A Veteran's Journey

Trivia Questions (Answers @ end)

1. In what movie (and who said it) did we hear the line, “Now I want you to remember that no bastard ever won a war by dying for his country. He won it by making the other poor dumb bastard die for his country.”?
2. Who said, “They say a person needs just three things to be truly happy in this world: someone to love, something to do, and something to hope for.”?
3. In what song (and who sang it) do we hear the following lyrics:
   Look over yonder
   What do you see?
   The sun is a’rising
   Most definitely
   A new day is coming,
   People are changing
   Ain’t it beautiful,

Dear Dad,

If you were still alive today, you’d be close to 99 years old. It’s hard to believe that 75 years ago today, you would soon be part of something only a few people alive would have experienced – the end of World War II in Europe.

I can’t imagine what you and the other men of the 80th Division and Allies were thinking 75 years ago today, on May 5, 1945. Did you know the Germans would surrender in two days? Were there any rumors or did G-2 (Division Intelligence) know anything?

I’m sure rumors were running rampant. After all, the 80th Division landed on Utah Beach in early August 1944, and had been beating the enemy back for months through France, Luxembourg, Belgium, Germany, and were now in Austria.

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Your April 30, 1945 letter home to your mom and dad read:

Germany
30 April 1945

Dear Mom,

We’re having wonderful weather now. However, it’s still a little chilly early in the mornings and at night.

I imagine everyone at home is quite excited and happy about the war news they are hearing nowadays. I’ll admit that the German soldiers we are fighting now do not have the discipline and morale that they used to (with the exception of SS troops, as they are fanatical), but just remember that although the news sounds good, the war with Germany is not over and will not be over until every German soldier is either killed or captured.

I wrote you before that I was now commanding officer of my company. Of course it’s a lot more work, but then they’re my boys and I’d gladly give my life for any one of them.

I have a good friend, Captain Tom Moss, from Orlando in my battalion. He is the Artillery Liaison Officer. Anyway, the other day, he took me up in one of his observation planes and we flew all over the city of Nuremberg. The city’s about the size of Jacksonville and there are not a lot of buildings left standing. I stayed in that town several days so it was nice to see it from the air as well as from the ground. There are many cities and towns that are like that both here and in France & Luxembourg.

The other day when we went into a town I walked into a house & spotted a bathtub. Out of curiosity, I turned on the faucet to see if it would work. Much to my astonishment, hot water came pouring out!!! I thought at first that I was dreaming, so I let the water keep on running & immediately jumped out of my clothes & into the tub. And sure enough the water was hot, so I just lay back & let it soak in. But then that’s war for you – sometimes you can live like a king off the fat of the land & other times it gets a little rough.

I’m feeling swell, am happy & love you dearly.
Devotedly,
Andy

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Dad, from the letters you wrote home to your mom & dad and your sisters, and your WWII diary, you described in great detail many of the battles you and your men bravely fought, from Utah Beach, through France and your Baptism of Fire at Argentan, through Luxembourg and the Battle of the Bulge, through Germany and what you found at the horrendous concentration camps, and finally in Austria.

Your letter, dated May 7, 1945, read…

Austria
7 May 1945

Dear Mom,

I know you’re anxious because you haven’t heard from me in about a week, but I’m getting along swell & have been doing a lot of traveling. I am now “somewhere in Austria.” It is really a beautiful country with streams, rivers, lakes, hills & mountains. The mountains are a part of the Alps.

I image everyone at home is quite happy over the war news. And I hope & pray that an official declaration of peace will be made before you receive this letter. Thousands of Germans are giving themselves up. Yesterday, believe it or not, I took two machine-guns and a section of mortars & went into a town & persuaded 800 Germans & Hungarians to surrender themselves! I hope the rest of these devils will be as easy to persuade. One captain surrendered his entire company intact. After talking with him through an interpreter, I found that I had fought against his outfit back in Normandy. I was glad to see him without his tanks.

This is a hunter’s paradise. Plenty of deer & quail. Surely wish dad could see this place.

I’m feeling swell & am happy.
Devotedly,
Andy

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Dad, there is such a contrast between the letters you wrote home and the details in your diary. I know you didn’t want your parents to worry – I’ve seen that same contrast through my researching several wars.

You and the rest of the 80th Division returned home in January 1946 after remaining in Europe as an Occupational Force. Even though you knew you weren’t coming home for a while (I’m not sure anyone back then knew when that would be), but you’d mentioned that since the end of the war, you were able to finally stay in billets with a roof over your head, your kitchen was with you for hot meals, and there was no more fighting and killing.

I know you lived with these war memories the rest of your life; I think all soldiers carry those with them. Sometimes they can talk about them, other times not. I know you chose not to talk much about the war when Anne & I were young.

You left us too soon at the early age of 68. But, you left a legacy with us and I think writing your diary helped you bring closure to one of the most exciting, challenging, and tumultuous times in your life. You never knew this (well… maybe you do, now), but your WWII diary was published in 2005: “You Can’t Get Much Closer Than This, Combat with the 80th ‘Blue Ridge’ Division, WWII”.

Say hi to Mom. We’re all doing well: kids are fine, grandkids are great. We’re fighting a different war down here right now-one we can’t see. But we’ll overcome and beat it. It’s only a matter of time.

I’m feeling swell & am happy.
Devotedly,
Andy (your son)

P.S. Anne (my sister) told me that when you first got home from the war, your mom took you to buy new clothes because your old civilian clothes didn’t fit. You felt like a new man. But your mom was also a good cook. I understand that your “new” clothes didn’t fit after a couple of weeks. I can’t compare my Navy service with your Army service, but I do remember having to buy new clothes when I came home from the Navy in 1977.

Andy Adkins is a US Navy veteran (’73-77) and the author of several books. His newest novel, NEVER FORGET, is the story of A Vietnam Veteran’s Journey for Redemption & Forgiveness. NEVER FORGET is FREE (eBook, PDF) for all veterans. Download your FREE copy HERE.

Answers:

1. Patton (1970), General George S. Patton (George C. Scott).
2. Tom Bodett
3. Crystal Blue Persuasion (1968), Tommy James & the Shondells; writtey by Eddie Morley Gray, Mike Vale, Tommy James