Well things got more complex than I had anticipated. But before I forget during my Siegburg research a couple of weeks ago I came across this site. It looked like something everyone would appreciate.
http://www.fatherswar.com/8thinfdiv/WW2/WW2_%20attached%20units/1340%20CEB_Nov_1944_AAR.pdf
I hope to get back soon with some more research.
Jean J
Christoph, I was referred to a gentleman who was in the battle of the Bulge because I was looking to place an "In Search of" entry in a Veteran's Magazine. It was such a treat yesterday to get to talk with him. He is 97 years old and his voice is so clear and his mind is incredible. If I am lucky enough to get to call him again, I want to find out what he eats and attributes his good health to!
I wanted to personalize my email with something from my Dad and so I found in one of Dad's purposefully written upbeat notes home in the winter of 1945:
“The time still passes rapidly Thank God for that. We are always busy – and with new men coming and going constantly – there is always time for gossip.”
I also sent him that Dad wrote:;
Dec. 26, 1944 ---“many wounded coming thru – day and night. It has turned colder and everything is froze up.”
Undated---“It is cold but definitely here – the Front lines must be brutal but war knows no weather conditions.”
Remember the long list of men that were on the Stalag 6G list - maybe it is accurate.
Off to Mom's,
Jean J
Finally more details on the letter Dad wrote to the deceased gentleman's Dad and I will put it all together here:
Dear Sir Jan. 15, 1945
This is one of those letters we must
write and yet Sir it is very hard indeed.
Your son was a hero till the very end -
He was severely wounded and it was just
the element of time for no amount of (?medical)
science could have possibly changed the (?course)
of events. We have buried your son here
at Siegburg in the American Section
of a German Cemetery with some other American
boys who have found a greater peace than
seems to exist on earth. Some day when
this all is just a bitter memory I hope to talk
this over with you - and divulge the whole story.
We here at Lazarett Siegburg have grown very
fond of your son - and he was a son to be proud
--- You can imagine how proud I am of my Dad
Jean J
Guess what? I found the rest of the letter!
Yes! I found a nephew who had the letter!
I am still in shock!
Jean J
:wav: :wav:
:bluejumper: :bluejumper: :bluejumper:
Can you believe this topic is 13 pages long! Wowzeeee!
Last night I went to bed after seeing Christoph's great Blessing/Greetings! I was so happy to receive that from him!
And Marion, thank you for your greeting too!
Now 13 pages will be nothing if Christoph and I continue to be so lucky .... Is it too big for the site?
The family of the deceased gentleman is going to send me a copy of my Dad's letter! The nephew loved his Uncle, Robert, and he and his wife have made sure that everyone in the family has copies of everything they have about him. Robert's Dad went to Europe to bring his son back home and he is buried near where they live. I will one day go out there and go to the Cemetery and also look at the memorabilia/photos that they have of Robert.
I still do not know the Unit that Robert was in but eventually I am sure I can figure that out if I can confirm the place he was wounded and the exact date. I am so curious about how far away he was when he was wounded. It may have been on Oct. 29, 1944. And his POW number makes sense with my Dad at 13012 and Robert at 13022. Looks like the numbers got assigned there at the Abbey.
I am trying to do a little more War work before must head out to Mom's.
Jean J
Does appear Documentary on Liberation of Paris will go ahead in NY with brief interview of a 4th Div. Vet who was there on Aug. 25th, 1944. They want to show that the Americans were in Paris too. It will be shown on French TV, yes in French.
JJ
Hi Guys!
Got sick after trip, and still not up to par.
I have the rest of the letter that I referred to above. Hard to believe Dad was not yet 26 years old at the time he wrote the letter. When he was 20 years old he probably could never of imagined that there could even be a War. And then that it would so alter his life and millions of so many others around the world.
The letter goes like this:
Dear Sir Jan. 15, 1945
This is one of those letters we must
write and yet Sir it is very hard indeed.
Your son was a hero till the very end -
He was severely wounded and it was just
the element of time for no amount of medical
science could have possibly changed the course
of events. We have buried your son here
at Siegburg in the American Section
of a German Cemetery with some other American
boys who have found a greater peace than
seems to exist on earth. Some day when
this all is just a bitter memory I hope to talk
this over with you - and divulge the whole story.
We here at Lazarett Siegburg have grown very
fond of your son - and he was a son to be proud
of - every inch a man and plenty of guts, we
share with you your deep sorrow and pray
that God may be with you at this time.
Dad signs the letter Sincerely and under that his name. Then under that he writes Man of Confidence. And under that he writes Lazarett Siegburg.
The family sent me photos of the man that Dad buried. He is "movie star" gorgeous and apparently his character matched that as well.
Bye for the moment,
Jean J
I don't know whether "Man of Confidence" is an english expression or only a translation of the german word Vertrauensmann which is quiet common not only for POW camps. The MOC was elected by his comrades to represent them to the camp commandant. I found some children of MOC in the Internet looking for information:
http://forum.weihenstephan.org/forum/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=161
http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/prisoners-war/42705-stalag-iva-man-confidence.html
and a book "Man of Confidence : The Story of an American Ex-Prisoner of World War II":
http://www.amazon.ca/Vertrauensmann-Confidence-Story-American-Ex-Prisoner/dp/0944957471
Christoph