tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-74463052220302920082024-03-13T14:31:36.877-04:00World War II in the Words of My UncleWorld War II LettersPeter Lagassehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00554859638119426729noreply@blogger.comBlogger129125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7446305222030292008.post-47124884717084028262019-05-19T11:22:00.011-04:002021-05-28T22:12:53.856-04:00(SPECIAL POST 117) The 2019 Pilsen Liberation Festival with William Jannace <div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">NEW INFORMATION. May 2021 from Tomas Hataj of Czech Republic</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><u><span style="color: #e06666; font-size: x-large;"><b>Discovery of a Diary in Pilsen.</b></span></u></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div><b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">After the war, the 2nd Engineer Combat Battalion was stationed in Pilsen and the surrounding area. Czechs often asked American soldiers to sign diaries, photos or banknotes in memory of the end of war and liberation. One of these diaries was found in Pilsen a few weeks ago, after 76 years, and it contains 14 signatures of members of Company C, 2nd ECB of the 2nd Infantry Division. We managed to purchase the diary, which is now part of our collection and will be presented in the future as part of our planned exhibitions. </span></b></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>What was our surprise when the name of PFC Anthony E. Jannace appeared in this diary!! </b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>So far, we have managed to identify 12 names out of 14 signatures. They are as follows:</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>Pfc. Anthony E. Jannace</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>Pfc. James N. Underwood</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>Pfc. Oliver P. Boyce</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>Pfc. Frank J. Wright</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>Pfc. Paul R. Brault</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>Pfc. Corliss O. Thomas, Jr.</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>Cpl. Paul G. Pascoe</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>Sgt. Frank W. Belicek</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>T/5 Rudolph Mikeska</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>Sgt. Bernardo C. Gutierrez </b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>Pfc. James E. Clark</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>Pfc. Ralph A. Wagner</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: x-large; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aL5ib_cp2hI/YLGdkvDOiCI/AAAAAAAAd38/ZJE5HvJ4P2wyjdG1jnC7raG-BE7jyrN9ACLcBGAsYHQ/s865/Pilsen%2BDiary.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="579" data-original-width="865" height="428" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aL5ib_cp2hI/YLGdkvDOiCI/AAAAAAAAd38/ZJE5HvJ4P2wyjdG1jnC7raG-BE7jyrN9ACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h428/Pilsen%2BDiary.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="font-size: x-large; text-align: center;"><div><b>Property of Men of the 2nd Infantry Division 1940-1945</b></div><div><b>@MenOfThe2ndInfantryDivision · Nonprofit Organization</b></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YKStx124Reg/YLGeIdlGDNI/AAAAAAAAd4E/mpEoSuCC_r0yhue-fia69y90dk0FkeJLwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1987/men%2Bof.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1987" data-original-width="1987" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YKStx124Reg/YLGeIdlGDNI/AAAAAAAAd4E/mpEoSuCC_r0yhue-fia69y90dk0FkeJLwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/men%2Bof.png" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />
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The liberation of Czechoslovakia by the Allied troops on May 1945 ended the European part of WW II. On May 4, Gen. Eisenhower ordered an advancement into Czechoslovakia. American operations began and on May 6, American soldiers entered Pilsen. Celebration erupted that day, but an annual official celebration had to wait until 1989 after the Velvet Revolution.<br />
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Every May starting in 1990, Pilsen goes back to 1945 with a Liberation Festival. Veterans, people from around the world and the Czech people celebrate for four days. It is an emotional event. With the decrease of WW II veterans there have been changes in some programs to make sure the new generation and the school children will never forget what happened in May 1945 and to strengthen the importance of their present freedom. Freedom can be lost as it was in WW II. It must never happen again.<br />
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The Festival is divided with a variety of events. There is the always the convoy of historical military vehicles, meetings at Memorial locations including laying of wreaths and speaking to past and present soldiers. Societies dealing with music, present military equipment and activities, as well as reenactments by the KVH Tommy & Yankee Z.S. Plzeň KVH (Facebook pages below) of the past allows all ages and interests to be thankful for this annual festival.<br />
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( <a href="https://www.facebook.com/MenOfThe2ndInfantryDivision/">https://www.facebook.com/MenOfThe2ndInfantryDivision/</a> )</div>
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">Here are three of the 2nd Engineer Combat Battalion of the 2nd Infantry Division that aided along with hundreds of other men</span><span style="font-size: 17.7778px; font-weight: bold;"> liberate Pilsen, Czechoslovakia in May 1945. M</span><span style="font-size: 17.7778px; font-weight: bold;">y uncle,</span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">Sgt. Charles D Knight of the 15th FAB, of the 2nd Infantry Division was part of the liberation force.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-weight: bold;">In May 2019, William Jannace, </span></div>
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<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Below is his letter to the people of Pilsen.</span></span></div>
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<span face=""arial black" , sans-serif"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: 16px;">Dear Citizens of Pilsen,</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span face=""arial black" , sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></span><span face=""arial black" , sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 16px;">I recently represented my family at the 2019 Liberation of Pilsen Festival honoring the Second Infantry and Sixteenth Armored Divisions, French, Belgium and Czech soldiers that were involved in its liberation. Our father (PFC Anthony E. Jannace – 2nd Engineer Combat Battalion, Second Infantry Division) was awarded the Purple Heart in 1945 just before the liberation of Pilsen and passed away many years ago; before the Velvet Revolution and thus unable to enjoy this celebration of freedom. To his credit, after sustaining injuries he took part in the liberation in May 1945. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span face=""arial black" , sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></span><span face=""arial black" , sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 16px;">Words cannot describe the gratitude and appreciation I have for Glynn Raby (who was in the 9th Infantry Regiment of the 2ID) and Tomas Hataj (Men of the Second Infantry Association), Tomas Raboch (Pilsenjoy S.R.O.) and the people of Pilsen and its government for the heartfelt celebration and commemoration of the Second Infantry and Sixteenth Armored Divisions’ Liberation of Pilsen. As the son of a veteran of the 2ID it was an emotionally filled and humbling weekend. The sacrifices of that generation can never be quantified nor will time diminish their heroism as the numbers do not begin to tell the whole story nor can the debt of gratitude ever be repaid.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span face=""arial black" , sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></span><span face=""arial black" , sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 16px;">I am an attorney and a Professor at Fordham Law School, and thus responsible for teaching and upholding the rule of law. However, modesty and humility compel me to acknowledge the many citizen-soldiers of the US Armed Forces, many of whom came from humble backgrounds as they are the ones that sacrificed their blood, limbs and lives to truly uphold the rule of law and to make a better world (albeit not perfect) for all in the second half of the 20th Century. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span face=""arial black" , sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></span><span face=""arial black" , sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 16px;">It was truly a global effort of the better angels of humanity that arose to defeat tyranny and oppression. To the credit of the people of the Czech Republic who persevered another 45 years after the end of the war, you never relented in your desire for freedom-----very much evident on display this past weekend. As was noted at the various wreath laying ceremonies, freedom should and can never be taken for granted. I was particularly honored when Earl Ingram, Colonel, US ARMY, Retired (and an officer of the 2ID) asked me to participate in the wreath-laying ceremony at the 2ID Memorial.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span face=""arial black" , sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></span><span face=""arial black" , sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 16px;">I was overwhelmed with a sense of patriotism and pride with each speech I heard from Czech and US dignitaries, including George Patton Waters, the grandson of General George Patton, who spoke with such heartfelt, self-effacing humility about his grandfather. To hear the young children sing and perform at The Patton School where a wreath-laying ceremony was held was beyond gratifying and gives me hope that the Trans-Atlantic partnership (the anchor of the Bretton Woods System) will persevere as the desire for freedom, democracy and rule of law can be temporarily side-tracked but never eradicated. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span face=""arial black" , sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></span><span face=""arial black" , sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 16px;">Tears and chills are what I felt the entire weekend-chills each time I heard the U.S. and Czech National Anthems; tears at each wreath- laying ceremony thinking of my father, who persevered another 26 years in the US Army Reserves (retiring as an SFC) despite having been wounded in Germany and sustaining frost bite in the Ardennes, where his battalion received a unit citation for its heroism. Despite that, he loved his country, the Army and always considered the men that did not return from WWII as the real heroes worthy of adulation----if you knew him---- he was modest and spoke little about this time. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span face=""arial black" , sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></span><span face=""arial black" , sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 16px;">I am looking forward to next year’s celebration.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span face=""arial black" , sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></span><span face=""arial black" , sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 16px;">To paraphrase the motto of the 2ID-Pilsen, its people, and its liberators are “Second to None.”</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span face=""arial black" , sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></span><span face=""arial black" , sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 16px;">Sincerely and Respectfully,</span></span></span><br />
<span face=""arial black" , sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">William Jannace</span> </span></span><span face=""arial black" , sans-serif" style="color: #500050; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The 2019 PILSEN LIBERATION </span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">PARADE </span></b><b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">of the WW II Military Vehicles.</span></b></span><br />
<b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: yellow; color: blue;">CLICK </span><span style="background-color: yellow; color: blue;">ON </span><span style="color: #cc0000;">the below website to watch. The video lasts for 30 minutes. You may desire to watch it after you have seen the rest of this post.</span></span></b></div>
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SIQ561-SXZA"><b>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SIQ561-SXZA</b></a></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;">2nd Engineer Combat Battalion Insignia</span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;">Photos from May 1945</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">May 1945<br />Czechoslovakia</span></b></td></tr>
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<u><b>Short History of 2nd Engineer Combat Battalion </b></u><u><b>WW II</b></u></div>
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Looking at the Combat History of the Second Infantry Division in World War II on pages 165..... there is the HISTORY OF THE SECOND ENGINEER BATTALION: Though there is history written about them before World War II, I am just sharing here their part in WW II. They followed exactly the same sequence as my uncle including landing on Omaha Beach June 7, 1944. </div>
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<b>"In November, 1942, the Battalion moved to Camp McCoy, Wisconsin, and engaged in winter training and winter maneuvers. In October 1943, the Battalion moved to the New York Port of Embarkation, sailing on October 8 on the S. S. Hawaiian hipper. Landing at Belfast on October 18, the Battalion was stationed for six months at Drumbanagher Castle, North Ireland. In April, 1944, the Battalion crossed the Irish Sea to Wales, and in late May moved to the marshaling areas to prepare for the invasion of France. Landing on Omaha Beach Normandy, on June 7, the Battalion fought through four countries as a unit of the 2nd Infantry Division, earning the Distinguished Unit Citation and battle honors for the Normandy, Northern France, Ardennes, Rhineland and Central Europe campaigns."</b></div>
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<b> "Combat engineers played important roles in numerous World War II battles, especially breaching the heavily fortified Siegfried Line protecting the German border and numerous defensive lines established by the Wehrmacht in Italy, including the Gustav Line. Among the most familiar for their heroism and contributions to establishing key bridgeheads in the European Theater was at the Ludendorff Bridge at the Battle of Remagen."</b><br />
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<b><span style="color: #e06666;">SPECIAL CITATION</span></b></div>
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<span face=""tahoma" , sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: medium;"><b>Copy of this citation accompanying Battle Honors recently awarded this Battalion is published for the information of all concerned:</b></span></div>
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<span face=""tahoma" , sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: medium;"><b> “The Second Engineer Combat Battalion is cited for outstanding performance of duty in action against the enemy during the period, 13 December 1944 to 20 December 1944 in areas around ***, Belgium.</b></span></div>
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<span face=""tahoma" , sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: medium;"><b> As its initial assignment, the Battalion proceeded to remove numerous road blocks, obstacles, and minefields on the only available supply road for the attack of the Division. This work was done under heavy artillery and mortar fire , within sight of the enemy, against adverse weather and over snow blanketed minefields. This road was cleared and opened up abreast , or even ahead of the assaulting Infantry troops advancing in the woods on either side.</b></span></div>
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<span face=""tahoma" , sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: medium;"><b> With the sudden German counter offensive in the West, one company of the Battalion was sent from the rear in bivouac and suffered severe casualties. Pulling itself together, this company furiously fought back against the German armored spearhead, destroying several tanks and many Infantrymen. Pocketed elements held out for three days, though completely surrounded , until all ammunition and food was exhausted, when they were finally overcome.</b></span></div>
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<span face=""tahoma" , sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: medium;"><b> Still other elements of the Battalion were twice thrown into the line as the only Infantry reserves to withstand the German push in the rear flank of the Division. Another company constructed a final barrier and obstacle belt behind our withdrawing Infantry. Mines, road blocks and demolitions were placed under heavy enemy fire and amidst infiltrating enemy Infantry on all sides, thus delaying his pursuit of our withdrawal.</b></span></div>
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<span face=""tahoma" , sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: medium;"><b> Without rest from duties or clearing roads for advancing fighting as Infantry, and placing road blocks and obstacles for withdrawal, the Second Engineer Combat Battalion took up its all important mission of keeping the only escape route for the Division open. This was a newly constructed one way road across swamps and hills which in spite of severest conditions of melting snow and ice, drizzling rain, was kept passable for the unending columns of tanks and trucks of the major part of two Divisions which had to withdraw over this route. The men of the Battalion worked unceasingly, night and day, until the last vehicle of the Division was successfully extricated.</b></span></div>
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<span face=""tahoma" , sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: medium;"><b> All through the days of attack and withdrawal, the Second Engineer Combat Battalion skillfully, speedily, and courageously executed their tasks to assist and protect the Second Infantry Division in its combat missions. Through the seven day period, the Battalion worked and fought continuously suffering approximately twenty five percent casualties. The outstanding performance of the officers and men of this unit, under exceptionally difficult and hazardous conditions, exemplifies their deep devotion to duty and the highest traditions of the Corps of Engineers and the United States Army.</b></span></div>
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<b>Photos relating to PFC Anthony E Jannace</b></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>PFC Anthony E Jannace</b></td></tr>
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<span face=""tahoma" , sans-serif" style="font-size: 24px;"><b>PFC Anthony E Jannace was hit by mortar shrapnel, April 7, 1945 in Germany</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 24px;"><b>Special presentation given to </b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 24px;"><b>PFC Anthony E Jannace</b></span></div>
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<span face=""tahoma" , sans-serif" style="font-size: 24px;"><b>US Army Medal of Commendation</b></span></div>
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<span face=""tahoma" , sans-serif" style="font-size: 24px;"><b>Bayonet issued by the U.S.A. Government</b></span></div>
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<span face=""tahoma" , sans-serif" style="font-size: 24px;"><b>the WW II Museum in New Orleans, LA</b></span></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: large; text-align: center;"><br /></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000;"><span face=""tahoma" , sans-serif" style="font-size: 24px;"><b>2019 Pilsen </b></span><span face=""tahoma" , sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 24px;"><b>Liberation Festival Schedule</b></span></span></span></div>
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Peter Lagassehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00554859638119426729noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7446305222030292008.post-16269299693925235022019-04-18T11:59:00.011-04:002021-02-07T18:39:11.350-05:00"FAMILY TRIBUTES AND THOUGHTS" (Post #116)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: inherit;">2nd Division (Strike)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">15th Field Artillery Battalion</span></div>
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'Allons/Lets Go'</span></h1>
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On 10 October 1940, the 15th Field Artillery Regiment was reorganized at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, as the 15th Field Artillery Battalion. It was ordered to Camp McCoy, Wisconsin on 16 October 1942, for intensive training with the 2nd Infantry Division. Movement overseas came on 8 October 1943, when the Battalion sailed from New York on board the SS Hawaiian Shipper for Belfast, Northern Ireland, where it trained for several months.<br />
Embarkation for Porthcawl, Wales, followed on 17 April, 1944. As part of the 9th Regimental Combat Team (consisting of the 9th Infantry Regiment and 15th Field Artillery Battalion), the Battalion landed at Omaha Beach near St. Laurent-Sur-Mer, France, on D Day +1 (7 June 1944). The Battalion fought for 73 straight days in support of the 2nd Infantry Division throughout Normandy without a break. Their first break in the combat action came on 19 August 1944. After the break the Battalion was ordered to move 220 miles and occupy firing positions for the battle against the German fortress at Brest, France. The battle that ensued was bloody and hard fought by all elements of the 2nd Infantry Division including the 15th Field Artillery Battalion. On 26 September 1944, 5 officers and 42 enlisted men of the Battalion were presented Bronze Star Medals, by the Division Commander, for their actions since D Day +1.<br />
Following this, a 770 mile road march began on 27 September 1944 and carried the Battalion to Schoenberg, Belgium. By 4 October 1944, the Battalion crossed into Germany and opened fire on elements of both the 2nd and 3rd SS Panzer Grenadier Divisions. On 17 December 1944, the Battalion fought as an integral part of the 2nd Infantry Division's attack on the Siegfried Line near Elsenborn. The time from December 1944 through January 1945 became known as the Battle of the Bulge and the 2nd Infantry Division was an integral part in the Allies victory of that extensive battle. By 1 February 1945, the area known as Heartbreak Crossroads was taken after a multi-divisional battle. On 21 March 1945, the 15th Field Artillery Battalion crossed the Rhine River into Germany on a pontoon bridge near Remagen, and took up firing positions near the town of Leutesdorf. After several heavy engagements, the Battalion moved to new firing positions at the town of Vaake, near the Weser River, arriving there on 7 April 1945. Throughout the remainder of April 1945, the Battalion moved many times and even had to engage the enemy with direct fire from its howitzers. By 5 May 1945, the 2nd Infantry Division moved into Czechoslovakia along with the 15th Field Artillery Battalion. The war in Europe was officially over on 8 May 1945.<br />
</span></b><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7446305222030292008" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7446305222030292008" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7446305222030292008" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7446305222030292008" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7446305222030292008" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7446305222030292008" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7446305222030292008" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7446305222030292008" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7446305222030292008" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7446305222030292008" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7446305222030292008" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7446305222030292008" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7446305222030292008" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7446305222030292008" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7446305222030292008" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7446305222030292008" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><b><span style="font-size: medium;">As their contribution to help defeat Nazi Germany and to win WWII, the 15th Field Artillery Battalion was in combat for 336 days and fired 151,000 rounds while providing direct fire support to the 2nd Infantry Division and general support to several other divisions. For their efforts and sacrifices the Battalion was awarded streamers for 5 major campaigns during WW II including: Normandy; Northern France; Rhineland, Ardennes-Alsace; and Central Europe. Additionally, the Battalion was awarded the Belgian Fourragere, and was cited in the Order of the Day of the Belgian Army for extraordinary combat action in the battle of the Ardennes and Elsenborn Crest. Individual decorations awarded to members of the Battalion during WWII included: 6 Silver Star Medals; 91 Bronze Star Medals for Gallantry; 83 Bronze Star Medals for Meritorious Service; 20 Air Medals, and 168 Purple Hearts.</span></b></div>
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<div style="display: inline;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JdokKuwbj2E/XAyAEumbAkI/AAAAAAAAL4A/9cJCiM_CuPUaDQdhxh2Kklblg7ipBL2TgCLcBGAs/s1600/30%2BSupreme%2BSacrifice%2B15th%2BFAB.jpg" style="clear: left; display: inline; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Others KIA have been discovered recently</span></b></a></div></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">We have looked at my uncle's story about the war through the blog "World War II in the Words of My Uncle". A</span><span style="color: #0b5394;">s with any story</span><span style="color: #0b5394;">, whether through letters, diaries, books, pictures, videos, oral conversations or other documentations; it was only able to give a snippet of the vast impact of World War II through out the world. An impact that still reverberates into our present society. A war that killed more people than any other war.</span></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: medium;"><b>The soldiers, military leaders, and politicians impacted by WW II had a variety of reasons being involved in the war. We must not forget that millions of civilians were also impacted by the war. The death toll, injuries, lost of homes, towns, and jobs just scratches the surface of the varieties of damages done to physical property, human minds, human bodies and human souls. </b></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">We are grateful for all Allies and Resistant Groups that fought to destroy the evil ideology of such countries as Germany, Italy and Japan. We, however, must admit with sadness the Allies were also involved in atrocities during and even after the war. Some actions were done due to the form of war brought on by Germany and those fighting with them. The Allies, as an example, did many air raids that destroyed innocent lives, but the raids were required if the Allies were to win the war. </span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;">It is sad to say some members of the Allies did atrocities with full knowledge that their actions went beyond the need to win the war or to resolve issues after the war.</span></span></b></div>
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<b><br /></b><b><u><span style="font-size: medium;">14 members of my family in alphabetical order who have served our country since 1900 PLUS my Uncle.</span></u></b></div>
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<u><b><span style="background-color: #ffd966; color: blue; font-size: large;">STATISTICS OF THE WAR</span></b></u><br />
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<b>Lonestar - I'm Already There (Soldiers Tribute)</b></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="background-color: yellow; color: #cc0000;">I wish to thank many individuals for helping me along the way to understand, clarify, appreciate, get in contact with others, get information in context and the list goes on. I will not list you by name because I am sure I will forget a person or group. To each of you I give you my deepest gratitude and appreciation. Thank you so much! Many of you have become friends though we never met in person, we shared many great moments even if the topics were sad at times. </span></b><br />
<b><span style="background-color: yellow; color: #cc0000;">I will begin a new blog in the future describing the extensive training of nearly a year Uncle Charlie went through at Camp McCoy, Wisconsin. Again in his words from nearly 90 letters he wrote in 1942 and 1943. </span></b></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7446305222030292008.post-43489823823214334352019-04-12T19:44:00.092-04:002021-02-07T18:28:18.643-05:00Celebration of Sgt Charles D Knight (Post #115)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tHzSw_pC5Gc/YCBpUlSrG2I/AAAAAAAAbpM/av9mbgyTA6UjeswIHoVgkxSsmAnFzmU8QCLcBGAsYHQ/s597/5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="597" height="628" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tHzSw_pC5Gc/YCBpUlSrG2I/AAAAAAAAbpM/av9mbgyTA6UjeswIHoVgkxSsmAnFzmU8QCLcBGAsYHQ/w995-h628/5.jpg" width="995" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gs-BbBmTLzA/XH6BnVm9QhI/AAAAAAAAU5U/SSz-Kh-P2DQfLvFp_8KU5NAFO0yX3gaPwCLcBGAs/s1600/Charles%2BKnight%2Bboy.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1020" height="820" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gs-BbBmTLzA/XH6BnVm9QhI/AAAAAAAAU5U/SSz-Kh-P2DQfLvFp_8KU5NAFO0yX3gaPwCLcBGAs/w516-h820/Charles%2BKnight%2Bboy.jpg" width="516" /></a> <br /></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="color: #0c343d;">Uncle Charlie b. 1909 in a WWI outfit</span></b><br /></span><b style="font-size: x-large;"><br /><div><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1_baNqM5UEs/XH6CUt40K1I/AAAAAAAAU5c/pou0g4WxPGI4Gtq8Fh0qgvagaXvj9IwbgCLcBGAs/s1600/3%2B%2B1942%2BAT%2BPORTLAND%2BSTATION.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1110" data-original-width="1600" height="442" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1_baNqM5UEs/XH6CUt40K1I/AAAAAAAAU5c/pou0g4WxPGI4Gtq8Fh0qgvagaXvj9IwbgCLcBGAs/w640-h442/3%2B%2B1942%2BAT%2BPORTLAND%2BSTATION.jpg" width="640" /></a></div></b><br /><b style="font-size: x-large;">AUGUST 1943 Furlough Home before overseas Oct 1943</b><br /><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lnXxZLZB8sg/XH6DHWNyc7I/AAAAAAAAU5k/Vx1nfJ8QcLYVlYaoeNdYJSKBaIJ4DzHNACLcBGAs/s1600/2%2BAUG%2B1943.jpg" style="font-size: x-large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1160" data-original-width="1600" height="461" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lnXxZLZB8sg/XH6DHWNyc7I/AAAAAAAAU5k/Vx1nfJ8QcLYVlYaoeNdYJSKBaIJ4DzHNACLcBGAs/w640-h461/2%2BAUG%2B1943.jpg" width="640" /></a><br /><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sWSIocn-Q4o/XH6LV4Yc2BI/AAAAAAAAU64/mvSSbPPTwYMv4kzlFJDWnxIYl0kTyT99QCLcBGAs/s1600/Charles%2BD%2BKnight%2B3%2B%25282%2529.jpg" style="font-size: x-large; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1116" data-original-width="1600" height="446" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sWSIocn-Q4o/XH6LV4Yc2BI/AAAAAAAAU64/mvSSbPPTwYMv4kzlFJDWnxIYl0kTyT99QCLcBGAs/w640-h446/Charles%2BD%2BKnight%2B3%2B%25282%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a><br /><br /><b style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #990000;"><br />15th FAB Battery B at Camp McCoy June 22, 1943<br /></span></b><br /><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aEMw0JBsIhU/XH6D_3l2llI/AAAAAAAAU5s/ekxwAktewUcO94AIr7eUnhqQa9Uf92FiQCLcBGAs/s1600/F6.JPG" style="font-size: x-large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="525" data-original-width="721" height="466" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aEMw0JBsIhU/XH6D_3l2llI/AAAAAAAAU5s/ekxwAktewUcO94AIr7eUnhqQa9Uf92FiQCLcBGAs/w640-h466/F6.JPG" width="640" /></a><br /><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: x-large;"><b>LEFT SIDE</b></span><br /><br /><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8KUBcDRGZ5c/XH6EkJGe5-I/AAAAAAAAU50/UO6hjbxrvywnM2pNwFvVGp6YeVV8_7XCwCLcBGAs/s1600/F7.JPG" style="font-size: x-large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="468" data-original-width="659" height="454" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8KUBcDRGZ5c/XH6EkJGe5-I/AAAAAAAAU50/UO6hjbxrvywnM2pNwFvVGp6YeVV8_7XCwCLcBGAs/w640-h454/F7.JPG" width="640" /></a><b style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></b><b style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">CENTER ~Uncle Charlie (red circle)</span></b><br /><b style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></b><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vuee4CWPEL4/XH6E-_WzjhI/AAAAAAAAU6A/JcM7xYgpGGcBugiGQUT4pBTDVKqvpPJJwCLcBGAs/s1600/F8.JPG" style="font-size: x-large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="511" data-original-width="727" height="450" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vuee4CWPEL4/XH6E-_WzjhI/AAAAAAAAU6A/JcM7xYgpGGcBugiGQUT4pBTDVKqvpPJJwCLcBGAs/w640-h450/F8.JPG" width="640" /></a><br /><b style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">RIGHT SIDE</span></b><br /><b style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></b><b style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: blue;">Training at Camp McCoy Jan. - Oct, 1944</span></b><br /><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UX5lLAkB0D0/XH6IK8cWAXI/AAAAAAAAU6U/O3lfCSAEyK8ts_Is6YfOkiiiJkpoMeLTQCLcBGAs/s1600/CCI03052019_0006.jpg" style="font-size: x-large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="743" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UX5lLAkB0D0/XH6IK8cWAXI/AAAAAAAAU6U/O3lfCSAEyK8ts_Is6YfOkiiiJkpoMeLTQCLcBGAs/w464-h640/CCI03052019_0006.jpg" width="464" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-k5HzPAMn3AU/XH6IVP_UthI/AAAAAAAAU6Y/qB7_EyfMKSk4adcoNVt_753OB7vVTM0hQCLcBGAs/s1600/CCI03052019_0007.jpg" style="font-size: x-large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="507" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-k5HzPAMn3AU/XH6IVP_UthI/AAAAAAAAU6Y/qB7_EyfMKSk4adcoNVt_753OB7vVTM0hQCLcBGAs/s16000/CCI03052019_0007.jpg" /></a><br /><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JYIGhijFOwM/XH6I1kewTvI/AAAAAAAAU6o/LJk7lTY24fwwlCLD77b5jR547G9BJtiXgCLcBGAs/s1600/CCI03052019_0008.jpg" style="font-size: x-large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="748" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JYIGhijFOwM/XH6I1kewTvI/AAAAAAAAU6o/LJk7lTY24fwwlCLD77b5jR547G9BJtiXgCLcBGAs/w467-h640/CCI03052019_0008.jpg" width="467" /></a><br /><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4XV4jqFaBCg/XH6LWNAMxKI/AAAAAAAAU7A/Uyqp7pju6gUx9qEFgxM5PYgK1RfAKo-1gCLcBGAs/s1600/Charles%2BD%2BKnight%2BUncle%2Bserved%2BWWII%2BBattle%2Bof%2Bthe%2BBulge%2Band%2BD-Day.