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Post by dkeeber on Jul 3, 2017 23:13:21 GMT -5
My father, PFC Willard Herman Keeber, 12 238 570, was in Company G of the 424th Infantry of the 106th Regiment. He was trained at Camp Atterbury and sent to the Ardennes a day or two before the initial strike. His unit took the first blow of the Battler and many were lost or captured. Dad managed to escape that fate and ended up behind enemy lines for about 10 days, wandering with a small band of others until such time as the were able to make it back to friendly lines. If anyone has information pertaining to this, I would very much appreciate connecting with that person or persons.
Dad passed away in 2012. Before he passed, and throughout his life, he shared very little information on this seminal period of his life. Now that he is gone, the family is trying to piece together information. We are traveling to the Ardennes region of Belgium this autumn to travel the area and are being guided by a younger gentleman who has specialized in this action. Again, if anyone has information on the events surrounding PFC Keeber's exploits, we would very much like to connect.
Thank you.
David Keeber (son) dkeeber@npgcable.com
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Post by connie on Jul 4, 2017 9:00:11 GMT -5
David, So good to hear from you... The name struck a familiar chord, though not in my case from any personal first-hand connection. My connection was through this Discussion Board first where I became acquainted with a fellow from G-Company of the of the 424th named Floyd Ragasdale. Floyd is gone now but his posts live on on this board. I have recently begun adding an overview of links to his posts. But if you want to find therm all faster than I post, simply get into the thread on him, go to one post by him, click on his name to the left and then click on recent threads or recent posts. The threads would probably be the best first place to begin. Here's a link to the beginnings of my compilation: 106thdivision.proboards.com/post/4424/thread. A few years back Floyd learned I was traveling to the area and asked to link up to this personal trip. I'll check with you in personal mail on the name the young man who you will be traveling with, but I can guess and hope. We had help from a young Belgian then who has specialized in the 106th. Before our arrival he had found what he believed to be the location of 424G at the onset of the Bulge, and he led us there. Floyd was anxious to see his foxhole. He confirmed that this was indeed the spot, and I stood with him beside the dent in the ground that was still there where his foxhole had been. And I walked back further in the woods to the site down the hill where their mess had been set up. If you check out the Site Soldier Index you will find your father's name already there with links to references and to his diary posted on the Indiana Military site. Sorry you missed connecting with Floyd. But thankfully his writing awaits you. Your Dad's not saying much about the war is classic. I think the majority of us find ourselves retracing history wishing that now when we know the questions to ask that we had our fathers around to answer. Still it is amazing what you can glean when you start looking. I'll be interested in following your journeys. Connie PS. I'll post a link to your post under the Site Soldier Index and let a few others know you're on board. |
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Carl W.
Active Member
Administrator
The Golden Lions
Posts: 265
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Post by Carl W. on Jul 4, 2017 12:53:53 GMT -5
Hi David,
Welcome to the message board. I'll be looking forward to meeting you, your mother and sister this coming fall. Like Connie mentioned, we were fortunate to accompany Floyd back to the former battlefields in 2010 (he was a close friend of your father and fellow mortarman in 424/G). Floyd passed away in 2014 but left us a wealth of information and personal tales right here on the board and in that way continues to shed light on that period in time which shaped his and his comrades' lives as young G.I.'s during that cold winter of 1944-45.
All the best,
Carl
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Post by connie on Jul 8, 2017 11:24:48 GMT -5
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