Post by floydragsdale on Apr 8, 2013 19:47:16 GMT -5
The Living And The Dead
Stirring words have been written regarding a Soldiers actions overseas, however not much has been composed about the ones who died in battle. The silence regarding them is as if they had never been born.
Some men died an instant death. On the other hand there were those whose life ebbed slowly away. If you were close to them at the moment an indelible, lifetime, impression was engraved in your mind.
Nevertheless, the days action continued and you, the Soldier, carried on. At twilight time the days action usually simmered down. Next a foxhole, or slit-trench to protect a Soldier from enemy artillery fire was usually dug. Of course, a hole or slit trench, in the ground also helped hold body heat.
A Soldiers body, by then would be yearning some for rest. Pleasant thoughts of back home were always helpful. But so were the not so pleasant thoughts of the past few hours. Consequently, sleep would come, yet perhaps with nightmares of the past day.
What about those Soldiers who were K.I.A. just a few hours ago? Throughout the B.O.B. bodies of American and German Soldiers who died in action sometimes would remain where they fell for days and weeks at a time. Their bodies were in a deep freeze due to the cold winter weather in Belgium.
The death date for the American Soldier would be recorded on the day the body was picked up and taken to a collecting station, then prepared for burial in a temporary Cemetery.
However, when the 424th Regiment was pulled back in haste about the third day of the Bulge Campaign the bodies of the men who had recently died were left behind. Several of us were witnesses when one Soldier who was K.I.A. Although his remains were not recovered until months after the War ended his date of death was established by those who were eyewitnesses to the event. All of us (3 or 4 Soldiers) signed a sworn statement that described the incident.
Some Soldiers bodies, in the Ardennes Forrest, were never recovered. Their ashes remain there to this day, as if they had never been born. Nevertheless, the Soldiers who were there will never forget them.
The Ardennes Forrest is quiet today the battle smoke has long since fled. Now there are only memories and the dead.
Floyd
Stirring words have been written regarding a Soldiers actions overseas, however not much has been composed about the ones who died in battle. The silence regarding them is as if they had never been born.
Some men died an instant death. On the other hand there were those whose life ebbed slowly away. If you were close to them at the moment an indelible, lifetime, impression was engraved in your mind.
Nevertheless, the days action continued and you, the Soldier, carried on. At twilight time the days action usually simmered down. Next a foxhole, or slit-trench to protect a Soldier from enemy artillery fire was usually dug. Of course, a hole or slit trench, in the ground also helped hold body heat.
A Soldiers body, by then would be yearning some for rest. Pleasant thoughts of back home were always helpful. But so were the not so pleasant thoughts of the past few hours. Consequently, sleep would come, yet perhaps with nightmares of the past day.
What about those Soldiers who were K.I.A. just a few hours ago? Throughout the B.O.B. bodies of American and German Soldiers who died in action sometimes would remain where they fell for days and weeks at a time. Their bodies were in a deep freeze due to the cold winter weather in Belgium.
The death date for the American Soldier would be recorded on the day the body was picked up and taken to a collecting station, then prepared for burial in a temporary Cemetery.
However, when the 424th Regiment was pulled back in haste about the third day of the Bulge Campaign the bodies of the men who had recently died were left behind. Several of us were witnesses when one Soldier who was K.I.A. Although his remains were not recovered until months after the War ended his date of death was established by those who were eyewitnesses to the event. All of us (3 or 4 Soldiers) signed a sworn statement that described the incident.
Some Soldiers bodies, in the Ardennes Forrest, were never recovered. Their ashes remain there to this day, as if they had never been born. Nevertheless, the Soldiers who were there will never forget them.
The Ardennes Forrest is quiet today the battle smoke has long since fled. Now there are only memories and the dead.
Floyd
