thanks God for the Vets and my Grand dad Cap. Van by jocko500
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Description
This is my son and grand son in front of this WW2 tank. Went I frist saw it about a year ago my oldest brother was with me and he say we played on it as a kid; I do not remember it.
Anyway I like to tell about some of my grand Dad Van Zelfden; he got into the army in WW1 with flat feet. After basic traning he with and ask to be a scout and they told him "no". So he went and got a Davy Crockett outfit and went bact and ask again to be a scout. they saw he wanted bad so the give him it. He was in the army in WW1,WW2, and the Korean war. He got out of the Army in 1960 and he die of cancer. I remember him in the ends of of days.
I remember the stories my mon told of him for that was her dad. She told me she saw him carry a baby grand piano upstairs by himself.
When he was in the army he was a scout, drill sergeant, captian. He love to be with the men to train them for war. He turn down dest jobs even if it means more money.
I remember mom tell about him in WW2 when he was in north african fighting the desert fox Erwin Rommel. His job was driveing generals around and he had to watch the jeep. If they did not watch the jeep it would have every thing stolen on it. He would not watch the jeep for he give some of the local boys some food and they watch it as he go do what even he wish. He come back to the jeep and nothing be stolen in it. He thanks the boys and give them some candy then and the general would come out and off they go to the next meeting. No one told me of the action he saw; wish I know of some of them. All I know is when he was on the Russia front helping them fight the Germans; he told every one he knew that we should be fighting the Russians. He did not trust them at all.
Thanks to all Vets today
Oh my dad called him Captian Van
There a road name Van Zelfden Street, Tallulah, LA. that he lived on at one time. I rember going there to see his brother so that be my uncle
Comments (46)
alessimarco
Excellent capture and a great remembrance!
claude19
SPLENDID shot of your family ! Splendid memories !
jocko500
This tank is in Lake Charles, La. right on the water front
gojira
That's quite the piece of armor, there . . . !
Star4mation
Excellent photo Jock!! :)
flora-crassella
your family is very nice! cool shot!
shadownet
Great photo and history!
flaviok
Excelente relato e captura meu amigo, aplausos (5)
flavia49
wonderful tribute and story!!
annie5
Your photo is very beautiful Jocko! Interesting to see your family :)
CarolSassy
Cool tank! Sweet pic of your son and grandson! Excellent shot! (:
wawadave
compared to Sherman,s that tank looks modern.
tennesseecowgirl
A wonderful image, Jocko thanks for sharing your stories.
magnus073
Jock this is such a great photo my friend and an equally moving dedication. You have a way of sharing stories that always touches my heart.
lior
Une image qui en dit long!
Faemike55
Fantastic photo and wonderful story about your grandfather. You have every right to be proud of him. After reading what he did, I'm proud and would have love to have met him!
kbrog
Now that's what I call an ATV. ;) Many thanks to your grandfather Captain Van for his many years of service! Excellent capture Jocko!
goodoleboy
Wonderful photo, tribute and story!
auntietk
That's a wonderful story about your grandfather. He sounds like someone who did you all proud. Wonderful photo of your son and grandson! I hope you'll tell that little boy stories about your grandfather when he gets a little older. He'll remember those stories all his life!
bmac62
Jocko...nothing is better than family history. My family's best story in my book is about my Great Grandfather being in the Civil War. I like this photo of your son and grandson very much. Here's what I can tell you about the tank (I spent 20 years as an armor officer and made tanks my specialty). This tank is either an M60-A1 introduced in 1962 (my first year in the army) or an M60-A3 introduced in 1979 with a host of product improvements. This entire series of tanks was replaced in the Army in 1981 by the M1A1 Abrams series. Here's a link to see for yourself:Click Here Here's hoping you had a fine Memorial Day weekend:)
danapommet
Wonderful dedication to your grandfather and all veterans past, present and future. Good looking son and grandson. Dana
frankie96
A great shot and remembrances Jock..what I can tell you about the tank is that it kicks up a great deal of dust when you are behind it in a smaller open vehicle on a dirt road in Germany in 1966..:)
UteBigSmile
Hi Jock, indeed, this are great memories about a man you loved so much, if we have no memories left, we have nothing at all. Burn in 1946, I am very grateful to all these guys who lost their lifes for our freedom, for freedom in whole Europe!!!! Greetings Ute
Maya06
excellent shot!!!
RodolfoCiminelli
An excellent shot my friend......!!!!
GBCalls
Very nice- a photo to treasure along with your description. Well done!
cricke49
excellent photo capture, great story!:)*5
jmb007
belle photo!!
tallpindo
My first impression was this is an M-60 but your description of it as a WW-II tank took me to here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M26_Pershing I guess the cover stories of WW-II veterans are that they were chow hounds and jeep drivers so who knows what the newsreels were showing about these guys.
wjames
Great picture and a very moving story!!!