This proud fellow with the cocky grin, posing for a picture to send the folks back home, is my father. It was taken in a stateside Army camp in 1941 or ’42. It could be Louisiana. Or California. Or Pennsylvania. Daddy had conquered much of North America before departing for England and, eventually, northern France. He was still proud when he was discharged at the end of World War II, but the cocky grin was long gone.
63 responses to ““See here, Private Johnson!””
I know that your Dad chose not to tell anyone about his experience in WW2. That’s OK. A grateful nation thanks him for his sacrifice. Peace be with him.
Make that TWO grateful nations, Steve.
Thank you, Private Johnson.
Thank you, too, Jimmy.
Your dad looks like Arlo! Now why is that?
Thank you Mr. Johnson and thank you to his son.
You were so lucky to have your dad come home. He has a good son.
To those who are here and sadly for those who are Symply Fargone. Thank you!
My dad was in the Navy before I was born, he dragged my mom, pregnant with my older sister, and my brother who was a toddler then, from WV to VA to FL and back to VA, all before I was born. He never talked about his time served, either. I’m just glad he got home safe too.
Many years after his service, my parents divorced, and my father met and married a retired Navy woman. I am forever grateful to her for keeping him healthy until he passed.
Thank you JJ for a great Veterans Day tribute and to all that served.
good stories and great picture – today is “poppy day” in England – wish you had that tradition over here too
To the twelve on The Wall, you’re not forgotten.
Jimmy, thank you so much for the photograph! What a view into the past—your past—
And the poignancy.
Great picture, Jimmy. I am proud that both my parents served overseas for Canada during WWII, my father with an anti tank company and my mother served as an army nurse.
Oops, I was not signed in, I am that Anonymous guy above.
Thank you Jimmy for sharing your dad’s story with us. I wish I could thank him for what he did. And thank you to all the other veterans who served their country.
Mark: I believe you just did, though I cannot prove it. Peace,
Mark, Ghost, Sand, Sideburns, embJerry, all members of the Village are all veterans. We should thank them ad well.
I know I have missed some here and I apologize. If so please post additional names to thank.
Thank you for serving and helping to keep America free. It’s a honor to be able to thank you.
For those who have cats, they will recognize this artist got it all exactly right!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GTUruS-lnEo
War Eagle.
I posted this over on the A&J Facebook page:
“Thanks for sharing, Jimmy. My dad only talked about the funny, silly things regarding his cohorts – never about the war itself.”
‘See here, Private Johnson.’ Wonder how many younger Villagers will make the connection? Peace
Had forgotten that they’d made a movie / it, but that was also in the ’40s. Peace,
A number of WWII veterans drew comics for the military press while on active duty and after the war turned them into successful civilian comics. Up Front, Private Breger, Sad Sack come to mind. Hank Ketcham was a Navy vet who not only created Dennis the Menace but was drawing a single panel called Half Hitch for a Navy magazine while I was on active duty in the 1970’s. Mort Walker was an Army vet.
And the animation studios did their part for the war by turning out cartoons for military training.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AtiqYHXO41g
Steve, it looked like Georgia didn’t even belong in the same stadium!
Just back from a star party (astronomical). It’s my first time to see (and know that I was seeing) the Pleiades (WOW!) through my little telescope. I could also see Andromeda through mine almost as well as through the bigger scopes that were there. 🙂
We got there early enough to spot Saturn and show it to several of our guests before it set.
Unfortunately we had to leave before Orion cleared our mountains; I have daughters working at the local movie theaters. 🙁
I think the reference is to the book, “See Here, Private Hargrove” by Marion Hargrove. May not have spelled the last name correctly but the man’s name “Marion” stuck in my memory. The book didn’t have illustrations — or did it? Maybe David Breger? Anyway, the book was awfully funny, to my ten or eleven year old mind at least. And there was a movie I believe.