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Have You Ever Been Truly Scared?
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Have You Ever Been Truly Scared?


Jun 23, 2019, 7:31 PM

I've been asked about that several times. Sometimes it's difficult to determine if I'm really scared or if it is fear. I suppose fear is based more on apprehension, the fact we do not know what will occur, but there is a possibility something negative may occur. When the fear is related to a life threatening act, then I must admit, that's when I'm scared.

When my company went to Europe during WW2, we sailed on the Mount Vernon, with about 6,000 men aboard. The speed of the Mount Vernon was greater than the speed of the German UBoats so we did not have a Naval escort, we Zigged and we Zagged across the Atlantic. I was apprehensive because there was also the possibility of a UBoat waiting to deliver a death blow. As we approached the Northern part of the Irish Sea, we turned around and went back out to sea for a couple of days. There was a pack of German UBoats waiting for a target. That alone elevated the fear factor.

When the all clear was given, we headed down the Irish Sea to the Liverpool port complex. It was a beautiful day and many of us were on one of the several decks with no thought of a UBoat lurking nearby. Suddenly we saw a periscope rising out of the water and the fear factor turned to being plain scared. Fortunately, the Captain came on the PA system and set our minds at ease by telling us that was one of ours. By now, the UBoat fear was solidly ingrained in our minds.

About three weeks later we boarded a ship in Southampton bound for the continent. Our company was the first group to board the ship and down, down, down we went to the bottom of the ship. We were told to get in our bunks and stay there, it wouldn't take but just a few hours to reach our destination. Just a short time into our journey, there was a terrific blast. The entire ship shuddered and we thought we had been hit with a torpedo. Scared? That was the scaredest I had ever been. We jumped out of our bunks and headed for the ladders going up. A big bad Marine pointed a rifle at us and told us to get back down to our bunks.

No one had the slightest idea of trying to get a nap. We were a scared bunch of GIs. Just when we though things had settled down, there came another blast, even more powerful then the first blast. We thought surely the blast itself would rip the sides of the ship apart. We started looking to see if there were leaks in the hull. Fortunately, we could find none. We kept waiting to hear another blast but there were no more. Only after arriving at Le Havre did we learn our ship had detected a UBoat and were dropping ash cans. Also, Naval forces took over the task after our brief encounter. Had the UBoat been successful in launching a torpedo, there was no way we could have escaped from the bottom of that ship. I still get an odd feeling when I remember that episode.

Message was edited by: Joe21®


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Re: Have You Ever Been Truly Scared?


Jun 23, 2019, 7:43 PM

That had to be truly terrifying. I can't come close to that...
The most scared I have ever been was asking the love of my life to marry me while I was still a student at Clemson. We had absolutely nothing except each other, but we made it work. We'll have our 35th anniversary on Christmas Eve.

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"If a pig had a better personality, he would cease to be a filthy animal."


Re: Have You Ever Been Truly Scared?


Jun 23, 2019, 7:48 PM

Joe,
I always love to read about the interesting things that have happened to you. You lived in another time than most of us and always seem to help me keep things in proper perspective.
Keep em coming...

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"If a pig had a better personality, he would cease to be a filthy animal."


After reading your recap, Mr. Joe...


Jun 23, 2019, 7:44 PM

No...no, I've never been scared. There's been fear, as you noted, but I've never been scared.

My hope is no one is ever scared again. Unrealistic, I know, but that's what hope is for.

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Joe, I want to comment but I have "NO" words!


Jun 23, 2019, 8:04 PM

.

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Re: Have You Ever Been Truly Scared?


Jun 23, 2019, 8:17 PM

Always interesting to hear from those that experienced that time first-hand. We just can't understand that the way you do.

I've been truly terrified and scared. Waiting for that doctor report for my wife after treatment was done. That was the most terrifying time I have ever experienced. The report was good, but that time period waiting was nothing anyone should experience.

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“poor kids are just as bright and just as talented as white kids.”


Re: Have You Ever Been Truly Scared?


