Post by floydragsdale on Jun 17, 2013 20:32:20 GMT -5
Hello All:
Missing from our stories on this WEB site are the natives of Belgium - - - the people (citizens) of the tiny Country of Belgium who lived in or near the Battle of the Bulge area.
In the heat of Battle Soldiers of G Company, 424th Regiment witnessed local citizens fleeing the Blitz Krieg (Lightning War) of the German Army.
The mode of transportation in one instance I remember was a two-wheeled cart, pulled by a pair of oxen, led by the father of the escaping family. The cart was filled with the family belongings and in the center were two small youngsters all bundled up for protection from the bitter cold weather. Walking just behind the wagon was the mother and a teenaged daughter. What a gut wrenching affair that was to witness.
This was not an isolated case; just one of more than several. That episode brought tears to my eyes.
Christmas Eve, 1944, in the tiny hamlet of Haare, Belgiun, the Citizens there took American Soldiers into their homes. For the 1st time in weeks we were able to feel the warmth of a heated building once again. The comfort of those homes didn’t last long. Several hours later the 2nd Bn. was called back to the Front Lines. The German Army was “pushing” again, even on Christmas Eve.
There were days when food, for the American Soldier, was scarce. Even though local people didn’t have an abundance of food they shared what they had with American Soldiers.
I cannot say enough kind words for the Belgian people during those war months. Some of them sacrificed their homes and in certain cases entire towns were destroyed during that Battle. Many Belgian Citizens lost family members as well.
Finally, when I visited there in the summer of 2010, wearing my WWII Cap, almost every day, (fourteen in all) a Belgian Citizen approached me, shook my hand and said, “Thank you for giving our County and freedom back to us.”
Indeed, moments like that made the trip a treasure house of memories,
A special thanks to Carl and Sofie & their families, also Connie, and her husband, Fritz for making the journey a very pleasant affair..
Floyd
Missing from our stories on this WEB site are the natives of Belgium - - - the people (citizens) of the tiny Country of Belgium who lived in or near the Battle of the Bulge area.
In the heat of Battle Soldiers of G Company, 424th Regiment witnessed local citizens fleeing the Blitz Krieg (Lightning War) of the German Army.
The mode of transportation in one instance I remember was a two-wheeled cart, pulled by a pair of oxen, led by the father of the escaping family. The cart was filled with the family belongings and in the center were two small youngsters all bundled up for protection from the bitter cold weather. Walking just behind the wagon was the mother and a teenaged daughter. What a gut wrenching affair that was to witness.
This was not an isolated case; just one of more than several. That episode brought tears to my eyes.
Christmas Eve, 1944, in the tiny hamlet of Haare, Belgiun, the Citizens there took American Soldiers into their homes. For the 1st time in weeks we were able to feel the warmth of a heated building once again. The comfort of those homes didn’t last long. Several hours later the 2nd Bn. was called back to the Front Lines. The German Army was “pushing” again, even on Christmas Eve.
There were days when food, for the American Soldier, was scarce. Even though local people didn’t have an abundance of food they shared what they had with American Soldiers.
I cannot say enough kind words for the Belgian people during those war months. Some of them sacrificed their homes and in certain cases entire towns were destroyed during that Battle. Many Belgian Citizens lost family members as well.
Finally, when I visited there in the summer of 2010, wearing my WWII Cap, almost every day, (fourteen in all) a Belgian Citizen approached me, shook my hand and said, “Thank you for giving our County and freedom back to us.”
Indeed, moments like that made the trip a treasure house of memories,
A special thanks to Carl and Sofie & their families, also Connie, and her husband, Fritz for making the journey a very pleasant affair..
Floyd
