Together We Served has reconnected more military veterans than any other organization or website. If you served in any branch of the US military, stay connected with those you served with by joining
TogetherWeServed.com
.
Note From the Editor
Greetings. This month's Dispatches features an incredible story of Joachim Ronneberg, a Norwegian Army officer who was part of the team responsible for disrupting Hitler's quest for the atomic bomb. We also feature a story on Joe Ronnie Hooper, an unlikely hero and recipient of the Medal of Honor.
We hope you enjoy them.
Please let me know your comments regarding your Dispatches - things you like and things you like less. Also, please contact me with any stories or articles you would like considered for publishing. I can be reached at Mike.Christy@togetherweserved.com.
All information for Bulletin Board Posts and Reunion Announcements please send to Admin@togetherweserved.com
Lt Col Mike Christy U.S. Army (Ret)
CONTENTS
1/ Profile in Courage: Joe Ronnie Hooper
2/ View Your Entry in Our Roll of Honor!
3/ Battlefield Chronicles: Wolseley and Rorke's Drift
4/ Preserve Your Old Photos: Let Us Help for Free!
5/ Military Myths & Legends: Joachim Ronneberg, The Man Who Crippled The Nazi Atomic Bomb Program
6/ Do You Still Have Your Boot Camp/Basic Training Photo?
7/ Tet Offensive REvisited: The Media's Big Lie
8/ Have A Military Reunion Coming Soon?
9/ SS Soldiers Destroyed a Town and Everyone in It
10/ New Together We Served Military Store
11/ TWS Bulletin Board
12/ TWS Person Locator Service
13/ The Battle of Stalingrad: One of the Biggest Battles in History
14/ Book Review: Unbroken
15/ Letters to the Editor
Profiles in Courage: Joe Ronnie Hooper
Joe Ronnie Hooper had his share non-judicial punishments (authorized by Article 15 of UCMJ), racked up 115 confirmed kills and was awarded the Medal of Honor. He was also one of the most decorated soldiers in American international combat.
Born in the summer of 1938 in South Carolina, Joe Ronnie Hooper was relocated as a child to Moses Lake, Washington where he attended Moses Lake High School.
Originally a Navy man, Hooper first enlisted in December of 1956. After graduation from boot camp at San Diego, California he served as an Airman aboard USS Wasp (CV-18) and USS Hancock (CV-19). He was honorably discharged in July 1959, shortly after being advanced to Petty Officer Third Class.
The next year, Hooper enlisted in the US Army as a Private First Class. After graduating Basic Training, he volunteered for Airborne School. From there he did tours of duty in Fort Bragg, Korea, and Fort Hood, eventually making his way to Fort Campbell's 101st Airborne Division.
Now a Staff Sergeant, Hooper requested a tour in Vietnam but was sent to Panama instead as a Platoon Sergeant. Unable to stay out of trouble while he was there, he was the subject of several Article 15 hearings and was eventually demoted to Corporal. However, he eventually got his Sergeant stripes back and deployed with the 101st to Vietnam in December of 1967, taking on the role of a Squad Leader. During his tour of duty with Delta Company (Delta Raiders), 2nd Battalion (Airborne), 501st Airborne Infantry, 101st Airborne Division, he was recommended for the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions on February 21, 1968, outside of the city of Hue.
On February 21st, 1968, Hooper and his company were beginning an assault on an enemy position when they came under fire by everything from machine guns to rockets.
According to his Medal of Honor citation, Hooper's unit "was assaulting a heavily defended enemy position along a river bank when it encountered a withering hail of fire from rockets, machine guns, and automatic weapons. Staff Sergeant Hooper rallied several men and stormed across the river, overrunning several bunkers on the opposite shore.
Thus inspired, the rest of the company moved to the attack. With utter disregard for his own safety, he moved out under the intense fire again and pulled back the wounded, moving them to safety. During this act, Hooper was seriously wounded, but he refused medical aid and returned to his men. With the relentless enemy fire disrupting the attack, he single-handedly stormed 3 enemy bunkers, destroying them with a hand grenade and rifle fire, and shot 2 enemy soldiers who had attacked and wounded the Chaplain.
Leading his men forward in a sweep of the area, Hooper destroyed three buildings housing enemy riflemen. At this point, he was attacked by a North Vietnamese officer whom he fatally wounded with his bayonet. Finding his men under heavy fire from a house to the front, he proceeded alone to the building, killing its occupants with rifle fire and grenades. By now, his initial body wound had been compounded by grenade fragments, yet despite the multiple wounds and loss of blood, he continued to lead his men against the intense enemy fire.
As his squad reached the final line of enemy resistance, it received devastating fire from four bunkers in line on its left flank. Hooper gathered several hand grenades and raced down a small trench which ran the length of the bunker line, tossing grenades into each bunker as he passed by, killing all but two of the occupants.
With these positions destroyed, he concentrated on the last bunkers facing his men, destroying the first with an incendiary grenade and neutralizing two more by rifle fire. He then raced across an open field, still under enemy fire, to rescue a wounded man who was trapped in a trench. Upon reaching the man, he was faced by an armed enemy soldier whom he killed with a pistol. Moving his comrade to safety and returning to his men, he neutralized the final pocket of enemy resistance by fatally wounding three North Vietnamese officers with rifle fire. Hooper then established a final line and reorganized his men, not accepting (medical) treatment until this was accomplished and not consenting to evacuation until the following morning."
While he was discharged from the Infantry upon his return from Vietnam in 1968, he managed to re-enlist and serve as a Public Affairs specialist until President Richard Nixon awarded him the Medal of Honor in 1969.
Hooper eventually managed to finagle his way back into the Infantry, serving a second tour in Vietnam as a pathfinder with the 101st Airborne. By 1970, he had been commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant, though he was discharged from an active commission shortly after due to inadequate educational requirements.
Discharged and a little sour about it, Hooper managed to retain his commission in the Army Reserve's 12th Special Forces Group before being transferred to a training unit. Though he was eventually promoted to Captain, he was discharged a final time in 1978 after a spotty drill record.
Much like the war he fought in, Hooper is not as well-known as other Medal of Honor recipients of his stature. According to accounts, he was a likable guy who partied hard, drank a lot and related to veterans. However, he was allegedly rather troubled by America's treatment of soldiers and attitudes towards the war in general.
He is credited with 115 enemy killed in ground combat, 22 of which occurred on February 21, 1968. He became one of the most decorated soldiers in the Vietnam War and was one of three soldiers who were wounded in action eight times in the war.
