Which historic military sites have been the most memorable for you?

I agree with you on visits to Gettysburg. I have a particular connection there, as my great-grandfather fought on the northern side of Oak Ridge on the first day as a member of the 104th NY Volunteers. In addition, I have a copy of his memoirs, and plan to start up a blog of my visits to the sites where he and his unit were engaged -- I've already visited Gettysburg, Antietam, and Appomattox Court House.

At Gettysburg, you are free to explore all the positions along both lines. And they usually have mowed a path that generally follows the center of mass of Pickett's Charge across the fields between Seminary Ridge and Cemetery Ridge that you are free to walk. It is pretty gentle grade all the way along until you reach the Emmittsburg Road, and then slopes up to the Angle. I guesstimate the slope there to be less than 10%. I was at the Angle several years ago with a group of German visitors when several re-enactors in Confederate garb did the walk -- it made for a spectacular opportunity for the Germans to chat with some knowledgeable people!

Before my visiting Gettysburg I did some research on the battle from beginning to end. I was very glad that I did since many of the monuments, and places we went on the tour were places and people that I would otherwise have not recognized! The bus tour with its sounds of the opening battle was excellent, and started a very informative and fulfilling visit. My visit there, was a great influence on my involving myself in a long period of active military Civil War Reenactmet, where I created my own unit, the "Northeast Topograpgical Engineers," (a unit still in operation after my retirement from active reenactment) and one in which I was pleased to accumulate a file of over 1,000 maps, drawings, plans, and sketches drawn by myself, and just as many again, by the other members of the unit.

I had visited Gettysburg at least 5 times. My Aunt lived in Fairfield, which is within 8 miles. I remember seeing it when Dad brought us back from Okinawa. I started reading about the Civil War from then on. Also did reenacting with the 15th Texas Infantry for a couple of years. Still have my Confederate Uniform. All my relatives loved to go to Gettysburg with me when we visited Pennsylvania. I would give them the history of the battle. Looking across the field of Pickets charge was just as chilling as looking at the bluffs that overlooked Omaha beach. We were never as tough as those men.

Me and the wife in 1863!

I do my best, I want to think I recall hearing FDR on the radio in December of 1941.

The aura of the Arizona memorial tugs on your emotions while you are there. Especially seeing the oil bubble up from below.

Reenlisted there once. A very profound place to do so.

I was stationed on Ford Island and had a chance to really see the damage done, our boat passed the Arizona and the mooring spots of all the rest of the battleships to and from work each day. I also was privileged to know 4 sailors and a marine that survived the attack. Their stories really made me understand the horror of the day more than any movie or documentary.

Although I have been all over the South Pacific, and to the DMZ in Korea, I'd have to agree that standing on Iwo Jima has to be the most historically significant to me.

Pearl Harbor is number one. Sailing thru the area of the carrier battle for Midway is a close second for a carrier sailor.

Little Big Horn and Pearl Habor.

I spent 12 years of my career (two separate tours) in Hawaii, and I spent many days at Pearl Harbor. When I was on Career Planner duty, nearly half of the Marines I reenlisted wanted to do it at the Arizona Memorial st morning colors. I also took a team of about 20 Marines to the USS Missouri where we busted rust, and cleaned up the Marine gun turret when they were making her ready for the public. Hawaii will always have a warm part of my heart. Best duty of my career.