At a local restaurant that we visit regularly , one of the waitresses there told us a story this week about her dad. He is 94. He was 19 when he fought in the Battle of the Bulge. If any of you have seen the movie "Monument Men" he is one of those who went to get the gallery of hidden arts that Hitler stole. It was important to get there and remove the art before the Russians got there because Russia would have claimed the works for themselves. He was among the men who carried the art out and got away just before the Russians arrived. She said that she never heard the story until a couple weeks ago when she read about her dad in the newspaper. When she asked him why he never told this to the family, he said "I didn't think it was important". He never told the family of his interview with the movie producers for the making of the film and she had never seen the movie. Needless to say, she is very proud of him. Dad is 94 and her mom is 92.

Great story!

Thanks for sharing. I wonder how many of our neighbors have stories like this 

Great story AL...thanks for sharing it here...one of my Uncles fought in the Battle of the Bulge

That is great, thanks for sharing Al.  I haven't seen the movie, I wonder how close to accurate it is?

Wonderful story. I imagine that, at 19 and having fought his way to that point, collecting those art treasures was just another day in this man's army. 

12 hours ago, lew said:

Thanks for sharing. I wonder how many of our neighbors have stories like this 

Many do, Lew. They don't talk about it unless asked. That's why I always yak it up with them. 

hat 

Edited January 16, 20197 yr by hatuffej

My brother was in WWII and flew gliders behind German lines. I would have loved to hear about his experiences. However he only shared the good times and only rarely bad times. 

My Dad was in the Merchant Marines during WWII but unfortunately he died when I was 7. I never heard about his experiences.

 

My step Dad fought in Germany during WWII. He was with the first soldiers to capture the Remagen Bridge and he fought at the Battle of the Bulge. He never spoke much about his experiences either. The only time I heard him relate an experience was once when we were watching a TV show called (I think) The Twentieth Century when there was an episode about the Bridge at Remagen. 

2 hours ago, Ron Altier said:

However he only shared the good times and only rarely bad times. 

People will ask why I only tell about the good times, or make jokes.  My answer?  Do you sleep well at night?  Catches them by surprise and they usually say yes why?  I reply, may that always be true.  Trust me when I say if I told you the truth your toenails would curl I doubt you would sleep well afterward.  War is Hell, it is ugly, there are no rules, don't listen to the people that say otherwise.  It boils down to this one principle, them or you.  

Edited January 16, 20197 yr by Woodbutcherbynight

I WILL make it a point to see that movie now.

My Uncle never talked about this time in the Navy in the South Pacific.    He didn't even want his letters home saved for his kids.

2 hours ago, p_toad said:

My Uncle never talked about this time in the Navy in the South Pacific. 

My FIL was the same...knew he was there, on a destroyer and that was about it. I suspect he talked to his sons (my BIL's) about it since they both were in Vietnam but never to his daughters...he contracted polio shortly after discharge and returning to the states then was confined to a wheel chair the remainder of his life.

9 hours ago, Woodbutcherbynight said:

People will ask why I only tell about the good times, or make jokes.  My answer?  Do you sleep well at night?  Catches them by surprise and they usually say yes why?  I reply, may that always be true.  Trust me when I say if I told you the truth your toenails would curl I doubt you would sleep well afterward.  War is Hell, it is ugly, there are no rules, don't listen to the people that say otherwise.  It boils down to this one principle, them or you.  

Hello Wood

We all know war is hell and many vets have a headful of bad memories. The issue is whether those bad memories control you or you control them. I think talking about them puts you in control. When I meet a vet, I ask him how he is doing and tell him its good to talk it out. I can see relief in their eyes. Many thank me for asking. One guy in the 101st Airborne in VN thanked me several times, with tears, for giving him permission to talk it out. Another vet in the 4th Infantry Division told me I was the only guy since he left VN to ask him how he is doing. It made his day. Their wives thank me for telling hubby to talk it out. All of this is why I talk with every vet I see anywhere. The WWII guys and Korean War guys really love it. 

hat

Edited January 17, 20197 yr by hatuffej

1 hour ago, hatuffej said:

The issue is whether those bad memories control you or you control them.

It is good you reach out, it can be very helpful for some.  Thank you for looking after our brothers.

 

 

God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.

Living one day at a time;
enjoying one moment at a time;
accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
taking, as He did, this sinful world
as it is, not as I would have it;
trusting that He will make all things right
if I surrender to His Will;
that I may be reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy with Him
forever in the next.
Amen.