In addition to the Medal of Honor, Hooper was also awarded two Silver Stars, 6 Bronze Stars with "V" Devices, an Air Medal, the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm and 8 Purple Hearts.
He was found dead in a hotel room in Louisville, Kentucky on May 5, 1979, having suffered a cerebral hemorrhage in his sleep at the age of 40.
He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington County, Virginia.
A book written by Peter Maslowsk is available on Amazon.com. It is titled "Looking for a Hero: Staff Sergeant Joe Ronnie Hooper and the Vietnam War" paperback.
View Your Entry in Our Roll of Honor!
As a fitting tribute to our Members of Together We Served, your service to our country is now honored in our Roll of Honor, the most powerful online display of Living, Fallen and Deceased Veterans existing today. Our 1.8 million Veteran Members, who served from WWII to present day, now have a dedicated entry displaying a brief service summary of their service and their photo in uniform if posted.
You can find your Roll of Honor entry easily - click on the graphic below and select your service branch. Then enter your Last Name in the search window at top right and scroll down. Please check your entry for accuracy and Log in to TWS to update any information on your Profile Page, such as your Last Unit, and add your service photo for completeness if you haven't already done so.
If you have any questions regarding your entry in our Roll of Honor, please don't hesitate to contact us at Admin@togetherweserved.com or contact our Live Help Desk at the bottom left of your TWS website.
Battlefield Chronicles: Wolseley and Rorke's Drift
By Mark Barnes
I recently reviewed a biographical history of the men who flew on the famous Doolittle Raid of 1942 where I professed strong approval of that kind of book.
We now must jump back further to the year 1879 for a similar and equally effective work by the respected Zulu War historian James W Bancroft.
This book, "Rorke's Drift: The Zulu War, 1879", is the sum of decades of work, provides biographies of the men awarded the Victoria Cross for their actions during the Anglo-Zulu War of 1879, a conflict marked by the shocking defeat of the British at Isandlwana followed by the heroics of Rorke's Drift over the period of 22nd to 24th January.
But there was much more to the conflict than those iconic events. Britain's war with the Zulus tends to be defined in the broadest modern perception by the film "Zulu", a 1960s classic, which tells a story of the defense of Rorke's Drift, rather than the story.
I love the movie and it does, without a doubt, inspire pride in the British defenders and encourage interest in the conflict itself. I heard Tom Hanks discussing it on the radio a few weeks ago where he professed a love for the movie and he did a Michael Caine impression as a bonus of sorts to go with it.
This illustrates how a movie can create its own history placed on top of the real events. Is it a bad thing? No, but we need to keep tabs on the reality and Mr. Bancroft's book helps the cause.
The conflict grew out of a mixture of the bellicose ambitions of the Zulu king Cetswayo butting up against the determination of British colonial figures to bolster their position at a time when Britain's imperial interests in southern Africa faced a degree of uncertainty as Dutch Boer settlers continued to oppose the expansion of colonial administration.
Meanwhile, the British had fought a succession of wars against tribes reluctant to accept the new reality but there were never enough imperial troops to do all the work and the available forces would find themselves hard-pressed in 1879.
Cetswayo's impressive army had made mincemeat of indigenous opposition but there were only relatively few occasions when Zulus faced up to European settlers and the king's determination to push out on the borders of his kingdom was bound to flutter European hearts as fears of a Zulu invasion spread.
Colonial leaders saw an opportunity to force the Zulus into a conflict that would remove them from future concerns. Although military men were minded to see such a conflict as far more of a challenge they had little option but to take on the Zulus and with this in mind Cetswayo was presented with an ultimatum designed to be unacceptable to him precipitating a British invasion. This was all very well, but the Zulu reaction would be ferocious.
Britain's war with the Zulus commenced in a dangerous mixture of over confidence and incompetence that led to the disaster at Isandlwana. But there were heroics, nonetheless, that would eventually see the award of three VCs for the battle, although two of them were made in 1902 after the terms of the medal were changed to allow posthumous recipients.
The award to Private Samuel Wassall gathered no controversy, but the later posthumous awards to two officers who attempted to save the Queen's Color of their battalion were not so well received. Lieutenants Coghill and Melville died in their attempt but were suspected by a number of senior soldiers of using the fate of the Color as a pretext for saving themselves while their comrades were literally being cut to pieces.
The senior British soldier Garnet Wolseley was an uncompromising figure who did not favor the award of gallantry medals. His reservations about Coghill and Melville also applied to the award of eleven Victoria Crosses for the defense of Rorke's Drift where a reinforced company of the 24th Foot held off around four thousand Zulu warriors in a terrifying ordeal where the British fired upwards on twenty thousand rounds with their Martini-Henry rifles.
Wolseley was critical of the award of the VC to two British officers at Rorke's Drift because he did not admire them as soldiers at all. The company commander Gonville Bromhead and sapper officer John Chard faced considerable jealousy from other officers for their achievement, but they gained the admiration of Queen Victoria, a factor that helped them in later life.
Nine other medals went to men of the 24th and other branches of the British military and no other battle has seen so many awarded for one occasion.
The horrors continued at the Tombi River and Hlobane Mountain, where more British soldiers met grisly ends at the hands of uncompromising Zulus. Reading of these encounters invites strong comparison with the travails endured by settlers and soldiers clashing with Native Americans as they pushed west.
There is no question that a mix of fear and admiration built up around the Zulus whose complex society and martial traditions were a match for any foe they could get within stabbing range of.
The lone VC at Tombi was Color Sergeant Anthony Clarke Booth who saw his officer ride off to "get help," abandoning a bewildered and outnumbered wagon train caught at night in a terrifying ordeal that saw many helpless men butchered in their tents.
Clarke Booth's actions were heroic, to say the least, and having shepherded the survivors he was prepared to go out again but was prevented from doing so. Four VCs were awarded for actions at Hlobane Mountain included the award to Redvers Buller, one of the greatest soldiers of the age.
The war continued with the British needing reinforcements before they could square up to Cetswayo at his capital, Ulundi.
Lessons had been learned by this time and the Zulus would face a large force using artillery and Gatling guns but this material advantage was not decisive and a series of sharp fights were necessarily leading to the award of several more VCs.
Victory did not save the reputation of the commanding general of the British campaign, Lord Chelmsford. His overconfidence and poor strategy from the very start had cost the British Army dearly and it would not be forgotten.
This is an excellent book. Each action is reported in meticulous detail before biographies of the medal recipients add further information of their deeds and a great deal about the men themselves.
