|
May 15, 1945:
A day I'll always remember. I had the rare distinction of setting
foot in the once beautiful town of Aschaffenburg, the town my
grandparents were born in and Aunt Mathilda visited in 1930.
The town is completely demolished. When I was a little 8-year-old
tot in 1930 and I listened to Aunt Mathilda tell us about her
visit here, I never realized that one day, fifteen years later,
I would visit this same little town.
I can see where at one time it was a beautiful
town, as all the surroundings bear the earmarks of beauty. It
sits on a little knoll overlooking a small river which adds to
the beauty. I walked most of the streets and took pictures of
all the churches in hopes of capturing the one Aunt Mathilda
was in and the one her parents and grandparents attended. All
the churches are either destroyed or heavily damaged.
(NOTE: I succeeded. When I got home I compared
pictures and matched the one that my aunt had visited. An added
note: When Lale was in Germany in 1971 she also took a picture
of this church. So we have a 1930 shot; a 1945 shot showing a
damaged church; and a 1971 shot showing a rebuilt and remodeled
church.)
I entered the town at 11:05 a.m. and left
about 2:30 p.m. on a very beautiful day which added to all the
beauty and splendor. It sure is a small world. My main ambition
has been fulfilled. I can leave Germany content and happy to
have visited Aschaffenburg, Germany.
May 16, 1945:
Today, a year ago, I left Camp Bowie, Texas, for a little trip
overseas. It is hard to realize so much has happened during this
past year. Just a year ago I embarked on a journey that was a
mystery and the pages were blank. One year later, the mystery
has unfolded and the pages of the book are filled. We are getting
all those nice rejoicing letters from our loved ones back home,
telling us how happy they are that the war has ended. It really
makes a guy feel good to know they cared so much for us over
here.
Seems funny living a garrison life here in
Germany. We now have training schedules, reveille at 6:15 a.m.,
road marches, drilling, lectures, and maintenance inspections.
This sounds funny and many of the guys don't like it too well
but as for me I'm perfectly satisfied. I realize they have to
keep us busy or we would just lazy around the maybe get unto
trouble. The guys main gripe is that there is an airfield nearby
and many of the U.S. pilots and the Air Corps really have a snap.
While we poor ol' members of the ground forces have to be obedient
and subservient to all the rules and regulations. These pilots
are so carefree and have no discipline at all. However, I still
give them a lot of credit. They were a tremendous asset to us
when we needed to flush out a German stronghold. They were great.
May 18, 1945:
How can I forget this day. It's my birthday. I'm twenty-three
years old. Last year at this time I was passing through my home
town of Johnstown, Pennsylvania, when I wrote a note to my dad
and mother and threw it from the train. I thank God that He got
me through this past year.
From May 18th to June 1st we have been
living quite an easy life. Doing a little work with a few inspections
in between. We are also swimming, playing ball, eating strawberries,
raspberries, and cherries (picking these in the backyard of the
house we are in).
|