I've already posted two comments before introducing myself. My name is Ray, recently retired to the great state of Texas. WW II forum instantly hooked me. I'm an avid DUI/DI/Unit Crest collector, Morse code keys, and military historian. I can't stop learning about WW II. I did some heavy collegiate work on the Korean War, that out of necessity for a degree and the department chair's suggestion, but really I dwell on WW II. As a kid it was USAAF. As an adult more so on the ground pounder units, but I won't turn away from any branch of the service, whether it be the Merchant Marines or the SeaBees. My interests are quite all over the map regarding military history. Now I have the time to research and read what I've been trying to practice over 30 years in the Army of the United States specifically Special Forces. In my younger days I was quite the radio-direction finding specialist and Morse operator. My personal research these last couple of years has been on the Aleutian Islands Campaign: a campaign of many firsts for the USA, building my own order of battle with unit crests. I'm a member of the ASMIC, a few other veteran organizations and historical forums. It's wonderful being here. I look forward to great dialogue and stimulating blogging.
I look forward to great dialogue and stimulating blogging. - Possibly wont get that from me... : ) You sound like an interesting bloke, can i ask which branch of special forces you were involved with? Welcome aboard mate, looking forward to learning new things from you.
Welcome Ray, good to have you join us and I look forward to reading your contributions. Aggie, Longhorn, Bear, Cougar, Horned Frog, Red Raider or other?
Thank you all. I'm currently a Longhorn fan as our youngest is attending UT Austin. Looking forward to baseball games and some college football if we can snag some tickets. ACE of SPADES: I just retired from US Army Special Forces after 30 years. I had the opportunity of training with the Sunderland/Argyles, in fact I have a framed lithograph of the "Thin Red Line" hanging up on my living room wall. Also trained with the 22, 23 SAS and 20 Commando and the SBS down in Poole. I was stationed in the UK for 4 years straight one time where I learned to love Scotch, great beer, and great food. How about yourself? I get lost in the forum topics and forget to revisit postings I'm involved in so far. I need a better habit to stay abreast and track. Being attached to such a unit for so long in Europe, you really get an appreciation for military history. I was humbled in my early years staying in Verdun for a week. It really opened my eyes up to WW I, but also what the individual went through. Then being privileged several times attending ceremonies for various battlefields like Normandy, the Ardennes, Lorraine, the Vosges, the Netherlands, and throughout both Germany and Italy. Incredible exposure. One other great experience was being present for 50 year ceremonies in Korea commemorating that war. I was humbled by a speech by the former COL Millett. I've similarly had the pleasure of working with other militaries, not just in peace, but in war. I recently dragged my sweetheart around Eben-Emael for several hours, then it rained: bless her heart.--Ray
Wow...the breadth of experience is rare mate...My 15 years in Defence in Australia pales a little in comparison...I knew there was much to learn from you...Your already a valuable member.
howdy, welcome to the forum, someday if i ever figure out out how to use my scanner properly (lol) i have a photo of a wrecked Japanese tank that taken in the aluets.
Thanks all. I'd love to visit the Aleuts soon. I heard there was a guy making another documentary on that campaign. Ace of Spades I worked in Alice Springs for a short while, very much reminded me of where I was born and raised. I had the pleasure of working with Australian TF SCORPION in Iraq, then AUS SAS in Afghanistan. Tough fellas. One of my best friends is now a RAN Commander. What we'd call a maverick. I'll have to tell you how I saved MG Duncan Lewis' life.
You will! And anything you decide to share mate...Alice Springs? You were a Pine Gapper? Oopps! Shhhh...