That they were heroes is beyond doubt but despite modern day aversion to events recalled in lurid accounts such as "Deeds That Thrilled the Empire" a century ago, it is only right to say that the gallantry and ferocity of the Zulus was openly admired and treated with much respect from the outset by the soldiers who faced them. They were great warriors and in defeating them many of the recipients of the VC and other significant gallantry medals gained a kudos that lasts to this day.
Preserve Your Old Photos: Let Us Help for Free!
Do you have old photos from your service days stashed away in a drawer or in a shoe box in your attic? Old photos fade with time and if they are not scanned and preserved digitally, they risk eventually being lost forever.
This is where TWS can help. We have just invested in a high quality Fujitsu book and photo scanner that can scan any size of photo or yearbook. As a service to our members, we would like to offer you a free photo scanning service for your most significant photos from your service which we will then return to you, in original condition, along with a CD containing your photo files.
In addition, we can upload your photos for you to your Photo Album on your TWS Service Profile which will also appear in your Shadow box and available to you to access or download at any time.
Military Myths & Legends: Joachim Ronneberg, The Man Who Crippled Nazi Atomic Bomb Project
By Harrison Smith
LA Times
The plan was audacious, requiring a midnight parachute jump onto a snow-covered mountain plateau, cross-country skiing in subzero temperatures and an assault on an isolated, heavily guarded power plant in southern Norway.
And the stakes, though no one in the five-man commando team knew it at the time, were spectacular: Destroy the Nazis' sole source of heavy water, a recently discovered substance that Hitler's scientists were using to try to develop an atomic bomb or risk the creation of a superweapon that could secure a German victory in World War II.
"We didn't think about whether it was dangerous or not," Joachim Ronneberg, the 23-year-old Norwegian resistance fighter charged with leading the mission, later told Britain's Telegraph newspaper. "We didn't think about our retreat. The most important decision you made during the whole war was the day you decided to leave Norway to report for duty. You concentrated on the job and not on the risks."
Ronneberg went on to land a crippling blow against Nazi Germany's atomic ambitions, blowing up much of the plant and destroying its heavy-water stockpile without firing a shot or losing a man. He was 99, and the last of Norway's celebrated heavy-water saboteurs, when he died Sunday, according to the state-owned broadcaster NRK, which confirmed the death but did not provide additional details.
"Ronneberg is one of the great heroes of Norwegian war history," Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg told the media company. In 2015, British military historian M.R.D. Foot told the New York Times that Ronneberg's mission "changed the course of the war" and deserved the "gratitude of humanity."
Although historians have argued over how close the Nazis came to be developing an atomic bomb, and over what prevented them from succeeding, German officials at the time seemed to agree that Ronneberg's actions were pivotal. After visiting the damaged heavy-water plant, Nikolaus von Falkenhorst, the Nazi general overseeing occupied Norway, was said to have declared, "This is the most splendid coup I have seen in this war."
Yet even Ronneberg's exploits were chronicled in books, television series and movies such as "The Heroes of Telemark," a popular 1965 film starring Kirk Douglas and Richard Harris, Ronneberg resisted being glorified as a war hero.
"There were so many things that were just luck and chance," he told the New York Times. "There was no plan. We were just hoping for the best."
Raised by a prominent Norwegian family in the port town of Alesund, he was born Joachim Holmboe Ronneberg on Aug. 30, 1919, and was working for a fish export company when Germany invaded in April 1940. With a few friends, he fled to Britain aboard a fishing boat and linked up with the Special Operation Executive, a wartime espionage unit that Winston Churchill dubbed his "Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare."
Ronneberg studied the dark arts of sabotage - including how to lay a bomb, fire a weapon and kill someone with his bare hands - before serving as an instructor for recruits in Norwegian Independent Company 1, a unit sometimes known as Kompani Linge.
His rise through the organization occurred as Allied forces received reports that the Nazis were increasing cold-water production at Vemork, an industrial facility, and hydroelectric power plant - once the world's largest - built by Norsk Hydro in the Telemark region of southern Norway.
The plant was already the world's leading commercial supplier of heavy water, a moderator that German scientists were using to try to produce weapons-grade plutonium for an atomic bomb. It proved less effective than graphite, which their American rivals working on the Manhattan Project used to create the bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945.
By the time Ronneberg was enlisted to lead Operation Gunnerside, the mission to destroy the plant, 41 men had died in a November 1942 raid dubbed Operation Freshman, in which a pair of gliders crashed in bad weather in Norway. The survivors were executed by the Nazis.
Rather than risk another glider mishap, Ronneberg and the four commandos he selected for the mission parachuted into Norway in February 1943. They landed in the wrong location but waited out a snowstorm inside a cabin and met up with four local fighters in Hardangervidda, a desolate plateau northwest of the plant.
The group reached Vemork on the night of Feb. 27, after scrambling down a steep gorge, crossing a frozen river and climbing up the far side to avoid a bridge guarded by the Nazis. Timing his infiltration of the plant to match a changing of the guard, Ronneberg said he was able to gain entry undetected, quickly and quietly breaking through a chain on the gate with help from a pair of heavy-duty metal cutters. He had purchased them in Britain "entirely by chance," he said, after walking by a hardware store during a trip to the movies.
Drawing on intelligence from a Norwegian escapee who had worked at the plant, Ronneberg crawled through a ventilation duct and found his target - a row of pipes - without understanding its significance as a source for a mysterious new weapon in Germany.
The charges, he later said, "fitted like a hand in a glove," and in a last-minute change he trimmed the fuse, causing the explosion to go off in about 30 seconds, rather than 2 minutes, so that he and his team could ensure it went off - and, he hoped, escape the facility without being caught in the explosion.
"It was a mackerel sky. It was a marvelous sunrise," Ronneberg told the Telegraph, recalling the moment hours later when he and his team had returned to the mountains, safely out of reach of Nazi guards. "We sat there very tired, very happy. Nobody said anything. That was a very special moment."
Ronneberg and his fellow commandos skied 200 miles across southern Norway, escaping into neutral Sweden before returning to Britain.
He went on to lead Operation Fieldfare, an effort to break German supply lines in Norway by damaging bridges and railroads, and Allied forces continued to monitor Vemork. The plant was repaired after several months, leading U.S. planes to bomb the heavy-water factory later in 1943.
When the Nazis decided to move their supply of heavy water to Germany in 1944, one of Ronneberg's fellow commandos, Knut Haukelid, led a successful operation to sink the carrying the substance, while it was traveling across Lake Tinn.