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="463" data-original-width="293" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4XV4jqFaBCg/XH6LWNAMxKI/AAAAAAAAU7A/Uyqp7pju6gUx9qEFgxM5PYgK1RfAKo-1gCLcBGAs/w403-h640/Charles%2BD%2BKnight%2BUncle%2Bserved%2BWWII%2BBattle%2Bof%2Bthe%2BBulge%2Band%2BD-Day.jpg" width="403" /></span></a><br /><b style="font-size: x-large;">Northern Ireland until April 1945<br /></b><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><span style="font-size: large; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XTdHH3OlBNk/XH6LWwp4qqI/AAAAAAAAU7I/pzrin260Fa0FZ49Pe6j0nTbxTXkIBkgvgCLcBGAs/s1600/Charles%2BKnight%2BWW%2BII.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="938" data-original-width="627" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XTdHH3OlBNk/XH6LWwp4qqI/AAAAAAAAU7I/pzrin260Fa0FZ49Pe6j0nTbxTXkIBkgvgCLcBGAs/w426-h640/Charles%2BKnight%2BWW%2BII.jpg" width="426" /></a><br /><b>Uncle Charlie in Northern Ireland</b><br /></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 17.6px;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ASsG8cjsPTE/XH6LV-2aZ-I/AAAAAAAAU68/g6mQeuVrZJQibijxSaEyvv_DBWAAR0KcgCLcBGAs/s1600/2nd%2B%2526%2B3rd%2BSection.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1117" data-original-width="1470" height="486" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ASsG8cjsPTE/XH6LV-2aZ-I/AAAAAAAAU68/g6mQeuVrZJQibijxSaEyvv_DBWAAR0KcgCLcBGAs/w640-h486/2nd%2B%2526%2B3rd%2BSection.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 17.6px;"><span style="font-size: large; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><b style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #660000;">In War June 7, 1944 - May 8, 1945</span></b><br style="font-size: x-large;" /></span><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HFCM3fBlgp4/XH6LY8HqpPI/AAAAAAAAU7Y/d4HLTd-YYOAORrVVKfj_i-DM76nQuJnHQCLcBGAs/s1600/F4.JPG" style="font-size: medium; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="536" data-original-width="944" height="363" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HFCM3fBlgp4/XH6LY8HqpPI/AAAAAAAAU7Y/d4HLTd-YYOAORrVVKfj_i-DM76nQuJnHQCLcBGAs/w640-h363/F4.JPG" width="640" /></span></a><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><b style="font-size: x-large;">2nd Inf. Div. ~ 15th FAB</b><br style="font-size: x-large;" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-u_3ib_8EOYk/XH6LYcpr9mI/AAAAAAAAU7U/pcFPTpL_SgA7MVJKfePBTnF4_niC2LSJwCLcBGAs/s1600/F3.JPG" style="font-size: 17.7778px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="245" data-original-width="391" height="402" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-u_3ib_8EOYk/XH6LYcpr9mI/AAAAAAAAU7U/pcFPTpL_SgA7MVJKfePBTnF4_niC2LSJwCLcBGAs/w640-h402/F3.JPG" width="640" /></span></a><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-size: 17.7778px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 17.7778px;"><b><span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;">Battery B<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3Tkvf6HWqVk/XH6LXy5QhtI/AAAAAAAAU7Q/zDZoq5_0cO8GKEfjwNI9ekK4BLCBgGfzgCLcBGAs/s1600/F2.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></span></b></div><div><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3Tkvf6HWqVk/XH6LXy5QhtI/AAAAAAAAU7Q/zDZoq5_0cO8GKEfjwNI9ekK4BLCBgGfzgCLcBGAs/s1600/F2.JPG" style="font-size: x-large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="523" data-original-width="946" height="354" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3Tkvf6HWqVk/XH6LXy5QhtI/AAAAAAAAU7Q/zDZoq5_0cO8GKEfjwNI9ekK4BLCBgGfzgCLcBGAs/w640-h354/F2.JPG" width="640" /></a></div></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 17.7778px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3BU0_jh9wNE/XH6LWpFocxI/AAAAAAAAU7E/i5q2MTmH_-4Ymb4NZ9yz2k8nsQalBT51gCLcBGAs/s1600/Charles%2BD%2BKnight.jpg" style="font-size: x-large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1103" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3BU0_jh9wNE/XH6LWpFocxI/AAAAAAAAU7E/i5q2MTmH_-4Ymb4NZ9yz2k8nsQalBT51gCLcBGAs/w440-h640/Charles%2BD%2BKnight.jpg" width="440" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kjkFLqztueo/XH6Lazfj4HI/AAAAAAAAU7o/on-yJYvBdmgPBU0SDH5BBAqfF68bOGcLQCLcBGAs/s1600/TRIP%2BHOME.JPG" style="font-size: x-large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="89" data-original-width="504" height="110" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kjkFLqztueo/XH6Lazfj4HI/AAAAAAAAU7o/on-yJYvBdmgPBU0SDH5BBAqfF68bOGcLQCLcBGAs/w640-h110/TRIP%2BHOME.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr></tbody></table><b style="font-size: x-large;">July 1945<br /></b><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FfyrH0gnkho/XH6LbTaRrsI/AAAAAAAAU7s/Gk-hzSR7iRoe_I4_FSTDGlYD9hVrQ3tCACLcBGAs/s1600/USS%2BGeneral%2BW.%2BP.%2BRichardson.jpg" style="font-size: medium; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="414" data-original-width="600" height="442" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FfyrH0gnkho/XH6LbTaRrsI/AAAAAAAAU7s/Gk-hzSR7iRoe_I4_FSTDGlYD9hVrQ3tCACLcBGAs/w640-h442/USS%2BGeneral%2BW.%2BP.%2BRichardson.jpg" width="640" /></span></a><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><b style="font-size: 17.7778px;">USS Gen. W.P. Richardson ~ His Ride Home</b><br /><br /><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">On his way to Camp Swift<br /></span></b><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-size: 17.7778px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NGj5Iy5spoY/XH6LZ2e5e0I/AAAAAAAAU7g/TxKw53zr-0cX6bSDL88Q3n5OiGdb3Wc8gCLcBGAs/s1600/Main%2Bentrance%2Bto%2Bthe%2BCamp%2BSwift%2B%2B6%2BAug1944.jpg" style="font-size: 17.7778px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="445" data-original-width="552" height="515" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NGj5Iy5spoY/XH6LZ2e5e0I/AAAAAAAAU7g/TxKw53zr-0cX6bSDL88Q3n5OiGdb3Wc8gCLcBGAs/w640-h515/Main%2Bentrance%2Bto%2Bthe%2BCamp%2BSwift%2B%2B6%2BAug1944.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Camp Swift Entrance<br />Uncle Charlie trains new recruits</b><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"></div><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Discharged Oct. 1945</b></span><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-size: 17.7778px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><br /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 17.7778px;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0stsGyZP3PY/XH6LXb8NnUI/AAAAAAAAU7M/2ohJqH2Gzsk1Y1FnYhpFY9PO2FTP7pz2gCLcBGAs/s1600/F1.JPG" style="font-size: medium; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="522" data-original-width="946" height="354" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0stsGyZP3PY/XH6LXb8NnUI/AAAAAAAAU7M/2ohJqH2Gzsk1Y1FnYhpFY9PO2FTP7pz2gCLcBGAs/w640-h354/F1.JPG" width="640" /></span></a><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><b style="font-size: x-large;">Medals Received</b><br style="font-size: x-large;" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-size: 17.7778px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><br /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--nyAAT40lRk/XH6LaVqfx6I/AAAAAAAAU7k/04zbCjLq_fE3-_eh97aiF5zHl5tj3gnJwCLcBGAs/s1600/Sgt.%2BCharles%2BD%252C%2BKnight.jpg" style="font-size: medium; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="809" data-original-width="545" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--nyAAT40lRk/XH6LaVqfx6I/AAAAAAAAU7k/04zbCjLq_fE3-_eh97aiF5zHl5tj3gnJwCLcBGAs/w430-h640/Sgt.%2BCharles%2BD%252C%2BKnight.jpg" width="430" /></span></a><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><b style="color: blue; font-size: x-large;"><u>Sgt. Charles D. Knight<br /></u></b></td></tr><tr></tr></tbody></table><br /><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-viKU74ZhjnE/YCBp4TEUxzI/AAAAAAAAbpU/SsRUmrcFLNIySlcUacrIn8prTuMy5MbywCLcBGAsYHQ/s1024/0%2BShadow%2BBox.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: x-large; font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="824" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-viKU74ZhjnE/YCBp4TEUxzI/AAAAAAAAbpU/SsRUmrcFLNIySlcUacrIn8prTuMy5MbywCLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/0%2BShadow%2BBox.jpg" /></a></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></div>
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Peter Lagassehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00554859638119426729noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7446305222030292008.post-10164470733689345092019-04-07T19:24:00.004-04:002021-02-07T17:25:11.676-05:0014 Oct 1945 "DISCHARGE" (Post #114)<div style="text-align: right;">
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<b><i><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: medium;">Camp Swift Texas</span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: medium;">Oct. 13, 1945</span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: medium;">Dear Mother,</span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: medium;"> This will be my last letter to you as a soldier in the U.S. Army. Do not write me anymore and the next news you receive from me will be to let you know I'm on my way home, also the time I'll arrive.</span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: medium;"> I'm now up for discharge and this means only a couple of days before I'll be out.</span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: medium;"> I might write a long letter but still it wouldn't tell you how I feel so I guess the best thing to do is just wait until I get home - <u>and that won't be long</u>.</span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: medium;"> I'll wire you from Boston so you'll have plenty of time to meet me in Portland.</span></i></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: medium;"><i> Don't forget to tell Dad, Eugene and remember yourself that when you see me again </i>JUST Call me --</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: medium;">"MR." <i>Love <u>Charles</u></i></span></b></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7446305222030292008.post-29483562347792193442019-03-31T17:22:00.002-04:002021-02-07T17:13:56.164-05:00JULY 12, 1945 "COMING HOME" (Post #113)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: x-large;"><b><u>Corp. Charles D Knight</u></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><b><u>Returns home 19 July 1945</u></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>From the 12th to the 13th of July 1945, the troops of 2nd Infantry Division started to embark on boats SS Ponticello, General Richardson and SS Marine Panter to travel to ports in the United States. Charles Knight was on t</b><b>he USS General W.P. Richardson that left Harve, France, July 12, 1945 & arrived on 19 July 1945 in Boston, Massachusetts. After a 30 day furlough, the soldiers in August or September 1945, gathered at Camp Swift in Texas and began training for the possible deployment in the Pacific Theater to battle the Imperial Military of Japan , but the surrender of Japan enends the war with Japan. It was at Fort Swift, Charles Knight became a sergeant. </b></span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_40bjiwZHgc/YCBc0mKz99I/AAAAAAAAbpA/0-lWMsUtM8Q39CjzWv4MYdyF29SkhfUagCLcBGAsYHQ/s809/11%2BSgt.%2BCharles%2BD.%2BKnight%2BOFFICIAL%2BPHOTO%2BSept%2B1945%2BCamp%2BSwift.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="809" data-original-width="545" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_40bjiwZHgc/YCBc0mKz99I/AAAAAAAAbpA/0-lWMsUtM8Q39CjzWv4MYdyF29SkhfUagCLcBGAsYHQ/w270-h400/11%2BSgt.%2BCharles%2BD.%2BKnight%2BOFFICIAL%2BPHOTO%2BSept%2B1945%2BCamp%2BSwift.jpg" width="270" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Sgt. Charles David Knight</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><span style="font-size: medium;">One more letter from Europe before departure to home.</span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b><i>Somewhere in Czechoslovakia</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b><i>First U.S. Army</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b><i>Sec. Inf. Div.</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b><i>June 12, 1945</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><i>Dear Mother and All,</i></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><i> A few more lines from the Continent of Europe to say all is well and I'm in the best of health. Whenever I write these lines I always wonder how things are across the way in that little place called "Home Sweet Home."</i></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><i> I do not want you to take this too much at heart but I may not be writing many more letters from over here. If all goes well I <u>may </u>soon be home on furlough - remember I said, "may" . Everything looks good along those lines at this time but as you know anything can happen. I will let you know ahead of time if I can as it would be quite a shock to just come walking in.</i></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><i> Mail has been a little slow over here but I have about eight letters from home and will run down through them kind of quick to see if there are any questions to be answered. </i></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><i> Oh yes, the package with the coffee came this afternoon, it was in good shape. The fighting is over but still the coffee was good as it tastes so much different from the GI coffee we get. I made up a gallon can about an hour ago and some of the guys went wild over it. We get a lot of tea now so guess I'll make this coffee go a long way. Guess what? We make the coffee with - a blow torch and you can brew up a cup full in no time.</i></b></span><br />
<b><i>Gee has it been raining to-day and as I write this letter I'm in a truck cab. </i></b><br />
<b><i> I've sent home a German rifle and when it comes Dad can clean it up if he wants to, maybe even put it to-gether. One thing I will say, it's one greasy mess as I didn't want it to rust on the way across.</i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bCSRYKiWqbQ/XG86vGuISjI/AAAAAAAAUwI/Fxu_7h1WvIc6Qf7vhKrPiw7Jj9fsnq0IwCLcBGAs/s1600/Charles%2BKnight%2BGerman%2BWeapons.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="666" data-original-width="1024" height="416" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bCSRYKiWqbQ/XG86vGuISjI/AAAAAAAAUwI/Fxu_7h1WvIc6Qf7vhKrPiw7Jj9fsnq0IwCLcBGAs/s640/Charles%2BKnight%2BGerman%2BWeapons.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<b><i> </i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><i>Sure hope this letter finds Husky in good health as he had a bad cold when you last wrote.</i></b> <span style="color: #666666;"><b>(I believe Husky was his sister's son. Nickname for Joey Jr.)</b></span><br />
<b><span style="color: #666666;"> </span><i>Somehow, Mother, it seems to me it was very thoughtful of Helen's Aunt Iona and Grandpa to call up extending their feelings of thanks for your sake that it was over in Europe. I dare say not many persons did that. It showed they were thinking of a Mother's son even though they had none of their own in the service. On the other hand Mr. Ladd did lose a son in the last war. I will always say he thought a lot of me. I must be sure to call and see them if I get home. </i></b><br />
<i><b> Gee oh geesome - am I burned up but Harry Ingalls can kiss my avg. Oh well, don't say a word and someday I'll open up like a machine gun on just such people as him or a few other civilians that know so much, that is if I get in the right mood. I've seen plenty of hell on earth and don't attend taking a bunch of sh-- when this thing is over. Hope you understand what I mean. I do want to live a life of peace but why take a back seat. Maybe he was in the third army as his dad said, in the </b><u style="font-weight: bold;">second armored division</u><b> and not the </b><u style="font-weight: bold;">second infantry division</u><b> but he didn't know the difference.</b></i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><b><br /></b></i></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AlMg8n9A81A/XHIIRx54p8I/AAAAAAAAUx8/PxakyCC7lKot34wFyK5JNWOVFMslccHaQCLcBGAs/s1600/SGT%2BHarry%2BC%2BIngalls.odt-page-001.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="705" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AlMg8n9A81A/XHIIRx54p8I/AAAAAAAAUx8/PxakyCC7lKot34wFyK5JNWOVFMslccHaQCLcBGAs/s1600/SGT%2BHarry%2BC%2BIngalls.odt-page-001.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Is this the Harry C Ingalls being shared in the letter?</span><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Why was Uncle Charlie angry with an US Army soldier?</span><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><i> <span style="font-size: medium;">If Kite Larrivee has 95 points don't you worry he'll get out now; you watch and see. </span></i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b><i> I'm sorry to hear about Peanut Bryant but ---------</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b><i> I feel so sorry for Jake and his wife as all thought the world of the baby.</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><i> Gee, Mother, Europe is in a mess and I'm not going to try and tell you about it. Just thank God for one thing; the war is over.</i></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><i> Pauline wrote me a V-mail letter the 27th of May and I received it the other day. She said, "I hope you have been reading between the lines for the pass 61/2 months and realize you and I could never be happy together. I have nothing against you or your family or otherwise but have given us a lot of thought and can't see no happiness together. I have found so much more in Rod (who's Rod) than I ever had before, age might have something to do with it etc. etc. etc. --- After 6 1/2 months knowing Rod we have found enough in each other to settle down forever. etc. etc. - Wedding at Gorham Church June 17th 7 pm etc. etc. Hate to tell you on paper have waited a month before sending the letter, write if any questions to clear, we owe each other not anything but happiness when we can find it, told Rod all about you etc. etc. Here's wishing you all the happiness in the world forever Most Sincerely Pauline L. Freeman."</i></b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><i><br /></i></b>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b><i>Well, Mother, she can still hold her head up when she walks by me and I do the same. I've partly known the score for a long time and kind of let her know it in my letters in a round about way, but she would never come right out and tell me. </i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b><i> I'm making a guess and someday I'll let you know. Oh well just a part of life but why in heck didn't she write a personal letter instead of V-mail.</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b><i> I have a feeling there is some more news I know and also others know it but aren't saying anything. I can still add one and one to make two. Nothing wrong everything is still okay. </i><span style="color: #666666;">(Is my uncle suggesting there is a child involved for the reason of this marriage?)</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b><span style="color: #666666;"> </span><i>Say hello to Dad and Eugene and keep the home fires burning.</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b><i> Lot of Love,</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b><i> Son Charles</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><b><i>----------------------------------------</i></b></span></div>
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<span><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium; font-weight: bold;"> </span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b style="font-family: inherit;">If there were any other letters from Europe then they either never were saved or misplaced. This is the last letter I have in the collection. This letter was like riding a roller coaster ride. Feelings of cautious expectations, happiness, </b><b>devastated</b><b style="font-family: inherit;"> what he has seen in the war and also after the peace in Europe, and anger are all shared. I am no psychologist but after over 300 days of fighting and wondering if you would survive another day, seeing horrors beyond one's imagination, you are bound to have a flood of emotions pour out when your mind can actually take time to think about not only the past, and the present, but the future you really might have before you. A future that is full of both joy but also fears, and concerns if one can live any form of a normal life after living in "The Hell of War."</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Le Harve, France</b></span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0tjtlfsLLnI/XG86P5NSOvI/AAAAAAAAUwA/r-PDA6aCK-o3KEoRjtDvSc1HC8cvDDYFQCEwYBhgL/s1600/3%2B2FRONT.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="373" data-original-width="1024" height="232" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0tjtlfsLLnI/XG86P5NSOvI/AAAAAAAAUwA/r-PDA6aCK-o3KEoRjtDvSc1HC8cvDDYFQCEwYBhgL/s640/3%2B2FRONT.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 17.6px;"><b>Baggage Inspection 07-08-1945</b></span></div>
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Peter Lagassehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00554859638119426729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7446305222030292008.post-68912991088659489172019-03-22T22:30:00.005-04:002023-06-25T12:25:11.235-04:00"ANNUAL PILSEN LIBERATION FESTIVAL" (Post #112)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KMr5ILI-8F4/XGjdql8wVVI/AAAAAAAAUsI/TyPuanDYiMIucEKhotQsO-sSaZNO8kF8QCLcBGAs/s1600/Pilsen%2BLiberation%2BFestival.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="260" data-original-width="325" height="510" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KMr5ILI-8F4/XGjdql8wVVI/AAAAAAAAUsI/TyPuanDYiMIucEKhotQsO-sSaZNO8kF8QCLcBGAs/w640-h510/Pilsen%2BLiberation%2BFestival.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: medium;">The Czech Republic never wants their people, </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: medium;">no matter what generation, to ever forget</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: medium;">their liberation from six years of German</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: medium;">occupation during World War II by the</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: medium;">2nd Infantry Division</span></b></div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dylOCDBjeI_vKX2RIBDbU49iyHa--cNSTunXOrPfz_mbbF9cldQpQSJNEUV6CtXF-o8gQIjfV_C2V77MJrnww' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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<b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">Festival Commercial</span></b></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jUtVlm1h3YU/XGjfnm8qKQI/AAAAAAAAUsU/1j-Zw-SiwYECxWSQt4FYiKnhZw9UCf-9gCLcBGAs/s1600/Glynn%2Bin%2Bfront%2Bof%2Bthe%2B2ID%2BPilsin%2BMemorial%2B2016.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jUtVlm1h3YU/XGjfnm8qKQI/AAAAAAAAUsU/1j-Zw-SiwYECxWSQt4FYiKnhZw9UCf-9gCLcBGAs/s640/Glynn%2Bin%2Bfront%2Bof%2Bthe%2B2ID%2BPilsin%2BMemorial%2B2016.jpg" width="472" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Glynn Raby Jr. in front of 2ID Memorial (2016)</span><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Soldier in the 9th Infantry</span><br /></span></b>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--b012Y_xkRU/XGjhR55f1dI/AAAAAAAAUsg/-aNK_H8zNOgCh0R-YeODjuWP-dDkpkJsACLcBGAs/s1600/GLYNN%2Band%2BThomas%2B2016.jpg" style="font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--b012Y_xkRU/XGjhR55f1dI/AAAAAAAAUsg/-aNK_H8zNOgCh0R-YeODjuWP-dDkpkJsACLcBGAs/s1600/GLYNN%2Band%2BThomas%2B2016.jpg" style="font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg1MU94TCextwQdZ4w88Oyjq2RxeyCVPODijz2WV9CXZlv-GfxZGHQ0jjuIdQ3U1vpQTjIfYIsL_F8FZJ80ivMlTgCAk0uPfYn9VKEe2j426XnVpdDiTW6VBdFnOo7ketPE63AjMjQyOqlV5ARWfzHqk6CzaABPIXtrrPbkARxSH78zBZip6kOCXxFxeD4" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="629" data-original-width="472" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg1MU94TCextwQdZ4w88Oyjq2RxeyCVPODijz2WV9CXZlv-GfxZGHQ0jjuIdQ3U1vpQTjIfYIsL_F8FZJ80ivMlTgCAk0uPfYn9VKEe2j426XnVpdDiTW6VBdFnOo7ketPE63AjMjQyOqlV5ARWfzHqk6CzaABPIXtrrPbkARxSH78zBZip6kOCXxFxeD4" width="180" /></a></div><br /><br />
<span style="font-size: 17.6px;"><b><span style="color: #cc0000;">Glynn Raby Jr. meets reenactor Tomas Hataj </span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 17.6px;"><b>Pleased to call each my friend<br /></b></span><br /><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fFa896B2aFc/YCBZuieva4I/AAAAAAAAbo0/duzS2lDmMuEW5lwWz3YYoF3rqDI4BjdUACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Czech%2BRepublic%2Band%2BUnited%2BStates%2Bflags.jpg" style="font-size: x-large; font-weight: 700; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="994" data-original-width="1600" height="249" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fFa896B2aFc/YCBZuieva4I/AAAAAAAAbo0/duzS2lDmMuEW5lwWz3YYoF3rqDI4BjdUACLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h249/Czech%2BRepublic%2Band%2BUnited%2BStates%2Bflags.jpg" width="400" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"><span><br /><b><u><span style="color: #073763;">Czech Republic and United States flags<br /></span></u></b><br /><b style="color: #cc0000;">Each year in May the people of Pilsen celebrate <br /></b></span><b><span style="color: #cc0000;">four days in remembrance of their liberation. <br /></span><span style="color: #073763;">There is 1940's Music, Parade, Dedications, Honoring Veterans.<br /></span></b><span><b><span style="color: #cc0000;">The parade include vehicles that have restored, such as,</span><br /><span style="color: #073763;">U.S. Army tanks, trucks, </span></b></span><span style="color: #073763;"><span><b>jeeps, </b></span><b>half-tracks, staff cars, and others.</b><br /></span><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b>They are driven by Czech reenactors dressed in identical </b></span><br /><b><span style="color: #cc0000;">replicas of the original 2nd Infantry Division military uniforms.</span></b><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 17.6px;"><b><br /></b></span><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dylLYYDiGTeBwgAGalklnodh0OQqxQ-r5alGo7L38hG762ZaHHwELRhQoKt0bZV1sB7OJqTA6-PEcVePrhDOw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br />
<b><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Liberation Celebration</span><br /><span style="color: #073763;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~<br /></span><span style="color: #274e13;">The Reenactors</span></span></span></b><span style="color: #274e13;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><b><span style="color: #cc0000;"><u><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">Facebook</span></u></span><br />
<span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"> https://www.facebook.com/MenOfThe2ndInfantryDivision/<br /><u>Website</u> <br /></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">http://tommy-yankee.cz/</span><br /></span>
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: medium;"></span>
<span style="font-size: medium;">P.S. Tommy = British soldiers, Yankee = U.S.A. soldiers</span></b><br />
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<span style="color: #cc0000;"><b><u style="background-color: yellow;"><br /></u></b></span>
<span style="color: #38761d;"><b><u style="background-color: yellow;">An Excellent Website to go to is:</u></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #cc0000;"><span><b>http://www.tresbohemes.com/2017/07/memorial-day-czech-style-liberation-festival-pilsen/</b></span></span>
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Peter Lagassehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00554859638119426729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7446305222030292008.post-6681132666793294202019-03-16T14:51:00.003-04:002021-02-07T15:35:45.513-05:00May 30,1945 "The Russian Mix Up" (Post #111)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div style="text-align: right;"><b><i><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: right;">
<b><i><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Somewhere in Czechoslovakia</span></i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<b><i><span style="font-size: medium;">First U.S. Army </span></i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<b><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Sec. Inf. Div. </span></i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<b><i><span style="font-size: medium;">May 30, 1945 </span></i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b><i>Dear Mother,</i></b><br />
<b><i> All seems to be going well with me and hope the same can be said from across the pond. </i></b><br />
<b><i> I am now living in a nice house with four other boys from our gun section. The woman here is very nice and it seems she can't do enough for us. She liked to have taken some of my clothes off the other day because she wanted to wash them.</i></b><br />
<b><i> Oh, oh, I didn't have time the other night to finish this letter as a big thunderstorm came up and put out the electric lights so I'll just start in from where I left off.</i></b><br />
<b><i> We are having good weather but still get plenty of rain and when it does rain it seems very cold for this time of year. </i></b><br />
<b><i> The other night I was in the city of Pilsen and went to a U.S.O. moving picture. As it was I got in a little late so the lights were out in the show but when they did come on guess who shouted my name (Zip) and you may be sure I went right over as it was only ten feet across the way. What a bull session we had for you remember I hadn't seen him since November and God above only knows a lot had happened since then. He sure told me of some close calls he'd had. For example, one night a big round hit and blew the whole side out of the barn in which he was sleeping. It seemed good to see him. I went to town with Vendette the fellow from Connecticut. The next night we met again. </i></b><br />
<b><i> As I have told you before I have an old German box camera #100 or as the size goes over here 6 x 9 so with the last two pictures on the roll of film you sent me I took some of the Russians. I hope they come out but can't say yet as I don't know how good the camera is. </i></b><br />
<i><b> I guess you were some surprised to learn I was in Czechoslovakia, but we were fighting those Kraut and had them on the run so fast they had to slow us down. It was at this time everything was made ready for us to meet the Russians. We had a lead tank with two flags American and Russian, newsmen, cameramen, reporters, motion picture men and the whole set up was ready even the river we'd meet on. One day the forward crew started scouting around to gain contact with the Russians but for some reason missed each other so decided to wait until another day. Now what should happen but the 69th Division went out on combat patrol which never goes over a mile or so and they had three men and one Second Lieutenant which 400,000 yards or between 23 to 25 miles and ran smack into the Russians. It was not to be that way so they had to call reporters, cameramen etc. into that sector for the occasion. Oh well, it's okay but it seems kind of a raw deal. </b></i><br />
<i><b> Well there is not much I can tell you about the future but sure to get home. </b></i><br />
<i><b> Will close for now. Say hello to all.</b></i><br />
<i><b> Love</b></i><br />
<i><b> Charles</b></i><br />
<i><b><br /></b></i>
<span style="color: #999999;"><b><span style="color: #666666;">[One has to remember when this letter is written my uncle along with many other </span><span style="color: #666666;">troops has no clear idea what the future held for them. Will they be used in Europe for several months or will they be sent to Japan to fight instead of being allowed to come home first? They know Japan is a real possibility since their time of service in the army is not completed.]</span></b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999;"><span style="color: #666666;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;"><b>BUT</b></span></div>
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During the first week of June 1945, the division’s personnel were leaving Pilsen and the units began to concentrate in the area of Domažlice and Kdyně, where the headquarters of the division was on 8 June. From 18 June, the division began to move by train and vehicles to the concentration area near Rheims in northern France, where it arrived after 4 long days. It traveled more than 500 miles and was housed in Camp Norfolk. On 5 July, it was transported by train from there to Camp Old Gold near Yvetot, where it was preparing for boarding.</span></b><br />
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<br />Peter Lagassehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00554859638119426729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7446305222030292008.post-32103988799256866392019-03-08T11:29:00.005-05:002021-02-07T15:34:33.490-05:00May 19, 1945 "Guarding Five Thousand Krauts" (Post #110)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div align="right" style="font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><i><b>Somewhere
in Czechoslovakia</b></i></span></span></div>
<div align="right" style="font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><i><b>First
U.S. Army</b></i></span></span></div>
<div align="right" style="font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><i><b>Sec.