Ray A tad puzzled by your reference to Sunderland/Argyles Did you perchance mean the Argylll & Sutherland Highlanders ? http://www.argylls.co.uk/history/the-argyll-and-sutherland-highlanders-1881-present/1939-1945/227-north-africamiddle-east-1940-1943 ? 7th Battalion The 7th Battalion landed in Sicily with the 51st Highland Division in July 1943 and fought until the end of the Sicilian Campaign, when it embarked with the rest of the Division for the UK in order to prepare for the landings on D Day. 8th Battalion The 8th Battalion continued to serve in the 78th Division throughout the Sicilian and Italian campaigns. In an attempt to turn the German lines, the Battalion landed at Termoli, north of Taranto. However, a counter attack was only contained with great difficulty and many casualties. The Battalion was heavily involved in the advance to the River Trigno and along the River Santerno. The crossing of the River Senio, was one of its final actions in Italy. The Argyll & Sutherlands were very much part of the 78th British Infantry Division and I was able to see them in action both as as a wireless operator in the 49th LAA Rgt and in a similar role in the 4th QOH (see my signature below) Ron
Hi Ray While waiting for a reply to my earlier query, a further question for you. You say "I had the opportunity of training with the Sunderland/Argyles, in fact I have a framed lithograph of the "Thin Red Line" hanging up on my living room wall." Assuming that it was the A&SH that you referred to and writing as a Brit with connections to that regiment In ww2, I am most interested in that aspect of your extensive military career. I therefore wonder whether or not you can remember the date and the whereabouts of that training and which Battalion of the A&SH you trained with ? Ii do appreciate this was all quite a few years ago but writing as an oldie who last served some 68 years ago I know how one doesn't forget things that seem to have mattered. Regards Ron
Ron, sorry for the poor spelling and late response, yes Sutherland Highlanders....not the Sunderland Arty unit... I constantly make that slip when I'm typing fast. My apologies. I worked with the A/SH long range patrol unit (several teams) in the mid 1980s my first time: actually they were teaching us as most of the older unit cadre had been in Malaysia doing LRRP missions and I think some were jungle school instructors. We had a former officer named Ernest Gordon speak with us one night, up at Sterling, who served with the unit during WW II. Their history goes way back that I remember to the French and Indian Wars in the Americas. We used to do a periodic exercise in Europe called LONG REACH with them in Germany and units from the BAOR were there, but mostly SAS and the A&SH. Then in 2004 some of them were in Iraq under the 10 (X) Scottish Highlanders and 20 Commandos. Not sure how many, but I recognized their beret crests and started talking to them. Then they had formations parading through some of the smaller towns in Scotland when they returned and I attended a formation in Coldstream. We had a dinner up at Sterling o/a mid summer not sure the year, possibly 2005, because it was warm. I don't ever take pictures because of work, but sometimes because I'm lazy. Too bad really especially now when I'm trying to remember things. My hat goes out to you Ron if you were part of the forces captured by the Japanese. I was at Camp Mabry in Austin Texas this weekend and there is a monument to the USS Houston sunk in the Sunda Straight. The survivors of the USS Houston worked in prison camps building rail lines in Burma. It wasn't until after WW II that those survivors relayed what happened to the USS Houston.--Ray
Ray Thanks for your response and the further info about the post-war activities of the Argyle & Sutherland Highlanders. I have always been relieved that I never served in the Far East, if you read the potted history acting as my signature you will see that I served in North Africa, Sicily, Italy, Austria, Germany & Egypt. Pity you never went in for photography, it would have enhanced the postings on your very busy military career. If you are at all interested, alll my Army pics can be found in the photo gallery on ww2talk.com http://ww2talk.com/forums/gallery/member/341-ron-goldstein/ Ron
Thanks Ron, I stand on the shoulders of those who came before me. Because of you and your generation I have better equipment, leadership, purpose, and veterans benefits. I think of all the British troops fighting in the Middle East and north Africa; then, only to slug it out through the Italian Campaign. Incredible Ron and amazing. Quite the chronology. My hats off to you and your brothers. I tried to get my maternal grandfather to visit me in Germany early in the 1990s, but he wouldn't. His excuse was that he saw it quite a bit from the air in a bomber like your brother. He wasn't keen on any visits like yours to Italy some time after when it was much safer. Even if I had the presence to take pictures they wouldn't have been much. I never had the eye for it. Plus you simply weren't allowed, still are not, despite all the controversial stuff coming to light each day. I do regret, though, not having such photos. They're just stories now, anachronistic, probably embellished Pollyanna, and repetitive. The British have a much better sense of their commitment to wartime service because it is directly connected. You see it in your laws and on veterans day. I sensed it going through those small towns in North Umbria and Scotland, I really did. My best Ray