Ronneberg received Norway's highest military honor, the War Cross With Sword, and was awarded the Distinguished Service Order in Britain. He returned to his hometown of Alesund after the war and worked as an editor at NRK before retiring in 1987, according to the broadcasting company.
He married Liv Foldal, a crafts teacher, in 1949, and had three children: Jostein, Asa, and Birte.
Ronneberg began speaking about his experiences as a resistance fighter only in recent years. His story, he told the Telegraph, had lessons for politicians and ordinary civilians even today.
"A few years ago," he said, "I realized that I am part of history. Having been silent for years, now I realize it is important and quite natural for people to ask about the past, so they can plan. People must realize that peace and freedom have to be fought for every day."
Joachim Ronneberg died Oct 22, 2018, at the age of 99.
Do You Still Have Your Boot Camp/Basic Training Photo?
Together We Served has a growing archive of more than 10,000 Boot Camp/ Basic Training Graduation Photos which we now display on your Military Service Page and Shadow Box. We also have a growing collection of Yearbooks which we will be making available on the site shortly.
We are still searching for Boot Camp/ Basic Training Photos and Yearbooks. So if you have yours available, please contact us at Admin@togetherweserved.com or call us on (888) 398-3262.
Either you can send us a scanned file of your photo or you can send it to us for scanning. We will add this for you to the Recruit/ Officer Training section of your Military Service Page.
All photos and yearbooks will be returned to you in original condition along with a CD containing your scanned photo.
Tet Offensive Revisited: The Media's Big Lie
By Harrison Smith
LA Times
Josef Goebbels called it the Big Lie, the deliberate misrepresentation of facts and reality in order to achieve a political objective. It's been part and parcel of the New World Disorder we've lived under for the past century, ever since Vladimir Lenin first used a Big Lie to disguise his seizure of power from Russia's post-czar provisional government in November 1917, by telling the Russian people he was preventing a coup not perpetrating one.
America's first major encounter with the Big Lie, with all its disastrous consequences, started 50 years ago today, when the American mainstream media - CBS and the other networks, plus the New York Times and the Washington Post - decided to turn the major Communist Tet offensive against U.S. forces and South Vietnam on January 30, 1968, into an American defeat, rather than what it actually was: a major American victory.
We've all lived in the disorder and chaos that campaign set in motion ever since.
By the end of 1967, the Communist cause in the Vietnam War was in deep trouble. The build-up of American forces - nearly half a million men were deployed in Vietnam by December - had put the Vietcong on the defensive and led to bloody repulses of the North Vietnamese Army (NVA), which had started intervening on the battlefield to ease the pressure on its Vietcong allies.
Hanoi's decision to launch the Tet offensive was born of desperation. It was an effort to seize the northern provinces of South Vietnam with conventional troops while triggering an urban uprising by the Vietcong that would distract the Americans - and, some still hoped, revive the fading hopes of the Communists. The offensive itself began on January 30, with attacks on American targets in Saigon and other Vietnamese cities and ended a little more than a month later when Marines crushed the last pockets of resistance in the northern city of Hue.
It not only destroyed the Vietcong as an effective political and military force but it also, together with the siege of Khe Sanh, crippled the NVA, which lost 20 percent of its forces in the South and suffered 33,000 men killed in action, all for no gain. By the end of 1969, over 70 percent of South Vietnam's population was rated by the U.S. military as under government control, compared with 42 percent at the beginning of 1968.
The American public knew none of this, however. Almost from the moment, the first shots were being fired, skeptics of the war effort in the mainstream media, including CBS News icon Walter Cronkite, would use Tet to prove that the war wasn't being won as the Johnson administration was claiming. They went further, representing the failed attacks on the U.S. embassy in Saigon and other sites as symbols of Communist success.
As the Washington Post's own Saigon bureau chief Peter Braestrup documented in his book The Big Story, reporters caught in the fighting systematically used it to turn the reality of American victory into an image of American and South Vietnamese defeat (reporting for example that Vietcong had overrun five floors of the U.S. embassy when in fact the VC had never even gotten inside the building). Newsweek's coverage of the siege of Khe Sanh showed 18 photos (out of a total of 29) of dead or wounded Marines or Marines huddling under cover, never mentioning that the Marines were steadily pushing back the NVA and inflicting heavy casualties.
That campaign of misrepresentation culminated in Walter Cronkite's half-hour TV special on February 27th, when he told his viewers with an appropriately glum face that Tet had proved that America was now "mired in a stalemate" - even as American forces were breaking the siege around Khe Sanh and clearing out the last resistance in Hue.
The misrepresentation by America's most respected newsman and most trusted media outlets of what had happened during Tet stunned the American public and the body politic. Popular support for the war took a heavy hit, as the war's critics now grabbed center stage. Gallup polls in December 1967 had shown Americans evenly split on whether entering Vietnam was a mistake. The barrage of negative coverage of Tet had nudged the doubters slightly ahead by February 1st, 46 to 42 percent. By April, the doubters were ahead by eight points, and support for the war never recovered.
After Tet, American media had assumed a new mission for itself: to shape the nation's politics by crafting a single coherent narrative.
Presidential candidate Eugene McCarthy seized on the news that the Vietcong "had seized a section of the Embassy" (which was entirely false) and entered Hue as proof that it was the Communists, not the Americans, who were winning the war. Cronkite's TV broadcast all but doomed the reelection campaign of President Lyndon Baines Johnson; in April McCarthy won the Wisconsin primary by a stunning ten points and LBJ bowed out of the race. Robert Kennedy seized the opportunity to enter the race on an anti-war platform; less than three months later he was dead by an assassin's bullet. The Democratic national convention descended into violence and chaos, as the Vietnam war became the key divisive issue in American politics - and a hot-button issue in our culture ever since.
After Tet, American media had assumed a new mission for itself: to shape the nation's politics by crafting a single coherent narrative, even if it meant omitting certain relevant facts and promoting other false or misleading ones. In March 1969, after Richard Nixon's election, the executive producer of ABC News told his Saigon bureau: "I think the time has come to shift our focus from the battlefield to themes and stories under the general heading, ‘We are on our way out of Vietnam.'" One of those "stories" would be the massacre at My Lai, which actually took place in the aftermath of Tet but only became "newsworthy" a year later when the media was looking for ways to convince Americans that Nixon's decision to stay the course in Vietnam was destroying their country's moral standing - just as they had convinced them a year earlier that America's major victory was actually a major defeat.
So, while many in mainstream news outlets wring their hands today about a widespread lack of trust in media, it's important on this 50th anniversary to remember the part they played in squandering it.
