4th July 1945, near Bingen Germany

[floydragsdale]

4th of July 1945

A notice was posted on our Company bulletin-board that read something like the following:

ANY MAN COUGHT SOBER BY 1200 HOURS ON THIS DAY WILL AUTOMATICALLY BE PUT ON KP (Kitchen Police) FOR THE BALANCE OF THE DAY.

It was approximately 0900 hours in the morning when I saw that message.

Immediately, this Soldier left the Company area for the entire day. For recreation that morning, a hike along the Rhine River was my recreation. Along the way, I met a German couple that spoke fluent English.

His livelihood was that of a Wine Merchant, in Bingen, Germany, he revealed to me as we were hiking along the banks of the river.

About mid-afternoon, that couple invited me to their home for peaches and champaign. - - - - Yummy, what a wonderful desert.

That evening, when I arrived back to the Company area, everyone was sleeping it off.



Floyd
Co.G, Regiment424th

[connie]

Floyd,

Away from home, this sounds like the best possible 4th. A small bit of refreshment given with human warmth... and remembered for 69 years. (Can it really be that long ago?!)

Connie

PS to others. This came up before, but I never tire of being reminded of this story. To see a longer discussion of the event check out: 106thdivision.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=dates&action=display&thread=709

[connie]

Thinking of Floyd and his memories of 4th of July in Bingen...

Today I again looked on the web for the treat shared with him that day. This year I will try it! Wonder how close it comes to the dish made in Germany 72 years ago...?

PEACHES IN CHAMPAGNE (from Chicago Tribune July 9, 1992)

Preparation time: 20 minutes
Marinating time: Several hours
Yield: 8 servings

2 pounds fresh peaches
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
1 tablespoon sugar
1 split (350 ml bottle) Champagne or other dry sparkling wine-- about 1 1/2 cups
1. Peel the peaches, cut in half and remove pits. Cut into 1/2-inch-wide slices. There should be about 4 cups.
2. Put the sliced peaches into a bowl, add the lemon juice and sugar; mix well. Pour the Champagne over the peaches, cover tightly and allow to marinate in the refrigerator several hours before serving.

[connie]

Again on this 4th of July 2021 I am remembering the founding of this nation and the people through the centuries who have helped it grow as a free nation.

And I am remembering time spent touring 106th sites in the ETO with my spouse and Floyd, led on weekends with Carl Wouters and his friends.

Once again I will soon be pealing 2 pounds of peaches and soaking them in champagne, lemon juice, etc., tying all these thoughts together with the memory of how many of our troops befriended and were befriended by individuals in the nation they had recently defeated as they spent time there as part of the occupying army.

Hope someday to see a note here from someone else who has embraced this addition to their 4th of July memories. We certainly enjoy it!

For a quick review of a few of the many memories Floyd shared with this discussion board (including this one) see the thread dedicated to him under 106th Soldiers speak: 106thdivision.proboards.com/post/4424/thread