One of the most daring and unusual Atlantic convoys left New York for England in September 1944. It was made up of a variety of sea-going tugs, small harbor tugs, yard tankers, and railroad car floats with wooden barges mounted on top. These were owned by the U.S. Army and were desperately needed in the bombed-out harbors of France. The U.S. Navy, with a few destroyer escorts and other small vessels, managed to herd this slow-moving armada to Falmouth, England, via the Azores Islands. The convoy, which took 30 days, encountered a violent storm in the English Channel, losing a large number of ships and 19 mariners in this dare-devil crossing.
A friend of mine from Luxembourg sent me a surprise the other day. A great little book called Milly's story, by a woman who was a young girl between the ages of 10-15 who lived in occupied Luxembourg 1940-1945.
I always enjoy first hand accounts and it gives you a good feel of what it was like to wake up one morning and have Stukas, German soldiers & tanks pull into your town suddenly and change your way of life. Can any of us imagine what that would have been like?
So take a look out the window right now and imagine seeing a hoard of scary looking men and machines going down your street. Imagine living under their rule for the next 4-5 years. You'd never take anything for granted again.
I just started the book this morning and will fill you in on details later.
A heads-up from the VetSignia group - this info has not yet been put on our website.
Mag/VetSignia Magnetic Vehicle Plaques
A Black & White image of one of the most popular VetSignias.
5.75" X 2.5" Black Print on Bright Silver Metallic background
Mag/VetSignias cling firmly to most metal surfaces.
They can be easily taken off, moved to another location, or to another vehicle.
If you served in WWII, KOREA, VIETNAM, PERSIAN GULF, OVERSEAS EXPEDITIONARY CAMPAIGNS, PEACETIME in the ARMY, NAVY, MARINES, AIR FORCE, COAST GUARD, MERCHANT MARINE there is a Mag/VetSignia that shows your service.
Veterans who served in wartime can display the war served in and the branch of service.
Example; VET / KOREA / U.S. ARMY, or, VET / VIETNAM / U.S. MARINES.
tickers for those who served in Expeditionary Campaigns such as; Panama, Somalia, Bosnia, Afghanistan, Iraq, etc., show Branch of Service and Expeditionary.
Example; VET / U.S. ARMY / EXPEDITIONARY, or VET / U.S. AIR FORCE / EXPEDITIONARY.
Veterans who served in Peacetime can get plaques that show Vet and their Branch of Service.
Example; VET / U.S. NAVY. or VET / U.S. COAST GUARD.
Mag/VetSignias are 2/$10.00, (S &H included). They can be mixed. Personal check/MO is fine.
Send requests to: Bob Kline - Box 382 - Blue Bell PA 19422
Be sure to include your Branch of Service, and; War served, Expeditionary. or Peacetime.
We will E-mail a Request Form for the magnetic plaques.
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For the past 12 years, we've been making VetSignia Window stickers.
Thirty-three high quality metalized film stickers. We've heard from Vets who have had VetSignias in their vehicle windows for 7, 8, over 9 years. Still bright and shiny. A for profit business could not do this. There is a web-site showing all VetSignias http://www.vetsignia.org Tens-of-thousands of proud Veterans use VetSignias.
At the request of several Veterans' groups, we are now making Mag/VetSignias, magnetized vehicle plaques. Mag/VetSignias look exactly like VetSignia Window Stickers. They are larger 5.75 X 2.5".
They've been tested in 11 states. Testers say, "they look great"
"really stand out" "holding up well" "strong grip" "really like it" "great idea"
We want the public to know who has served them, who's been protecting them,
who sacrificed for them. The public should know the Veterans in their communities.
Interesting week. First Spence contacts me about the 472nd, then Mike contacts me about the 473rd. I have already found some info on this unit and will be posting it later today.
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I am looking for information on the unit my father in
law was in during WW II the 5th army, 473rd engineer
maint company european theater of operations. do you
know of any sites that might give me this info. thank
you for your time
mike porter
irvine, ca
p.s. hope your holidays are filled with everything
they can be filled with. again thanks
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Dear Mike:
Interesting that you should write to me this week, since I am currently
doing some research for a gentleman who's uncle was in the 472nd.
While I'm having a hell of a time finding info on the 472nd, I DO have some
info on the 473rd. I will copy what little I do have and send it to you. I
will also post it on the forum so other's may see your inquiry.
To help you in the interim, I would suggest that you read the research
guides I gave to Spence, as far as who to contact at the Army Corps of
Engineers, NARA, etc.
I look forward to hearing back from you. Hold on tight, I should have some