Have A Military Reunion Coming Soon?
TWS has over 1.7 million members who served in a wide range of units, ships, squadrons and duty stations. Get more people to your Reunion by sending your Reunion information to us in the following format and we will post it for free in our Reunion Announcements on Together We Served, in emails that go to our members and in our Newsletters.
Your Reunion Name:
Associated Unit or Association:
Date Starting:
Date Finishing:
Place Where Held:
City:
State:
Contact Person:
Contact Phone Number:
Contact Email Address:
Website:
Other Comments:
SS Soldiers Destroyed a Town and Everyone in It
Just a few miles to the northeast of Limoges, France, is one of the most poignant and tragically beautiful of all war memorials.
Today, the town of Oradour-sur-Glane has a population of just over two thousand. It is a thriving little city with amenities including a sports complex and a seafood market. The town of Oradour doesn't have much to recommend it to tourists, except for one thing: the town is not the real Oradour. Any tourists who visit come to see what used to be, not what is.
The "real" Oradour lies about two hundred meters to the southwest of the modern town. The original Oradour is a town frozen in time. If anyone lives there, it is the ghosts of those who died there on June 10th, 1944.
Four days after the invasion in Normandy, elements of the 2nd Waffen-SS Division "Das Reich" were in the area, heading slowly towards the Allied landings in the north. It would take Das Reich two weeks in total to get to Normandy, a trip which should have taken just a couple of days.
Impeding its way north was the overwhelming Allied air power which attacked virtually anything that moved during the day. The division also had to contend with the lack of functional railroads, which had been damaged by both the Allied Air Forces and the Resistance, not to mention the occasional crude roadblocks and snipers' bullets from the Resistance.
Also, in the area were the Milice (militia), the collaborationist fascist police. Many Frenchmen hated them more than they hated the Nazis. Exceedingly anti-Semitic and strongly pro-Vichy, the Milice were known throughout France as torturers and thugs. Much of the war in France during the Occupation took place between the Milice and the Resistance, with the Germans watching the two tear themselves apart.
On the morning of June 10th, the 4th Grenadier Regiment of Das Reich, designated "The Fuhrer," arrived near the town. Milice Officers approached and told the SS that the Resistance was holding a Waffen-SS Officer hostage in the nearby town of Oradour-sur-Vayres (which lies to the south of Oradour-sur-Glane).
Mistaking the two towns, the regiment marched into Oradour-sur-Glane and prepared to order the mayor to provide hostages against the Waffen-SS Officer's life. Hostage-taking was an unfortunate and brutal by-product of the Nazi occupation in the West, especially in France, where thousands were killed in reprisal for Resistance action. But somewhere along the line, the men of Das Reich changed their minds.
When the residents of the town assembled in the square, the men were separated from the women. The men were then marched off to barns on the edge of town where machine guns and SS troops were awaiting them. The SS troops opened fire, aiming for the legs of their victims. As the villagers lay on the ground, many still alive, they were doused in fuel before being set alight. 190 men died in agony while the SS watched. Six men managed to escape in the chaos – one was later shot and recaptured as he fled down a road.
The women and children, who had been locked in the town church, listened to the sounds of their men being shot. Then the SS placed an incendiary device next to the church. When it exploded, many of those inside, burned to death. The rest rushed outside to where the SS were waiting with machine guns. 247 women and 205 children were casually cut down as they fled. Only one middle-aged woman escaped.
Some of the villagers had run for the woods as soon as the Waffen-SS appeared. Along with the five male survivors and the woman from the church, they made a group of about thirty. The next day, when the SS had left, those survivors returned to bury their dead.
Before he died in combat, SS Officer Adolf Diekmann, who had been present, declared that the killings were done in revenge for the actions of a nearby Resistance cell and the capture and killing of an SS Officer. Many in the SS thought the Officer had been burned to death. Diekmann was subject of a military inquiry initiated by Rommel, but after his death in combat, the inquiry was ended.
In 1953, a variety of SS men were put on trial in France. Some of these men were Alsatians, from the region on the Franco-German border that had passed back and forth between Germany and France since 1871. They were found guilty, but with Alsace being a French province again, they were released on a technicality after an uproar in Alsace itself.
A small number of Germans, who had been deported from Western Germany, were found guilty, but with the caveat that they were "just following orders." They were released from jail within five years. The Officers in charge were either dead or could not be deported for international political reasons. One SS man was put on trial in 1983 and served fourteen years before being released.
Charles De Gaulle, the post-war leader of France, ordered that Oradour should never be rebuilt. Though a town of the same name exists, the old town is a memorial, left exactly as it was in June 1944. A large memorial lies to the north of the old town itself, commemorating not only the dead of Oradour but all the innocents that died during the war.
New Together We Served Military Store
By popular request, we are pleased to offer our Members your very own Together We Served Military Store with a whole range of items to peak your interest including custom shirts and caps, jackets, decals, badges, automotive and items for the home.
Now you can also purchase custom Together We Served branded merchandise. Please check out our range of ball caps, polo shirts, T-shirts, jackets and windbreakers HERE.
Our Store is offered in cooperation with Military Best, one of the most trusted suppliers in the United States, who offer a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee on all items purchased. Many items are made in the USA and a proportion of the proceeds from your purchase help support our military's underfunded MWR programs.
We appreciate your feedback at admin@togetherweserved.com your comments regarding what you like, what you like less and if there are any additional items you would like us to stock.
TWS Bulletin Board
If you wish to make a post to our new Bulletin Board - People Sought, Assistance Needed, Jobs Available in Your Company, Reunions Pending, Items for Sale or Wanted, Services Available or Wanted, Product or Service Recommendations, Discounts for Vets, Announcements, Death Notices - email it to us at admin@togetherweserved.com.
Service Reflections Video of the Month
#TributetoaVeteran CW4 Garland D Williams, U.S. Army Reserves (Ret), 1971-2011
TWS Association of the Month Together We Served is pleased to announce our partnership with the Coast Guard Chief Petty Officers Association
The United States Coast Guard Chief Petty Officers Association is unique among service organizations in that it was created by the Chiefs, of the Chiefs, and for the Chiefs of the United States Coast Guard.
The Coast Guard CPOA was formed to advance the interests of the United States Coast Guard Chief Petty Officer Corps, encouraging integrity and fidelity to the Service, and fellowship within our ranks. In 1991, the Coast Guard Enlisted Association was chartered by and for junior enlisted personnel, under the auspices of the CPOA, reinforcing the Association’s motto – “In respect for those who have gone before us, and as a guide for those who follow”.
