November 11th, now Veteran's Day in the US, was originally remembered as Armistice Day, the day that the worst mass mechanized bloodletting the world had ever seen finally came to a halt after four long years. One blogger recently discovered the story of his grandfather's unit in the Great War. You should read it.
Thursday, November 11, 2010
On the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month...
...the guns fell silent.
November 11th, now Veteran's Day in the US, was originally remembered as Armistice Day, the day that the worst mass mechanized bloodletting the world had ever seen finally came to a halt after four long years. One blogger recently discovered the story of his grandfather's unit in the Great War. You should read it.
November 11th, now Veteran's Day in the US, was originally remembered as Armistice Day, the day that the worst mass mechanized bloodletting the world had ever seen finally came to a halt after four long years. One blogger recently discovered the story of his grandfather's unit in the Great War. You should read it.
Thank you, Tam.
ReplyDeleteCA
In many ways our most deadly war. Though military casualties were decidely third rate compared to the Civil War (War of the Great Rebellion) or WWII, the effect of the war was to permit a more virulent version of the flu to evolve and propagate. US casualties including the flu were about 900,000.
ReplyDeleteMy 94 year old grandfather recently died. He was a supply sergeant with a field artillery battalion during Great War: the Reich Strikes Back. He had been rather close-mouthed about his war experiences, only in the last year letting slip about where he had served.
ReplyDeleteBased on an uncle's research, he may have been either with the 187th or 955th Field Artillery Battalion. Both were in action during the Battle of the Bulge. He may have even been involved in the Bastogne encirclement. While a staff sergeant, he was most definitely involved in combat conditions. His experience with trucks indicated he worked convoys bringing ammunition and supplies to his unit during the battle.
It's not like I found out that Zeidah Max served under Richard Winters or anything. But it is humbling. His experiences were obviously bad enough that he sealed off mentioning it to his family for over 60 years.
Tam,
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing that link.Words cannot fully express my appreciation for those who have made sacrifices so that we can enjoy the fruit of Liberty.
Powerful, moving and inspiring.
My very best,
McVee
It has been interesting living close to where my Grandfather fought during WW2. At least I get electric fans, hot running water, and an inside bathroom...
ReplyDeleteIt's at this point where words fail. Even living here I still can't imagine what they went through.
God bless them all, and thanks so very much.
A all the US participants are still wondering why they ever got involved in that war...
ReplyDeleteThe Great War was a pretty awful decimation that should not be forgotten. Wife's grandpa who passed away some twelve-years ago at a VA hospital was in the Great War and kept the memory of his Lieutenant alive in stories oft repeated.
ReplyDeleteI was given my Grandfather's bayonnete.
ReplyDeleteSomething of a proud and complicated bummer to hold. Must be from a Springfield?
God Bless all who have served and serve today.