Here's a letter I received from this gentleman:

Hi:

My father (Dominic Zampelli) was in the 258th Engineer Battalion in Europe

during WWII. I would like to find out more information about his battalion

and their activities during the war. I've had a difficult time finding anything on the internet. Do you have any information about them or a link where i might find more information?

Thank you so much,

Dean Zampelli

Article thanks to James Hennessey:

-------------------------------------------------------------------

December 7, 2004

The Longest Winter

Sixty years ago, a puzzled enemy met America's "quiz kids."

BY VICTORINO MATUS

Tuesday, December 7, 2004 12:01 a.m. EST

It all has a familiar ring to it. The enemy believes that it takes only a taste of real war, followed by a few casualties, to send Americans running home with their tails between their legs. The American president, weighed down by public opinion, will then be forced to make concessions and abandon the field.

Sixty years ago, Adolf Hitler had exactly such thoughts. He launched a devastating offensive in Western Europe in the hope that he could weaken America's willingness to fight and thus splinter the Allies, leaving him free to deal with the Soviet Union. In retrospect, such a strategy seems mere wishful thinking. But in December 1944 it had a plausible logic to it. With the future of his Reich at stake, Hitler saw an all-out strike against the massing U.S. and British forces as his last chance to force them into making a separate peace.

What the Fuehrer did not count on was the stubborn resistance of largely untested American GIs. This fierce opposition, particularly from one platoon, is the subject of Alex Kershaw's "The Longest Winter." In his previous history, "The Bedford Boys," Mr. Kershaw followed a group of soldiers from Bedford, Va., to the beaches of Normandy, where 19 of them were cut to pieces in the first terrible minutes of D-Day. "The Longest Winter" picks up where "The Bedford Boys" left off, following another platoon's journey through liberated France into Belgium on the eve of the Battle of the Bulge.

Most of the 26 men who composed the 394th Regiment's Intelligence and Reconnaissance platoon came from college programs, meant to replenish the military's badly depleted ranks. Derisively called "quiz kids," they proved themselves as physically adept as they were academically proficient. But not even rigorous Camp Maxey, Texas, in the sweltering heat of July 1944 could prepare them for their mission in Europe later that year.

On Dec. 10, the platoon was ordered into the village of Lanzareth, Belgium, to fill a gap between Allied divisions along the Western front. The leader, First Lt. Lyle Bouck, was told that the move would be temporary--after all, as Mr. Kershaw explains, "I&R platoons were not intended to be frontline riflemen. The highly mobile platoon did not have sufficient firepower to hold such a position in the event of a strong German attack."

Little did the Allies know (thanks to one of the greatest intelligence blunders of the entire war) that a strong German attack was indeed heading their way. Hitler's counteroffensive, launched on Dec. 16, involved almost a half-million men and thousands of tanks and artillery pieces, all aimed at slicing through the Ardennes forest, recapturing Antwerp and leaving the Allied forces in disarray. As Hitler saw it, "this battle is to decide whether we shall live or die. The enemy must be beaten--now or never! Thus lives our Germany!"

The enemy's advance just happened to go through tiny Lanzareth. But after Lt. Bouck confirmed that a massive force was approaching, headquarters ordered his men "to hold at all costs." The Germans, meanwhile, were commanded to charge up the hill where the platoon was positioned. "They advanced like they were out for a Sunday stroll," recalled Pvt. Risto Milosevich. "I figured we were going to get it, so I was going to take all the Germans with me I could." And he did. Hundreds of Germans were mowed down in what Lt. Bouck described as "a lot of human waste." And yet the sheer number of enemy troops would ultimately spell the platoon's doom, exhausting their supply of ammunition and leaving them no choice but to surrender.

The remainder of "The Longest Winter" follows the I&R platoon scattered throughout some of the most notorious POW camps inside the Third Reich. According to Mr. Kershaw, "it was a lucky man who did not at some point suffer from dysentery. In most barracks and wards, there were just two latrine pails left by the Germans each night. Both were always overflowing each morning." Malnutrition was rampant. Cpl. Aubrey McGehee, who served under Lt. Bouck, went to 120 pounds from 205.