Inf. Div.</b></i></span></span></div>
<div align="right" style="font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><i><b>May
19, 1945</b></i></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
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<div style="font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><i><b>Dear
Mother,</b></i></span></span></div>
<div style="font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"> <i><b>Now
that the war here is over I know it must be a great relief to you and
also many thousands others back home.</b></i></span></div>
<div style="font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"> <i><b>I'm
in good health and the weather is swell. I don't know as the war had
anything to do with it but we've had only two rainy nights since the
war ended and one of them was last night. The days have been very
warm, in fact hot during the middle of the day.</b></i></span></div>
<div style="font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"> <i><b>I
received a few clippings of the May snow storm you had and it seems
hard to believe.</b></i></span></div>
<div style="font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"> <i><b>I
do not know just what will take place next but right now I'm guarding
about five thousand Krauts with more coming in each day.</b></i></span></div>
<div style="font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"> <i><b>Guess
you'll have no trouble realizing things are in quite a mess over here
and people are going this way and that. Many of the people are from force
labor from all the conquered countries in Europe. </b></i></span></div>
<div style="font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"> <i><b>I
would like to get home even on furlough but as I have no idea what
will be next. I can not say or even make a guess. Maybe I'll send a
few lines later on. </b></i></span></div>
<div style="font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"> <i><b>Many
thanks for sending the package but I wish you hadn't sent the sugar
as it's hard to get. Maybe I forgot to tell you but we have some
captured sugar which is okay except it's a lot coarser </b></i></span><i style="font-family: inherit;"><b>than
ours.</b></i></span></div>
<div style="font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"> <i><b>It
seems Helen and Jake's wife get along good. She always seemed a nice
girl and careful of her company. Do they live with his folks?</b></i></span></div>
<div style="font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"> <i><b>I
received the card Cliff Thomas wanted you to send me. It was only a
few days ago I sent him a letter so if you see him please extend my
thanks.</b></i></span></div>
<div style="font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"> <i><b>I
didn't receive a letter from Mildred and as she was married I didn't
feel like writing.</b></i></span></div>
<div style="font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"> <i><b>Did
you get the flowers in time for Mother's Day as I sent Helen </b></i><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">[his
sister] </span></span><i><b>quite
late and had no idea it would be there in time. I told her to get
them at Wyers. I wonder if she got the other ones?</b></i></span></div>
<div style="font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"> <i><b>You
tell Eugene </b></i><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">[his
brother] </span></span><i><b>to
keep up his courage as things will be different before very long.
Clint wouldn't know what to do if he was to leave Eugene.</b></i></span></div>
<div style="font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"> <i><b>Well
now I'm sleeping in a pop tent and it sure seems good not to hear the
sound of guns.</b></i></span></div>
<div style="font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"> <i><b>About
the package I sent and some things in it</b></i><i><b>
– </b></i><i><b>Heinie
rifle chain </b></i><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">[some
kind of German gun]</span></span><i><b>,
ammo pouch for waist belt, German mine marker and if you find anymore
you don't know about tell me and I'll try to explain.</b></i></span></div>
<div style="font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"> <i><b>I
have sent quite a few letters and this makes me just about caught up
but you may be sure I was very behind during those big drives. Oh
well, that was the best way once we had them on the run, just knock
he-- out of them. We sure </b></i><i><b>had
</b></i><i><b>them
crying Uncle.</b></i></span></div>
<div style="font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"> <i><b>This
seems about all for now but will write again soon so until then give
my love to all. Hope Dad will be on the gain by now.</b></i></span></div>
<div style="font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">
<i><b>Love</b></i></span></div>
<div style="font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">
<i><b>Charles</b></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-size: medium;"><u><b>More Pictures of Czechoslovakia Liberation</b></u></span></div>
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</span>Peter Lagassehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00554859638119426729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7446305222030292008.post-11481548280482499242019-03-02T19:04:00.006-05:002021-02-07T15:31:19.452-05:00May 8, 1945 "V-E DAY LETTER and LOSINA SPECIAL RECOGNITION" (Post #109) <br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WpMMy_UOeiI/XGYDRArg9LI/AAAAAAAAUn4/CqqzrvSfeb0YfSjKV68YnroOUnWRqV-aQCEwYBhgL/s1600/Webp.net-resizeimageTITLE.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="229" data-original-width="1000" height="144" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WpMMy_UOeiI/XGYDRArg9LI/AAAAAAAAUn4/CqqzrvSfeb0YfSjKV68YnroOUnWRqV-aQCEwYBhgL/s640/Webp.net-resizeimageTITLE.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="color: #990000; font-size: medium;"> Liberation of Pilsen</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #990000; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-size: medium;">May 8, 1945</span></i></b></div>
<div align="left" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span face=""><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><b>Dear
Mother</b></i></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span face=""><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><b> Yes, it’s over! I don’t know just what to write or just what to say.
I’m not shouting nor are any of the other fellows excited or at
least they don’t seem to be. I just don’t know how to say it but
it gives you just a funny feeling. It seems everyone at times are
thinking.</b></i></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span face=""><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><b> It’s
been a wonderful day here and really very warm. The sky has been
clear blue with very few clouds.</b></i></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span face=""><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><b> Words
can never explain how these Czechoslovakian people feel toward us
after they have been under the yoke of Germans for six years.</b></i></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span face=""><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><b> As
we move through the towns they crowd the roads, young, middle age and
old, holding out their arms and crying for joy, waving hands, flags
wave everywhere. They throw flowers and wreaths all over you and rush
out with little hot cakes or anything they have such as eggs and
apples etc. Yes, you hate to take it but when you shake your head they
just hold out the dish and tears run down their faces. What can you
do? They’d open their hearts and give you the last drop of blood. A
half dozen or more boys speak their language and they’ve told them
the hell it has been since Germany took over, how they can never
repay us. Everyone wants someone to sleep in their home. Some women
stand in the chow line to wash our mess kits while others peel spuds.
Our clothes are dirty from the long hard drive and they all want to
help wash them. I can’t tell you in words how things are or have
been but many times I’ve had to choke back.</b></i></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;"><span face=""><span><i><b> In
all of our joy of V-E Day let us not forget to pray for the boys in
the Pacific who are today fighting and giving their lives. </b></i></span></span></span>
</span></div>
<div align="left" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span face=""><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><b> Evening
is coming on and darkness is beginning to fall. The silence of guns
and sound of battle seems strange while off in the distance in a town
I’m near you can see all colors of captured Germans flares being
shot into the air to celebrate the end of six long years of
hardships.</b></i></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span face=""><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><b> As
I said before “I don’t know just how I do feel but Thank God it’s
over.”</b></i></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span face=""><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><b> Love
to all and pray I’ll see you before very long even though we have
some work to finish.</b></i></span></span></span></div>
<div align="left" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span face=""><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><b> Love
Son Charles</b></i></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><span face=""><span style="font-size: small;"><i><b><br /></b></i></span></span></span>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MR40ht5XbKk/XGdK7XXiO2I/AAAAAAAAUpQ/J7WQumlFrU4QS9o9Q7B5fVygY4l4eSI4gCLcBGAs/s1600/ve%2Bday%2Bstrip.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="109" data-original-width="352" height="195" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MR40ht5XbKk/XGdK7XXiO2I/AAAAAAAAUpQ/J7WQumlFrU4QS9o9Q7B5fVygY4l4eSI4gCLcBGAs/w640-h195/ve%2Bday%2Bstrip.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XrFlh5DkHrI/XWPeT8ovVqI/AAAAAAAAVyU/ksCkxE8xGEY_ycAnK-mzufNMjZKUsPiGACLcBGAs/s1600/Church%2Bin%2BPilsen.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="430" data-original-width="362" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XrFlh5DkHrI/XWPeT8ovVqI/AAAAAAAAVyU/ksCkxE8xGEY_ycAnK-mzufNMjZKUsPiGACLcBGAs/s640/Church%2Bin%2BPilsen.JPG" width="532" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">The people in Pilzen along with the soldiers had a church service honoring the liberation and the soldiers. It was a very moving tribute. After the service the congregation dispersed to the outside of the church where everyone stood at solemn attention as the "Star Bangle Banner" was played. </span></b></td></tr>
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<span><b><i><div style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div><span style="color: #073763; font-size: large;">My uncle, Sgt. Charles D. Knight, was billeted in the town of Losina during the Liberation of Czechoslovakia. Each year the city of Pilsen has a four day celebration in May to remember the liberation. I will share more on the celebration in a later post but wanted to share three pictures of the plaque that was dedicated in Losina during the May 2018 celebration.</span></i></b></span><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><i><br /></i></b>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_CYcotpNdlo/XGjFMGsabvI/AAAAAAAAUr0/KdWlT6743boAiRjajes1Al0X85Nh6nMWwCLcBGAs/s1600/Losina%2B2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="719" data-original-width="960" height="476" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_CYcotpNdlo/XGjFMGsabvI/AAAAAAAAUr0/KdWlT6743boAiRjajes1Al0X85Nh6nMWwCLcBGAs/s640/Losina%2B2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">The plaque honoring the 15th FAB of the 2nd Infantry Division liberating Losina.</span></b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AdSK4aRBY38/XGjFMIzdTvI/AAAAAAAAUrs/IMeqCUL0s3AWAjhlc0z3hX3TMy9DE3izgCLcBGAs/s1600/Losina%2B3.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="960" height="425" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AdSK4aRBY38/XGjFMIzdTvI/AAAAAAAAUrs/IMeqCUL0s3AWAjhlc0z3hX3TMy9DE3izgCLcBGAs/s640/Losina%2B3.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Earl Ingram holding pen, </b><span>Ivan Rollinger, a curator of Patton Memorial Pilsen Museum</span><b> holding book</b></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UMV_bSGaIGI/XGjFMG4FneI/AAAAAAAAUrw/WS5wwtrBpxUSCDx2WUBWemtW9ZbIaVBzwCLcBGAs/s1600/Losina%2B1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="640" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UMV_bSGaIGI/XGjFMG4FneI/AAAAAAAAUrw/WS5wwtrBpxUSCDx2WUBWemtW9ZbIaVBzwCLcBGAs/s640/Losina%2B1.jpg" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">The plaque and the 15th FAB yearbook</span></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><u><b>From my friend Glynn Raby Jr.:</b></u><br />
<b><span style="color: blue;">Platoon Leader, Lt (then) Earl Ingram, who has attended more than 20 of the Pilsen Festivals, including the 2018 earlier this month in May wrote in one of his paragraphs to me the following:</span></b><br />
<span style="color: #cc0000;"><b><i>"The president of our association, John Batty-Sylvan, was there and he promised to promote the continuation of 2nd Infantry Division participation in the festival by younger veterans. Jim Duncan, 2nd Battalion of the 38th Infantry, was the only other WWII 2nd Infantry Division veteran there. John and I (Earl Ingram) participated in a ceremony unveiling a plaque dedicated to the 2nd Infantry Division in the village of Losina for its liberation on 7 May 1945. The 15th Artillery Battalion was the 2nd Infantry Division unit in that village."</i></b></span></span></div>Peter Lagassehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00554859638119426729noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7446305222030292008.post-7986619901634867492019-02-25T20:38:00.007-05:002021-02-07T15:25:37.934-05:00May 6, 1945 "Down for the Count?" (Post #108)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RtHhp9nwVZ0/YCBIr6IZOuI/AAAAAAAAboo/wrU2BO31XlgQFp6YPqk-B2eG1RiRDuUAwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2000/Flag_of_the_United_States_Army_2nd_Infantry_Division.svg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2000" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RtHhp9nwVZ0/YCBIr6IZOuI/AAAAAAAAboo/wrU2BO31XlgQFp6YPqk-B2eG1RiRDuUAwCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/Flag_of_the_United_States_Army_2nd_Infantry_Division.svg.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><u>2nd INFANTRY DIVISION FLAG</u></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WpMMy_UOeiI/XGYDRArg9LI/AAAAAAAAUn4/CqqzrvSfeb0YfSjKV68YnroOUnWRqV-aQCEwYBhgL/s1600/Webp.net-resizeimageTITLE.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="229" data-original-width="1000" height="145" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WpMMy_UOeiI/XGYDRArg9LI/AAAAAAAAUn4/CqqzrvSfeb0YfSjKV68YnroOUnWRqV-aQCEwYBhgL/s640/Webp.net-resizeimageTITLE.jpg" width="640" /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">ELEVEN MORE PICTURES AT THE END OF THIS POST</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b><i>First U.S. Army</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b><i>Sec. Inf. Div.</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b><i>May 6, 1945</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b><i>Dear Mother,</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b><i> Everything is going well and I'm still in good health. I sure hope things are the same at home.</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b><i> The news sounds better every day and we're still punching away trying to put in the knock out blow. Seems to me they're just about down for the count of ten.</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b><i> For a couple of days we ran into some snow - snow in May. It didn't last long but one day the trees had quite a load. We are having a lot of rain.<br /> Guess Dad better take it easy on the tractor as he seems to be overdoing.</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b><i> As I have said before keep up your courage everything is okay now.</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b><i> It was thoughtful of Helen <span style="color: #666666;">(sister)</span> to bring you that picture from Florida. She always writes nice about you and Dad and oh gee does she love that baby. <span style="color: #666666;">(her first child, Joey Jr.)</span></i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b><i><span style="color: #666666;"> </span>Glad Waneta <span style="color: #666666;">(sister and my mother) </span>has a good rent and hope things go well.</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b><i> So you received your handkerchief I sent and Dad his money order.</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b><i> I told Lt. Jones you said hello and sent your best wishes.</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b><i> Well, Mother. this letter is short but you'll know I am still looking to the day I'll be sailing home. Say hello to all and hope to see you before too long.</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b><i> Love</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b><i> Son Charles</i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CiWpWObMvGM/YCBEPT15suI/AAAAAAAAboQ/1u-wQuqcmeYYzHS8QP3Ydv0qCqd8ETXuwCLcBGAsYHQ/s403/INDIANHEAD%2BSTATIONARY%2B2%2B%25282%2529.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><img border="0" data-original-height="44" data-original-width="403" height="70" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CiWpWObMvGM/YCBEPT15suI/AAAAAAAAboQ/1u-wQuqcmeYYzHS8QP3Ydv0qCqd8ETXuwCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h70/INDIANHEAD%2BSTATIONARY%2B2%2B%25282%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></div></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>
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<div align="center" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span face=""arial black" , sans-serif" style="font-size: medium;"><b>US Army 2nd Infantry Division
"Indianhead" <br />
Domazlice, Western Bohemia,
Czechoslovakia, Europe</b></span></div>
<div align="center" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span face=""arial black" , sans-serif" style="font-size: medium;"><b>Domažlice
– Liberation – May 5th, 1945, 12:50 pm.</b></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span face=""arial black" , sans-serif" style="font-size: medium;"><b>Domažlice region received air
strikes by the American fighter bombers, also POW transports, and the
"death marches" of labor camp prisoners. Once the railroads were destroyed, thousands of
concentration camp prisoners were moved on foot by the SS guards. Many inhuman
treatments happened to the desperately weakened prisoners.</b></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span face=""arial black" , sans-serif" style="font-size: medium;"><b>By
early April, the Western front approached the Czechoslovakian
border and the retreating German units entered the county. The front was getting closer forcing German
units forced to move by their own means as American
air power caused a total breakdown of the railroad traffic.</b></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span face=""arial black" , sans-serif" style="font-size: medium;"><b>The XII Corps Headquarters was aware that the
Germans along the Czech border were well organized and ready to
resist. However, until April 26th, the
soldiers of the 90th Infantry Division encountered no major
resistance during their advance. The turning point
came in the Waldmuenchen-Furth area, where artillery and air support
had to be employed.</b></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: medium;"><span face=""arial black" , sans-serif">It
was in the Domažlice area, where </span><span face=""arial black" , sans-serif">the</span><span face=""arial black" , sans-serif"> German 11th Armored Division
caused the Americans to worry because of the high mobility of this fully armed experience division estimated at 3,500.</span></span></b></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span face=""arial black" , sans-serif" style="font-size: medium;"><b>German resistance in the field was decreasing but their
command respected Hitler's orders to defend every city as a fortress
as long as possible.</b></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span face=""arial black" , sans-serif" style="font-size: medium;"><b>The
Allied assaults were focused on the assembly areas of
German troops and points of resistance. The community of Klenci pod Cerchovem received a heavy bombardment.
Once the Allied air reconnaissance reported the presence of a German
military column, the local Mayor, Macek, and the German Police
Commander were given a chance to surrender. When the deadline passed,
eight fighter bombers dropped incendiary and high explosive bombs.
Almost half of the 230 houses were destroyed.</b></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span face=""arial black" , sans-serif" style="font-size: medium;"><b>The
next day the Division tried three times to cross
the border into Czechoslovak territory, in the Folmava-Maxov-Vseruby
sector, but each time they encountered a strong defense. The
Americans had to employ the M 7 Priest howitzers at least two times,
against the tanks in Vseruby and the artillery positions near Svata
Katerina.</b></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span face=""arial black" , sans-serif" style="font-size: medium;"><b>By
the end April, 1945, the front had gotten so close to
Domažlice, that the inhabitants heard loud and clear the thundering
sound of artillery fire from the direction of Cerchov and Haltrava,
and the shells started to hit targets around the Chodsko capital. The American ground attack planes intensively strafed every
moving German column. On the 30th of April three
Thunderbolt destroyed a Wehrmacht column near the railroad station on
the Klenci-Trhanov highway. However, one of the plane touched
a treetop with the tip of its wing, crashed in the forest and the pilot, First Lieutenant Kirkham,
lost his life.</b></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: medium;"><span face=""arial black" , sans-serif">Many retreating German units and </span><span face=""arial black" , sans-serif">German village</span><span face=""arial black" , sans-serif"> inhabitants blocked the already barely passable roads with cut down
trees. In the wide border region almost 8,000 cut down trees slowed
down the U.S. Army advance.</span></span></b></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span face=""arial black" , sans-serif" style="font-size: medium;"><b>Finally, many
demoralized Wehrmacht units abandoned their combat positions and
tried to approach the advancing Americans with the intention to
surrender. By the end of April in the Domažlice
border sector the SS Panzer division
Therese Starlet moved in the Domažlice County territory, following
the breakthrough of the front near Tachov. These SS units forced the
retreating Wehrmacht to resume new defensive positions.</b></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span face=""arial black" , sans-serif" style="font-size: medium;"><b>The
90th Infantry Division finally achieved a major success on the 30th
of April, when two battalions of the 358th Regiment made a
breakthrough in Capartice.
During the fight in the deep forest around Black River the Americans
lost two tanks, 6 soldiers were killed, and 28 wounded. By
evening the U.S. infantrymen succeeded in clearing the enemy out of the forest, destroying one tank, and taking 110
POWs. In Mysliv near Vseruby, the U.S. reconnaissance men surprised a
group of German soldiers by a quick mission where 7 Nazis
were killed and another 12 surrendered.</b></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span face=""arial black" , sans-serif" style="font-size: medium;"><b>On May 1st, the 90th Infantry entered
without armed resistance Klenčci, Chodov, Pec, Novy Postrekov, and
Parezov.</b></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span face=""arial black" , sans-serif" style="font-size: medium;"><b>Since
the end of April the villages around Domazlice witnessed a lot of
traffic. The units of General Vlasov German refugees, also
the foreign workers, who were forced to work for the Third Reich,
were passing trough. The
American Artillery shelled Domažlice for several days and, as a
result, white flags went up in the town. However, orders by the German Command using a public address system announced that the owners of all white flagged
house, would be executed.</b></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: medium;"><span face=""arial black" , sans-serif">The 90th
Infantry Division achieved some success at the very end of it's
mission after taking Vseruby. In the morning of
May 4th, the soldiers of the 2nd Infantry Division brought in a German parliamentarian who was
authorized by Lt Gen. Wend von Wietersheim to offer the surrender of
all units comprising his 11th Armoured Division</span><span face=""arial black" , sans-serif"> in Vseruby, to the Commander of
the 90th Infantry Division, Major General H. L. Earnest. All the 9,050 perfectly
dressed men of Wietersheirn's division came forward to
lay down their weapons, The whole act took 24 hours and, during the night.</span></span></b></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span face=""arial black" , sans-serif" style="font-size: medium;"><b>The headquarters of the 2nd Infantry Division gained access to
important Nazi defense plans of the Vseruby Pass and Folmava area
fortifications, due to the courage of Czechoslovakian Army Lieutenant
Colonel Josef Herget.</b></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span face=""arial black" , sans-serif" style="font-size: medium;"><b>The 2nd Infantry Division relocated to the
Chodsko region to replace the 90th Infantry Division. The 2nd Infantry Division under
Major General Robertson enjoyed the welcome and celebrations in the
Czech interior cities and villages expecting liberation.</b></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span face=""arial black" , sans-serif" style="font-size: medium;"><b>When
the Czechoslovakian flag was hoisted on the morning May 4th, 1945, it generated ovations and
excitement in the whole city of Domažlice.</b></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span face=""arial black" , sans-serif" style="font-size: medium;"><b>On
the same day, the American divisions of the V and XII
Corps resumed major advance into the Czech interior with a powerful
push. The 9th
Regiment under Col. Philip D. Ginder, advanced from Vseruby via
Brudek on Kdyne, while other units advanced on Hluboka, Loucim and Klatovy. Others advanced to Kout na
Sumave joining units arriving there in the direction of
Mrakov and Tlumacov.</b></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span face=""arial black" , sans-serif" style="font-size: medium;"><b>From
the direction of Folmava via Spalenec and Pasecnice the 38th Regiment of the 2nd Infantry Division under Col.
