“Peace at Last” . Three words in a WWII edition of Stars and Stripes. My Dad holds a copy Stars and Stripes from 1945 for someone to snap his picture of this historical occasion. It was a momentous decisive event, one he wanted to record it for posterity. I also find it humorous that the camp dog also holds the honor of being in the photo.
I didn’t know who this was at first, but as I have researched and compared other photos this is my Dad. I never saw this photo, there wasn’t any writing on the back but I am now sure this photograph is my Father.
There are no other photographs from this time period, I found one I believe of him just before he left, but then there is over a ten year gap between when he was 16 and twenty years old.. I would like to believe is my Dad, in many ways it doesn’t look like him, but in some ways it does.
I had four relatives that served in World War II as part of the greatest generation. Back then almost everyone could say they had a relative in the war.
My Dad, Leo Tyrrell, served aboard a destroyer in the Pacific around this time. This shot bears a family resemblance to his nephew Michael Morrill who has a similar nose, slight build, and dark complexion. In various pictures of my Dads youth, he often had a dog with him. This article has been posted on Twitter numerous times and I’ve asked for help in getting more information.
Here is what I learned about the photo:
- This is a field hospital, note the bandage on the right hand (how did I miss that)
- The uniform is a general issue given to anyone at the base
My other relatives that served in WWII were my Uncles Otis and Herman Faries, and my Great Aunts Gussies’ husband Master Sgt. Grover Hale.
I would like to find a copy of this Stars and Stripes and hang it next to the photo next to my son’s Marine Corps photographs. Haven’t found any of this issue yet (that I can afford) but I did find someone on Amazon that does sell the original WWII Stars and Stripes along with several books about this iconic newspaper.
Great GERMANY SURRENDERS Nazis Quit V-E Day 1945The Stars and Stripes: Story of World WarStars and Stripes: World War II and the5 U.S. OCCUPATION OF JAPAN Stars & StripesRare FRANCE EDITION Stars and Stripes Post D-DAYThe Stars and Stripes, Mediterranean, Vol. 1, No.The Stars and stripes: World War II front
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