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2 members (Willieb, 1 invisible),
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Forums10
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Jul 28th, 2025
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Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 3,854 Likes: 118
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 3,854 Likes: 118 |
In 1966, two years after graduating high school, I was drafted in the Army. My dad drove me down to the induction station and had tears in his eyes and told me, "don't feel bad, 2 years isn't so long, I was in a German prison camp for 26 months."
That was the first time he ever mentioned about being in the war, I was told he was in the Army, but my mother also never said anything.
I believe he told me his company was caught in Africa and I think it was the Kasserine Pass.
Funny, because at this time I was stationed in Germany for 13 months and got to know some Germans who served in their army. I also got to hunt on the one German father's farm that I knew from our post, he was a civilan fireman ( his father was in the SS). There was no animosity with the older Germans that remembered the war, only the younger ones of my age who saw how reckless we Americans were and how we could not handle ourselves.
After serving 18 months I was shipped home, and as there was no room for us because of all the new inductees, we were out, and never had to make up the time.
My father was there to meet me and drove me home, only saying " I see your smoking now".
David
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Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 2,522
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 2,522 |
In 1961 I was in Germany as part of an Armored Cavalry Squadron stationed at Augsburg. Met a lot of German veterans in our excursions around the countryside on field exercises. They seemed drawn to my M48a1 tanks. Everyone of them reported they had fought in the war but on the Russian front. I thought we must have killed all those who fought on the western front.
Then a couple years later at Ft. Knox, Kentucky an exchange officer from West German Army was in the classroom teaching us his side of the battle during the Battle of the Bulge. Rather weird being taught by German officers - but he was very informative.
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Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 1,417
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 1,417 |
" BLESS THEM ALL, BLESS THEM ALL, THE LONG, THE SHORT AND THE TALL"
Their's was truly "THE GREATEST GENERATION"
To see my guns go to www.mylandco.com Select "SPORTING GUNS " My E-Mail palmettotreasure@aol.com
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 803
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 803 |
Soviet Union was our ally in World War II, Dick, and our side would not have won without it. The land and air battles of the Western Front were miniscule in size and ferocity compared to the Eastern Front. The Red Army liberated my father and thousands of other American, British, Commonwealth, Czech, Polish air crews from a POW camp 20 miles from Berlin. You are correct and I have no problem with Stalin shedding the blood of Millions of soldiers and civilians so that Americans could live. Stalin killed more people than Hitler ever dreamed of killing. After WW2, we had a different war that cost the Soviet Union and its people much 'blood and treasure' while it only cost us for the most part 'treasure' unless you include the Vietnam War. One of my Minors is in Soviet History and Foreign Policy and I know intimately what the Soviet Union was about. During WW2, the Soviet Union was our ally in name only. I am happy that your father was liberated. Liberated/captured German troops were starved and/or sent to the Gulags by the Soviets, most never to return.-Dick
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 384
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 384 |
[/quote]Gotta love a fat boy Limey using that term- but I think he was talking about Greece and the Balkans- Anyway- Machts Nicht-- American GI's paid a heavy price at Omaha, while the Limeys and Canadians had a tad easier "show" at Gold, Sword and Juno-- but they were our Allies (in spite of Patton's distrust of both Churchill and Montgomery) and they also bled and died there to defeat Hitler and the Nazis- and thank God for that-- Patton's distrust of Montgomery's expertise at battle planning was proven, unfortunately, with Monty's flawed and then failer "Market Garden-- Market being the Airbone phase, and Garden being the ground troops- into Holland and to secure the vital bridges that would eventually take the Allies into Hitler's "Festung Europa"-- I love what the brave troops of the Airborne Units said back then: "When Hitler built his Fortress Europe, he forgot to add a roof"!!
I flew the flag today- and next time will be 14/June for Flag Day--and my VFW "Buddy" Poppy is hanging from the rear view mirror of my Jeep-- we owe them so much, and the brave men who came home from Europe and then Japan-- so few left each year now--Anytime you see a Vet- thank him for his service and sacrifice to our Country!! [/quote]
The first line of your post is offensive, as some one else posted I think we lost quite a high % of our population, as the old adage has it "The Brits provided the time, the Americans the money and the Russians the lives" but when it comes down to it how can you denigrate any nation that fought and died for you to be able to freely express the views you are doing now ? regards
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