My Dad and Pete - Okinawa 1945

[Bob Eisenman]

Army buddies from WWII :

My Dad was on Okinawa in the summer of 1945. After the atomic bomb was dropped on Japan he came back to the States in the winter of 1945-1946.
His buddies Pete Sam and others trained in Texas and he (in quarter master corps) and my mother lived near the base in Texas. He shipped out in 1945 for the Pacific theater after a few years stateside in the Army.

While doing a genealogy search I found Pete's obituary (Peter R. Salbego). I learned of Pete's last name from descriptions my Dad put on the back of the pictures. Pete's obituary says that Pete served on both Iwo Jima and Okinawa. Since they shipped our together......they must have been near Iwo Jima together in some capacity. My Dad never mentioned Iwo Jima , saying very little actually about the war.

Pete R. Salbego's obituary:

"Pete courageously served in the Pacific Theater during World War II in Okinawa and Iwo Jima attaining the rank of Master Sergeant."

https://m.legacy.com/obituaries/star-gazette/obituary.aspx?n=peter-salbego&pid=156334283&referrer=0&preview=false

 

Peter R. Salbego

 

 

 

 

Sam R. and Pete Salbego

 

 

 

 

A Jeep, my Dad, Pete Salbego and others

 

 

 

 

Shinto shrine near Naha

 

 

 

 

Bombed out buildings on Okinawa

 

 

 

 

Horse drawn cart

 

 

Native Okinawan transporting water

 

 

Hospital building in Naha

 

 

 

 

Small arms locker

 

 

 

 

Typhoon of Oct 1945

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Hunka Hunka Burning Love]

I love looking at old photos like these and imagine what it was like the moment they were taken.  It's sad to think how so many experiences and stories are lost to time over the ages as generations come and go.  Not that future generations likely will have more than a passing glimpse or interest of what happened ages ago.  I guess it doesn't really matter much in the long run, so live in the moment while you can and enjoy the brief time you have on the planet.

Edited June 11, 2018 by Hunka Hunka Burning Love

[Bob Eisenman]

4 hours ago, Hunka Hunka Burning Love said:

I love looking at old photos like these and imagine what it was like the moment they were taken. 

I cataloged most of the pictures while still living in my parents house. 

This picture convinced me , using Google Street view, that the shrine where the Jeep / Tori gate shot was taken was the 'Naminoue Shrine'. 

Google Street view , from an above and tilted perspective , virtual 3D reconstructs the shrine as it is now.

In 1945 some of the nurses on Okinawa , near my Dad's location, were cool enough to pose for a group shot. He refers to them in soldier slang as 'some of the "gooks" - cute aren't they!'

 

 

 

[Jrkline "Wheel Whisperer"]

Thanks for the pics and the history.Brings back a lot of memories.There is so much history to that little island.Served in the Air Force there in 85-86.

[Casey Dean]

Bob, thank you so much for posting these photos. Pete was my grandfather. This pictures are going to make a wonderful Christmas present.

[Bob Eisenman]

2 hours ago, Casey Dean said:

pictures

 

My Dad didn't talk much at all about WWII but while handling my mother's estate I found a stack of pictures with names and places on the back of the pictures.

While doing an obituary search for Pete R. Salbego I read he served at Iwo Jima...unknown to me. They trained in the south together, on Okinawa together and might have been on the same boat(s) in transit.

https://mcinernyfh.com/tribute/details/172/Peter-Salbego/obituary.html

 

 

Edited November 30, 2020 by Bob Eisenman

[Bob Eisenman]

@Casey DeanFor the last few hundred miles I've been riding an eBike. My Monster has taken a back seat to it. After texting with a Junior High friend (1960s) who moved to North Carolina recently , nearer to his father, I rode the RadRunner eBike along a route to Boston I've used many times on the Monster.

Just before arriving at Harvard Square there is a bike shop. An eBike made by Batch ($2199) sits in the window. A review of the bike said it has good range but an uncomfortable seat. I'd window shopped at the spot several times but decided not to buy the Batch seen (barely) in the window.

After a bite to eat I continued

back to the commuter rail station for a depleted battery ride home, just like the Monster rides. My knees and legs seem to like the eBike but my posterior is still deciding if this is the optimal comfort ride.

The RadRunner went along the trail seen in this video a few days ago too.

 

Hunting season is on and the gates to the wide trail were open.😁

 

Edited November 30, 2020 by Bob Eisenman

[Bob Eisenman]

7 hours ago, Casey Dean said:

Pete was my grandfather

 

There's a LinkedIn profile matching your name.

If you don't mind my asking did you graduate from a school in Binghamton around 2007 ?

I-Dad-Mother-Grandfather were born in Binghamton. 

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/58113162/catherine-b.-eisenmann

 

 

[Andy Shipsides]

On 11/30/2020 at 8:54 AM, Casey Dean said:

Bob, thank you so much for posting these photos. Pete was my grandfather. This pictures are going to make a wonderful Christmas present.

Wow, this is amazing. Pete was my grandfather too, an amazing person. Great to see these photos. Thank you!!  Casey good to see your name, nope you are doing well.