is happening to him - what am I suppose to do - lie and say that he is a nice guy just because he is sick - he was always a typical politician talking out of the both sides of his mouth and always grabbing the headlines - with your way of thinking you can't call anyone a bum because after all we are all going to die - some sooner than others

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There is a time and a place for criticism of a person and doing it when a person is fighting a terminal disease isn't one of them. Didn't your parents ever teach you that you don't kick a person when they are down? You say how Christian you are but your posts and language display something completely different. McCain might be everything you say he is but you don't need to say it when he is sick. Show some class.

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Originally Posted by fishermccann

Then why are you not fighting trump? He is evil.

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Evil - come on man - do you really know what evil is - tell me why is he evil - cause he is making America first

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Originally Posted by Dythbringer

There is a time and a place for criticism of a person and doing it when a person is fighting a terminal disease isn't one of them. Didn't your parents ever teach you that you don't kick a person when they are down? You say how Christian you are but your posts and language display something completely different. McCain might be everything you say he is but you don't need to say it when he is sick. Show some class.

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Come on man - give me a break - you can't call a guy a bum while he is sick? - you have to wait until he dies then it is ok? - my parents taught me to always tell the truth no matter what the circumstances - and so a Christian can't call a guy a bum - where does it say that - a bum is a bum no matter what is happening to him - he doesn't all of a sudden become a nice guy when he gets sick - you can tell what kind of guy he is by the people who are now praising him - the Washington Post and all the ultra liberals - when he does finally cash in there will be a lot people who will say - good riddance - like when Ted Kennedy died - another bum

Show some class - what is class - everybody has a different definition of what it is - some think you should tip toe through the tulips and wear a skirt - others think you should be a straight arrow and tell it like it is - I got class but it is the manly kind - take care and have as good one

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I got class but it is the manly kind

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Yes Joe! you are in a class of your own , but as far as "having class " you are far from it according to your posts.

MY father entered the war in 1939 ( Hastings Prince Edward Regiment). He came back in 1945 a shadow of himself, never to be the same again. PTSD was an unknown term back then. A hero ? I don't know, but definitely someone who made a sacrifice for the next generation - me.

https://www.flickr.com/gp/157633866@N05/yq7822

I don't know how many actually took part in the first wave of landiings but it nymbered in the thousands. Of those about a dozen were decorated with the MoH. Those were recognized as true heros as many of those decorated were given the medal posthumously.

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Originally Posted by fishermccann

The greatest generation? Sure if you are a white male.

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Here’s Fisher bringing his white male shame into every discussion possible. Drunk on Justin’s KoolAid again.

They may not have been perfect but I’d call them the greatest generation. Joe’s right about it too, do you really think you’d see that kind of dedication and service out of anyone today ? Some, but not many. Too many kids and young adults can’t live without tv and wifi to get anything done.

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Originally Posted by JoePa

Fox - let us all know how you go about doing that when you have evil dictators wanting to enslave people - whenever that was tried it turned out to be a disaster - the only way to stop evil is to fight it

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I agree, you have to fight evil, but is the only way to fight with a gun or a bomb? That is the question you have to ask yourself. If WWI could have been prevented without the bloodshed there probably would have never been WWII, one war rolled into the other in more ways than one, the interwar period was not a period of peace but a period of rebuilding for the next, nothing at all was solved with the first.

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Originally Posted by 73hunter

Here’s Fisher bringing his white male shame into every discussion possible. Drunk on Justin’s KoolAid again.

They may not have been perfect but I’d call them the greatest generation. Joe’s right about it too, do you really think you’d see that kind of dedication and service out of anyone today ? Some, but not many. Too many kids and young adults can’t live without tv and wifi to get anything done.

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Well said.

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Originally Posted by Sharon

MY father entered the war in 1939 ( Hastings Prince Edward Regiment). He came back in 1945 a shadow of himself, never to be the same again. PTSD was an unknown term back then. A hero ? I don't know, but definitely someone who made a sacrifice for the next generation - me.

https://www.flickr.com/gp/157633866@N05/yq7822

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I thank people such as your father for the sacrifice they made every day Sharon.

That 'greatest generation', would let their black countrymen die for their country, but not let them use the same washroom, drinking fountain or diner. Hell they would not even play baseball with them. Took away a families possessions and caged them in internment camps because their grandparents came from another country. Should there be shame in that? Absolutely. Do you think that anyone but a white person would call them the 'greatest generation'? But then that is the only opinion that counts for some. Reflect on that.