Francis H. Boos cleared out the
enemy.</b></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span face=""arial black" , sans-serif" style="font-size: medium;"><b>On
the 5th of May, citizens of Domazlice assembled in the
city square as the "Indian heads" of the 2nd Infantry
Division reached the city Square just before 1 pm, followed by other
infantry units together with the 741st
Independent Tank Battalion. The city was liberated by units commanded
by Captain Fred Hirres and Lt. Robert Gillbert of the 2nd Battalion,
38th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division.</b></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span face=""arial black" , sans-serif" style="font-size: medium;"><b>One
eyewitness recalls:</b></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: medium;"><span face=""arial black" , sans-serif">"The
first American patrols moved in with rifles ready to fire up the
street from the Chod’s Castle to the corner of the square, which
was flooded with flags, ours as well as Allied. You can hardly
describe all the cries of joy and excitement which sounded from all
directions the very moment the first American soldiers appeared in
the city square of Domažlice. The disciplined citizens stood on the
sidewalks under the garlands because they were told that the central
area of the big square must remain clear. The infantrymen, with their
famous insignia of an Indian inside the white star on their left
sleeve, split their column on the Square into two separate lines,
some 50 steps apart. Perhaps each tenth soldier had his rifle
equipped with a whip antenna and kept a telephone earphone
(walkie-talkie) close to his ear. They never stopped but kept walking
to the gate and concurrently their other lines moved in the same
fashion through the streets parallel with the city square. In this
way they moved forward in perfect order resembling a parade on the
exercise grounds and with them the freedom moved in... "</span><br />
<span face=""arial black" , sans-serif"><br /></span></span></b></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span face=""arial black" , sans-serif" style="font-size: medium;"><b>On the afternoon May 5th, a minor shoot-out
took place on the outskirts of Horsovsky Tyn.</b></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span face=""arial black" , sans-serif" style="font-size: medium;"><b>Because
the American soldiers were passing through territory full of booby
traps, it was logical that the reconnaissance units checked all
bridges, roadblocks, isolated buildings, and church towers very
carefully.</b></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span face=""arial black" , sans-serif" style="font-size: medium;"><b>By
the 6th of May, the soldiers of the 2nd Infantry Division captured
8,000 Nazi POWs in the area between Domazlice, Horsovsky Tyn, and
Holysov.</b></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span face=""arial black" , sans-serif" style="font-size: medium;"><b>http://web.quick.cz/chodsko1/english/usa/page_01.htm#images</b></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: medium;"><span face=""arial black" , sans-serif">Text
is passed from book “Americans in West Bohemia 1945”. </span>
</span></b></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span face=""arial black" , sans-serif" style="font-size: medium;"><b>Author
books: Zdenek Roucka</b></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><span face=""arial black" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><u><b>Pictures of Domažlice Liberation May 5th, 1945</b></u></span><br /></span><br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1wIYysMV9RY/XGmsOx42fTI/AAAAAAAAUts/jNoHzIFi__gbNMuUQpG1sZhK-WracPZtACLcBGAs/s1600/D1.jpe" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="836" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1wIYysMV9RY/XGmsOx42fTI/AAAAAAAAUts/jNoHzIFi__gbNMuUQpG1sZhK-WracPZtACLcBGAs/s640/D1.jpe" width="521" /></a></div>
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<span face=""arial black" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><u><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">OTHER PILSEN PICTURES </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">FROM EDWARDS AND JOHNSON</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TKCWhKCkQkc/YCAbpqg68dI/AAAAAAAAbm8/kBD0acjjfQMa2Q897TabhEOnbGctuEcnQCLcBGAsYHQ/s758/PILSEN%2BEDWARDS%2B2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="552" data-original-width="758" height="466" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TKCWhKCkQkc/YCAbpqg68dI/AAAAAAAAbm8/kBD0acjjfQMa2Q897TabhEOnbGctuEcnQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h466/PILSEN%2BEDWARDS%2B2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--eHirWdsgrw/YCAbplHa2bI/AAAAAAAAbnA/fuDasjCbL140U-xZkc9A_409Xn87n-2dwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1024/PILSEN%2BEDWARDS%2B3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="746" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--eHirWdsgrw/YCAbplHa2bI/AAAAAAAAbnA/fuDasjCbL140U-xZkc9A_409Xn87n-2dwCLcBGAsYHQ/w466-h640/PILSEN%2BEDWARDS%2B3.jpg" width="466" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ds9r30xevTA/YCAbp4RXJiI/AAAAAAAAbnE/dgHTNBCH100bGl_-zVfqLuCJWfjgDDfaQCLcBGAsYHQ/s748/PILSEN%2BEDWARDS%2B4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="542" data-original-width="748" height="464" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ds9r30xevTA/YCAbp4RXJiI/AAAAAAAAbnE/dgHTNBCH100bGl_-zVfqLuCJWfjgDDfaQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h464/PILSEN%2BEDWARDS%2B4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mSW8q7rbwks/YCAbqrdNfXI/AAAAAAAAbnM/Ze8NrzIRV6I-AhksfW4kvx2ud8UF5qxlgCLcBGAsYHQ/s756/PILSEN%2BEDWARDS%2B6.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="756" data-original-width="756" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mSW8q7rbwks/YCAbqrdNfXI/AAAAAAAAbnM/Ze8NrzIRV6I-AhksfW4kvx2ud8UF5qxlgCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h640/PILSEN%2BEDWARDS%2B6.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-I7mYe3h77U0/YCAbrp23KDI/AAAAAAAAbnU/ZAKLqPbXPTs-n6dkl0f7jxnoAzSTowAOgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1010/PILSEN%2BJOHNSON%2B1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1010" data-original-width="770" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-I7mYe3h77U0/YCAbrp23KDI/AAAAAAAAbnU/ZAKLqPbXPTs-n6dkl0f7jxnoAzSTowAOgCLcBGAsYHQ/w488-h640/PILSEN%2BJOHNSON%2B1.jpg" width="488" /></a></div><div style="font-size: medium; margin: 0px;"><span face=""arial black" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><u><br /></u></span></div><div style="font-size: medium; margin: 0px;"><span face=""arial black" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-df2ZghLgblA/YCAbsv3W5-I/AAAAAAAAbnc/T3zZY4JUAZUnzMlmOHacuX3kkndBT_FwwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1024/PILSEN%2BJOHNSON%2B4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="746" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-df2ZghLgblA/YCAbsv3W5-I/AAAAAAAAbnc/T3zZY4JUAZUnzMlmOHacuX3kkndBT_FwwCLcBGAsYHQ/w466-h640/PILSEN%2BJOHNSON%2B4.jpg" width="466" /></a></span></div><div style="font-size: medium; margin: 0px;"><span face=""arial black" , sans-serif" style="color: blue;"><u><br /></u></span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_VShaDkMt1A/YCAbsAJWCvI/AAAAAAAAbnY/IwtCSGTEXeUC0xWmf9I4-RWcSfscqPhiwCLcBGAsYHQ/s750/PILSEN%2BJOHNSON%2B2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="570" data-original-width="750" height="486" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_VShaDkMt1A/YCAbsAJWCvI/AAAAAAAAbnY/IwtCSGTEXeUC0xWmf9I4-RWcSfscqPhiwCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h486/PILSEN%2BJOHNSON%2B2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />Peter Lagassehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00554859638119426729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7446305222030292008.post-40622189093393497122019-02-20T14:56:00.002-05:002021-02-07T14:55:12.300-05:00May 4, 1945 " 11th Panzer Division Surrenders" (Post #107)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">
[From 15th FAB YEARBOOK]</span></b></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #990000; font-size: medium;">Part of an interview from my friend Glynn Raby Jr.</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #990000; font-size: medium;">Member of the 9th Infantry Regiment</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
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<div style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0.06in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<b><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #1d2129;"><span face=""arial black" , sans-serif"><span>May
1st, the V Corps was transferred from 1st Army to the 3rd Army, and
we began a 200 mile motor march toward CZECHOSLOVAKIA. On jeeps,
trucks, and tanks, we were on the Autobahn part of the way, with
unseasonable cold weather and some snow. Near the Czech border, we
dismounted and began an attack through the SUDATENLAND where the
pro-German residents were not glad to see us. May 4th, the 11th
Panzer Division surrendered and moved through our columns to the
rear. “It was a rare opportunity to see what a full fledged elite
division looked like in the flower of its full strength and
arrogance. Well-shaven, uniforms pressed, the troops moved up in a
long line of vehicles and big weapons, still in fairly good
condition”. (from the Division history book).</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #1d2129;"><span face=""arial black" , sans-serif"><span><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="color: #1d2129;"><span face=""arial black" , sans-serif"><span><span style="color: #1d2129;"> </span><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="background-color: yellow;">There is no letter from Uncle Charlie in this post.</span></span></span></span></span></span></b></div>
<b><span style="color: #990000;"></span></b>Peter Lagassehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00554859638119426729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7446305222030292008.post-64592908273881874522019-02-14T10:17:00.002-05:002021-02-07T11:18:43.888-05:00April 28 & 30, 1945 "Closer Home" (Post #106)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MiyC-JojC7A/XGRLyg06HdI/AAAAAAAAUmU/MrpWmHs28f82yHh6dbcd89L3iEpJoRquQCLcBGAs/s1600/NEW%2BVARIETY2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="587" data-original-width="1024" height="363" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MiyC-JojC7A/XGRLyg06HdI/AAAAAAAAUmU/MrpWmHs28f82yHh6dbcd89L3iEpJoRquQCLcBGAs/s640/NEW%2BVARIETY2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">THE FALL OF LEIPZIG</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<u><b><span style="font-size: medium;">15th FAB Yearbook</span></b></u></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">
<b><span style="font-size: medium;">As a reinforcing battalion for the 38th Field Artillery the 15th
displaced early on April <span style="color: #ce181e;">17</span><span style="color: #ce181e;"><sup>th</sup></span>
to <span style="color: #000099;">Nempitz</span>, returning to direct support
of the 9th Infantry on April <span style="color: #ce181e;">18th</span> for a
reduction of further AA positions.</span></b></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: medium;">After attacking
continuously for almost five days and nights the defenses of <span style="color: #000099;">Nempitz </span>and <span style="color: #000099;">Merseburg</span> were overcome and these vital centers captured. The entire battle was to a great extent a
violent artillery duel. With the fall of <span style="color: #000099;">Leipzig</span>
several days later, the last real fighting for the battalion was
over. After a day of maintenance the battalion loaded infantry again
for a move southeast of Leipzig through <span style="color: #000099;">Borna</span>
to <span style="color: #000099;">Theirbaum</span> and positions in <span style="color: #000099;">Hohnbach</span>
on the <span style="color: #000099;">Mulde River</span>.
Following unsuccessful attempts of our Infantry patrols to contact
the Russians, the forward troops moved back to the <span style="color: #000099;">west</span>
<span style="color: #000099;">bank</span> of the <span style="color: #000099;">Mulde</span>
<span style="color: #000099;">River</span>. While on an air patrol on April
<span style="color: #ce181e;">26th</span> in support of an infantry patrol,
Lt. Ferguson brought his liaison aircraft down near a fire fight
and evacuated a seriously wounded dough-boy, which probably saved the
man’s life.
</span></b></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: medium;">After contact
with the Russians was made by the 69th Division on our left, the
battalion began preparations for another motor march.</span></b></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aQVyBa3AXTI/XGRVIvhrlFI/AAAAAAAAUmg/K9CemubjzoAMiHvRP6yabJxa0nm5FSdQQCLcBGAs/s1600/leipzig%2Bmap.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="392" data-original-width="835" height="297" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aQVyBa3AXTI/XGRVIvhrlFI/AAAAAAAAUmg/K9CemubjzoAMiHvRP6yabJxa0nm5FSdQQCLcBGAs/s640/leipzig%2Bmap.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #990000;">15th FAB Movements</span><br /></span></b>
<span style="color: #990000; font-size: small;"><br /></span><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kzMJqUbzeNY/W3WYG6J7osI/AAAAAAAAKwI/D0aFfLbGXWcTGZ_k8a-VyQWKyBuyzer5gCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/BADGE%2BBORDER.JPG" style="font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="68" data-original-width="418" height="63" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kzMJqUbzeNY/W3WYG6J7osI/AAAAAAAAKwI/D0aFfLbGXWcTGZ_k8a-VyQWKyBuyzer5gCPcBGAYYCw/s400/BADGE%2BBORDER.JPG" width="400" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b><i>Somewhere in Germany</i></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b><i>First U.S. Army </i></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b><i>Sec. Inf. Div. </i></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b><i> April 28, 1945 </i></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b><i>Dear Mother,</i></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b><i> In the last few days I've received quite a few letters from home along with a few others. As Scott said "when they come they all come at once". Oh well, I'm always on the lookout as I know they're on the road someplace or should I say - ocean.</i></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b><i> Feeling much better then I did when I last wrote. It sure did take a hold of me for a few days. </i></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b><i> Glad to hear you had the chance to get two good sheets even if the price was a little high. Seems like everything is high to-day. Oh yes and also pleased about your new coat you wrote something about.</i></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b><i> Everything here is going well, been moving pretty fast in the pass but the news sounds good.</i></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b><i> Spring is really here but it seems hard for the weather to warm up. </i></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b><i> Sorry to hear about the bad news of President Roosevelt </i><span style="color: #666666;">(died April 12, 1945) </span><i>but we must think of him as a fallen soldier, no matter how much he's needed on the line or in the battle. After his time has come things must and will go on. </i></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><i> I'm sure glad Scott is out of the mess but I guess he has seen plenty, maybe a few things he'll never tell. He must have got into some white phosphorous by the way you wrote. </i><span style="color: #666666;">(</span></b></span><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666;">As an incendiary weapon, white phosphorus is self-igniting, burns fiercely and can ignite cloth, skin, fuel, ammunition, and other combustibles. It has</span></span><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666;"> the tendency to stick on to things including the skin. Phosphorus burns carry a greater risk of mortality than other forms of burns due to the absorption of phosphorus into the body through the burned area, resulting in liver, heart and kidney damage, and in some cases multiple organ failure. Wikipedia<b>) </b></span></span><b style="font-family: inherit;"><i>I told you once in a letter he'd change his mind and at that time I'd seen already plenty. What did you think when you saw him drive in? Yes, this will sure change a man. Scott was right about me and Zip as in the other. I haven't seen Zip since November as he is behind me most of the time but I did see one fellow who said he was okay. </i></b><br />
<i><b style="font-family: inherit;"> I do not seem to remember Fred Turner and still it seems I've heard his name. I'm sure the black ring Helen had was the one I got her. Maybe she'll use Fred for a break away from the other . She wanted me to write but I haven't found time since last November or at least I haven't </b><span><b>written</b></span><b style="font-family: inherit;"> and that was her last letter. I should thank her for the Christmas package.</b></i><br />
<i><b style="font-family: inherit;"> If you need a good pen why don't you get one and remember it doesn't pay to let someone else use it as no two persons write the same, that's the only way to keep a pen writing good.</b></i><br />
<i><b style="font-family: inherit;"> By the way, you wrote Helen must have looked good being dressed so neat. </b></i><br />
<i><b style="font-family: inherit;"> Gee, I received a letter from you dated the 20th in just eight days.</b></i><br />
<i><b style="font-family: inherit;"> Sure enjoyed reading the town report book but why did I see F.E.K. in there so much. It kind of gave me a little more courage to think things were going so good at times. I have quite a bit more to read. Glad to hear Dad is able to drive the tractor more. </b></i><br />
<i><b style="font-family: inherit;"> Eugene is playing the game safe with his tractor.</b></i><br />
<i><b style="font-family: inherit;"> I am enclosing a write up you'll enjoy reading as I had a part in making it come to pass. Here is also a Heinie arm band. </b></i><br />
<i><b style="font-family: inherit;"> This seems about all for now so will close with love to all.</b></i><br />
<i><b style="font-family: inherit;"> Love</b></i><br />
<i><b style="font-family: inherit;"> Charles</b></i><br /></span>
<i style="font-size: 17.7778px;"><b style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></b></i>
<i style="font-size: 17.7778px;"><b style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"> </b></i><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption"><b><span style="color: blue; font-size: medium;">Letter to his sister Flavilla</span></b></td></tr>
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<i style="font-size: 17.7778px;"><b style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"> </b></i></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><i>Somewhere in Germany</i></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><i>First U.S. Army</i></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><i>Sec. Inf. Div.</i></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><i>April 30, 1945</i></b></span><br />
</span><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b><i>Dear Sister and All,</i></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b><i> A few lines in answer to the three or four letters and many cards I've received from you, Ralph and the children. I'm in good health and hope this will find you and the family the same. Spring is here with everything green and many of the trees in full bloom. The weather still holds quite cold most of the time and today it feels like fall with a strong wind blowing and heavy clouds overhead.</i></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b><i> Sorry to hear the sad news of President Roosevelt's death, but we must think of him as a fallen soldier, no matter how much he's needed on the line or in the battle, when his time has come, things must and will go on.</i></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b><i> Things have been moving fast over here, and you may be sure I've been on the go. One thing sure, every move brings me that much closer to sailing home, even if I should have to fight in other lands. </i><span style="color: #666666;">(He is relating to Japan.) </span><i>The news sounds good in one way. On the other hand, people are coming to realize, from the things being found, of the terrible crimes committed by the Germans.</i></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b><i> Received a nice letter from Rev. Otto Nielsen only a few days ago and will answer it soon.</i></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b><i> Glad to hear Beverly is doing so well in school and I sure enjoyed the school paper you sent. So David likes to get out and work around the yard? Well, that's the way all young men do. You tell Bill to be careful what he says or Uncle Charlie won't like it when he gets home. Does Harriett still like her fry pans? Ha, ha. Tell the children I miss them a lot.</i></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b><i> I am enclosing a German armband which I feel Ralph will enjoy. I'm going to send the other ones later on as I've already sent mother one, but have no more at this time. Hope I get some more.</i></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b><i> Must close now as it is almost dark and I'm having a hard time to see the finish of this letter. Don't worry.</i></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b><i> Love to All,</i></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b><i> Charles</i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b><i> Leipzig April 1945</i></b></span></div>
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Peter Lagassehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00554859638119426729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7446305222030292008.post-35273283959136129612019-02-09T08:55:00.004-05:002021-02-06T23:57:20.115-05:00April 19, 1945 "Sick in a Ditch" (Post #105)<br />
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<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"> <u>15th Field Artillery Battalion Movements</u></span></b></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Crossing the <span style="color: #000099;">Weser</span> at daylight on
<span style="color: #cc0000;">April </span><span style="color: #ce181e;">8th</span> the battalion went into
position six times in a 20-kilometer advance and stopped for the
night in <span style="color: #000099;"><u>Stockhausen</u></span>. Many Tiger Royal
tanks were engaged during the day and one serious incident of direct
enemy fire occurred on the Autobahn south of <span style="color: #000099;">Gottingen</span>.
Three displacements the <span style="color: #ce181e;">following</span> <span style="color: #ce181e;">day</span> </b><br />
<b>(<span style="color: #cc0000;">9th</span>) covered 18 kilometers to <span style="color: #000099;"><u>Glasehausen</u></span>.</b></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Mounting
infantrymen again for an armored pursuit, the 15th Field Artillery
moved at noon, </b><b>April <span style="color: #ce181e;">10th</span>,
in a 25—kilometer advance to <span style="color: #000099;"><u>Rehungen</u></span>.
Battery “A” as an advance support unit proceeded on to
<span style="color: #000099;">Friedrichergde</span> to provide foremost
elements with artillery support. The <span style="color: #ce181e;">next </span></b><b><span style="color: #ce181e;">day</span>,
resisting enemy tanks and infantry provided an engagement at noon
during which at least one tank and one SP gun were kayoed. “A”
Battery emplaced 800 yards from a heavy wood, flushed out several
PW’s from- an area not previously entered by U. S. troops. The 31
kilometer advance brought the 15th Field Artillery to <span style="color: #000099;">Collingen</span>.
A late afternoon march on April <span style="color: #ce181e;">12th</span>
rolled until dawn on April <span style="color: #ce181e;">13th</span> covering
50 kilometers to <span style="color: #000099;">Schnell</span> <span style="color: #000099;">Roda</span>.</b></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: medium;">On April <span style="color: #ce181e;">1</span><span style="color: #ce181e;">3</span><span style="color: #ce181e;">th</span>
resistance stiffened as the 15<sup>th</sup> Field Artillery
approached, the formidable defense of the <span style="color: #073763;"><u>Leuna</u></span>-<u><span style="color: #000099;">Merseburg</span>
</u>petroleum. refineries. These vital gas and rubber plants were guarded
by one of the heaviest concentrations of flak guns on the European
continent. With approximately 1000 guns emplaced with good fields of
ground fire and clustered up to 40 at one site with well prepared
local defenses, the enemy AAA personnel were to make the battle as
costly as possible. Taking positions in <span style="color: #000099;">Mucheln</span>,
the battalion began a harassing and counter battery program in
support of doughboys attacking the flak positions.</span></b></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Shortly after
displacement of “A” and “C” Batteries on April <span style="color: #ce181e;">14th</span>,
the enemy began an intense volume of heavy AA fire on position
areas. After losing 2 guns, “C” Battery position was deemed
untenable and another displacement was effected. Back in action after
making battle field replacements, “C” Battery brought 3 guns to
bear on the enemy by noon. Adjusting medium artillery of the 12th
Field Artillery Battalion the Battalion Commander, Lt. Col. Cassibiy
reduced a large nest of flak guns in a real artillery duel. The
entire enemy position had been bypassed by infantry and 15<sup>th</sup>
Field Artillery elements, and it formed a genuine threat to our rear
displacing early on April </b><b><span style="color: #ce181e;">15th</span>,
the battalion went to <span style="color: #000099;">Kolzsoken</span>, where
it immediately continued fire on enemy artillery and ammo positions
and shifted fire due south to support a night attack. This
engagement brought 390 PW’s and 86 AA guns under our infantry
control by 1300 on April <span style="color: #ce181e;">16th</span>.</b></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: medium;">As a reinforcing
battalion for the 38th Field Artillery the 15th displaced early on
April <span style="color: #ce181e;">17</span><span style="color: #ce181e;"><sup>th</sup></span>
to <span style="color: #000099;"><u>Nempitz</u></span>, returning to direct support
of the 9th Infantry on April <span style="color: #ce181e;">18th</span> for a
reduction of further AA positions.</span></b></div> (from the 15th FAB Yearbook)<br />
<b><span style="font-size: medium;"><u>Other units of the 2nd Infantry Division:</u><br />
</span></b><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span face="Arial Black, sans-serif">In
April 1945, the 2nd Infantry Division overran Leipzig-Schönefeld, a sub-camp of the </span></span></span><a href="https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/narrative/3956/en"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><span style="color: #2aa9e0;"><span style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span face="Arial Black, sans-serif"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Buchenwald</span></span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span face="Arial Black, sans-serif"> concentration
camp, where the camp staff forced the prisoners to work for the Hugo
Schneider AG (Hasag) firm. The SS had permitted the Hasag's Leipzig
field office to establish an ammunition factory for the German
military in 1944. On March 28, 1945, Schönefeld housed some 4,765
female prisoners; however, at the beginning of April, the SS
evacuated many of the inmates to prevent them from falling into
Allied hands. When the 2nd Infantry Division arrived on April 14,
1945, only some 250 prisoners remained in the camp. According to the
2nd's report, the SS killed between 400 and 600 prisoners from
December 1944 to April 1945. After occupying the camp, the members of
the 2nd Infantry Division arranged for proper burial of the dead and
collected evidence to be used in the prosecution of the SS personnel.</span></span></span></span></b></div>
<div style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #333333;"><span face="Arial Black, sans-serif" style="font-size: medium;"><b>Around
April 15, 1945, the 2nd Infantry Division liberated some one thousand
prisoners incarcerated in the “labor education” camp at
Spergau/Zöschen. The US soldiers interviewed prisoners and
interrogated captured SS guards to ascertain conditions in the camp,
identify and locate perpetrators, and gather evidence for war crimes
prosecution.</b></span></span></div>
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<b><i><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-size: medium;">Somewhere in Germany</span></i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<b><i><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-size: medium;">First U.S. Army </span></i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<b><i><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-size: medium;">Sec. Inf. Div. </span></i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<b><i><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-size: medium;">April 19, 1945 </span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-size: medium;">Dear Mother,</span></i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><i><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-size: medium;"> It's sure high time I was writing a few lines but as you realize things have been moving so fast I just haven't had the time. </span></i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-size: medium;"><i> Sure hope this finds you all in the best of health. As for me I'm okay now but had a couple bad days and nights a short time pass. I was sure some sick with dysentery or G.I. sh-- and weak as a rag. For two days and nights all I did was lay in a ditch and didn't even eat. We made one night move which I just made it, almost had to give up. I don't know what gave them to me it was some Heinie sausage which were quite greasy. We also found a bunch of fresh eggs and had eggs fried, boiled, scrambled and about any way you could imagine. Oh well, I'm okay now. <span style="color: #666666;">(This was one of the few stories my uncle shared with us about the war. He shared he was feeling so sick that he told his buddies just leave him in the ditch and go on without him. Of course, they refused to leave him. They placed him on the back of some vehicle with his pants down and his rear hanging over the edge as they traveled.)</span></i></span></b></div>
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<b><i><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-size: medium;"> It's still quite cold here, but spring is well on its way and everything is green with many of the trees in full blossom. </span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-size: medium;"> Gee, did we have a downpour of rain the other night and many of the boys sure got wet as it was so unexpected and I have never seen such a thunderstorm since being over here.</span></i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b><i><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"> I received your Easter card and liked it very much. Also the small Portland papers and my sportsman magazine. I am going to exchange the sportsman magazine for another sportsman book. The one the Lieutenants receives.</span></i></b><br />
<b><i><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"> Jones sure had a big laugh when I showed him the picture along with the fry pan of eggs, ha ha.</span></i></b><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b style="font-style: italic;"> Yes, that was the same fellow that was at Camp McCoy, but he hasn't been here for a month. </b><span style="color: #666666;"><b style="font-style: italic;">(</b>Do not know who he is writing about. It wouldn't be Jones because my grandmother wrote to him and sent him packages because Jones was a close friend to Uncle Charlie.<b style="font-style: italic;">) </b></span><b style="font-style: italic;">Guess he'll be back soon. Remember you asked me about the pictures? He's just the same as ever.</b></span><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><i style="font-weight: bold;"> Glad to hear Helen </i><span style="color: #666666;"><i style="font-weight: bold;">(</i>sister<i style="font-weight: bold;">), </i></span><i style="font-weight: bold;">Joey, and the baby, Joey Jr. made the trip from Florida okay and I have an idea of all the things she has to talk about. Wish I could see "Husky" (</i>Joey<i style="font-weight: bold;"> </i>Jr<i style="font-weight: bold;">.). He must be quite the boy. </i></span><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b style="font-style: italic;"> I see by the small papers what you mean by Gen. Patton making the head lines. </b><span style="color: #666666;"><b style="font-style: italic;">(</b>Appears the front line soldiers had an issue with Gen. Patton. Just my opinion.<b style="font-style: italic;">)</b></span></span><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><i style="font-weight: bold;"> By the way Eugene writes I guess Dad is doing one swell job on the garage as he sure had plenty in his letter. Guess I know where they're building it - maybe it will be okay later when you become accustom to it. </i><span style="color: #666666;"><i style="font-weight: bold;">(</i>My grandfather built the "Knight Homestead". I am sure he had some help along the way.<i style="font-weight: bold;">)</i></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #666666; font-size: medium;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Knight Homestead House<br /><br /></span></b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WbpBMxRdZUw/XF3VS8_ms5I/AAAAAAAAUko/vBQBjC1zI6o0T-DOpIZ9n7zxr1BTIIGKACLcBGAs/s1600/2%2BKNIGHT%2BHOEMESTEAD%2BBARN%2B%2BGRANDPA%2BKNIGHT%2BOCT%2B5%252C%2B1942.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="968" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WbpBMxRdZUw/XF3VS8_ms5I/AAAAAAAAUko/vBQBjC1zI6o0T-DOpIZ9n7zxr1BTIIGKACLcBGAs/w603-h640/2%2BKNIGHT%2BHOEMESTEAD%2BBARN%2B%2BGRANDPA%2BKNIGHT%2BOCT%2B5%252C%2B1942.jpg" width="603" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Grandpa building barn</span></b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TQZ-xkUy3c8/XF3VKHeM8HI/AAAAAAAAUkg/Yo_87-SfPRQtuA_mLCR-HEfV95hrQjHRACLcBGAs/s1600/4%2BKNIGHT%2BHOEMESTEAD%2B4.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="650" data-original-width="658" height="629" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TQZ-xkUy3c8/XF3VKHeM8HI/AAAAAAAAUkg/Yo_87-SfPRQtuA_mLCR-HEfV95hrQjHRACLcBGAs/w640-h629/4%2BKNIGHT%2BHOEMESTEAD%2B4.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">House and Barn</span></b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Garage</span></b></td></tr>
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<div style="font-size: 17.6px;"><b><i><span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-size: medium; text-align: center;"> One thing never worry about a word you can't spell as I can always make out and most of the time just read right along.</span></span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-size: medium; text-align: center;"> Sure hope brother is better and is over his <u>yellow streak</u>. ha ha</span></span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-size: medium; text-align: center;"> All letters are censored and stamped over here, not in New York. The way things are going mail is not regular so you have to take it as it comes.</span></span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-size: medium; text-align: center;"> One thing about George Fuller, he is so far back that there is little worry. Still like the rest of us he is away from home and loved ones.</span></span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-size: medium; text-align: center;"> No, Jones didn't say a word to me about Dad but I could read between the lines of one of your letters so that's how I found out before you wrote.</span></span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-size: medium; text-align: center;"> Sorry to hear that Jimmy Allen has gone but his job is done and many more have paid the price.</span></span></i></b></div>
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<b> Sgt. James F Allen 4<sup>th</sup> Division USMCR
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<b>1919-1945</b></div>
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<b>Parents: Mr. and
Mrs. Lawrence H Allen</b></div>
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South Windham,
Maine, USA</div>
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<b>Killed In Action</b></div>
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Roll: ww2c_27</div>
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<b><i><span><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 17.6px;"> </span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-size: medium;">Yes, those pictures I sent were poor but I was lucky to get them.</span></span></span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-size: medium; text-align: center;"> Oh yes, I received the film you sent me but haven't taken any pictures yet. I have an old Kraut camera and may be able to use it.</span></span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-size: medium; text-align: center;"> That sounds just like Cliff Thomas trying to make out those papers but he is just the the same at all times.</span></span></i></b></div>
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<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-size: medium;"><b style="font-style: italic;"><span><span style="text-align: center;"> I just heard some bad news about the ninth army over the radio but everything will be okay. <span style="color: #666666;">(</span></span></span></b><span style="color: #666666;">The Battle of the Seelow Heights started on 16 April 1945 when Marshal Georgy Zhukov's 1st Belorussian Front attacked across the Oder. The 9th Army held the line for about 3 days. After heavy fighting Weidling's LVI Panzer Corps was driven back towards Berlin. Most of the CI Army Corps divisions, now north of the salient created by the 1st Belorussian Front were reassigned along with LVI Panzer Corps to Army Detachment Steiner which was tasked with counter-attacking and pinching off the salient in a poorly conceived, unrealistic plan by OKW. In the end Weidling's corps was driven back into Berlin and he was promoted to commander of the Berlin Defensive Area, reporting directly to Hitler. Theodor Busse and the rest of the 9th Army were driven into a pocket in the Spree Forest south of the Seelow Heights and west of Frankfurt<b style="font-style: italic;">.) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/9th_Army_(Wehrmacht)#1945</b></span></span></div>
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<b><i><span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-size: medium; text-align: center;"> Mother, if you can do this without cutting yourself short will you send me a couple pounds of coffee. Remember, don't take it from yourself or one of your points. Maybe a couple of cans of milk. </span></span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-size: medium; text-align: center;"> Must close now as I have to get up early. Hello to all with love.</span></span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-size: medium; text-align: center;"> Love</span></span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-size: medium; text-align: center;"> Son Charles</span></span></i></b></div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzlVJV2Vd-lVSsOwwzmNk0r7okW12qrhBXsqrcesBfloV8TTgYM9lwsxiCAepUl4-np7_KqvePlK1UkL_qT' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div style="font-size: 17.6px; text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: small;"><span style="text-align: center;"> Last of the video series #5</span></span></b></div>
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Peter Lagassehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00554859638119426729noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7446305222030292008.post-31012112891618830332019-01-30T17:03:00.004-05:002021-02-06T23:23:49.248-05:004 April 1945 "They Just Won't Give Up" (Post #104)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2EdCE4NkNL0/XEkwBa2IP0I/AAAAAAAAMDE/qMx_u9rc9Egzs9BP91kque-ta5MuxdNowCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/USE%2BAFTER%2BMARCH%2B10%2B1945.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="98" data-original-width="441" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2EdCE4NkNL0/XEkwBa2IP0I/AAAAAAAAMDE/qMx_u9rc9Egzs9BP91kque-ta5MuxdNowCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/USE%2BAFTER%2BMARCH%2B10%2B1945.JPG" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-59m9A4k31fk/XEqxB8mxRkI/AAAAAAAAMEM/dP-lB8R8Jus0JSa6sZamxrBHyWuwhmJOwCLcBGAs/s1600/to%2Bweser.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="502" data-original-width="670" height="479" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-59m9A4k31fk/XEqxB8mxRkI/AAAAAAAAMEM/dP-lB8R8Jus0JSa6sZamxrBHyWuwhmJOwCLcBGAs/s640/to%2Bweser.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>To the Weser River<br /><br /></b></span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RYrONW4fcYU/XEq3WB6Ei9I/AAAAAAAAMEY/X9ONxyPZr6Qi31HS6brCACqBEoTaCFQcwCLcBGAs/s1600/1387173_Battle_of_Attu_Anniversa14-1024x785.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="339" data-original-width="800" height="270" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RYrONW4fcYU/XEq3WB6Ei9I/AAAAAAAAMEY/X9ONxyPZr6Qi31HS6brCACqBEoTaCFQcwCLcBGAs/w640-h270/1387173_Battle_of_Attu_Anniversa14-1024x785.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face=""arial black" , sans-serif"><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>After 5 days of local
defense without incident the battalion packed up and rolled on <span style="color: #000099;">April
5th to Immenhausen</span> where firing positions were organized.