Despite such conditions, the 394th's I&R platoon survived. "Only a miracle," writes Mr. Kershaw, "could explain why every one of Lyle Bouck's men got home that summer when so many other units had been decimated." According to Charles B. MacDonald, author of the monumental "A Time for Trumpets," some 19,000 Americans died at the Battle of the Bulge.

The Nazis at first perceived the American soldier to be "a gum-chewing spoiled brat." Instead they faced an adversary willing to stand his ground. The 394th's I&R platoon played a pivotal role in slowing the German advance--a delay that would prove costly. "We knew it weren't no little thing," said Sgt. George Redmond. "But I figured if I'd gotten that far, I'd get the rest of the way. You only have to go when your time comes." America's enemies would do well not to underestimate this sense of courage and duty.

Mr. Matus is an assistant managing editor at The Weekly Standard. You can buy "The Longest Winter from the OpinionJournal bookstore.

This letter from a M/Sgt in Iraq was posted on Patriot Files forum, and I believe

what he has to say will bring a lump to your throat as it did mine.

There is good news out there

Did you hear the good news in Iraq today? My guess is no.

It is no secret that good news is no news, especially when news sells. So who wants to buy good news when you can get bad news for free? Think about it. Is the media to blame? If so, why? The media sells news, the public buys news.

I’ll make it easy for you. I have good news from Iraq, and it’s free!

My name is Ricky Fitzgerald. I’m a master sergeant in the Air Force, and I work as a Combat Camera videographer, stationed at Charleston Air Force Base, S.C. I have a story to tell, but be warned; it may shock you -- it’s all good news.

Let me first lay down a little disclaimer and maybe some bias. I love my country, I love our military, and I love the people who serve in it. I have never met finer friends than those I have served with during the past 18 years.

I arrived here in Iraq in early January, just two months ago. Like most members of the military arriving here, I was a little scared, a little disoriented and a little unsure about what was going to happen next and who it was going to happen to. Why wouldn’t I be? I watch the same news you do. I have seen things I would rather not see -- sad things, sad people and sad situations that seem to have no end in sight.

My purpose here is not to hide or downplay the obvious: people are dying here every day. Out of respect for our fallen brothers and sisters who selflessly laid down their lives for something they believed in, I think the public, especially the families of those who have fallen in this foreign land, deserve to know the truth about what is really going on 90 percent of our time over here. I’m writing this to tell you exactly what I have seen, not what I have watched or read on the news, and not what I have heard in daily briefings.

Are you the one who donated one of the 60 soccer balls we handed out this week? Last week those same kids were kicking a can in the street.

Maybe you contributed one of the 1,160 pairs of shoes that I watched Iraqi children slip into last week. Watching all those children try on shoes for the very first time in their life is beyond any Christmas present opening you could ever witness.

Or was it you who filled all of those boxes up with school supplies, toys, blankets and stuffed animals for the children? I couldn’t believe it when I walked into the school classrooms -- no electricity, no plumbing, not one poster or sign on any wall, not even a pencil or piece of paper. There was just one middle-aged Iraqi teacher trying to entertain the minds of about 30 little kids in a world where doing something fun involved rocks and sticks.

Are you the American kid who spent all day in class writing thank you letters to American servicemembers you have never even met? Take it from me, your pictures are proudly displayed in almost every American’s office, tent and armored vehicle in Iraq.

Are you the parent, wife, husband, brother, sister or neighbor of the American servicemember who I saw playing with Iraqi children today? Those kids looked up to him like he was the best thing that has ever happened in their lives. I believe he was.

Maybe you know the servicemember who stepped out of his armored vehicle only to be swarmed by Iraqis, both young and old, who wanted nothing more than to hold his hand and walk proudly down the neighborhood street with him. And walk they did; you should have seen it!

I am here to tell all of you the truth. Your toys, your blankets, your drawings and your letters are here in Iraq, and every day you are putting smiles on faces and hope in every Iraqi child’s future.

Will shoes and toys solve the world’s problems? Certainly not, but if you could see what I have seen in the eyes of an Iraqi child, you would know there is hope. And if you could see the strength and determination of the American servicemember here in Iraq, you would know your prayers are working.