The CPOA and the CGEA proudly serve Coast Guard and other military active duty and reserve members, Veterans, their families and their communities. Through our strong and united network of over 10,000 members, we work to advance the interests of our membership through community service, scholarships and fundraising, and by partnering with military and veterans organizations, both locally and nationally.
A non-partisan, not-for-profit organization, the CPOA and CGEA serve as advocates on a variety of Military and Veterans issues. Representing our members on Capitol Hill as a partner of The Military Coalition, our Association promotes legislation to enhance the lives of past, present and future members of the U.S. Armed Forces and their families.
Our valued members are the lifeblood of our Association and our success depends on volunteer leadership at the National, Chapter and Branch levels, and on the generosity of our sponsors and partners.
Click here to join your fellow Coast Guard Chiefs today.
Behind the Scenes at TogetherWeServed
Another month has come and gone. Is it just me, or does time seem to go faster every day?
We've been busy here at TWS. If you've visted the home page recently, you may have seen hundreds of boot camp photos in latest photos. We continue to find new sources for boot camp photos to add to the archive.
If you have your boot camp/basic training listed on your profile page, we'll notify you when we find your photo. If someone happens to send us a copy of the graduation book, we'll also add your portrait to your page for you. So stay tuned, if it's not there now, it may be in the future.
TWS is also in the process of designing and developing a section on your profile where you can list all your courses/classes. So now your profile can become a virtual resume without having to dig through all your records. When that section is ready we'll start asking for course titles to add to the database.
We think this will be a great feature and help create a fuller picture of your military career.
Have a great month!
Diane Short
TWS Chief Admin
Are You a Writer?
As you know, TogetherWeServed is always looking for interesting articles to post to our forums and in this newsletter. Have you written any military related articles you would like to share to a broader audience? Send your submissions to admin@togetherweserved.com and you may see it in an upcoming issue.
Looking for Army and Marine Corps Volunteers Memorial Team
Do you have a passion for making sure that all of our Fallen are not forgotten? This is the team for you. We have Fallen profiles that have either been orphaned or created by someone who has not been online for a very long time and there is nothing in those profiles. TWS is working to make sure that all of our Fallen profiles are as complete as possible.
TWS Brochures Available
Do you have a reunion coming up and would like to spread the word about Together We Served? We now have brochures available that helps explain a little bit about who we are and what we do.
Send your requests to admin@togetherweserved.com. Please include your name and address along with how many brochures you require.
NEW TWS Invite Cards
Did you know we have Together We Served invite cards that you can hand out to any veteran you meet? It even has a place to put your name, service branch and member number so you get credit for the invite.
If you would like some cards, email us your name and address to admin@togetherweserved.com and we will get them in the mail to you.
Do You Have a Reunion Planned for the Norfolk Area?
If you do, please contact Diane Short at admin@togetherweserved.com to discuss doing a presentation for your reunion.
VA and Other News Hundreds Witness Veteran Kill Himself in VA Waiting Room
By J.D. Simkins
A horrific scene unfolded Tuesday in the waiting room of an Austin, Texas, Veterans Affairs clinic when a veteran reportedly shot himself to death in front of hundreds of witnesses.
Despite the commotion, many in the building remained unaware of what had occurred for some time after the shooting, KWTX News 10 reported.
One group therapy class even continued for almost an hour after the shot was fired.
"All of a sudden, over the intercom, they have this statement about everyone must clear the building including staff, so it was a little surprising," veteran Ken Walker told News 10.
Reddit user Diane Kirkendall shared a photo reportedly taken in the waiting room in the wake of the suicide.
Like most VA medical centers, the Austin, Texas, clinic has not installed metal detectors, relying instead on randomized bag searches.
A 2018 Government Accountability Office report determined the VA had not been adhering to the same security standards required of federal buildings, potentially leaving staff and patients vulnerable to risk.
In 2015, Veterans Affairs psychologist Timothy Fjordbak, 63, was shot and killed by Jerry Serrato, 48, at a clinic in El Paso, Texas. Serrato then took his own life.
Between October 2017 and November 2018, 19 veterans died by suicide on the grounds of VA medical facilities in what some believe to be acts of protesting inadequate treatment by the country they served.
In December, Marine Col. Jim Turner, 55, put his service uniform on, drove to the Bay Pines Department of Veterans Affairs, and shot himself outside the medical center, leaving a note next to his body. "I bet if you look at the 22 suicides a day you will see VA screwed up in 90 percent," it read.
Less than a week ago, two veterans from Georgia killed themselves in separate incidents outside VA hospitals.
Trump OKs Renaming VA Site After Mayor Killed in Afghanistan
Associated Press
President Donald Trump has signed into law a bill passed by Congress to rename a Department of Veterans Affairs facility in Utah after a mayor who was killed while serving in the National Guard in Afghanistan.
The White House's website says the bill designating the VA outstation in North Ogden as the Major Brent Taylor Vet Center Outstation was signed Thursday.
Taylor had taken a leave of absence as North Ogden mayor during his deployment and was expecting to return to the job in January when he was killed.
Officials say Taylor died when an Afghan security force member shot him. Taylor had been training Afghan commandos.
Utah Republican U.S. Rep. Rob Bishop said the renaming honors Taylor but won't repay the debt the nation owes Taylor and his family.
Health Care Information For the Community Change a Life Today. Get a Veteran to Call for Help.
VA is the only federal agency that provides substantial hands-on assistance directly to homeless Veterans - but we can't do it without you. VA relies on partners, community organizations, and families and friends of homeless Veterans to connect Veterans with the health care services they deserve. Providing health care for the homeless is key to advancing the VA's goal to end Veteran homelessness by 2015.
No matter who you are, if you know a Veteran who is homeless or at risk of homelessness and in need of help, contact VA's toll-free hotline.
VA's National Call Center for Homeless Veterans provides 24/7 access to trained responders for federal, state, and local partners and community agencies. To reach trained VA staff members, call 1-877-4AID-VET (1-877-424-3838).
Homeless Veterans Community Employment Services
Permanent, stable housing is the benchmark of efforts to end homelessness among Veterans, but housing alone may not be enough. In these and other ways, employment can be a key element in helping Veterans climb out of homelessness or avoid it altogether:
Improve the quality of life and community integration after homelessness
Increase self-confidence and independence
Decrease reliance on institutional care
VA created Homeless Veterans Community Employment Services (HVCES) to improve employment outcomes for Veterans who have experienced homelessness. HVCES has deployed more than 150 Vocational Development Specialists who serve as Community Employment Coordinators (CECs), at most VA Medical Centers across the country. CECs are part of the VHA homeless program teams and are a bridge to community employment resources and employers ready to hire Veterans exiting homelessness. CECs benefit employers in the following ways:
Pre-screen Veterans with a variety of skill sets and from all educational levels
Refer job-ready Veteran candidates who are ready to work from day one for open positions
Help facilitate hiring and onboarding
Assist Veterans in applying their military experiences to civilian employment
Help in meeting diversity and inclusion goals.