Having passed through the armor, the battalion-supported infantry
advanced to the Weser river, <span style="color: #ce181e;">moving through
Holzhausen to the Gahrenberg Forest</span><span style="color: #ce181e;"> </span><span style="color: #ce181e;">on
April 6th</span> from which enemy artillery and infantry resistance
were engaged. On <span style="color: #000099;">April 7th, the 15th Field
Artillery displaced to Vaake</span>, a town on the west bank of the
Weser river. (<span>from 15th FAB WWII Yearbook</span>)</b></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tQcjjkJ2zWk/XEq5f6Ge1JI/AAAAAAAAMEk/V2Lg7bdxVVEAxoylwi7TjsPsLVy7h45KwCEwYBhgL/s1600/marching.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="142" data-original-width="642" height="87" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tQcjjkJ2zWk/XEq5f6Ge1JI/AAAAAAAAMEk/V2Lg7bdxVVEAxoylwi7TjsPsLVy7h45KwCEwYBhgL/s400/marching.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b>Letter to His Sister Flavilla</b></div>
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<b>Somewhere in Germany</b></div>
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<b>First U.S. Army</b></div>
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<b>Sec. Inf. Div.</b></div>
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<b>March 30, 1945</b></div>
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<b>Dear Sister,</b></div>
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<b> I want to say hello, Ralph and all the children in just a few lines, and let you know I'm in the best of health and still going strong. Received your letter saying Ralph had been sick but by now, no doubt, he is feeling much better.</b></div>
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<b> Spring is well on the way here and the weather has been good only for a little rain at times. It's still early so the nights are pretty cool but I've lived outside through so much of it I don't mind. Thank God winter and the mud of spring are behind us. This won't last into another winter, I'm sure.</b></div>
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<b> Why these Krauts don't give up is more than I know. I can't tell you in words, but my God, what a pounding we are giving them. It's hard to believe some of the things you see. </b></div>
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<b> Thanks for the picture of Jimmy Larrabee, Jr., but who would believe it? No, I don't know the girl he married. I think Jr. was in a tank outfit and got wounded somewhere in France.</b></div>
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<b> As for Pauline, oh well, it's a funny world after all. </b></div>
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<b> You wrote about the letter I sent the mill and I'll tell you the truth, that's all I hear lately. Someone wrote it even went to the Boston office. All I can say, it was just a letter. </b></div>
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<b> Received a package from Helen Ladd and I figure it took about five months. I must write her a few lines and thank her for it but gee, I can't seem to find the time. Guess she stops in at times by the way you wrote.</b></div>
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<b> So you still listen to " One Man's Family"? Ha, ha! How could I forget that? I've seen you almost twist the button off the radio because you missed part of it.</b></div>
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<b>(</b><span style="color: #444444;">One Man's Family was an American radio soap opera, heard from 1932 to 1959. Making it was the longest-running uninterrupted dramatic serial in the history of American radio. The plot-line centered on stockbroker Henry Barbour, his wife Fanny and their five children.</span><b>)</b></div>
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<b> Yes, I think I now know the house you own, but wouldn't mind a picture of it someday. </b></div>
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<b> You tell Beverly (</b><span style="color: #444444;">7 years old</span><b>) if she'll make those two and threes on her rank card come up higher, Uncle Charlie will send her some paper money from over here for a souvenir. Oh, yes, if David (</b><span style="color: #444444;">6 years old</span><b>) does better I'll do the same for him, but he has a good card now and Uncle Charlie is sure proud of him. Now, Flavilla, don't let me forget as I have so much to think of and I wouldn't want to fail them. Say hello to all the children and give them a kiss for me. </b></div>
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<b> Yes, Sis, I wrote one letter since December 3, but why you haven't received it, I can say. </b>(<span style="color: #444444;">She will get a letter dated Feb. 19, 1945 sometime later.</span><b>)</b></div>
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<b> Guess Mother doesn't like to bring down her blankets because you have the children to take care of and it would make so much more work.</b></div>
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<b> I receive the mill news and enjoy it very much. I heard they were paying back-pay. </b></div>
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<b> This seems to be all for now, Sister. Good night "kiddos" from Uncle Charlie.</b></div>
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<b> Love,</b></div>
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<b> Charles</b></div>
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<b>Letter to His Mother</b></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Somewhere in Germany</span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-size: medium;">First U.S. Army</span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-size: medium;">April 4, 1945</span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Dear Mother,</span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-size: medium;"> Not much news I can write about more than you are reading in the papers but you may be sure there's more to it. The news is good but one must remember someone has to pay dear in order to make this good news. </span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-size: medium;"> As I wrote in my last letter the weather has been with us for some time except for the pasts three days and these days have been raining and cold as the wind seems to never let up blowing.</span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-size: medium;"> I'm still in good health, sorry to hear about brother Eugene in your letter I received to-day. This is the only letter I received since I last wrote. Oh yes, to-day I did have a package from Colebrook, New Hampshire, and what do you think - a fruitcake, gee, was I some surprised.</span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-size: medium;"> I was planning to send twenty-five dollars toward the garage this month but will make it the first of the month.</span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-size: medium;"> You said the Doctor left some papers to fill out and I can't make out what you meant. I know the sickness Eugene had. Also glad he's doing something for his throat. Now that he has started I hope he'll doctor until his throat is cleared up as it has always bothered him some.</span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-size: medium;"> Don't ask me why the Germans don't give up, but if they keep asking for it we'll keep dishing it out.</span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-size: medium;"> Yes, if I can I'll write Cliff Thomas a letter but most of the time I'm behind letter writing.</span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-size: medium;"> I am enclosing an handkerchief which one of the boys brought back from Paris and wanted to know if I'd buy it, so here it is. </span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-size: medium;"> I put my felts up for a time during the good weather but now have them on. I'll say that was money well spent.</span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-size: medium;"> Well, Mother, I sure hope brother will be feeling better by the time you receive this letter. Tell him not to worry because he has to lose a few days work.</span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-size: medium;"> Still waiting to hear if Dad received his letter. Glad to know he's feeling better. </span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-size: medium;"> This seems to be all for now so will say goodnight. </span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-size: medium;"> Love</span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-size: medium;"> Charles</span></i></b></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3oYdrgSAPPk/XFIbMdlGEAI/AAAAAAAAMFE/DB06LmHUeWod6YTxxblFuTIVc5T5tOcvQCLcBGAs/s1600/Paris%2BHandkerchief.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="995" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3oYdrgSAPPk/XFIbMdlGEAI/AAAAAAAAMFE/DB06LmHUeWod6YTxxblFuTIVc5T5tOcvQCLcBGAs/s640/Paris%2BHandkerchief.jpg" width="619" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Paris Handkerchief 12 inches by 12 inches (30.48 cm by 30.48 cm)<br />
Found in the envelope of the April 4, 1945 letter.<br /></span></b>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kzMJqUbzeNY/W3WYG6J7osI/AAAAAAAAKwI/D0aFfLbGXWcTGZ_k8a-VyQWKyBuyzer5gCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/BADGE%2BBORDER.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="68" data-original-width="418" height="65" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kzMJqUbzeNY/W3WYG6J7osI/AAAAAAAAKwI/D0aFfLbGXWcTGZ_k8a-VyQWKyBuyzer5gCPcBGAYYCw/w400-h65/BADGE%2BBORDER.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzfzkE_fh7TUNHKhmt0cdZDVmeP4kc2BXluBRVooultr7CCH5wIW3E8-bQ5kTUsr27HdX2DlWoF5qZ9y6oV9A' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><b>
Video 4<br /><span style="font-size: medium;">
Battle for the Rhine</span></b></td></tr>
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Peter Lagassehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00554859638119426729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7446305222030292008.post-51695535923168103092019-01-24T18:16:00.008-05:002021-02-05T16:40:35.783-05:00March 21-30, 1945 "Uncle Charlie Holds Nothing Back" (Post #103)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>This letter will be written starting</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>March 21 & end on March 30, 1945</b></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">HOWITZER 105</span></b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b style="color: #274e13;"><u>March 21-30, 1945</u></b></span><br />
<u><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"></span></u><b>15th FAB Yearbook<br />
</b><div style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.2in; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span><b>With
the crossing of the Rhine River the battalion was to enter the last
phase of the war against a weakened but still determined
enemy. <span>Moving through the
searchlight-illuminated Rhine valley on March 21st, the battalion
crossed a pontoon bridge near Remagen and was emplaced above
Rhinebrohl as a reinforcing battalion to support a morning attack to
expand the bridgehead to the south</span>. Supporting this attack by
dusk displacements, the battalion set up near <span>Leutesdorf
on the 22nd of March</span> and <span>Rodenbach
on the bank of the Wied river the following night. Remaining in this
position on March 24th</span>, the 15th Field Artillery prepared for
a sustained forward attack which carried it to <span>Weis
on the 25th</span>. During the evening a forward observer party of
“B” Battery was ambushed with other doughboys by a group of
by-passed enemy troops and suffered losses.</b></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: black;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b>One involved in the ambush was 2nd Lt. Clay J. Ritter, the Forward Observer of Company B of the 15th FAB, and the jeep he was riding in at the time. "I had a jeep with a driver and radio operator, but we moved slowly with the foot soldiers. As we approached a curve on a hill, a German machine gun opened fire. The sniper seemed to be everywhere at once. I could feel the bullets whizzing past my body. I dove in a ditch with my sidearm in hand. After the enemy was taken out, I stood to see my uniform covered in blood and human tissue. My driver's head took a direct hit and its contents exploded on me. My radio operator and about 9 riflemen who had hitched a ride on the jeep also died." </b></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b>The two men were Pvt. Elmer Curley and Pvt. B.D. Wiginton. His daughter, Linda Ritter Carroll, shared her father was haunted by their death the rest of his life.</b></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span><b>[Clay Ritter's Memoirs in green] </b></span></span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">The center section of the Battery B 15th FAB<br />
group picture taken June 1943 at Camp McCoy.<br />
Both men and my uncle in red circle identified.</span></b></td></tr>
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<span style="color: black;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span><br />Moving
just west of Hohr-Grenzhausen on March 26th</span>, attacks were
supported with good success. One self-propelled enemy gun near the
15th FAB area fired 50 rounds of harassing fire and defied all
attempts of ground and air OP personnel to locate it. Capt. Richards
of the attached AAA Battery captured two PW's in our area during the
evening. Displacing to an assembly area <span>near
Hilderscheid and on to Ndr.</span> <span>Elbert
on the 26th of March the 15th Field Artillery saw the last organized
line of resistance crumble</span> and prepared to transport
infantry following combat commands of armor for deeper thrusts into
the Reich.
<span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">A
three-day advance</span></span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"> carried
the 15th Field Artillery through </span><span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Hadomar,
Oberndorf, Wetzlar, home of the Leica camera, Giessen, Ndr. Ofleiden
to Obr. Waroldern</span></span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">,
over 130 kilometers in airline distance. Positions were north of
the </span><span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Eder
See</span></span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"> in a
narrow corridor of contact connecting the 1st and 9th U. S.
Armies and forming the original Ruhr pocket. No contact had been
established but was imminent, and the battalion's howitzers were
emplaced for all round defense of the town, billeting the 15th
Field Artillery and 3rd Battalion 9th Infantry.</span></b></span></span></span></div>
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<b><i><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-size: medium;">Somewhere in Germany</span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-size: medium;">First U.S. Army</span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-size: medium;">Sec. Inf. Div. </span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-size: medium;">Mar. 21-30, 1945</span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-size: medium;">Dear Mother,</span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-size: medium;"> With the weather fair and signs of coming spring it sure makes one feel better then in the pass. Quite a change since last I wrote.</span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-size: medium;"> For over a week now the weather has been good, of course it's still cool being so early in the spring but as I walked through the woods the other day I noticed some of the trees were budding and heard the songs of new birds.</span></i></b></div>
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<i><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-size: medium;"><b> I've sent you a box and the napkin rings were some I had at the same time I sent you the egg stands, etc. The money in the white bag save but that in the black pocket book you may give away for souvenirs if you like.</b></span></i></div>
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<i><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-size: medium;"><b> I see you received the twenty-five dollars I sent, now I'm writing for the answers to another letter. Seem you should have it by now.</b></span></i></div>
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<i><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-size: medium;"><b> Gee, I just can't keep up on birthdays and other dates as half the time I don't know the date myself. I've just give up thinking about them until this is over.</b></span></i></div>
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<i><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-size: medium;"><b> I received a very nice letter from Dora Sullivan. Dora and another woman from the Main office at S.D. Warren are ones in charge of the Warren Mill News which is sent out to all the boys in service from S.D. Warren. They receive letters from all parts of the world; then they take parts from each letter and make up a small mill paper. I really enjoy it very much. Her letter was in answer to a very long letter I sent. She read the letter saying it touched her very much. I guess nearly everyone in the main office read it. One girl even had her read it over twice. After reading the letter she wrote about sending it over to the office of the president of S.D. Warren, John Hyde. You know where his home is - that nice house on the right pass the mill. I really feel this as an honor. After going to his office it went to L T Gorries and then to the finishing room.</b></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><i><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b> You wrote about the fox and that is the way they walk one foot in front of the other leaving one straight line of tracks.</b></span></i><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">##</span><b style="font-style: italic;">I could tell Dee plenty in less than five minutes if I saw her. I don't blame Helen (</b><span style="color: #666666;">his sister in Florida</span><b style="font-style: italic;">) one darn bit. (</b><span style="color: #666666;">It appears Dee is upset that Helen didn't wave to a possible German POW. 10,000 German POWs were held in 27 camps in Florida. Sometimes they worked in companies or on farms.</span><b style="font-style: italic;">) One thing Helen realizes is that she has a brother over here and maybe the very Kraut she waves to will be the one that was sniping and pinned me down for so long right after hitting shore (</b><span style="color: #444444;">Omaha Beach</span><b style="font-style: italic;">) climbing in the ditch that was filled with black muck that stunk like hell, but instead of trying to avoid it I just tried to crawl deeper into it. He also might have been the cause of missing buddies and many other things one can't forget. What in the world is the trouble with some of the American people? By gosh, Dee may wave if she likes but when thinking of these things I can't give the rats a smile. I've read of some just like Dee that even say they act more like gentlemen than their American boys. Some want even to get married. I'd like to be guard over some of them. Just about the time one of them went on a sit down strike I'd give him something to change his mind; he wouldn't stay on his ass very long. Let me tell you one thing, it would take more than an open door to cool me off now. Remember what you wrote? ha ha, As you wrote it's just as well not to say too much.</b></span><br />
<i><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b> Here it is quite a few days later and I haven't finished this letter to you. Guess I'll just continue even if it is March 30th as I have received a few letters since then.</b></span></i><br />
<i><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b> First off, the weather is still with us and spring is fast on its way. The nights are still cold but the sun feels good during the day. We do have rain now and then but that is spring.</b></span></i><br />
<i><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b> Gee, I have the package with the salve as it came the twenty-fourth and postmarked sometime in March but I couldn't make out the day. I won't say now rather it will heal or cure but it's sure a big help even if I've only used it twice. You may not believe it but I was using a chap-stick ha ha.</b></span></i><br />
<i><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b> Haven't as many clothes now after turning most of them in - overcoat, clothing and all but two blankets to go with our sleeping bag.</b></span></i><br />
<i><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b> I guess Patton does cover the frontlines in the papers back home but as you said, "He's not the only one fighting over here." Seems he goes for that frontline stuff. Oh well, it's not always the rooster that crows the loudest which does the most good.</b></span></i><br />
<i><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b> Sure hope you make out well with the turkey.</b></span></i><br />
<i><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b> So you see about a few things but I wonder if you could see beyond?</b></span></i><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b style="font-style: italic;"> Received Eugene's (</b><span style="color: #666666;">brother</span><b style="font-style: italic;">) pictures and they were o.k. No doubt he picked the best ones to have made. Also received the big one you cut out but it's all gone by now. He sure looked happy.</b></span><br />
<i><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b> The stamps you got from Roosevelt Match of Dimes is a good thing. A few dimes are not much but they add up to a lot. You see, he had about the same sickness which left him lame. You'll always notice he has an aid with him while standing.</b></span></i><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b style="font-style: italic;"> Flavilla (</b><span style="color: #666666;">sister</span><b style="font-style: italic;">) sent me a picture of James Larravee Jr's. wedding and I could hardly believe it. I don't know the girl. </b></span><br />
<i><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b> I guess the letter I wrote the Mill News went all over the place as Glena (the woman with the green car that called at the house) wrote me a letter telling all about it. Gee, I don't know what I said but seems I've been pretty popular for the past few weeks at the mill. Still that won't get me home and that's the only thing I care about.</b></span></i><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b style="font-style: italic;"> That's okay if you let Jeanette (</b>His brother, Eugene, future wife.<b>)</b><b style="font-style: italic;"> take the books or anyone else or even anything else I've sent home if you consider the person you let them take it first. </b></span><br />
<i><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b> Your letter today of March 16 with the seal of Maine on it sure looks good. Guess there are a few others before this one telling me Eugene being sick as you started off as I already knew. Hope he's feeling better now.</b></span></i><br />
<i><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b> Well, Mother, not much more I can think about now or that I care to write about. Hope Dad received my letter. Tell Eugene to keep up the courage and hope he'll soon be well. </b></span></i><br />
<i><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b> Love to All</b></span></i><br />
<i><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b> Charles</b></span></i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b><span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>## </i></span>Uncle Charlie let's off some pent up emotions in that paragraph. Dee had hit a major nerve.</b></span><br />
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<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="color: #93c47d; font-size: medium;"><b> Three items mentioned in the letter</b></span></div>
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<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="color: #6aa84f; font-size: medium;"><b><i> </i>Napkin Rings & Egg Cups of Belgium</b></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-c8I5ReFQ7qE/XEog2scDsaI/AAAAAAAAMDM/eYLHt_NvsO8Tlbz2PafmarzYVK6NPIxRQCLcBGAs/s1600/MAINE%2BSTATE%2BSEAL.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="233" data-original-width="216" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-c8I5ReFQ7qE/XEog2scDsaI/AAAAAAAAMDM/eYLHt_NvsO8Tlbz2PafmarzYVK6NPIxRQCLcBGAs/s320/MAINE%2BSTATE%2BSEAL.png" width="296" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Maine State Seal</span></b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b>In the center of the seal, a moose (state animal) rests under a tall pine tree (state tree). A farmer and seaman represent the traditional reliance on agriculture and the sea by the state. The North Star represents the state motto: Dirigo ("I Lead").</b></span><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzi4SjqjPDrtpVXmX3XNye2eoIaIS-QIOAgMHvAQvbO09xAllh0erS5-QvfwikiLNdBqs1AfVrAlJ0XSMwIZA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-weight: 700;">Video 3</span></div>
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Peter Lagassehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00554859638119426729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7446305222030292008.post-64586580715276362012019-01-18T17:48:00.005-05:002021-02-05T16:12:26.776-05:0019 March 1945 "The Spoils of War?" (Post #102)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #783f04; font-size: x-large;"><b>GETTING READY FOR</b></span></div>
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<u><b><span style="font-size: medium;">The 15th Field Artillery Battalion Advancements</span></b></u></div>
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<span face=""arial black" , sans-serif" style="font-size: medium;">Action continued light and on
<span style="color: #ce181e;">March 4th, as another attack began, the battalion moved through Dreiborn to Wollseifen</span> and
<span style="color: #000099;">crossed the Roer to Hergarten the following day
March 5</span>. The battle had become a pursuit and after firing on
tanks and fleeing horse-drawn vehicles the battalion made a double
displacement on <span style="color: #ce181e;">March 6th, terminated by a
night occupation of positions near Bergheim</span>. During the march
on the following day the battalion took hasty positions twice to
attack tanks and enemy infantry and finally closed into Bouderath,
the first town in Germany for which the 15th Field Artillery was
completely responsible. A burgermeister was appointed and all
materials of war were collected. Enemy artillery fire during the
day destroyed the liaison jeep with the 9th Infantry Regiment.