News comes in many forms, and a camera’s lens captures it all -- good and bad. But today, I give you the good. God bless you all.

Commentary by Master Sgt. Ricky Fitzgerald 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing BALAD AIR BASE, Iraq (AFPN)

__________________

“Everything I’ve done, I’d do again.†“In the Army, you take care of each other. We’re here for each other, and that’s the most important thing.â€

Maj. Alfred Rascon, Medal of Honor recipient, former medic & retiree recalled to active duty.

________________________

Here is a link that ties into the letter above. I received it from my friend

Art Morneweck (PAPA)

http://www.clermontyellow.accountsupport.c...h/UntilThen.swf

chucktoo

__________________

1940 Slang add to it !!!

A

All's I'm Saying -- all I’m saying. . .

Aces -- great

B

big to-do -- the big deal

bring home the bacon -- who makes the money

beat -- tired

beef -- problem

breathe a word -- telling someone

C

cheapskate -- someone who won’t spend money

crimeny -- geez

D

Dear John -- break-up letter

dropping you like a hot potato -- dumping you

deer talking to headlights -- someone who has trouble speaking to

another

dollar to a donut hole -- a sure thing

drop of a hat -- just like that

E

easy -- a person who puts out

F

fag -- cigarette

fool of the western world -- idiot

H

haven’t the foggiest -- have no idea

heaven’s sakes -- geez

holy smokes -- oh my gosh

J

joker -- clown, fool

L

luckier than all get-out -- I’m luckier than anything

the line -- assembly line

lousy -- not good

lose your shirt -- you’ll lose everything

M

making time -- going out with someone

marbles -- your mind

mits -- hands

my back teeth are floating -- I need to pee. . .really bad

N

no skin off my nose -- not my problem

not being square -- not telling the truth

notice -- getting fired from a job

no nevermind -- no difference to me

no siree -- nope

O

out of sorts -- in a bad mood

on the 8 ball -- having bad luck

P

pleased as punch -- happy

pity sake -- heaven’s sake

Q

queer bird -- strange person

R

round heels -- prostitute

Rockefeller -- rich person

righto -- right

S

snafu -- situation normal all fouled (effed) up

says you -- (sarcastic) according to you

so to speak -- not literal

scrounged -- cheated

section 8 material -- crazy

swell -- good

[the] sack -- bed

sap -- idiot

sure as tootin -- (s)he better. . .

T

two timer -- one who cheats on girl or boyfriend

U

under your skin -- annoying

Y

you know so much -- (sarcastic) smart alec or wise guy

Another letter from my friend Ken

I’m so glad you had a chance to check out the B-24 and B-17. There really wasn’t that much room in the planes and when you had bulky flt. gear on it didn’t help either. After we would sweat out a take off with full load of bombs and full load of gas we would climb up and form on sqd. then sqd would form into our group. There were 4 sqds. in a group, then our group would get into bomber slot and then head for our target. When over the channel the gunners would check fire our guns. At 14,000 ft we would put oxy. mask on. Now you mentioned the cat walk---well this was the time we had to arm the bombs and one of the guys would start from the front of the bomb bay and I would start from the back of the bomb bay. There was very little room to squeeze thru and I weighted 150 lbs, but with flt gear and also a portable oxy. bottle and hanging on for dear life as the plane was trying to stay in formation by going up then down with a little sway thrown in we would pull the arming pins from the bombs. The bombs are live at this time and we had to save the pins in case we didn’t bomb and had to put them back in. This would also be the time the ball turret gunner would climb into his turret. I was so happy we didn’t have them in our group, so I stayed in the waist window. We pretty much stayed back in the waist unless you had to go up front and we would if you wanted to warm up some as there was a little more heat up on the flt deck. I think someone gave you the wrong info about the ball retracting on the B-17. It stayed down all the time, but the B-24 had to have it up in order to land. There was a lite on the inst. panel and it would come on when the ball was lowered. One time here in the states I was in the ball and noticed we were getting lower & lower so I called up to the pilot wanting to know if we were coming in for a landing, he affirmed that the told me to get out and pump the ball up real quick. Seems as tho the lite wasn’t working and man did I ever move like greased lightning getting this done!!