Today marks the 25th anniversary of the Beirut bombing. One of the quotes I always think of is, "The BLT [battalion Landing team] is gone!" It was. 1/8 lost almost all of its members. It's rare to find senior SNCO's or ltCol's and up that don't know someone who died there. It was one of the first big salvos in the War against fundamental Islam and we missed it. They, however, learned a valuable lesson - hurt the US enough and we go away. It's hurting us today because while we may not be leaving Iraq (for the time being anyway) they still believe we will so they don't stop. Perhaps if we held tough then they would just assume we don't bow to terrorists and stop trying to pin-prick us to death, casualty by casualty.

Some good stuff here on the USMC site.

I received this a few minutes ago, and already wrote back.

Hello, Marion

I am a french dedicated historian, 65 years old. My passion is the D-Day with my beloved 82nd AB Division. But, as I was looking inside my family papers to write down a family saga, I discovered that my parents have been in a great friendship with Colonel and Mrs George Marvin, 540 th Engineer, during the war. That's why I have a request for you, because you are a specialist of Engineer troops: Would you tell me when Colonel Marvin left Germany? There is a photo on your site of a departing party, but no date. His next job and regiment?

 

Would you provide me with the november and december 1944 monthly 540th ER action report?

 

Thanks a lot

Jo. BARET

France

Bonjour dear Jo. Baret:

How wonderful to hear from you, and how delightful it is to work side-by-side with a fellow historian. Always a pleasure!

Colonel Marvin left the 540th Engineer Combat Group on April 3, 1945, and was transferred to assume the post of Deputy Engineer for the American Fifth Army in Italy. They threw a big party for him, which took place in Burstadt, Germany, in a school which had been a displaced persons center, before the 540th arrived in Germany.

I should be able to send you a few more pictures in the very near future, as well as documentation from November and December 1944, as secured from the National Archives. These documents still need to be scanned, but I will try and get them to you as quickly as possible.

I have a very good friend from the 82nd AB. Are you acquainted with a gentleman named Howard Huebner? If not, I can put you in contact with him. He lives in Florida, and I had the pleasure of meeting him a year ago. I also have his story uploaded on my site.

I look forward to our future friendship and correspondence. So happy you wrote to me this morning.

Bon chance,

Marion

Hi Everyone,

I just found this site quite by chance.

You can visit the main places of dday.

This site is brillant !

http://www.trimaran.com/d-day/

Vee

A FRESCO DISCOVERY OF 1944 IN A HOUSE

History has not finished surprising us.

A probably American fresco dating back to World War II. Was discovered in a house in Saint Lô.

If you have any info on 528Port Co, Thank you in advance .....

Here is the photo and the link :

http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=e...l%3Den%26sa%3DG

Vee

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Received this letter this morning. Also including my reply. If anyone know more, would appreciate your comments.

Where can I find the WW11 song The Ribbon? I believe it is by Criss Holyway. It is a song about the Purple Heart. W.R. Campbell Sr.

Hmmm. Trying to find some info on that for you. So far little tidbits.

This was taken from one site I found:

Yellow ribbons

Penttila provided a bit of history about the use of yellow ribbons in support of deployed soldiers.

He noted the practice of wearing sashes in honor of loved ones serving in the military began in England.

The song “Round Her Neck She Wore a Yellow Ribbon” dates back at least to 1838 and was popularized by an Andrews Sisters’ recording during World War II. The song was featured in a John Wayne movie in 1949.

http://www.lyricsvault.net/

=================

So far I have not come up with anything by an artist called Criss Holyway.

Let me know if the one above is the one. I will keep looking...

Marion