Harassing towns prior to their entry by our infantry troops, the
battalion moved at noon on March 8th to Mutscheid.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span face=""arial black" , sans-serif">With
a shattering of enemy resistance the 15th Field Artillery began a
33-mile night march over rough routes and arrived in <span style="color: #000099;">Konigstall
early on March 10th</span>, taking positions north of town. <span style="color: #000099;">Moving
again in the afternoon against a stiff rear guard action the
battalion went into position in Franken</span> and infantrymen of CBT
9 closed on the west bank of the Rhine River to form the north face
of a large pocket of several enemy divisions trapped west of the
Rhine. Considerable enemy air activity was noted over the area
attempting to bomb the Remagen Bridge. Observers established in
castles high above the Rhine looked down the enemy's throat and
caught all enemy movements in the low-lying towns on the east bank. </span><span face=""arial black" , sans-serif">For several days the battalion continued to support the expanding
Remagen bridgehead by fire until its turn came to cross the last
river barrier to inner Germany. (The 2nd Infantry Division</span><span face=""arial black" , sans-serif"> seized Gemünden on 4 March 1945, reached the Rhine on 9 March and then Breisig on 10 March before assuring custody of the Ludendorff bridge from 12 to 20 March 1945.)</span><br />
<span face=""arial black" , sans-serif" style="color: #e69138;">[From 15th FAB YEARBOOK]</span></span></div>
<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nmJ7MtJ4lRU/YB2yWq4I3iI/AAAAAAAAbjw/OkhWNTpXD9IzRdFm4lQ7UW4KIUCJprXkQCLcBGAsYHQ/s162/giphy%2B1.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="150" data-original-width="162" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nmJ7MtJ4lRU/YB2yWq4I3iI/AAAAAAAAbjw/OkhWNTpXD9IzRdFm4lQ7UW4KIUCJprXkQCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/giphy%2B1.gif" /></a><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nmJ7MtJ4lRU/YB2yWq4I3iI/AAAAAAAAbjw/OkhWNTpXD9IzRdFm4lQ7UW4KIUCJprXkQCLcBGAsYHQ/s162/giphy%2B1.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="150" data-original-width="162" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nmJ7MtJ4lRU/YB2yWq4I3iI/AAAAAAAAbjw/OkhWNTpXD9IzRdFm4lQ7UW4KIUCJprXkQCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/giphy%2B1.gif" /></a><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nmJ7MtJ4lRU/YB2yWq4I3iI/AAAAAAAAbjw/OkhWNTpXD9IzRdFm4lQ7UW4KIUCJprXkQCLcBGAsYHQ/s162/giphy%2B1.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="150" data-original-width="162" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nmJ7MtJ4lRU/YB2yWq4I3iI/AAAAAAAAbjw/OkhWNTpXD9IzRdFm4lQ7UW4KIUCJprXkQCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/giphy%2B1.gif" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b><i>March 19, 1945</i></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b><i>Dear Mother,</i></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b><i> Just a note along with this package I'm sending.</i></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b><i> All the things inside the bundle with the helmet are part of a youth uniform found inside a small building behind some houses. Inside the building was a two wheel cart, hand down with a reel of small fire hose like the old fashion type hose reels we once saw years ago. There was also a small amount of firefighting equipment. In a plain wooden locker were all these uniform, helmets, and a bag to carry over the shoulder which held a mask (intended for a smoke mask but just like the German gas mask). The bag and mask were of a brown shade and hanging in the lockers were brown jackets which looked like plain work jackets. </i></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b><i> As you notice the outfits had plenty of color (attractive to the youth eyes). The suit cloth was a dark blue, very neatly made. Around the collar, cuffs, and pockets etc. was a piping of the same red.</i></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b><i> Some of them were made for very small boys, this helmet being one of the larger and more fancy than the others. I guess as they worked up, more was added to their dress outfit.</i></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b><i> All this seems to me like a very good camouflage due to one fact. Behind the building I found a silhouette full size of a man's head and shoulders with an outline of a helmet. This was nailed to a small stake for standing in the ground. You could find many bullet holes which had been checked off with a pencil but here is what I'm coming to. The helmet outline was that of a G.I. From all this you may form your own opinion.</i></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b><i> The silk is that of a German supply parachute which was found when at one time they tried to drop some equipment to their front lines but made a mistake and overshot. Maybe you could work it into a pillow top or something else.</i></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b><i> The white cord is from a German pilot and I saw him, on Christmas Day, jump from his plane after it had been shot up and set afire.</i></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b><i> Here are some stamps for the collection and also German money with a few others mixed in. </i></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i><span style="font-size: medium;"><b style="font-family: inherit;"> The rest are </b><b>insignias from caps, shoulders and pockets but they were taken at different times and I can't name the places. </b></span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i><b><span style="font-size: medium;"> Charles</span></b></i></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SJ6EASdQEqg/XEFLnnaxIMI/AAAAAAAAMBk/j0iPOGiiPXgWAyB0GgCj9Ejq_ezVUsg4wCLcBGAs/s1600/The%2BLudendorff%2BRailroad%2BBridge%2Bat%2BRemagen.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="455" data-original-width="652" height="444" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SJ6EASdQEqg/XEFLnnaxIMI/AAAAAAAAMBk/j0iPOGiiPXgWAyB0GgCj9Ejq_ezVUsg4wCLcBGAs/s640/The%2BLudendorff%2BRailroad%2BBridge%2Bat%2BRemagen.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-size: medium;">The Ludendorff Railroad Bridge at Remagen</span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BUBUEeSJhKU/XEFMiHOX9mI/AAAAAAAAMBs/dZxx53WKJLoFIU_NUwtSplxpAPPGlCmHACLcBGAs/s1600/cross%2Bthe%2Brhine.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="600" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BUBUEeSJhKU/XEFMiHOX9mI/AAAAAAAAMBs/dZxx53WKJLoFIU_NUwtSplxpAPPGlCmHACLcBGAs/s1600/cross%2Bthe%2Brhine.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">
The 27th Armored
Infantry Battalion, Combat
Command B, 9th Armored
Division, discovered that
the Ludendorff bridge at
Remagen in the First Army
area was still standing and
passed the word back to the
Combat Command B commander, Brigadier General
William M. Hoge, a former
engineer officer. General
Hoge ordered the immediate
capture of the bridge, and Advance to the Rhine
soldiers of the 27th became
the first invaders since the Napoleonic era to set foot on
German soil east of the Rhine. Crossings in other army
areas followed before the month was. over leading to the
rapid defeat of Hitler's armies in a few short weeks.</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>http://atloa.org/wp-content/uploads/The-Rhine-River-Crossings.pdf</b></span></div>
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Peter Lagassehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00554859638119426729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7446305222030292008.post-1969338141428066842019-01-10T15:48:00.001-05:002021-02-05T15:37:29.452-05:0015 March 1945 "Uncle Charlie Feels Pretty Good" (Post #101)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ov637GyhAfo/XDPmjx4KCGI/AAAAAAAAL9g/1r-MZXmJjR4XNm1zHCgoKe8CxHV5tWt5gCLcBGAs/s1600/maxresdefault.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="187" data-original-width="1024" height="114" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ov637GyhAfo/XDPmjx4KCGI/AAAAAAAAL9g/1r-MZXmJjR4XNm1zHCgoKe8CxHV5tWt5gCLcBGAs/w640-h114/maxresdefault.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #e06666; font-size: medium;"><b>The letter written by my uncle is dated March 15, 1945. They 2nd Infantry Division will be crossing the Rhine on March 21st.</b><br /></span>
<b> </b><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>As shared to me by Glynn Raby Jr, a member of the 9th Infantry Regiment, "</b><b>Peter, After we crossed into Germany, our forward progress increased, due to less and less opposition. One factor was that we didn't dig holes in the ground at night, but used the houses in the villages. I have forgotten the names of many towns, but we entered one just after dawn. The Platoon Sgt. got word that we would stop there for some time and picked a house for some of our Platoon. He directed me to check the cellar while he checked the second floor. I encountered some enemy and ordered them to come up the stairs with their hands up. I quickly informed the Sgt. We went outside and 7 enemy soldiers came up and surrendered. I think they were weary and just waiting.</b><br />
<b>A day or two later, a widespread siege of diarrhea hit many of the 2nd Infantry Division, and as we advanced, we could see signs that the enemy had the same problem. I was one of 3 or 4 in the Platoon that it skipped. The chief medic in the 2ndID ordered that hot tea be substituted for coffee. That helped."</b></span><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b><span style="color: #e06666; font-size: medium;">The 9th Infantry Regiment of the 2nd Infantry Division arrived at the bridge March 10 and did guard duty until they crossed the Rhine March 21st.</span></b><br />
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<div style="text-align: right;">
<b><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Somewhere In Germany</span></i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<b><i><span style="font-size: medium;">First U.S. Army </span></i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<b><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Sec. Inf. Div. </span></i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<b><i><span style="font-size: medium;">March 15, 1945 </span></i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Dear Mother and All at Home,</span></i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><i><span style="font-size: medium;"> These few lines leave me in good health. Sure hope that Dad is feeling much better since I have been thinking about him most of the time since his accident.</span></i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><i><span style="font-size: medium;"> Received a letter from you yesterday dated March 1 which is the best traveling time in a long while, another came in March 13 and was mailed February 28.</span></i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><i><span style="font-size: medium;"> It seems you were very much full of fun in your letter dated March ,1 but don't ever write something and then tell me I don't dare to read it to the other boys. ha ha</span></i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><i><span style="font-size: medium;"> Don't think I told you in my last letter that I had received another roll of paper you sent, also two small newspapers.</span></i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"> The two pictures of sister and baby were swell. Gee, what a boy. I wouldn't blame her if she enters him in the baby show at Miami. </i><span style="color: #444444;"><b>(</b>His sister Helen and her 7 month old son Joseph Borek Jr<b>.) </b></span><i style="font-weight: bold;">It seems the people down there </i><span style="color: #444444; font-weight: bold;">(</span><span style="color: #444444;">Homestead, Florida</span><span style="color: #444444; font-weight: bold;">) </span><i style="font-weight: bold;">like her or that's the impression I have from your letters.</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><i><span style="font-size: medium;"> Gee, we have been taking more of a licking from the weather than the Jerries. I never in my life remember when I've been so muddy and wet at different times than in the pass. On the other hand, I must admit the last three days have been swell, something like spring.</span></i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><i><span style="font-size: medium;"> Yesterday, I had a hundred percent clean up, washed clothes (didn't have any clean ones to wear) with a hot pail of water cleaned up myself, had a shave, haircut, cleaned rifle and hung bed roll out to dry and air out.</span></i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"> So Ruth Berry is a nurse in France. Guess I should know her; I went bowling a couple times and out to dinner once while she was training </i><span style="color: #444444; font-weight: bold;">(as a nurse) </span><i style="font-weight: bold;">in Portland </i><span style="color: #444444; font-weight: bold;">(Maine)</span><i style="font-weight: bold;">. oh oh - The only trouble was she had to be in so early which were the rules of the nurses' home where she stayed. </i><span style="color: #444444;"><b>(</b>Always the ladies' man was my dear uncle.<b>)</b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #444444;"> </span><i>When it is so wet we can't dig a hole. We just stay on top of the ground or scoop out a little dirt and pile it around the sides. </i></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><i><span style="font-size: medium;"> Yes, you may be sure I had many packages for Christmas. Everything was okay, even Helen's Ladd except for two or three bars. She sent two large and one small box of raisins. Guess she remembered how much I liked them.</span></i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><i><span style="font-size: medium;"> You have me guessing, what are you going to do with that five dollars I sent? Maybe I'll think of it before my next letter - maybe.</span></i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"> Only I can say is that Claude </i><span style="color: #444444;">(a local farmer that was getting richer by the day while not treating his workers well<b>) </b></span><i style="font-weight: bold;">sure looks after Claude but I hope he doesn't think he's fooling everyone. Guess you know what I mean. </i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><i><span style="font-size: medium;"> Still haven't seen Zip but feel everything is okay. You may realize we hear news here about things going around us. We see what's going on or who's being shelled etc. but never can write about it. I haven't heard anything about him or where he is but most of the time he is behind me as he's in a heavy outfit cooking.</span></i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"> Did that door cool you off? I see you were pretty hot around the collar when you wrote one letter. ha ha. Mike said "Nina foolish." </i><span style="color: #444444;"><b>(</b>Nina, my grandmother, didn't take any guff if you know what I mean.<b>)</b></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #444444;"> </span><i>I wrote you about my new teeth but I never knew where the others went.</i></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: medium;"><i> It's been a long time since the invasion but nearly every day has been on the </i><span style="color: #444444;">(front) </span><i>line so you see how much we go. The fellows that stay in the rear are lucky but some one has to fight, so why not me.</i></span></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-size: medium;"> Don't you worry about me over here as I intend starting life where and in the same way as I left off. Oh yes, some things will be different but sailing home the same way as when I left is my hope which gives me courage.</span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-size: medium;"> I am sending you some pictures but they aren't worth a darn. They were taken two different times with two different cameras. Some look as if the paper was put on the film before the film had dried. I would like to tell you a few things about a couple of the pictures but I guess I can't now. If you hold the pictures backside to them put your finger at the point of the arrow you'll be able to find the boys and their names. I'll have more to send later.</span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-size: medium;"> It's now 10:30 and I must be going so will sign off. Hello to Dad and Brother and best of health.</span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-size: medium;"> Love</span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-size: medium;"> Charles</span></i></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: medium;">Well, other than the concern about his father in the first paragraph, Uncle Charlie appears to be feeling upbeat in this letter. He's funny at times and a little "sure of himself" <u>in a good way</u> when he shares about the ladies and his future. </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: medium;">He definitely showed confidence and shared how he felt about issues around him. He wasn't timid to share his mind with his mother. They appeared to have had a very close and comfortable relationship.<i> </i></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: medium;">Knowing what Charles B. MacDonald said in <u>Company Commander</u> it did seem some units did most of the fighting in WW II. Not a great deal of rotation, but at least in this letter Uncle Charlie sounded as if "Someone has to be in the frontline, so why not me."</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: medium;">As both Charles B. MacDonald and Glynn Raby Jr. shared, this was the time when our soldiers sometimes housed themselves in the town they had entered. They would just go in and if there were no houses empty then they made the family move out and go to their neighbor. I wonder if my uncle was in one of those towns when he spent all day washing, shaving, cleaning his gun etc.? </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: medium;">Boy was he itching to share some information with his mother. He made a telling remark in my opinion when he wrote "they were getting more of a licking from the weather than the Jerries." Our boys are moving right along by this time.</span></b></div>
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<b><br /></b>Peter Lagassehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00554859638119426729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7446305222030292008.post-86077774206460695022019-01-03T18:10:00.003-05:002021-02-05T15:13:18.446-05:003 March 1945 "Have It Back Under Control" (POST #100)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Somewhere in Germany</span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-size: medium;">March 3, 1945 </span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Dear Mother,</span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-size: medium;"> Received a letter from home to-day dated February 21. One came yesterday with the clipping about Warren.</span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-size: medium;"> Still well and hope this letter finds things at home a little better,</span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-size: medium;"> I wrote Dad a letter and at that time it was raining hard but the weather has grown a little colder, seems very much like snow, in fact, it has tried to snow several times today.</span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-size: medium;"> Yesterday, the Red Cross girls (3 girls) came up with coffee and doughnuts.</span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-size: medium;"> To prove V-mail is not so fast your V-letter of February 19 also came to-day.</span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-size: medium;"> As you said, Eugene should find out the ceiling price on his tractor. Cash money he shouldn't pay any extra, but I guess he's lucky to get one the way things are.</span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><b><i> Yes, I guess Warren </i>(<span style="color: #666666;">a cousin</span>)<i> is seeing plenty. Maybe I'll see him someday. </i>(</b>WARREN <span style="color: #666666;">31st Infantry Division ~ Enlistment Date 20 May 1942 ~ Release Date 15 Jan 1946 ~ Staff Sergeant</span><b>)</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><b><i> Ordnance </i>(</b><span style="color: #666666;">a branch of the armed forces dealing with the supply and storage of weapons, ammunition, and related equipment</span><b>) <i>put a new sight on my rifle late yesterday afternoon. Took a walk to zero it in. Sure have it back under control again. </i></b></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-size: medium;"> Glad to here the good news about Eugene. I sent him a letter. </span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-size: medium;"> Don't worry about keeping my wash in good order. I sleep with it behind my head.</span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-size: medium;"> I sent Grammy a letter as she sent me a Valentine with a short letter written on the back. </span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-size: medium;"> Not much more to-day, will write more later. Hope Dad is gaining, say hello to brother. Good night.</span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-size: medium;"> Love Son Charles</span></i></b></div>
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<br />Peter Lagassehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00554859638119426729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7446305222030292008.post-66319190300727365632018-12-27T18:27:00.008-05:002021-02-05T15:01:26.477-05:001 March 1945 "Letter to His Dad for....." (Post #99)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Some Germans were captured<br /></b>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: right;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c-X-g3u9CUY/YB2i5d6VdYI/AAAAAAAAbjQ/knGOw8PNKkw4sAzUyk7tpsYTCD0W175OgCLcBGAsYHQ/s632/SOLDIERS%2B6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: bold; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="151" data-original-width="632" height="152" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c-X-g3u9CUY/YB2i5d6VdYI/AAAAAAAAbjQ/knGOw8PNKkw4sAzUyk7tpsYTCD0W175OgCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h152/SOLDIERS%2B6.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><br /><br />Somewhere in Germany</span><br />
<span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">First U.S. Army</span><br />
<span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Sec. Inf. Div.</span><br />
<span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">March 1, 1945</span><br />
</span><div style="font-style: italic; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-weight: 700;">Hello Dad,</span><span style="font-weight: 700;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="font-style: italic; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 700;"> Here it is the first day of March and what a day. It's raining hard with a strong March wind. I only hope the old saying holds true - come in like a lion go out like a lamb.</span></div>
<div style="font-style: italic; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 700;"> In Mother's last letter I told her about trying to send through a special order and that in a few days I intended sending you a letter.</span></div>
<div style="font-style: italic; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 700;"> Sorry to hear about your accident but feel a little better myself now I know at least part of the truth.</span></div>
<div style="font-style: italic; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 700;"> Don't think I didn't have a good idea what had happen long before I received Mother's letter a few days pass.</span></div>
<div style="font-style: italic; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 700;"> Some day I want you to tell Mother just exactly how it happened so she'll be able to write me all the details.</span></div>
<div style="font-style: italic; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 700;"> Guess I'll have to do as they say in the army "eat your ass out". I know it was only an accident but please be careful.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: 700;"> Here is what I am coming to. I don't know just how to say it but enclosed you'll find a fifty dollar money order. I feel maybe at this time you could use it. Would have sent more but this is all I had at the time. </span>(<span style="color: #444444;">$50 of 1945 worth $701.22 in 2018 spending power</span>) </span></div>
<div style="font-style: italic; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 700;"> You see I tried to send it by wire, Red Cross or finance but they all take a long time. Money orders may be sent twice a month, after payday and the middle of the month but this one was put through special.</span></div>
<div style="font-style: italic; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 700;"> Not much news as I write most everything to Mother.</span></div>
<div style="font-style: italic; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 700;"> Be careful and take it easy for awhile. Hope you will be feeling better by the time this letter reaches you. So long Dad.</span></div>
<div style="font-style: italic; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 700;"> Love</span></div>
<div style="font-style: italic; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 700;"> Son Charles</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aLAYmVyX9Po/W9eP6aaObiI/AAAAAAAALlE/HBZhSn1SlXwpG2Q6Q2QRMknZtz49nwTdQCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/envelonestrip.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="111" data-original-width="802" height="88" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aLAYmVyX9Po/W9eP6aaObiI/AAAAAAAALlE/HBZhSn1SlXwpG2Q6Q2QRMknZtz49nwTdQCPcBGAYYCw/w640-h88/envelonestrip.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 700;">A few thoughts regarding this letter and the relationship between Uncle Charlie and his father. Frank Eugene Knight (my grandfather and Uncle Charlie's Dad) was actually not Uncle Charlie's birth father. My grandfather married Uncle Charlie's mother (my maternal grandmother) when Charles was 7 months old. Uncle Charlie never met his birth father to my knowledge. Frank Eugene Knight considered Charles as his own. You can see through this letter how close they both were with each other.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 700;">My grandfather was a sickly man for many years though he worked as much as possible both at the mill and at home. He died in 1957 at the age of 64. Another reason Uncle Charlie was concerned about his dad's health.</span></div>
<div style="font-style: italic; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-weight: 700;"> </span></div>
<div style="font-style: italic; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-weight: 700;"><br /></span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Peter Lagassehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00554859638119426729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7446305222030292008.post-19413497348168646502018-12-19T21:29:00.026-05:002022-04-03T12:14:17.590-04:0028 Feb 1945 "Just a Case of Frozen Feet" (Post #98)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2z2_cr9bmZ8/W_B1zSGApwI/AAAAAAAALuY/uHidqmjNE7IxCDWgoEQMCvVbrtSu81oxACPcBGAYYCw/s1600/RHINELAND.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1020" data-original-width="1024" height="635" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2z2_cr9bmZ8/W_B1zSGApwI/AAAAAAAALuY/uHidqmjNE7IxCDWgoEQMCvVbrtSu81oxACPcBGAYYCw/w640-h635/RHINELAND.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<b>I<span style="font-size: medium;">n 1945 from February 18th through the 23rd the German army showed a weaker spirit of aggression and was in the defensive mode. On the 23rd of February the 15th FAB were relieved by the 109th CBT</span></b><span style="font-size: medium;"> <b>allowing the 15th FAB to return as general support artillery for the 2nd Infantry Division. </b>(<span style="color: #666666;">The 109th Infantry Regiment is an infantry regiment of the United States Army. Its legacy unit, 1st Battalion, 109th Infantry, is part of the 55th Heavy Brigade Combat Team, a unit of the 28th Infantry Division. Elements of the Regiment led the Division into the Rhineland to become the first troops to invade German soil since Napoleon.</span>)<b> Two days earlier the 9th Infantry Regiment were relieved by the 38th Regiment. The 38th would head north lying to the west of Malsbeden with their front line running along the south bank of the Urft River.</b><br />
<b>Again the enemy was pretty quiet involved basically in patrols. Some of their Divisions were also being relieved giving the 2nd Infantry Division new enemy forces to contend with by <span style="color: #cc0000;">Feb 28th. However, the artillery ranged from light to heavy in the areas of Kerhaln, Bronsfeld, Hellenthal, Dreiborn Ridge and Scheuren.</span> Frequently V2-Rockets would be seen going to the area of Oberhausen where the armored units were more fully engaged.</b></span><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: large; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F7AZL8vx4kA/YB2KZ_RrYuI/AAAAAAAAbjE/Ny_D01WgP9cDFH1XaOAHSGuqAOOIpFzjgCLcBGAsYHQ/s448/buzz%2Bbombs.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="252" data-original-width="448" height="225" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F7AZL8vx4kA/YB2KZ_RrYuI/AAAAAAAAbjE/Ny_D01WgP9cDFH1XaOAHSGuqAOOIpFzjgCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h225/buzz%2Bbombs.gif" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Buzz Bombs</span></b></div></div><div><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mUW0MHdeSrg/XAtL3e0MceI/AAAAAAAAL2c/tZdn0z609Q0BZsTkBJN01ANgw8w6YTZlACLcBGAs/s1600/FIVE%2BTOWNS.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><b><img border="0" data-original-height="570" data-original-width="495" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mUW0MHdeSrg/XAtL3e0MceI/AAAAAAAAL2c/tZdn0z609Q0BZsTkBJN01ANgw8w6YTZlACLcBGAs/w552-h640/FIVE%2BTOWNS.JPG" width="552" /></b></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Towns mentioned in the above article.<br />
Parts of the 2nd DIVISION were at these<br />
places near the end of February 1945.<br />
The CP Station was in Einruhr only<br />
16 minutes away from Scheuren.</span></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wDC6EKD2NyE/W4yWQPBSQNI/AAAAAAAAK0E/CvtSij61pc88bFMhAsblnA_9LTSlM6dEQCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/S-2%2BV-2.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="161" data-original-width="428" height="120" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wDC6EKD2NyE/W4yWQPBSQNI/AAAAAAAAK0E/CvtSij61pc88bFMhAsblnA_9LTSlM6dEQCPcBGAYYCw/s320/S-2%2BV-2.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>V2-Rockets</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div align="center" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span face=""arial black" , sans-serif"><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><b>Stations
of the 2nd Infantry Division in 1945</b></span></span></div>
<div align="center" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span face=""arial black" , sans-serif"><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
<div align="center" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span face=""arial black" , sans-serif"><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><b>Time
and Date of Arrival</b></span></span></div>
<div align="center" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span face=""arial black" , sans-serif"><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="center" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span face=""arial black" , sans-serif"><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><b>National
Archives in Cherry Park, Maryland</b></span></span></div>
<table cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" style="width: 100%px;">
<colgroup><col width="152*"></col>
<col width="46*"></col>
<col width="58*"></col>
</colgroup><tbody>
<tr valign="top">
<td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;" width="59%"><div align="center">
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><b><span face=""arial black" , sans-serif"><span>Wahlerscheid,
Germany </span></span>
</b></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;" width="18%"><div align="center">
<span face=""arial black" , sans-serif"><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><b>1700</b></span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;" width="22%"><div align="center">
<span face=""arial black" , sans-serif"><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><b>14
Feb 45</b></span></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="top">
<td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;" width="59%"><div align="center">
<span style="color: #274e13;"><span face=""arial black" , sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;"><b> Einruhr,
Germany (only 16 minutes from Scheuren) </b></span></span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;" width="18%"><div align="center">
<span face=""arial black" , sans-serif"><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><b>1130</b></span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;" width="22%"><div align="center">
<span face=""arial black" , sans-serif"><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><b>21
Feb 45</b></span></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="top">
<td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;" width="59%"><div align="center">
<span style="color: #274e13;"><span face=""arial black" , sans-serif"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Vlatten,
Germany </b></span></span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;" width="18%"><div align="center">
<span face=""arial black" , sans-serif"><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: medium;"><b>1600</b></span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;" width="22%"><div align="center">
<span face=""arial black" , sans-serif"><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: medium;"><b>5
Mar 45</b></span></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<div align="center" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bhQCUKm1IkQ/XAtUa4ZAgSI/AAAAAAAAL2o/831dBYChA6ovH-VTXVL7drziLgbEc2EPgCLcBGAs/s1600/map2b%2B-%2BCopy%2B%25283%2529.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="479" data-original-width="560" height="546" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bhQCUKm1IkQ/XAtUa4ZAgSI/AAAAAAAAL2o/831dBYChA6ovH-VTXVL7drziLgbEc2EPgCLcBGAs/w640-h546/map2b%2B-%2BCopy%2B%25283%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">
<b><br /></b><div style="text-align: right;"><p align="right" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span face="Arial Black, sans-serif"><b>Somewhere in Germany</b></span></p>
<p align="right" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Arial Black, sans-serif" style="font-size: medium;"><b>First
U.S. Army</b></span></p>
<p align="right" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Arial Black, sans-serif" style="font-size: medium;"><b>Sec.