Jun 23, 2019, 9:21 PM

Thank you Joe for fighting for my freedom!

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Re: Have You Ever Been Truly Scared?


Jun 23, 2019, 9:28 PM

Mr Joe
I truly hope you’re writing a book..
Too many good stories not to...

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Re: Have You Ever Been Truly Scared?


Jun 23, 2019, 9:38 PM

Joe, thank you for literally saving the world from being an infinitely darker and more vicious place. My Dad served in France and lost an eye from mine shrapnel that he took trying to rescue wounded soldiers who had previously detonated a mine in a minefield. He had to beg the surgeon not to remove his right eye because the doc was certain if he kept it he would die and the eye did indeed swell up like a baseball, though he ultimately recovered. For years later, if he took a handkerchief to his eye (not the glass one) he would still have bits of shrapnel in the handkerchief occasionally. So many these days have forgotten the lessons of that great struggle, and unfortunately not too many of the WW2 vets remain. Thank you for being there when the world really needed you. So many people refuse to believe in Divine Providence, but I say it is no coincidence that FDR, Churchill and guys like you came along in the nick oof time.

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Re: Have You Ever Been Truly Scared?


Jun 23, 2019, 9:51 PM

Much respect to you Mr.Joe.

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Re: Have You Ever Been Truly Scared?


Jun 23, 2019, 10:00 PM

only when i lived in columbia,and i don't mean the country.

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null


Re: Have You Ever Been Truly Scared?


Jun 23, 2019, 10:07 PM

I thought I had until I read yours. Thanks for your service.

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Re: Have You Ever Been Truly Scared?


Jun 23, 2019, 10:24 PM

Thanks You for your service and our freedom Joe. I love hearing your life stories.

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Re: Have You Ever Been Truly Scared?


Jun 24, 2019, 8:45 AM

I love you Mr Joe. Thank you!

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Re: Have You Ever Been Truly Scared?


Jun 24, 2019, 8:52 AM

Yep. I went to Mexico(Baja) almost died when robbed, dog died, car stripped, almost died myself, near death experience. Good times.

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Re: Have You Ever Been Truly Scared?


Jun 25, 2019, 10:50 PM

Mr. Joe21,

And I say "Mr." out of total respect. My father in law was sent to the Philippines as a member of the 158th RCT "Bushmasters." He talked about life as a replacement piece of meat in the hold of a hastily built cargo ship...in the tropical hot Pacific. Puking and scared in bad weather on the way to the PI as a replacement. Not a good situation. He landed as an Infantryman, but was made a medic because he had 2yrs(?) of pre-Vet at UGA... so that was the job that he did (while still carrying a rifle and being expected to fight when needed). I got a few stories from him before he died, but not many.

Thank you, for what you did. I mean that sincerely.

My uncle was an Engineer under Patton during his drive across Europe... and my Grandfather served in WWI as a medic....supported a big Catholic family during the depression by working on the RailRoad...and then drank himself to death... Sad I never knew him.

Me? I was never scared like that. Scared for sure. But not like being in the hold of a ship, which is worse.

My scariest was indirect. No control over that. Indirect is like the hand of God. It. Is. Scary. Over. Short. Here comes the fire for effect! Here's to hoping your counter-battery is effective! (in my case it was).

Thank you so very much for your posts. You, like it or not, are part of the historical record of a generation. One that I appreciate and respect greatly.

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Re: Have You Ever Been Truly Scared?


Jun 25, 2019, 11:22 PM

nm


Message was edited by: jeancooper®


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Re: Have You Ever Been Truly Scared?


Jun 26, 2019, 6:31 AM

Joe, you are a treasure. I love reading your stories. To answer your question, when I was twelve, a tornado destroyed my parent’s house. We got under the bed and started to pray. When the tornado hit we could hear the nails being pulled out of the wood. The bedroom walls were the only thing left of the house. Was not a mistake but, the work of God. My brother’ s best friend was killed by the storm. I was very scared. Thankfully have never had to feel like that again.

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