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Originally Posted by fishermccann

That 'greatest generation', would let their black countrymen die for their country, but not let them use the same washroom, drinking fountain or diner. Hell they would not even play baseball with them. Took away a families possessions and caged them in internment camps because their grandparents came from another country. Should there be shame in that? Absolutely. Do you think that anyone but a white person would call them the 'greatest generation'? But then that is the only opinion that counts for some. Reflect on that.

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Unfortunately all people of all ethnic backgrounds are guilty of the same or many cases worse. Were you aware that even slaves in the United States that earned their freedom had slaves. Were you aware certain tribes in Africa captured neighboring villagers and sold them or traded them to the British. Were you aware that even white Europeans were captured and sold as sex slaves to certain parts of the middle east.


All races are guilty of this but thankfully it ended in the U.S.A and it took many years to change the attitude of most people. People are generally ignorant and have a fear of the unknown which unfortunately comes out as racism. I would like to think we have come along way as a society and do not surround myself with ignorant racist people.

History is almost always from the point of view of the victors. The people who would call themselves the 'greatest generation', are white males. I don't think those being oppressed during that time would have the same sentiments. We are not talking about the 1800's but the 1940's. Every man is created equal.......... Some play lip service to those sentiments, some believe them.

The Greatest Generation was the group of people who went through the great depression and fought and died to win WWII - if it wasn't for that generation you would not be enjoying the freedom that you have now - if generations that came later were confronted with the depression and the sacrifices required to win the war I doubt very much if the outcome would have been the same - especially the current generation which for the most part is made up of spoiled kids who hardly know what hard work means and who couldn't survive a day without their small phone

In your opinion.

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Originally Posted by fishermccann

History is almost always from the point of view of the victors. The people who would call themselves the 'greatest generation', are white males. I don't think those being oppressed during that time would have the same sentiments. We are not talking about the 1800's but the 1940's. Every man is created equal.......... Some play lip service to those sentiments, some believe them.

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So are you saying it's still the same as in the 1940's ?

No, not at all, I am saying how can they call themselves the 'greatest generation', when they had so many other bad things going on at that time ,that they perpetuated and even encouraged.

Oh ok. I would consider JoePa's comments as an opinion. Looking at current events around the world with all the new navy fleets being built by China and Russia me thinks Joe may be eating crow. :)

Bad times create strong men( People)
Strong men(people) create good times.
Good times create weak men(people).
Weak men(people) create hard times.

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Originally Posted by fishermccann

History is almost always from the point of view of the victors. The people who would call themselves the 'greatest generation', are white males. I don't think those being oppressed during that time would have the same sentiments. We are not talking about the 1800's but the 1940's. Every man is created equal.......... Some play lip service to those sentiments, some believe them.

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What about all the white women, the East Indian men and Women, and all the people that fought against tyranny and genocide in the Second World War. Can we call them the "Greatest Generation", or are you so full of hate and some much of a racial and sexist A-hole that you want to degrade their sacrifice as well.:madman:

To everyone else..
See you in a few months when my ban is up..:rolleyes::sad:

I am not degrading anyone's sacrifices, I never have, I would not do that. I just take it with a grain of salt, to some-any group calling themselves the 'greatest' anything. It is all a point of view. A generation is a long time and a large group.

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Originally Posted by fishermccann

I am not degrading anyone's sacrifices, I never have, I would not do that. I just take it with a grain of salt, to some-any group calling themselves the 'greatest' anything. It is all a point of view. A generation is a long time and a large group.

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No you just like to call down anyone that is "White"...as racist, and Slave owners. My Fourth( or Fifth. Need to do the math) Grandmother was a escaped Slave. Her Husband ( White Scotsman by the way) had to marry her in secret and say she was just the housekeeper, or his Negress( an old word meaning he had a black mistress). If they had said they were husband and Wife, BOTH Whites, AND BLACKS would have raised heck. I've got an uncle( my mother's brother) that has affro hair. Not wavy, not curly...AFFRO. We have people in my family that are from all colors, creeds, and national backgrounds. But since my skin is "PALER" then gloss black I some how am racist according to your options.

When have I ever said or insinuated such a thing? You are mistaken.

Come on guys this is a hunting, fishing and outdoors forum. I know you all have strong feelings about things but please not on this forum.