Earl Nicks

[Deleted]

Earl was one of several WWII veterans that I worked with at the local Chevrolet dealership in the '70's. They started there on a GI training program after the war. Even though Earl was a body man and I was a mechanic, I learned a lot from him, about Chevrolet's and life.
Earl, like so many others, did not care to talk about his experiences too much, but he would talk to me, I guess he thought that I was different, being a veteran myself. And, I wish that I had paid more attention to details, I was in my 20's at the time and not terribly interested, but now I have questions, and he's long gone. I do know that he was wounded twice, but I don't know where in ETO, or when. One wound was a leg wound.
I would be here typing all night if I was to try to recount all that he told me, I'll just introduce him to you now, and add items later. Earl went in to Omaha Beach in the second wave - landing craft had unloaded on the beach and returned to the ships for more men, that's when Earl went. He said that the water was already pink when they got to the beach. None of the things seen in the beach landing scene in Saving Private Ryan was a surprise to me, Earl had told me of seeing all those things.
I'll be glad to share more with you guys, if you wish to hear it. Bruce

[Deleted]

All Ears here Bruce!


Lee

[Deleted]

Earl said: "While we were on the ships in the Channel waiting for the "GO!" order from Eisenhower, our platoon leader approached me and said, 'Sargent, You are a squad leader, you do not need to carry that heavy BAR. Pick someone else from your squad to carry it.' I told him, 'Sir, I am the biggest man in the squad, so I picked ME to carry it. And on the subject of weapons, sir, you should find yourself something bigger than that pistol you're wearing.' The lieutenant said, 'This pistol is the weapon that I am authorized and issued, it is all I will need.' We got separated during the landing, nobody knew where their unit or officers were, officers didn't know where their men were, it was a hell of a mess. When I finally saw that lieutenant again, he was packing a Thompson, and acting like he was afraid someone would take it away from him. I never saw him without it after, and he never said any more about me carrying the BAR."

BW

[Haines Garage]

That is quite the story. Very Nice. We need more of that kind of thing here!

[Deleted]

Earl told me of his time in England, during the build-up for the invasion. He never said anything about any stenciling about left-hand-drive or hand signals on vehicles, but he did say that the "limeys" sat on the right-hand side of their vehicles and could not see the GI's hand signals, even if they used them, which they didn't, because the limeys couldn't see them anyway. He said that GI's would drive down the right side of the road and force the limeys to drive on the right or leave the road. The bigger the truck, the better. In town, one would hear a terrible commotion, with people yelling, "Gangway! Here comes another bloody Yankee lorry!" "Lorry" being the English word for "truck".
He told me of seeing great fields of row upon row of plywood aircraft, inflatable Shermans, citys of tents with no people in them, and convoys of trucks hauling nothing. All to fool the Germans into believing the invasion would take place at the Pas De Calais. BW

[zooke581]

Nothing like learning history from those who lived it. You get the real story then. Thanks for sharing Earl's story and thank him for his service from me.

[Deleted]

Mar 22, 2014 21:06:23 GMT -5 zooke581 said:

Nothing like learning history from those who lived it. You get the real story then. Thanks for sharing Earl's story and thank him for his service from me.

I wish I could. Earl passed on several years ago. Everything I relate here is things I remember him telling me. BW

[zooke581]

RIP to a good Patriot. Thanks for the stories. They need to be retold as often as possible. Both my parents lived in Europe during WWII and I have many stories from them of what really happened. Again, thanks.

[Haines Garage]

Very interesting stuff.
Limey...my Grandfather called them that..
Thanks for sharing, can't wait to hear more!

[Deleted]

I still have a few of Earl Nicks' stories to tell, but I'm afraid that most are not too "pleasant" to tell or to hear. I don't want to shock or displease anyone, but I think they should be told, or they'll die if something happens to me. I think that we who were not there should see or at least hear it all, so that we do not fail to realize the truth about what Earl and others went thru. Others think so too, I think, that's why _Saving Private Ryan_ is so much more graphic than _The Longest Day_(Earl said this was the most realistic of all the movie beach scenes), and it's more realistic than others before it.
So,,,,, more? BW

[Haines Garage]

Aug 27, 2014 17:24:32 GMT -5 @brucew said:

I still have a few of Earl Nicks' stories to tell, but I'm afraid that most are not too "pleasant" to tell or to hear. I don't want to shock or displease anyone, but I think they should be told, or they'll die if something happens to me. I think that we who were not there should see or at least hear it all, so that we do not fail to realize the truth about what Earl and others went thru. Others think so too, I think, that's why _Saving Private Ryan_ is so much more graphic than _The Longest Day_(Earl said this was the most realistic of all the movie beach scenes), and it's more realistic than others before it.
So,,,,, more? BW

Absolutely.... And Haines Garage is honored to hear them.

[Haines Garage]

In fact, I will tell you what Sir Bruce. Give me tonight to make you your own board to tell them.
Much like Oilleakers tales. If you are willing to share them here, I promise to be a devoted keeper of such. Eric (Zookie) is a military man. I will bet he will be my backup as keeper as well.
As well as the Moose,
What say you?

[zooke581]

You will not shock or displease anyone that I know of. These stories need to be told. And yes kept and passed on.

[Haines Garage]

Aug 27, 2014 17:54:48 GMT -5 zooke581 said:

You will not shock or displease anyone that I know of. These stories need to be told. And yes kept and passed on.

Somehow I knew you would be on board .
Do this Eric , keep a second copy of whatever Sir Bruce Post . I will be creating a board for him here .

That way there are two separate records . And the way you represent and all .

I knew I could count on you!

I know Sir. Bruce from the 2a pages. ....way back !
And when I met him in. Colorado last year , he was my Friend Forever!

He is the truest Jeep Guy you will ever meet !

With that being said , if he has something to say, my ears and heart are open..

And I mean that sincerely. !

[Haines Garage]

Give me a while to create the board .
It will be up tonight !

I am still working , and posting from my phone!

[Deleted]

Please tell them, TS. I wish every veteran of every war was able to write a book about his story of his personal experiences. Every person's story is important. HIS story= HIStory.

[Haines Garage]

Aug 27, 2014 20:06:28 GMT -5 @themoose74 said:

Please tell them, TS. I wish every veteran of every war was able to write a book about his story of his personal experiences. Every person's story is important. HIS story= HIStory.

You Just Did..And its up!

[Deleted]

Band of Brothers , Easy Co. That hit the beaches of Nomandy was pretty grafic too! I suppose Earl never saw the movie? Not many veterans I knew would say much. When they did, they teared up 50 years later and all they said was " those Poor bastards". When I learn of their bravery and fortitude and then look at what this country is doing now, I feel betrayed for them. Every young kid in school should understand the real history. This no guns, guns are bad, idea that is being taught is all wrong. The holicost should be burned into them and guns in our hands keeps dictators from ever doing it to us. People sure forget. I won't! My kids won't. Screw the bunnyhuggers! Ha! Oil