I grew up during the Vietnam War. It was on TV and in the newspapers and magazines daily throughout my childhood and early teenage years. It was extremely hard to understand just what the hell was going on over there and in the US as well.

It's held a lot of interest for me through my adult years. The whole issue just seemed go away like everyone just wanted to forget. Weird.

A lot of Vietnam vets are around my age but a little older and I've known and worked with lot of guys that served over there.

Just more personal I guess.

WWI.

The descriptions of combat in Europe are unforgettable. Nothing like that has happened since.

quote:

The descriptions of combat in Europe are unforgettable. Nothing like that has happened since.

In what way?

I voted for WWII, but in reality I'd like to see more about the Korean War. It seems like it's the war that wants to be forgotten.

First - WWII

I love to think about Hitler with a PPK pressed against his head while contemplating how things went so wrong.

Second - War for Independence.

You spelled the War of Northern Aggression wrong.

I don't know if interesting is the right word but watching the first Gulf War live on TV was as surreal as it gets.

Watching armor and infantry movements (redacted and edited as needed) every night was riveting. I had a lot of high school buddies over there.

I remember seeing CNN predict massive US casualties when the US met the Nebuchanezzar Division....

WW2 was probably the most powerful and difficult event in the last 2,000 years. What a desperate time, but it was great the way people worked together to defeat two great evil empires.

I had relatives in the War Between The States that I have been researching but I also had some in the Revolution. Beyond this, I have always had a fascination with the Spanish-American War probably because there were so many changes going on in the world during that time.

I have 168 books on the Civil War and the war I was Viet-Nam 1 book.

I voted WWII for #1 interest. My grandfather served on a destroyer in the Pacific.

quote:

Originally posted by smithnsig:

I remember seeing CNN predict massive US casualties when the US met the Nebuchanezzar Division....

I was in Infantry Officer Basic Course at the time at Ft. Benning. We were told matter-of-factly during the build-up it was likely we would back-fill WIA / KIA young LTs after the initial invasion.

Of course that didn't happen. The war pretty much came and went while I was in my initial slate of training...

As to the original question--

WW2 is so immense - that one is up there

many of my respected trainers / mentors in the Army were Viet Nam vets so I have read a lot about that conflict

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WWII. My father fought in and survived The Battle of the Bulge. I have read so many books regarding it (WW2). My father did not like to talk about it much.

quote:

Originally posted by smithnsig:
I remember seeing CNN predict massive US casualties when the US met the Nebuchanezzar Division....

One of my favorite quotes from before the war:

“The Iraqis are too combat-experienced to run away under fire. … The [U.S.] Army’s armored and mechanized forces can play no offensive role against the vast defensive strength of the Iraqi army.”
— Edward N. Luttwak, Center for Strategic and International Studies

Civil war
WWII
WWI

Well my wife gave a DNA sample to the internet and got her entire history. Finding all kinds of ancestors that fought in the revolution and then today found a direct ancestor who was a Lt in the war of 1812. Too many Civil war vets to count. A woman from the Local chapter of DAR wants her to come to a meeting. So reading up on this 1812 vet right now.

quote:

Originally posted by Monk:
You spelled the War of Northern Aggression wrong.

That's the term my dad often used.

When I lived back east, one of my favorite things to do was wander through old cemeteries. While that may seem rather macabre, the history that one can glean from reading those old decaying headstones is remarkable.

Many children died in the 1700s and surprisingly, quite a few people lived into their 80s back then as well, which is amazing in an age before any reasonable sanitation, medical care, antibiotics, effective pain meds, etc....

I once found a headstone, pushed over by a very old oak tree. Beside it was a marker pushed into the ground which read "Here lies a veteran of the Revolution".

I remember standing there, likely not far from where he fought, and thinking, "Wow, the history that this place has seen...".

Since then, I visited many old forts and battlefields of the Revolution and have been struck by just how hard the conditions must have been and how brutal the combat. I've been told that I have a wild imagination, but I do seem to have the ability to put myself into the period...especially when I'm standing right where it happened. I had that feeling at Gettysburg as well.

Anywho, the Revolution is where it all began and none of the other wars would have happened for us had it not been for that one victory. It makes that one all the more special for me.

Remember the Maine: I am interested in the Spanish American War as I have an interest in Teddy and his big stick

Without a doubt...WW2.