My grandfather was in the 2nd Armored Div in WW2 under Gen. Patton and was the .50 cal gunner on a tank. He never really talked about the stuff he saw or did until later in life, and then to only a select few people. I was in college at the time of his death and about 1-2 months before he passed he wanted to talk to me about his time in the military. I could tell that he needed to get stuff off of his chest and to, maybe, be forgiven a little and find some peace. Like most grandfathers, he was tough as nails and didn't take shit from anyone. Always calm, but he could stare right through anyone/thing and get his point across. I miss him. But after speaking with him and writing down some of his stories, I could tell he finally got a little of what he was looking for. Saying that the Nazi's did some messed up shit is an understatement, but his time in the French countryside was rough to say the least. Speaking of understatements, calling these people the "Greatest Generation" is one as well. Anyone that has to deal with war, and the effects of it, are special people in my eyes. My grandfather did not believe that he was special or great, but he told me that he fought because it felt like the right thing to do. He tried to watch Saving Private Ryan once, but had to leave in the first 10 minutes of the film. Too close to the real thing.
Most of the stories are sad, but he did have one cool thing happen. As stated above, lots of poker playing goes on and at the end of the war he was sitting on a train playing poker with 4 other guys, one of whom was Gen. Patton's driver. He and my grandfather are the last two in the hand and my grandfather made an "all in" bet for the hand. Patton's driver was taped out, but said he had something that Patton was given two of and Patton didn't want them both and he would lay that on the table to square the pot. My grandfather asked what it was, and the guy told him it was some sort of fancy map. Grandfather argues back and forth, but finally agrees to the addition of the map to square everything. My grandfather won the hand and got the money, and "that map". My father knows more details about the map, but apparently it was commissioned and given to Patton to commemorate his campaign. Patton kept one copy and gave the other to his driver because he didn't need two. The map that Patton kept is in the Smithsonian and looks old and worn. My grandfather never took his out of the container it was in unless he took it to Fort Hood during reunions towards the end of his life. Before he passed, my grandfather gave the map to my dad stating, "It's worth some money, and I'd rather it go to someone that will appreciate it instead of selling it, like the rest of the family would." My dad had it framed later that week and it has hung in his home office since that day. It will be mine one day, and it will hang in my home office as well. A print of the map is below for reference. I can't find my photo of it, but will take one and post it the next time I'm over at my parent's house.
Bless all those who fought in this war and the ones who still continue to fight.
I forgot to add my grandfather's thoughts when I asked him about Patton.
To the question, what was he like?:
"The only time I got to speak to him was when he visited a group of us in the "hospital". Basically, he was pissed off that we (the injured) weren't well enough to get back out there. He would ask how guys were doing but really he was tryin to see who was well enough to go back out and fight. He asked me where I was from and if I was healing. He was an asshole and I didn't like him, but he was a tough son of a bitch."
To the question of OU?:
They suck.