Inf. Div.</b></span></p>
<p align="right" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Arial Black, sans-serif" style="font-size: medium;"><b>February
28, 1945</b></span></p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span face="Arial Black, sans-serif" style="font-size: medium;"><b>Dear
Mother,</b></span></p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"> <span face="Arial Black, sans-serif" style="font-size: medium;"><b>Guess
I'm a little slow in writing but this letter leaves me doing okay and
in good health.</b></span></p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"> <span face="Arial Black, sans-serif" style="font-size: medium;"><b>First
off, I want to get you straight on trench foot as I find in reading
your letters you have no idea what it is, but seem very much worried.</b></span></p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"> <span face="Arial Black, sans-serif" style="font-size: medium;"><b>Now,
Bud Fogg that you wrote about did not necessarily have trench foot
but just a case of frozen feet.</b></span></p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"> <b><span style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial Black, sans-serif">The
folder I am sending will explain all but there is no need for worry
as you realize I received the felts you sent me and they're just the
thing for cold weather. I hope this will answer all your questions. </span>
</span></b></p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"> <span face="Arial Black, sans-serif" style="font-size: medium;"><b>Just
think I received about six dehydrated V-mail letters in the pass week
but within the last few days have had four good letters.</b></span></p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"> <span face="Arial Black, sans-serif" style="font-size: medium;"><b>You
may be sure I felt better to find out the truth about Dad as I knew
more about it than you thought. I even told some of the boys Dad must
have broken at least one rib and you were holding back on me. Guess
you sometimes forget I'm almost thirty, no grey hair yet but still
growing old.</b></span></p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"> <b><span style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial Black, sans-serif">I
am trying to put through a special order and will write Dad in a few
days. </span>
</span></b></p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"> <span face="Arial Black, sans-serif" style="font-size: medium;"><b>We
have had a few good days and it sure helped to dry up the mud.</b></span></p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"> <b><span style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial Black, sans-serif">The
moon was bright the other night and while on guard duty I saw a JU-88
fly over real low. </span>
</span></b></p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"> <span face="Arial Black, sans-serif" style="font-size: medium;"><b>You
know I feel we are due for more snow very soon as it has been said
March is a pretty rough month.</b></span></p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"> <span face="Arial Black, sans-serif" style="font-size: medium;"><b>You
asked if that was the truth about some outfit in the Second Division
having a cow which gave them plenty of milk. Yes, that's right as I
heard about it some time ago but here's one better.</b></span></p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"> <span face="Arial Black, sans-serif" style="font-size: medium;"><b>Some
of our guys were at a machine gun outpost, the night was dark and
coming toward them they heard a noise - they said halt! but no it
kept moving so the boy opened up, next morning they took up a jeep
and guess what- we had deer meat.</b></span></p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"> <span face="Arial Black, sans-serif" style="font-size: medium;"><b>I've
sure enjoyed reading about the pheasant. I wouldn't be surprise
they'd be some little ones next spring.</b></span></p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"> <span face="Arial Black, sans-serif" style="font-size: medium;"><b>You
must be having a winter something like that of 1934. Everyone writes
me about the weather. (February 25-27, 1934 - A 68 hour storm left
22.7 inches of snow on Portland, Maine, with temperatures between 7
and 16 degrees. Much of Portland Harbor was frozen.)</b></span></p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"> <span face="Arial Black, sans-serif" style="font-size: medium;"><b>The
letters I write to you are just for you and Dad, as you said it's
just as well everyone doesn't read them. (Whoops! I wonder if that
includes me, his nephew, 74 years later.)</b></span></p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"> <span face="Arial Black, sans-serif" style="font-size: medium;"><b>Gee
Mother I haven't seen Zip since the last part of November. Once I did
find his outfit but never had the chance to see him.</b></span></p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"> <span face="Arial Black, sans-serif" style="font-size: medium;"><b>No
need to explain about Eugene (brother) as you may be sure there'll
never be any trouble between us. I understand things were a lot
different when he started to work, times were better and jobs easier
to find. Just when things seem to have been coming a little our way
all this trouble had to come up. Oh well, someday we'll start where
we left off. As for me I don't care about the outside knowing too
much. Anything I've done is a thing of the pass.</b></span></p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"> <span face="Arial Black, sans-serif" style="font-size: medium;"><b>I
received Eugene's letters and must find time later to answer. Sure
hope he gets his tractor.</b></span></p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"> <span face="Arial Black, sans-serif" style="font-size: medium;"><b>I
did take a few pictures and if they ever come back I'll send them
home. If I could get the films, sometimes I wished I had a folding
camera as I could get a permit to carry it and in that way send home
a few pictures now and then. Sure hope those I've had taken come out
good as it was a nice day when I had several of myself taken.</b></span></p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"> <span face="Arial Black, sans-serif" style="font-size: medium;"><b>Yes;
a few of the boys of the Division are home on furlough but not all
will receive thirty days. Most of them had a reason for going home.</b></span></p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"> <span face="Arial Black, sans-serif" style="font-size: medium;"><b>Huck
Anderson must have seen plenty and no doubt it got him. You can see
it telling on some of the fellows' faces.</b></span></p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"> <b><span style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial Black, sans-serif">Gee,
Mother, I bet all the children are changing and I bet they won't
remember me. </span>
</span></b></p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"> <span face="Arial Black, sans-serif" style="font-size: medium;"><b>Don't
say anything more about Leroy as I don't understand him myself.</b></span></p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"> <span face="Arial Black, sans-serif" style="font-size: medium;"><b>Guess
I must close for now. Tell Dad to be careful and best of health to
all.</b></span></p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">
<span face="Arial Black, sans-serif" style="font-size: medium;"><b>Love</b></span></p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">
<span face="Arial Black, sans-serif" style="font-size: medium;"><b>Charles</b></span></p></div><div>
<b><i><br /></i></b>
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This letter was full of different pieces of information so it was hard to choose a title. I must admit I had to chuckle when Uncle Charlie was writing about trench foot and said Bud just had a case of <u>frozen feet</u>. </span></b></div>
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Below is some information relating to some of the topics he wrote ab</span></b>out.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Lubec, Maine January 1934</span></b></td></tr>
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<u><span style="color: #783f04; font-size: medium;"><b>Trench Foot</b></span></u></div>
<b><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #783f04;"> Trench foot had its origins from World War I. It was common for soldiers to sit for long periods of time in cold wet conditions with their feet in soaking wet socks and boots They stood for days in water-filled trenches. During 1945, in Northwest Europe, approximately 45,000 men fell victim to trench foot.</span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04;"> They become cold, wet, exhausted, and dehydrated and go to bed with wet feet. They continue to put on wet socks and tight boots day after day, leading to peripheral narrowing of blood vessels, which increases blood pressure and an inadequate blood supply to an organ or part of the body. </span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04;"> There is a pre-hyperemic phase where the affected limb appears blanched, yellowish white, or having spots, but rarely blistered. Capillary refill is slow and arterial pulse may be absent. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04;"> This is followed by a hyperemic period lasting weeks with considerable pain and deep aching during which time victims cannot tolerate even light pressure on their feet. The pain is further enhanced by heat. When the affected limbs are lowered, blood pools can develop, turning the feet etc. a deep purple color, as opposed to blanching when the foot is raised. Blisters containing serous or discharge of blood, as from a ruptured blood vessel; and bleeding fluid may form usually indicating more sever damage. </span></span></b><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>TRENCH FEET<br /></b>
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For those who wish to see the CP Station arrival<br />
and departure times, I have the original transcript below.<br />
I only have page 3 at present.</span></b><br />
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</div>Peter Lagassehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00554859638119426729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7446305222030292008.post-66847742064394961922018-12-13T13:31:00.006-05:002022-03-06T18:25:29.810-05:0020 Feb 1945 "The Russian Front and....." (Post #97)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span face=""arial black" , sans-serif"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Stations
of the 2<sup>nd</sup> Infantry Division in 1945</b></span></span></div>
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and Date of Arrival</b></span></span></div>
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<span face=""arial black" , sans-serif"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>National
Archives in Cherry Park, Maryland</b></span></span></div>
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<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><u>Station</u> <u>Time</u> <u>Date</u></span></b></div><div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Ovifat, Belgium---------------2400 1 Jan 45</span></b></div><div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Nidurm, Belgium1-----------1430 29 Jan 45</span></b></div><div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Wahlerscheid, Germany----1700 14 Feb 45</span></b></div><div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Einruhr, Germany-----------1130 21 Feb 45</span></b></div><div><br /></div></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">
Cpl. Richard L Jones</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">
Battery B, 15th FAB</span></b></div>
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<i><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Somewhere in Germany</span></b></i></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-size: medium;">20 Feb 1945</span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Dear Mrs. Knight,</span></i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><i><span style="font-size: medium;"> Another nice letter arrived from you the other day. I sincerely enjoy hearing from you. Though we have never met I know it would be a most enjoyable thing. Who knows maybe one of these days such a thing may happen. </span></i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><i><span style="font-size: medium;"> No doubt by now you have heard from your son to the effect that everything is all right with him. Of course, like all the rest of us he is very anxious to once again be home with his loved ones. It is this one hope being at home in the future that enables us to keep on with the job at hand. The way things are here and on the Russian front make it highly possible that it will not be very much longer until we are home again. The weather has turned much milder since I last wrote. The snow is melted and now in its place we have some rain. In the last four or five days we have been lucky to have some nice sunny days. Certainly did seem good to see the sun after so long a time of cloudy weather. </span></i></b></div>
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<i><b> <span style="font-size: medium;"> As far as our packages are concerned much of us have been lucky and received all or most of them. Charles received his boots and was really pleased. They have undoubtedly helped him to keep warm during the cold weather.</span></b></i></div>
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<i><b><span style="font-size: medium;"> I sincerely hope this finds you well and happy and that before much longer this war will be over and all the boys back home with their families again.</span></b></i></div>
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<i><b><span style="font-size: medium;"> Sincerely,</span></b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i><b><span style="font-size: medium;"> Richard Jones</span></b></i></div>
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Peter Lagassehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00554859638119426729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7446305222030292008.post-43431084343041110152018-12-09T12:26:00.009-05:002022-03-06T18:23:22.628-05:0015 Feb 1945 "Words Can't Explain It to the Complainers" (Post #96)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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"Heartbreak Crossroads" was retaken on February 1st in a double attack from north and south, and progress was so rapid on the 2nd of February that two displacements were required to support advanced positions in Harperscheid. Moving forward again on the 3rd of February, "A" and "B" Batteries took positions within 1000 yards of stubborn enemy troops holding out in pill boxes, and established outposts and patrols since <u>no infantry troops</u> were available. The first organized and strongly defended town was encountered in this attack was Scheuren where the 15th Field Artillery expended 1300 rounds on February 5th. The final displacement of this attack brought the 15th Field Artillery to a barren ridge southeast of Drieborn, where defensive warfare was begun prior to crossings of the Roer river to the north. Firing only from observed targets from the 12th of February until resumption of the attack, the battalion occupied strong log dugouts of German construction. Flashes believed to be V-2 rockets being launched were observed in the enemy's area on February 19th.</span></b></div>
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(Source: 15th FAB Yearbook)</b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;">Photo from Cpl. Glynn Raby Jr.</span></b></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span face=""arial black" , sans-serif"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Glynn
Raby Jr wrote me the following: We (2nd Battalion) moved to Elsenborn
Ridge about December 19 or 20, 1945 and we were there about a month.
I had been re-assigned to one of our 2 MG platoons as their
"Instrument Corporal" (no increase in pay) As Instrument
Corporal, I was not in a squad but was with the Lt. and Tech Sgt. I
do recall we receiving replacements that we had time to give some
combat training.</b></span></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-size: large;">Somewhere in Germany</span></i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<b><i><span style="font-size: large;">First U.S. Army</span></i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<b><i><span style="font-size: large;">Sec. Inf. Div.</span></i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<b><i><span style="font-size: large;">February 15, 1945</span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>Dear Mother,</i></b><br />
<b><i> Still in the best of health and okay. Sure hope this letter still finds you the same and Dad much better. Guess I'll have to get after him as he always told me to be careful when working under a car or anything that was jacked up because it was dangerous.</i></b><br />
<b><i> We sure have had a change over here since last I wrote as the snow is just about all gone and no frost in the ground. For the pass two weeks all it has done is rain, rain and more rain with plenty of wet snow mixed in. The only place you find snow is in the woods. Everything is mud. Not many places you're able to dig a hole as it fills up with water so fast.</i></b><br />
<i style="font-weight: bold;"> Oh yes, I received Helen's (L) </i>(<span style="color: #666666;">friend</span>)<i style="font-weight: bold;"> package about the third or fourth of the month and Eugene's </i>(<span style="color: #666666;">brother</span>)<i style="font-weight: bold;">the next day. Don't say anything, but Helen's box was so wet. Don't worry we ate it just the same. Eugene's was okay but gee, what a long time coming. Now, if you have not already found out this just about adds up to all the packages you told me about.</i><br />
<i style="font-weight: bold;"> I must say this was a wonderful day and yesterday wasn't bad. It felt like spring and I had a feeling I wanted to go trout fishing. Instead of fishing for trout guess I'll have to keep hunting for Krauts.</i><br />
<i style="font-weight: bold;"> Received some air mail paper and envelopes you sent me in December.</i><br />
<b><i> Now about this V-mail writing they want you to use, here is the way I feel. A good many times it's not so fast as they claim as Esther wrote one I think about Thanksgiving and I never received it until after New Year. After you get one, all you have is a note, oh yes, they're okay when you can't think of any news and want to say hello or let one know you're well but they're far from taking the place of a letter. I don't mind one now and then but I feel one near the front living the same life day in, day out with nothing to give a change of life, seeing only the ruins of war and all that goes with it should have at least mail to look forward to. I'd rather have one good letter than six notes or V-mail as they call it.</i></b><br />
<i style="font-weight: bold;"> Here is a money order for twenty five dollars. I am sending you five to use the way you like for stamps, paper or anything else. The other twenty is toward the garage as I wrote you one time I'd send some. As I remember, Eugene wanted a three car garage but didn't feel he could swing it. If he wants it but doesn't build it at first it would be lots harder later on. Now, if Eugene should go you keep the twenty for later use. </i>(<span style="color: #666666;">His brother, Eugene, is presently living at home and needs room for his tractor. However, if he buys his own place and moves then a three car garage wouldn't be needed. A three car garage was built.</span>)<i style="font-weight: bold;"> </i><br />
<i style="font-weight: bold;"> Sure glad to receive the six pictures from Florida. Guess they'll soon be sailing back to Maine. </i>(<span style="color: #666666;">His sister Helen and her husband would go to Florida in the winter to plant potatoes and come back to Maine by car during the summer when farming isn't being done down there.</span>)<i style="font-weight: bold;"> </i><br />
<i style="font-weight: bold;"> Pauline writes she's living in Portland at the YWCA and all that her letters contain are dances, shows, dinners and social times but as you know it's only to help some poor fellow out and show a little Maine <u>hospitality </u>ha ha. She's so glad I wrote saying I didn't mind. Funny thing I knew it before she told me, that's why I wrote I didn't care. Now I'll have the chance to make up for lost time and be free after I return.</i><br />
<i style="font-weight: bold;"> Glad you received my package but gee oh gee, I paid 175 francs for that scarf while back in a little Belgium town at rest camp which in American money is equal to four (4) dollars. Only had a couple of days so took what I could get.</i><br />
<i style="font-weight: bold;"> I'm going to run over a few of your letters and here is one I remember reading in a downpour of rain.</i><br />
<i style="font-weight: bold;"> Guess by your letters you're having a pretty rough winter back in Maine but gee, would I like to be there. My God, no one in the U.S.A. has much to complain about but words will never make them realize.</i><br />
<i style="font-weight: bold;"> So the little Old lady called you up on the phone. I'm sure looking forward to seeing all the children.</i><br />
<i style="font-weight: bold;"> Now tell Dad not to get any young ideas. Remember what you said about the bird and the other story.</i><br />
<i style="font-weight: bold;"> One thing I'm sure glad the days are longer. We're on fast time </i>(<span style="color: #666666;">daylight savings time</span>)<i style="font-weight: bold;"> and it doesn't get dark until six thirty or on a clear day nearly seven.</i><br />
<i style="font-weight: bold;"> I think Nellie (Joe's sister) did send me a card and I must look it up and then send an answer. As I remember she wrote a very nice note on the back.</i><br />
<i style="font-weight: bold;"> When writing at night I use a candle or flashlight. I'm using a flashlight to-night.</i><br />
<i style="font-weight: bold;"> I wrote telling you all about those war bonds but if you didn't get the letter let me know and I'll explain it all over.</i><br />
<i style="font-weight: bold;"> Oh yes, the other morning I had a real egg (you know the kind in a shell) I thought all hens in the States were laying powder ha ha. I'll tell the truth, the chow has been pretty good lately.</i><br />
<i style="font-weight: bold;"> Any one of the boys want a date with you so long as they can get back to the States or the U.S.A. Remember you wrote about figs but no dates, you should have heard them shout <u>butts</u>! when I read those lines.</i><br />
<i style="font-weight: bold;"> Had a shot in each arm to-day and feel a little sick to my stomach but I'm not the only one. I'll say like the other fellows, "I'm darn sick of taking so many needles."</i><br />
<i style="font-weight: bold;"> Guess this is about all for to-night and may I say quite a long letter at that. Hope Dad's better. Tell Eugene to keep his chin up. Love to all.</i><br />
<i style="font-weight: bold;"> Charles</i></span><br />
<i style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></i>
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<span style="color: #444444;"> <b><span style="font-size: medium;"> I would say this letter showed at least three emotions. He tried to be funny at times. Other times he was expressing the loneliness, the realities of what you see in a war but words can't explain it to those in America that are complaining. Also the mundane feeling that can set in as you wait for the next battle. </span></b></span><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />
<span style="color: #444444;"> War is never what you see in a Hollywood movie. It is not just killing and fighting all the time. There are days or weeks when you are waiting for the enemy or for orders to move. A time you can both be pleased you are not in a battle but still anxious when fighting will begin again. Will you make it through the next battle? And even during those "down times" you see the toll of war as you walk through destroyed villages, seeing people struggling to survive as their homes, places of work and worship have become part of the insanity and causalities of war.</span></span></b><br />
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<span style="color: #444444;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IGYprTZe2Lw/W_3MAkab2JI/AAAAAAAAL0E/JEEgvWteV3gS0vd2uwRJz34iBI9HagJdQCLcBGAs/s1600/map1a.JPG" style="font-size: 17.6px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="474" data-original-width="645" height="468" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IGYprTZe2Lw/W_3MAkab2JI/AAAAAAAAL0E/JEEgvWteV3gS0vd2uwRJz34iBI9HagJdQCLcBGAs/s640/map1a.JPG" width="640" /></a></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 17.6px;"><b>I want to thank James D Edwards for sharing the<br />
information he has acquired preparing for his book.<br />
<br />
</b><div align="center" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span face=""arial black" , sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Stations
of the 2<sup>nd</sup> Infantry Division in 1945</span></span><br />
<span face=""arial black" , sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
<div align="center" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span face=""arial black" , sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Time
of Arrival</span></span><br />
<span face=""arial black" , sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
<div align="center" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span face=""arial black" , sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><b>National
Archives in Cherry Park, Maryland</b></span></span></div>
<div align="left" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div align="left" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><div align="left" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Station Time Date</b></div><div><br /></div></div>
<div align="left" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span face=""arial black" , sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Ovifat,
Belgium ------------------------- 2400 1 Jan 45</span></span><br />
<span face=""arial black" , sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
<div align="left" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span face=""arial black" , sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Nidurm,
Belgium----------------------- 1430 29 Jan 45</span></span><br /></b>
<span face=""arial black" , sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div align="left" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span face=""arial black" , sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Wahlerscheid,
Germany--------------- 1700 14 Feb 45</span></span><br />
<span face=""arial black" , sans-serif" style="font-size: 17.6px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></span>
<span face=""arial black" , sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; text-align: center;">Einruhr,
Germany ---------------------</span></b><b style="text-align: center;"><span face=""arial black" , sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;"> 1130 21 Feb 45</span></b></div>
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<b><span>James is the son of Pfc. James Douglas Edwards, MP Platoon, 2nd Infantry Division WWII. He has written <u>Defining Moment at Wirtzfeld: The Story of the Military Police Platoon, 2nd Infantry Division, in World War II</u> (2013, Hardcover)</span><br />
<span>https://www.ebay.com/p/Defining-Mo</span><span>ment-at-Wirtzfeld-The-Story-of-the-Military-Police-Platoon-2nd-Infantry-Division-in-World/150585642</span><br />
<span><u>Defining Moment at Wirtzfeld</u> is an extraordinary testimony to the struggles and triumphs of the 2nd Division Military Police Platoon in World War II including the author’s father Pfc. James D. Edwards.</span><br /></b>
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LLFTuYPBkQI/W_Ty9xNRnnI/AAAAAAAALyQ/PwEmo3qg2UMINpfvP9cSvHwHiWj10akVwCLcBGAs/s1600/KNIGHT%2BHOEMESTEAD%2BGARAGE%2BPAINTED.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="802" data-original-width="1024" height="499" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LLFTuYPBkQI/W_Ty9xNRnnI/AAAAAAAALyQ/PwEmo3qg2UMINpfvP9cSvHwHiWj10akVwCLcBGAs/w640-h499/KNIGHT%2BHOEMESTEAD%2BGARAGE%2BPAINTED.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">The three car garage. The garage bay on<br />
the right will become a carpenter<br />
shop for my Uncle Charlie.</span></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DMnks2Xe8Tg/W_TzubR3TpI/AAAAAAAALyY/c4QHZ5b57rIHuatBG22GABvyKbgQ19jjgCLcBGAs/s1600/Belgium%2BSouvenir.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1462" data-original-width="1503" height="389" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DMnks2Xe8Tg/W_TzubR3TpI/AAAAAAAALyY/c4QHZ5b57rIHuatBG22GABvyKbgQ19jjgCLcBGAs/w400-h389/Belgium%2BSouvenir.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">From Belgium, but too small<br />
for the scarf he mentioned.<br /></span></b>
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Peter Lagassehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00554859638119426729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7446305222030292008.post-24420123789008867562018-12-06T18:02:00.001-05:002021-02-04T23:59:18.473-05:0029 Jan 1945 " So You Thought You Knew" (Post #95)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<h1 align="center" class="western" style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 120%; margin: 0.13in 0.13in 0in;">
<span style="color: #ce181e; font-size: medium;"><span><span face=""arial black" , sans-serif"><span style="font-family: arial;">Ten
Things You Might </span></span></span>Not
Know About The Battle
Of The Bulge</span></h1><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b>Uncle Charlie's Letter is Below the Facts</b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<h1 align="center" class="western" style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">
<div align="center" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<h4>
</h4>
</div>
</h1>
<div>
<h4 class="western">
</h4>
<h4>
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><span style="color: #26323e;"><span face=""soleil" , sans-serif"><b>1.
REPORTER LARRY NEWMAN COINED THE NAME “BATTLE OF THE BULGE.”
</b></span></span></span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><span style="color: #26323e;"><span style="font-family: , serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Larry
Newman was a war correspondent working on behalf of United Press
International and the International News Service.</span></span></span></span></span></h4>
<h4 class="western">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><span style="color: #26323e;"><span face=""soleil" , sans-serif"><b>2.
HITLER’S </b></span></span></span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><span style="color: #26323e;"><span face=""soleil" , sans-serif"><b>ADVISERS</b></span></span></span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><span style="color: #26323e;"><span face=""soleil" , sans-serif"><b>
THOUGHT IT WAS MISGUIDED. </b></span></span></span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><span style="color: #26323e;"><span style="font-family: , serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">It
wasn’t a fool proof strategy. Field Marshall Walther Model didn’t
think the Germans had enough troops for the assault. Privately, he
</span></span></span></span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><span style="color: #26323e;"><span style="font-family: , serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">said</span></span></span></span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><span style="color: #26323e;"> </span></span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><span style="color: #26323e;"><span style="font-family: , serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">the
plan “doesn’t have a damned leg to stand on.”</span></span></span></span>
</span>
</h4>
<h4 class="western">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><span style="color: #26323e;"><span face=""soleil" , sans-serif"><b>3.
GENERAL PATTON’S INTELLIGENCE OFFICER SAW IT COMING. </b></span></span></span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><span style="color: #26323e;"><span style="font-family: , serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">While
it's true that Generals Dwight D. Eisenhower and Omar Bradley later
admitted they hadn’t foreseen the scale of Hitler’s massive
attack, there was one U.S. </span></span></span></span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><span style="color: #26323e;"><span style="font-family: , serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">intelligence
officer</span></span></span></span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><span style="color: #26323e;"> </span></span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><span style="color: #26323e;"><span style="font-family: , serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">who
did anticipate the blow: Colonel Oscar W. Koch.</span></span></span></span></span></h4>
<h4 class="western" style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">
<span style="color: #26323e;"><span face=""soleil" , sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 15pt;"><b><span style="font-family: , serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">4.
BASEBALL TRIVIA WAS SERIOUS BUSINESS AT AMERICAN CHECKPOINTS. </span></span></b><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; padding: 0in;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: , serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">English
speaking</span></span></span></span></span><b><span style="font-family: , serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></span></b><span style="font-family: , serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">German
troops disguised themselves in pilfered Allied uniforms and snuck
behind enemy lines—</span></span></span><span style="font-family: , serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">s</span></span></span><span style="font-family: , serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">o
at checkpoints, </span></span></span><span style="font-family: , serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">U.S
Army</span></span></span><b><span style="font-family: , serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></span></b><span style="font-family: , serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">units
would quiz each other with pop culture questions like </span></span></span><b><em><span style="font-family: , serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">“</span></span></em></b><em><span style="font-family: , serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Who
plays center field for the Yankees?”</span></span></span></em><b><span style="font-family: , serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></span></b><span style="font-family: , serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">and </span></span></span><b><em><span style="font-family: , serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">“</span></span></em></b><em><span style="font-family: , serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">What’s
Mickey Mouse’s girlfriend’s name?”</span></span></span></em></span></span></span></h4>
<h4 class="western">
<em><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><span style="color: #26323e;"><span face=""soleil" , sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-style: normal;">5.
