Herb,

For starters, know that I'm waiting for a call-back from a local WW2 Vet's number that the local Legion secretary gave me, who might have some information and answers for your questions ... and I'll email you as soon as I talk to him

Regards regretting not being able to tell it like George Blackburn in his Trilogies ... well, George Blackburn can't tell YOUR memories and experiences like you can, and personally, your stories from your words are what I want to hear because you're the one who lived it, so there There, now you got the feel of my Ma Yappy's frying pan too. No one is sacred or safe from me in here

"Intensity" had to be the most remembered thing about everything over there, hey? And as you talk about the sweat pouring I keep thinking about how horrible it must have felt to have salt-sweat filling and burning your eyes while trying to do what you had to do. Your faces must have really been something to see with the sweat streaks through the dust and dirt?

I've felt the wool of the WW2 uniforms too, and know how stiff and scratchy they are. Maybe the combination sweating and wool made the itchy worse so that when you cooled down and dried off some it was not so itchy anymore. I think heat makes some people itch anyways. I'll bet they smelled pretty good too after a prolonged sweat and a few days, and I can imagine fantasies of baths and clean clothes must have plagued you guys often?

I've experienced some major fear and even prolonged (short prolonged) terror at times in my life and I did notice that those feelings distracted me from all other discomforts I'd normally feel, even physical pain. It's like the fear is an insulation against all else but survival mode. Intense Fear has it's perks when needed for sure.

Wow, what a thread

Vets