My Father

[Leatchy]

A Son Never Forgets.

[TRDG]

I am deeply touched that you shared this with us and feel privilaged to know you and your family here.

All my best to you and yours

Tom Young

[Pirate-Drakk]

Paul, your Dad must have been a real bada$$ to survive Stalingrad, and 8 years as a Soviet POW, and STILL live to be 99! Good thing for you, the apple doesn't fall too far from the tree...


As far as post WWII Germans in the French Foreign Legion, there is a fantastic book called: The Devil's Guard.
Amazon.com: Devil's guard: George Robert Elford: Books

There is some debate about how true the story is, but it's very believable and compelling. It's also basically a textbook on how to deal with guerilla's the SS way. Not a pretty scenario.

I owned this book many years ago and loaned it to someone who never returned it. I finally found it on Amazon.com and it goes for $200!!! Ouchy! So much for replacing my long lost copy.



In any case, here's another well deserved salute to your Father, Cyberia!

[cyberia]

Thanks for the info and the salute to my Pop, Shannon.

If you ever had the chance to have a conversation with him I think you would have been surprised. He was actually soft spoken unless angered, maintained an optimistic view on life despite all, and never to my ears uttered a derogatory remark about former enemies. He spoke about things in a "this what happened" tone that was without emotion or bitterness.

In fact, I think the only enemy he never made peace with right up to his death were the nazis.

[MAGNA]

Anzac Day is next friday in Australia. It's the day we remember all those who served for their country in different conflicts. It is an emotional time for many people.

The Vietnam war was not popular here and for years after there wasn't much in the way of recognition for veterans from that conflict. Things have fortunately changed over the years and they are now recognised more for their service.

I hope you get what I mean here as your father may have served as some would see it for Nazi germany thus making him one of the bad guys. I see it as being the same as it was for those who went to Vietnam. They were sent by politicians as was your dad. There was no choice in the matter as far as the armed forces were concerned.

I am glad to see you are proud of his service and I wish more people would look at the impact war has on those who have no control over the big picture as it were.

The point of Anzac day is not to glorify war but to remember - as we say on the day - lest we forget. Thank you for sharing this with us and your father is another to be remembered by me on Anzac day along with my Grandfather and Great Uncle. Although they were on opposite sides they all went through their own personal hell because of war and came out the other end as people to be proud of.

[cyberia]

Magna, to your Grandfather and Great Uncle... Prosit!

May the honorable dead of all wars and every flag have the peace and respect they all so justly deserve.

And may the names of our children and grandchildren never need to added to threads such as this.

[Jim O]

Originally Posted by cyberia

And may the names of our children and grandchildren never need to added to threads such as this.

Amen to that!

[Wustenfuchs]

Originally Posted by cyberia

Magna, to your Grandfather and Great Uncle... Prosit!

May the honorable dead of all wars and every flag have the peace and respect they all so justly deserve.

And may the names of our children and grandchildren never need to added to threads such as this.

Thanks Paul, perfect.