Transcript
We just recently interviewed my grandpa about World War 2. At first I was a little hesitant to ask him if I could actually interview him about something that still wounds him today. Our interview started off slow and modest. We started asking him questions about this terrible war. The first question that I asked him was about the infamous Adolph Hitler. My grandpa’s face turned very stern. I said that he did not have to talk about him if he did not feel the need. He just looked at me and laughed and said that he was on everyone’s kill list. He said that at nights they would sit around the beach in Hawaii where he was based at laughing and talking about what they all would do if they got one, just one chance for a fight with Hitler. This we were somewhat shocked about his response because people in Germany really looked up him and what his dreams and plans were for Germany. He then began to go off on his story about him being into the war and I just listen.
" I never once thought or even considered going into the war. I was born to a very large family. Large as in six boys and four girls. My father was in a war, he never really wanted to talk about it and I never could understand why. Until now I can really understand why whenever I asked about it he would say sometime soon I will tell you about my bad habits in the war. The first time that I herd about the war was when I came home from school and my mother said that I would most likely being packing my begs in a few weeks. This was all a big shock to me and I turned a little scared. I then began to ask why she was acting so weird. She started to tell me that we have declared war and the draft is up coming and very close. At the time I did not understand the draft. Well, then as you already know I entered the draft and 3 weeks later I was on the beaches of Hawaii. Yes, Hawaii and yes I know that you are thinking paradise but this was a different paradise for me. See, my expectations did not lead up to what it actually was. I was thinking the exact same thing that you are thinking right this minute. Nice weather, girls, and drinks everywhere. That’s exactly what I thought when I was shipping out. When I got there it was the exact opposite. Men scrambling all around with frantic faces. All of this turned my face from happy to worried. Within one week I was already shipping supplies on the ships and driving more supplies for the soldiers who were at a constant struggle for their life. I soon found friends but none like the one of good old Jon Q. Jon Q wasn’t his real name it was his nickname we gave him because his IQ was so high and he was incredibly smart. He never made excuses and never made mistakes. He was the best at his job. He was the man that I most looked up to. As the story goes on he was shot and died instantly. When Jon Q died I was alone very alone. I had no one to talk to and hang out with. Do my duties without him just would not be the same. Life went on the beautiful island, but the war went on also. I finally got out of the war and went out west for a while to regain myself from all of the things that I had seen. War is a terrible thing and I hope that neither of you have to experience it."
My grandpa is a great man and has seen many things that I prey that I never have to see in my lifetime. He is proud of what he did and I am proud to have him as my grandpa. He is an inspiring man that I and many other people in this town look up to. He as told us a lot and taught us a lot about the war and life. World War Two was a long a struggling war that many people did and did not survive, but as always the United States was victorious as always!
Tate says: How old were you when you were in Vietnam?
Pal says: 22
Tate says: What was your task in the war?
Pal says: Helped with the watercrafts and driving soldiers to the sites.
Tate says: Were you drafted?
Pal says: yes, I was drafted when I was 22 years of age. I had never been so scared of my life.
Mollie says: Why were you so scared of entering the war?
Pal says: Well, I mean it was war you know. I have never met somebody that has not been scared to go into the war and if they tell you that they weren't scared then they are just trying to look really tough.
Mollie says: Were you married at the time?
Pal says: No, I was a single bachelor who loved to have fun hahaha!
Tate says: Was it hard leaving your family members behind? Who was left?
Pal says: “It was very difficult and going into the war was not something that I wanted to do because that just wasn’t my life long dream for life. I had to leave my entire family. I had a very large family also.”
Tate says: Where were you when you found out that the United States was going to war?
Pal says: “I don’t remember where I was exactly when they announced that we were going to war but alls that I remember was that I came home from school and my mother just flat out said that we were going to war and that was a very scary experience for me.”
Mollie says: Did you see anyone die?
Pal says: “ I only saw one person die and that was one of my best friends that was in the war with me.” No other comments on that.
Mollie says: Did you know anyone who had died?
Pal says: Yes my best friend
Tate says: Who was the President at the time?
Pal says: Roosevelt
Tate says: did you like him as your President?
Pal says: O yes Rosy was a sheer genius. He never made bad decisions in my mind.
Mollie says: Were things more violent in war back then compared to now a days?
Pal says: Yes war was war back in the days. It was very violent.
Mollie says: Did you believe in the draft? Do you still believe in it?
Pal says: Yes I do! At the time I didn’t but now I definitely do. You should go and serve our country. Amen to that huh kids!
Tate says: What specific things do you remember about the war?
Pal says: I just remember the beautiful weather in Hawaii and all the violence that went on. But, it felt good to serve my country.
Tate says: Were you prepared for war?
Pal says: No I was not prepared for war because I was so young. Before that I was working in a grocery store.
Tate says: Were you surprised at some of the things you saw?Pal says: Yes I was there were a lot of things that I saw that I will never share to this day! Those memories are in my heart and scares!