Just watched a very interesting documentary on HBO...

[GeneL]

...Underfire: The Untold Story of Pfc. Tony Vaccaro.

Described as the story of a WWII infantryman who smuggles a portable camera into battle (35mm Argus C3) and creates an intimate, comprehensive record of life on the front lines.

For me additionally interesting because he grew up in New Rochelle, NY, my hometown.

One point of interest that was made, his use of a compact 35mm camera gave him a big edge over the signal corps photographers who were using big format cameras with bulky plates that they had to carry around with them. Another edge he had was that he was on the lines with the soldiers that he was photographing. Compared to other photographers, his pictures were spontaneous, not posed or set up like the pictures others were taking. Often, the soldiers would get angry with photographers who weren't serving. He was welcome because he was one of them. Great story.

Definitely, worth watching, IMHO.

[mrbigstuff]

Wow, thanks, I will check that out! . Great uncles served in the big one, as did my grandfather

[Ombligo]

I saw it too. Fascinating.

As both a retired Photojournalist and a history teacher, it was truly a golden hour.

[GuyGene]

The silent, tough generation.

[DeusxMac]

Any "close friends" who were on active duty while WW II was underway have to be at least in their late 80s.
Not many of those left, witness the poll results.

[JoeH]

Closest family members who I know served in WWII are a great-uncle and one of my grandfathers. Due to family relation issues I barely met that grandfather at all, but did meet the uncle a few times over the years until he passed away about a decade ago.

My former FIL also served in WWII, then was recalled to serve in Korea.