CECs increase Veterans' likelihood of employment success by connecting them to job-related resources and career opportunities and a range of supports from VA and the community, including health care, housing, and social services. They also collaborate with VA and non-VA partners - Compensated Work Therapy, VR&E, American Job Centers, Department of Labor homeless Veteran grantees, workforce agencies, and faith-based and community organizations - to identify gaps in competitive employment services for homeless Veterans.
CECs welcome opportunities to engage with community partners and local employers on efforts to end and prevent homelessness among Veterans.
More Information
With general questions, contact HVCES Director Dr. Carma Heitzmann.
Connect with nearest Community Employment Coordinator.
Read Veteran employment success stories.
Learn more at VA's Programs for Homeless Veterans, For At-Risk Veterans and Employment Programs for Homeless Veterans pages.
Navy, Army See Most Valor Medal Upgrades in Pentagon's Review
Four Medals of Honor. Thirty Service Crosses. Twenty-three Silver Stars. After a three-year review of medals for military heroism in conflicts following Sept. 11, 2001, the Pentagon has upgraded 57 awards for valor - and so far, sailors are the biggest beneficiaries.
Officials told Military.com that the review, which was launched in 2016 and will formally conclude on Dec. 31, assessed roughly 1,400 awards in all, presented by the four Defense Department services. Some four Army awards have yet to be announced - officials would not characterize these awards, however, and whether, as some suspect, more Medals of Honor could be forthcoming.
The Upgrades
By service, the Navy approved a total of 19 upgrades, including one Medal of Honor, nine Navy Crosses and nine Silver Stars.
The Army closely followed, with 18 upgraded awards, including two Medals of Honor and 16 Distinguished Service Crosses.
The Marine Corps did not award any Medal of Honor upgrades but did present three Navy Crosses and nine Silver Stars, for a total of 12 award upgrades.
And the Air Force presented the fewest upgrades, with a total of eight awarded. But along with two Air Force Crosses and five Silver Star upgrades, it did present a long-anticipated Medal of Honor to fallen Tech. Sgt. John Chapman, marking the first Air Force Medal of Honor since Vietnam.
The others awarded the Medal of Honor in the review include former Senior Chief Petty Officer Britt Slabinski, a former member of SEAL Team 6 who received the award in May 2018; former Army Sgt. Ronald Shurer, who received the medal in October 2018; and Army Staff Sgt. Travis Atkins, who was posthumously awarded the medal last month.
Patricia Mulcahy, the Pentagon's director of Officer and Enlisted Personnel Management, told Military.com that the upgrade review, which was overseen by three successive defense secretaries, came about as a result of a concerning trend: from 2001-2010, just seven troops were awarded the Medal of Honor for heroism in Iraq and Afghanistan, all posthumously. And in the five years that followed, 10 more were approved - all for living troops.
"Those data points caused the SecDef to say, 'let's review all of our valor awards and make sure that we have appropriately recognized our members.' That was the genesis of this," she said.
It's difficult to complete a full analysis of the awards that were upgraded, as some are tied to secretive and classified actions and were not publicly announced. Officials said the awards were not sorted by conflict, either - although of the Medals of Honor that have been presented, three were for actions in Afghanistan and one for Iraq.
Homeless Veteran Gets Probation in GoFundMe Scam
Associated Press David Porter
The homeless veteran who admitted to conspiring with a New Jersey couple in a GoFundMe scam that raised more than $400,000 was sentenced Friday to five years' probation.
Johnny Bobbitt pleaded guilty last month in state court to conspiracy to commit theft by deception. Conditions of his sentence include inpatient drug treatment and cooperation with prosecutors against his co-defendants. If he violates those conditions, he will be sentenced to five years in prison with no possibility of parole for at least 18 months.
Bobbitt made no statement in court.
Prosecutors contend, Bobbitt, Katelyn McClure, and McClure's then-boyfriend, Mark D'Amico, made up a story in 2017 about Bobbitt giving $20 to help McClure when her car ran out of gas in Philadelphia.
The trio gained widespread recognition, and more than 14,000 donors contributed through GoFundMe, ostensibly to help Bobbitt. But it was all a scam, Burlington County prosecutors said, intended to enrich the three co-conspirators.
GoFundMe has said it refunded the donations.
Authorities began investigating last year after Bobbitt sued the couple for allegedly not giving him the money.
The couple claimed the cash would be donated to Bobbitt, but New Jersey authorities said the three split the money and spent lavishly, including on a BMW, designer bags, and trips to Las Vegas and elsewhere.
In addition to his state plea, Bobbitt pleaded guilty last month to a federal money laundering conspiracy charge. McClure pleaded guilty to one federal count of wire fraud conspiracy. No sentencing date has been set for either person on those federal charges.
D'Amico doesn't face any federal charges. He and McClure were charged last fall in state court with theft and conspiracy but have yet to be indicted by a grand jury.
D'Amico has denied wrongdoing.
Army Secretary Defends Decision To Cut CH-47 Chinook Program
By Matthew Cox
The U.S. Army's top officials on Tuesday had to defend the service's decision to stop buying CH-47 Chinook helicopters to pay for futuristic aircraft and other modernization programs.
Last year, Army officials made a decision to find about $30 billion to help pay for the service's modernization strategy over the next five years. The service did that by cutting or terminating 186 existing programs, Army Secretary Mark Esper told members of the House Appropriations Committee's defense subcommittee as he described the proposed fiscal 2020 budget request.
Subcommittee chairman Rep. Pete Visclosky, D-Indiana, said he appreciated that the Army "has come in with 186 recommendations as far as reductions," but said he is concerned that CH-47 Chinooks are on the list.
"I have heard from a number of people from a particular state that they are not happy with that particular change," Visclosky said.
He asked Army leaders to explain why the service decided to delay procurement of the Chinook Block II upgrade for five years when a year ago it submitted the effort as a program of record.
"What changed in that year and what happens during the intervening future five years?" Visclosky asked.
Esper said the Army is still going to buy CH-47s for Special Operations Command units.