WHEN ASKED TO SURRENDER, BRIGADIER GENERAL ANTHONY MCAULIFFE REPLIED
WITH A FOUR-LETTER WORD. </span></span></span></span></span></em><em><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: , serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Here’s
McAuliffe’s actu</span></span></span></span></span></span></em><em><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: , serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">al
written response</span></span></span></span></span></span></em><em><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: , serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> to
General Lüttwitz: </span></span></span></span></span></span></em><em><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><span style="color: #26323e;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">“</span></span></span></em><em><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><span style="color: #26323e;"><span style="font-family: , serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">December
22, 1944 To the German Commander, N U T S! Signed, The American
Commander.”</span></span></span></span></span></span></em></h4>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oAzCP-QcFsg/W-yhmHArOsI/AAAAAAAALtM/rjQscBR6w9ATayjjkhIpiauk4rHnIfV9gCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/b2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="449" data-original-width="705" height="203" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oAzCP-QcFsg/W-yhmHArOsI/AAAAAAAALtM/rjQscBR6w9ATayjjkhIpiauk4rHnIfV9gCPcBGAYYCw/s320/b2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<h4 class="western">
<em><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><span style="color: #26323e;"><span face=""soleil" , sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-style: normal;">6.
COLD-RELATED INJURIES HIT EPIDEMIC LEVELS. </span></span></span></span></span></em><em><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><span style="color: #26323e;"><span style="font-family: , serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Altogether,
the U.S. ranks saw more than 64,000 cases of “</span></span></span></span></span></span></em><em><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><span style="color: #26323e;"><span style="font-family: , serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">cold
injuries</span></span></span></span></span></span></em><em><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><span style="color: #26323e;"><span style="font-family: , serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">”
like trench foot and pneumonia during the brutal European winter of
1944-1945. Thousands of these occurred in the Bulge. </span></span></span></span></span></span></em>
</h4>
<h4 class="western">
<em><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><span style="color: #26323e;"><span face=""soleil" , sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-style: normal;">7.
KURT VONNEGUT WAS CAPTURED IN IT. </span></span></span></span></span></em><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><span style="color: #26323e;"><span style="font-family: , serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">As
a</span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><span style="color: #26323e;"><span style="font-family: , serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
22-year-old </span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><span style="color: #26323e;"><span style="font-family: , serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">private</span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><span style="color: #26323e;"><span style="font-family: , serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> with
the U.S. 101st infantry division—was captured at the Battle of the
Bulge on December 19, 1944, then taken to Dresden, where he was
imprisoned at a facility called Slaughterhouse Five.</span></span></span></span></span></h4>
<h4 class="western">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><span style="color: #26323e;"><span style="font-family: , serif;"><b>8.
PATTON SENT OUT THE MOST FAMOUS CHRISTMAS CARDS IN MILITARY HISTORY.
</b></span></span></span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><span style="color: #26323e;"><span style="font-family: , serif;"><b>T</b></span></span></span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><span style="color: #26323e;"><span style="font-family: , serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">he
general asked </span></span></span></span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><span style="color: #26323e;"><span style="font-family: , serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Rev.
</span></span></span></span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><span style="color: #26323e;"><span style="font-family: , serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">O’Neill
to come up with “a prayer for </span></span></span></span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><span style="color: #26323e;"><span style="font-family: , serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">good
weather</span></span></span></span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><span style="color: #26323e;"><span style="font-family: , serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">.” The
cards went out on December 22. Within 24 hours, the skies had cleared
well enough for the Third Army to proceed toward Bastogne.</span></span></span></span></span></h4>
<h4 class="western">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><span style="color: #26323e;"><span style="font-family: , serif;"><b>9.
DURING THE BATTLE, THE SOVIETS LAUNCHED A MAJOR ATTACK ON HITLER’S
EASTERN FRONT. </b></span></span></span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><span style="color: #26323e;"><span style="font-family: , serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">While
the Bulge was shriveling away, the Red Army began its
</span></span></span></span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><span style="color: #26323e;"><span style="font-family: , serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Vistula-Oder</span></span></span></span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><span style="color: #26323e;"><span style="font-family: , serif;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><span style="color: #26323e;"><span style="font-family: , serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Offensive
in Eastern Europe. The campaign kicked off on January 12, 1945 and
would last through February 2. In it, over 2 million Soviets moved
westward, taking cities like Warsaw and Krakow out of the Third
Reich’s hands.</span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: , serif;">
</span></span>
</h4>
<h4 class="western">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">
</span></h4>
<h4 class="western">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><span style="color: #26323e;"><span style="font-family: , serif;"><b>10.
THE U.S. MILITARY EXPERIMENTED WITH INTEGRATION. </b></span></span></span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><span style="color: #26323e;"><span style="font-family: , serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Bl</span></span></span></span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><span style="color: #26323e;"><span style="font-family: , serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">ack
combat troops </span></span></span></span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><span style="color: #26323e;"><span style="font-family: , serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">weren’t
permitted</span></span></span></span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><span style="color: #26323e;"> </span></span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><span style="color: #26323e;"><span style="font-family: , serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">to
fight “shoulder to shoulder” with their white counterparts.
However, in response to personnel shortages in the Ardennes, General
Eisenhower invited black soldiers to volunteer for service on the
front lines. More than 2200 soldiers who took him up on the offer
were </span></span></span></span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><span style="color: #26323e;"><span style="font-family: , serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">chosen</span></span></span></span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><span style="color: #26323e;"> </span></span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><span style="color: #26323e;"><span style="font-family: , serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">to
fight.</span></span></span></span> </span>
</h4>
</div>
<div>
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<b><i><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-size: medium;">January 29, 1945</span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-size: medium;">Dear Mother,</span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><b><i><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"> Received your letter dated January 14 in which you wrote about Dad getting hurt while working under the car. It seems you started out saying it wasn't very bad, then before ending you mentioned you'd had the doctor and Dad was all taped or strapped up as one rib was hurt. You didn't go in detail just how it all happened, but I realize working under a car is a bad place to get hurt. Hope and pray everything will be okay by the time you receive this letter. You tell Dad I don't want him to let it go by without taking care of it. All you have to do is go down to the bank as the money is in your name too. You know where the bank book is and if things don't go just right I want you to take care of it. </span></i></b><br />
<i><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b> As far as for me, I'm in good health but here is a joke, I've lost my plate and don't know where it is. It all happened in that fight the middle of December </b><span style="color: #666666;"><b>(</b>Heartbreak<b> </b>Crossroads<b>)</b></span><b> It's a big joke around here trying to find out if I swallowed them. Guess you can judge for yourself what some of the remarks are. Oh well, if that's all I lost I'm lucky, ha ha.</b></span></i><br />
<b><i><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"> In the last few days I've received quite a bit of December mail along with many Christmas cards from those at the mill. Still haven't received three of the packages you had listed in one of your letters, but the main one of all got here with my shoes. Let me tell you those are one of the best pieces of equipment I have. They sure traveled fast December 1 to January 15. Felt one time the Krauts might have them.</span></i></b><br />
<b><i><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"> I saw Rick and he's okay. Said he had been writing all the time or that is whenever he could. </span></i></b><br />
<b><i><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"> It sure has been a long time since I last saw Zip. Most of the time he is somewhat behind me. Think I know where he is if I could only get over that way. </span></i></b><br />
<b><i><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"> I have me a new writing box. It's some kind of a Kraut Gasschutzhauben equipment box made of metal with a spring wire clip like you once had to hold store slips. The box is about two inches longer than this paper and three inches wider, a little thicker than the height of an ink bottle and new.</span></i></b><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="color: #666666;"><i><b> (</b>Charles new metal box would have carried a gas mask<b>.)</b></i></span><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="color: #666666;"><i>It was a rectangular shape sheet metal box, measuring 10.5 inches x 12 inches x 2 inches. The metal spring catch ring often covered with fabric would keep the gas mask in place.</i></span></span><br />
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<b><i><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-458J4L8lp4A/W-3nUh0t-pI/AAAAAAAALtU/wByHb8zUziskebcB2Ym8cbhRbxNb7EK9QCLcBGAs/s1600/transportkasten-1-gasschutzhaube-originallack-datiert-1942_9.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-458J4L8lp4A/W-3nUh0t-pI/AAAAAAAALtU/wByHb8zUziskebcB2Ym8cbhRbxNb7EK9QCLcBGAs/s1600/transportkasten-1-gasschutzhaube-originallack-datiert-1942_9.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="248" data-original-width="330" height="296" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-458J4L8lp4A/W-3nUh0t-pI/AAAAAAAALtU/wByHb8zUziskebcB2Ym8cbhRbxNb7EK9QCLcBGAs/s400/transportkasten-1-gasschutzhaube-originallack-datiert-1942_9.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></i></b></div>
<b><i><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"> <span style="font-size: medium;">The guns are firing so if you see any dirt or water marks on this paper you'll know it blew into the hole through the open door on top.</span></span></i></b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />
<b><i><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"> Now I guess I'll take a run through your letters and answer the questions.</span></i></b><br />
<b><i><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"> First, I just couldn't make myself believe it when I saw Eleanor Woodis' picture (15 years old). I'll feel like Rip Van Winkle when I return. Things will have changed so much. The Old Batch of Little Falls that will be me. ha ha.</span></i></b><br />
<b><i><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"> I can hear my Sister Helen talking a mile a minute when she returns from spending the winter in Miami, Florida.</span></i></b><br />
<i><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b> Pauline wrote about entertaining at Fort Williams, the Islands, Chamber of Commerce and etc. Also told and drew a picture of her new evening gown someone made for her from some material she bought in town. Said evening dresses were sky high and much cheaper to make, that it took such things as this in order to entertain. One night she skipped going to Fort Williams and went to Frye's Hall. Another night it was raining hard so she and her girl friend decided not to go with the YWCA group but met two fellows from the Navy Crash boat that they knew and took in a show. They saw a very funny but still good picture and all enjoyed themselves as the boys hadn't seen a show in three months. Another time the subject turned to the war and combat so she told all she knew on the issue and I guess put my name in quite a bit so after a time the soldiers said, "Oh well, lets you and I forget everything else and have this evening together." Then they had another dance. So you see how it goes. Now you care little about this junk but I'm just telling you a few things to put you wise. As for me I don't care for I've told her to do as she liked. Guess some people at Frye Hall had quite a load on by the way she wrote. </b><span style="color: #666666;"><b>(</b>As I have shared, Pauline was Uncle Charlie's girlfriend when he entered the Army. She and my uncle were not getting along because of the letters she wrote to him while he was in Northern Ireland so he did tell her she should go out with friends etc. He says her entertaining these young military men don't bother him, but I hear an uncle who is a young man himself missing the life of having a girlfriend by his side. Maybe he is not completely jealous but he is missing the fun of enjoying have a young lady in his own arms dancing and going to shows. I believe I hear many of readers saying, "You got that right, Peter."<b>)</b></span></span></i><br />
<b><i><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"> Don't know how Helen ever got started on those two nights a week but I've known that for a long time. Listen to this, she wouldn't want her husband to go as she can very plainly see it causes a lot of family trouble. I guess she's in a place where she doesn't know what to do. Some people hate to admit a thing when they see different.</span></i></b><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span style="color: #666666;"><b><i> </i></b></span><i><b>One
thing I must say, "always keep yourself clear as it's not your
fault what I do and as for me I'm just letting things ride until this
darn war is over with and once more I'll be free. I'll take the blame
for anything that might come up."</b></i></span><br />
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<b><i><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-size: medium;"> Gee, Mother, I forgot when your birthday was but seeing you're ------- oh
yes <u>29</u> best
wishes for your birthday.</span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><b><i><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"> Charles
Drummer went with Marian's girl friend and seemed a swell fellow. I
saw him once over here.</span></i></b><br />
<b><i><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"> Yes the days over here are a little longer and you may be sure I am not sorry.</span></i></b><b><i><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span style="font-family: "arial black";"> </span></span></i></b><br />
<b><i><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span style="font-family: "arial black";"> The rat you caught was something like Hitler, when you think you have him he gets away. ha ha.</span></span></i></b></span></div>
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<b><i><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-size: medium;"> The
more times you see things work out like the dollar for Boy's Town and
the fifty dollars at George's store the more one realizes it pays to
do right. Guess Eugene has by this time begun to see that for
himself.</span></i></b></div>
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="color: #666666;"><b><i>(Boys Town: While ministering to the homeless 100 years ago on the streets of Omaha, Nebraska, Father Edward Joseph Flanagan developed a lifelong interest in young people and their struggle to grow into responsible, productive members of society.)</i></b></span><br />
<b><i><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span style="color: #666666;"> </span>Telling about the mistakes you make in your letters ha ha. I read them so fast I don't even notice them, not even when you fail to complete spelling, rheumatism, remember.</span></i></b><br />
<b><i><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"> I thought that picture of you and the baby was swell.</span></i></b><br />
<b><i><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"> I was out of ink for a few days but as luck would have it is here and I have another bottle. How about sending me a can or tube of pilosalve. It will be under eight ounces so you can just ship it along.</span></i></b><br />
<b><i><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"> Glad Eugene liked the sweater from me, also the other one from Jeanette (I think). Seems to me one of them has a flash to it. I bet it is pretty but as they say "every man to his own taste."</span></i></b><br />
<b><i><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"> Glad to hear the billfold was a nice one as I sure took a chance not even seeing a picture of it. I'm still sore about your roses.</span></i></b><br />
<b><i><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"> What in the world came over Dennis? It's no more than right he should, but I can't blame the boys for almost passing out.</span></i></b><br />
<b><i><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"> No, Mother, they don't censor mail coming this way, why should they? You are right and tell LeRoy he's full of ---.</span></i></b><br />
<b><i><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"> Tell Ralph to look at that card I sent Eugene. Guess this is one on you for you sure got fooled.</span></i></b><br />
<b><i><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"> That fifteen dollars a month comes direct from my pay and not from Uncle Sam. I just have it sent home regular so I won't have to be bothered with it. It is just the same as if you didn't have me. Ricker is all you have so you see why it's that way. I'm not doing much.</span></i></b><br />
<b><i><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"> Here I am at the end of the last letter and I had quite a few to run through. Guess I'd better close or I'll be paying freight on another letter like Gene's to Claude.</span></i></b><br />
<b><i><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Hope Dad will be well soon. </span></i></b><br />
<b><i><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"> Love Son Charles</span></i></b></span><br />
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<span face=""arial black" , sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Stations of the 2<sup>nd</sup> Infantry Division in 1945</span></span></div>
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<span face=""arial black" , sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">National Archives in Cherry Park, Maryland</span></span></div>
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<span face=""arial black" , sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><u>Station</u> <u>Time</u> <u>Date</u></span></span></div>
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<span face=""arial black" , sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Ovifat, Belgium 2400 1 Jan 45</span></span></div>
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<span face=""arial black" , sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Nidurm, Belgium 1430 29 Jan 45</span></span></div>
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<b><i> </i></b></div>
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I want to thank James D Edwards for sharing the</div>
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information he has acquired preparing for his book.</div>
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Peter Lagassehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00554859638119426729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7446305222030292008.post-46786204138920274542018-12-04T14:03:00.003-05:002021-02-04T23:26:23.886-05:0019 Jan 1945 "A New England Blizzard" (Post #94)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4bOCCnoAKHI/W5sPkDpZy0I/AAAAAAAAK2M/9IddxJkLeR4ROBTR1J8Q-Zl_1rYvd7JxgCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/B2.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="29" data-original-width="175" height="106" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4bOCCnoAKHI/W5sPkDpZy0I/AAAAAAAAK2M/9IddxJkLeR4ROBTR1J8Q-Zl_1rYvd7JxgCPcBGAYYCw/w640-h106/B2.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-i2qkbWwjY-4/W_2VCbnLFrI/AAAAAAAALz8/MQoTRwic5mQ0iXTc6ezu6aDtas_u5VAzACEwYBhgL/s1600/Jan%2B1-29%2B1945%2B2nd%2BInfantry%2BDivision%2BStations.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="187" data-original-width="619" height="192" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-i2qkbWwjY-4/W_2VCbnLFrI/AAAAAAAALz8/MQoTRwic5mQ0iXTc6ezu6aDtas_u5VAzACEwYBhgL/w640-h192/Jan%2B1-29%2B1945%2B2nd%2BInfantry%2BDivision%2BStations.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-34aLIQsMygA/W-Ynju2e8jI/AAAAAAAALps/XFpqzmIFuLIvN6JRvoRsjzzWGq0Ft8bywCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/D%252B108.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="589" data-original-width="538" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-34aLIQsMygA/W-Ynju2e8jI/AAAAAAAALps/XFpqzmIFuLIvN6JRvoRsjzzWGq0Ft8bywCPcBGAYYCw/w364-h400/D%252B108.JPG" width="364" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Source of the below information</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yvazlXh2IIY/W-uIgod0ORI/AAAAAAAALsU/cbWayLOc_w8TB5oaymHc82efHwcTqMdKwCLcBGAs/s1600/15-20%2BBOOKLET.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="495" data-original-width="545" height="577" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yvazlXh2IIY/W-uIgod0ORI/AAAAAAAALsU/cbWayLOc_w8TB5oaymHc82efHwcTqMdKwCLcBGAs/s640/15-20%2BBOOKLET.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Somewhere in Germany</span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-size: medium;"> January 19, 1945</span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Dear Mother,</span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-size: medium;"> True to the word this will be just a note as it is so late at night. I'm just sending these few lines that will help you not to worry quite as much. </span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-size: medium;"> I just came off guard duty and are we having a real old New England snow storm or blizzard. It was blowing and snowing a sticky snow all last night, to-day and I guess it will continue all night. I mean it is some storm. </span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-size: medium;"> Here I am in my hole and have just finished chunking up a couple cracks with old bags so the darn snow won't blow in. I've a little fire and with so much snow on top of all that dirt it pretty warm.</span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><b style="font-style: italic;"> No mail for a few days now except some writing paper with those two pictures of Claude's house. Gee, does the place look swell. </b><span style="color: #666666;">(It looks more like a southern plantation house with columns)</span><b style="font-style: italic;"> So he's not making anything. Ha ha.</b></span></div>
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<b style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> That must be a nice camera Jane took those with.</span></b></div>
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<b style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> Oh yes, several of those small Portland papers have come. You thank him or his girl for sending them.</span></b></div>
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<b style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> As I told you this is only a note so will say good night. Oh yes, those shoes just can't be beat, they're swell. Good night maybe someone else will be digging <u>me </u>out in the morning.</span></b></div>
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<b style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> Love</span></b></div>
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<b style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> Charles</span></b></div>
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<span face=""arial black" , sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><b>Stations
of the 2<sup>nd</sup> Infantry Division in 1945</b></span></span></div>
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<span face=""arial black" , sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><b>Time
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<span face=""arial black" , sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><b>National
Archives in Cherry Park, Maryland</b></span></span></div>
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<span face=""arial black" , sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><b><u>Station</u> <u>Time</u> <u>Date</u></b></span></span></div>
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<span face=""arial black" , sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><b>Ovifat,
Belgium --------------------------- 2400 1 Jan
45</b></span></span></div>
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<span face=""arial black" , sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><b>Nidurm,
Belgium ----------------------------1430 29 Jan 45</b></span></span></div>
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<b><i> </i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">
I want to thank James D Edwards for sharing the</span></b></div>
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information he has acquired preparing for his book.</b></div>
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Peter Lagassehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00554859638119426729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7446305222030292008.post-76934963593479765032018-11-22T19:58:00.001-05:002021-02-04T23:05:25.127-05:0015 JAN 1945 "The Old Man Brings Comfort" (Post #93)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br /><b><span style="font-size: medium;">
Charles B. MacDonald shared in <u>Company Commander </u>that around January 15, 1945, Company C and G of the 23rd Infantry Regiment of the 2nd Infantry Division had taken Road Junction 109 about 400 yards southwest of Weismes, Belgium and then had taken Steinbach about 30 minutes south. Charles B. MacDonald met First Lieutenant Marvin H. Prinds the companies' leader as MacDonald’s company was to replace Prinds companies so they could head south of Ondenval. Commander MacDonald did not realize Prinds would be wounded in action on January 17, 1945, during the attack on Ondenval, Belgium, and would die of his wounds the next day, January 18.<br />
First Lieutenant Marvin H. Prinds’ regiment will fight under the most severe climatic conditions. It will spearhead a drive that breaks the determined enemy resistance in the vital Ondenval-Iveldingen Pass to clear the way for armored thrusts into St. Vith, Belgium. Sleet, rain and bitter cold will freeze the men's clothing to their bodies as they struggle through waist-deep snow over rough terrain.</span></b><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span>
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First Lieutenant Marvin H. Prinds was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with the 23rd Infantry Regiment, 2d Infantry Division, in action against enemy forces on 17 January 1945.</b><br />
<i>(Information obtained from MacDonald’s <u>Company Commander</u>, the <u>Combat History of the Second Infantry Division in World War II 1946</u>, also https://valor.militarytimes.com/hero/32479, as well as Find A Grave)</i><br />
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<b><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Somewhere in Germany</span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-size: medium;">January 15, 1945</span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Dear Mother,</span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"> Good news to-day for here it is January 15 and my shoes came. You wanted to know how long they were coming so here it is, December 1 until to-day at noon which seems to me not bad time due to all the trouble we had over here around the middle of December. </i><span style="color: #666666;">(Sounds like a seasoned soldier understanding the realities of a war and they have been in the Battle of the Bulge during that time.)</span><i style="font-weight: bold;"> I was sure afraid those darn Krauts had them. Gee, all the fellows went wild over them and I could sell them for about any amount I asked. One fellow paid sixty dollars </i><span style="color: #666666;">(That's worth $820 today)</span><i style="font-weight: bold;"> for a German pistol and said he'd swap even. One officer just about told me to set my price. I put them on and they're a perfect fit. Even my overshoes go over them to a T.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><b style="font-style: italic;"> As I wrote in my last letter and up until three days ago (that is after the bunch I wrote you about or answered) mail took a big drop. When the first lot came in three days ago we had two mail calls in which I hit the jackpot for sixteen, three cards from home and my Sportsman magazine with this paper inside. Next day three letters from home, one from Frank Hall </b><span style="color: #666666;">(he was about 70 years old)</span><b style="font-style: italic;"> - a swell letter he wrote, and a small box from Mrs. Wilcox with a nice pair of home knit socks. To-day my shoes and a box from Pauline and family which had been on the road for some time. </b></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-size: medium;"> There was something about Frank's letter and the way he wrote it that seemed to hit the point at this time. True it made me - well not homesick but how I longed for the quiet woods with the trout stream as he wrote about Enchanted and asked "what do you say Old Pal how about four or five days back to the old place when you return that's if you want to." Told me about his pistol having a shiny place on the barrel that was made by my pocket as I carried it and we hiked fifteen miles back in the woods to a stream that always makes a good sportsman want to return. </span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><b style="font-style: italic;"> Far from the outside world that place would seem like Heaven to-day. Also wrote how during the middle of December he was awaken several times different nights with me before him and it seemed I needed help, said he couldn't go to sleep until he had prayed for me. In one way it made me feel funny but still I enjoyed it. </b><span style="color: #666666;">(Frank Hall was a seventy year old man that had spent time with my uncle fishing etc. as he was growing up and was also a man who knew how to pray for his young friend that was at war. Wow!)</span></span></div>
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<i><b><span style="font-size: medium;"> Everything is going well now and I'm in good health. Seems to be a little warmer tonight and you tell <u>Dad</u> I'm p<u>re</u>di<u>c</u>t<u>in</u>g more snow. Ha ha.</span></b></i></div>
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<i><b><span style="font-size: medium;"> Yes, Mother, we had Turkey for Christmas, even if the Boche got ours, as another Division divided up with us. Up until the last minute I thought we'd eat </span></b></i><i><b><span style="font-size: medium;">K-rations.</span></b></i></div>
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<i><b><span style="font-size: medium;"> Have about four or five letters from you so will run over them and see what I can answer.</span></b></i></div>
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<i><b><span style="font-size: medium;"> First of all, I want to remark about the large card you sent. It made me think about the Guarding Angel watching over the child as it crossed over a dangerous stream on a narrow foot bridge.</span></b></i></div>
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<i><b><span style="font-size: medium;"> Gee, I don't see what the farmer is going to do. If Clint gives up that milk route of 800 quarts it will sure hit quite a few people and that is only one of his runs.</span></b></i></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #666666;">(Anyone remember when milk was delivered?)</span><b style="font-style: italic;"> I'd like to know who figures it all out as you hear about men being out of the army because they aren't fit for service but still they play baseball, football, fight and everything else. Then they take the help from a man running a large farm so that he begins to close up. Sometimes I don't understand the whole thing.</b></span></div>
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<i><b><span style="font-size: medium;"> Guess I didn't write any letters the first part of October.</span></b></i></div>
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<i><b><span style="font-size: medium;"> Well at last, I know where Ralph and Flavilla's house is and a very good map you made.</span></b></i></div>
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<i><b><span style="font-size: medium;"> Received the picture of the three bears in the woods of Maine but gee, please leave off one name you call the hill for a good reason which I'll explain later. What do you mean by a couple letters went in town to Ben?</span></b></i></div>
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<i><b><span style="font-size: medium;"> Yes, the days are starting to grow longer here and I'm sure glad those long nights will soon be shorter. Darkness from 4:30 until after eight is sure long in this kind of life.</span></b></i></div>
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<i><b><span style="font-size: medium;"> Sister said they all chipped on the box Billings and the others sent. Of the packages you named I haven't received, Eugene, Helen L. and Grammie York yet, but some are still coming in.</span></b></i></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"> I see by Pauline's letters she's sure on the go, different than at first. I write a note now and then telling her to go, have a good time it's none of my business. </i><span style="color: #666666;">(Was his girlfriend when he entered the army but is pleased to see her go I think. Too suffocating for his likeness.)</span></span></div>
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<i><b><span style="font-size: medium;"> Well I guess this ends the news with no more questions to answer so will sign off. Many thanks for the felts, will wear them when the weather gets cold again. Remember me to Dad brother and all.</span></b></i></div>
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<i><b><span style="font-size: medium;"> Love</span></b></i></div>
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<i><b><span style="font-size: medium;"> Charles</span></b></i></div>
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<i><b>FROM 1946 15TH FAB YEARBOOK</b></i><br />
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</div>Peter Lagassehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00554859638119426729noreply@blogger.com2