"The decision, I think, for the CH-47s for the conventional Army - what probably changed was, when the National Defense Strategy was issued, it told us to move away from counter-insurgency to high-intensity conflict," he said.
Esper said that the Army decided it needed to prioritize advanced aircraft under the Future Vertical Lift program, such as the Future Long Range Assault Aircraft and "more importantly" the Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft.
"We needed a capability that could fly great distances at great speeds and penetrate, let's say, a Russian air defense system, so it shifted what our needs were for the out years," he explained.
Esper, however, pointed out that the current fleet of aircraft, including the Chinook, will be in service for decades.
The current models of the CH-47 "are the youngest aircraft" in the inventory and "will be with us through the 2030s, probably the 2040s," he said.
"We feel very comfortable with where we stand with the current fleet," Esper said. "It's a very capable fleet; it still allows us to overmatch with regard to our adversaries."
Retired Army Major General Dies After Lawnmower Accident
A retired Army major general and a former commander of Delta Force died after a lawnmower accident, according to a report.
Retired Maj. Gen. Eldon Bargewell, 72, died Monday after his lawnmower rolled over an embankment behind his house Eufaula, Alabama, according to WRBL.
Bargewell’s nearly 40-year military career spanned the wars in Vietnam to Iraq and Afghanistan.
He enlisted in the military in 1967 and served in the Vietnam War, where he was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for extraordinary heroism. According to his award citation, Bargewell placed a deadly volume of machine gun fire that broke an assault by an estimated 75- to 100-man enemy force, despite suffering multiple fragmentation wounds from an exploding B-40 rocket. He again exposed himself to enemy fire during another assault and refused medical treatment to ensure the safe extraction of his team.
He received his officer’s commission in 1973 and went on to command special operations units from team to Special Operations Command level, including as the commanding general of Special Operations Command Europe. His last assignment before retiring was director of strategic operations at HQ’s Multi-National Force-Iraq in Baghdad.
According to the Daily World, Bargewell was the most decorated soldier on active duty at the time of his retirement in 2006.
New Measure Would Allow Troops to Sue For Military Malpractice Mistakes
After hearing tearful testimony from the victims of military medical negligence, a bipartisan group of House lawmakers announced new legislation to do away with the legal rules protecting the Defense Department from medical malpractice lawsuits.
"When doctors fail to perform or woefully misread tests, when nurses botch routine procedures, when clinicians ignore and disregard pain, service members deserve their day in court," said Rep. Jackie Speier, D-Calif., and the chairwoman of the House Armed Services Committee's personnel panel.
"We're not talking about special treatment. We're talking about giving service members the same rights as their spouses, federal workers, and even prisoners. When compensation schemes are insufficient, service members should have their claims heard in the justice system."
The new legislation - named for Sgt. 1st Class Richard Stayskal, a Green Beret fighting stage four lung cancer because of Army doctors errors - would allow malpractice lawsuits against the military by creating an exemption to the Feres Doctrine, a 69-year-old legal precedent barring that legal action.
Critics have called the original decision flawed and unfair to military families, but Defense Department officials have said undoing the precedent would upset the current military compensation and benefits system.
"A combat injury or death would appear to be valued lower than an injury or death where a tort claim would be allowed," said Jessica Maxwell, a department spokeswoman. "Such an inequity toward members injured or killed in military operations could not be sustained."
But lawmakers behind the new legislation said the current system is also unfair, and revictimizes families.
Stayskal was among the witnesses at Tuesday's hearing and said Army doctors missed cancerous tumors on multiple occasions while they still could have been treated. He argued not being able to sue the department takes away impetus for them to take corrective action and "barred any chance for (my family) to become whole."
Rebecca Lipe, a former Air Force judge advocate who served in Iraq, told lawmakers her internal injuries from ill-fitting body armor during her six-month overseas tour were ignored for months by military physicians. Instead, they accused her of having an affair and contracting a sexually transmitted disease.
She said if she could file suit against the military for those mistakes, the action could potentially force changes in the medical review process, or in gender-specific body armor, or in other military failures.
Instead, she said, "I've completely lost faith in the Defense Department to take care of me."
Speier's bill would not cover any cases related to combat operations, and would only apply to mistakes that occur at major military hospitals and clinics. Medical treatments on ships or battalion aid stations would be excluded.
Plaintiffs bringing lawsuits could not receive compensatory damages and attorneys' fees would be capped under existing federal laws.
Several Republicans on the armed services panel raised concerns that the topic belongs to the chamber's judiciary committee, but voiced general support for a review of the Feres Doctrine.
Three Republicans have already signed on to the legislation, and Speier said she expects more in coming days.
Past efforts to amend the legal precedent have run into opposition because of the potential costs facing the military. The new bill would only cover cases filed after implementation and those currently pending, limiting the potential legal exposure for the department. Costs of the plan were not released.
Speier called it a change to properly compensate families and force military leaders to better address medical shortfalls.
"Allowing service members to sue the Department of Defense for medical malpractice will help root out this rot," she said. "There are few incentives better than the threat of legal action to push an organization to change its behavior. This would lead to better quality care for our service members and higher levels of readiness."
Meanwhile, Stayskal's attorneys on Tuesday filed a new lawsuit against the Defense Department seeking compensation for the mistakes in his case. Their hope is that Speier's legislation will move ahead in time for the case to be considered by the courts, and not simply rejected under the Feres Doctrine.
75th Anniversary of the GI Bill
This June marks 75 years of the GI Bill®. In celebration of this major milestone, VA is collecting videos to show the bill's extraordinary impact.
Would you consider sharing your story of how the GI Bill has helped to further your education, purchase a home or made a difference in your life?
Submit a short video with your name, information about your military service and how the GI Bill changed your life from now through June. It's easy to record and upload videos, and VA will be featuring stories on their web and social media channels.
Did You Serve at Wiesbaden?
I am an air traffic controller at Wiesbaden Airfield the former Wiesbaden Airbase. I was stationed at Ramstein for 9 years (1988-1995) and have worked for 20 years as a civilian for the Army. I am researching for a historical book the history of Wiesbaden AB. WAB was the home of the US Air Force from 1945 until it's move to Ramstein AB in the 70s. The famous Berlin Airlift was conducted here. I am seeking individuals who severed here, who can share their stories or have pictures. Not much has been preserved over here in Germany, so I would love it if you could assist me since you have many members who served here.
Tom Smith
I am not a member of any branch of any US military. I am an Irish citizen who met a US AIR FORCE PILOT , Tom Smith, here in Ireland back in 1970 when he vacationed with his Dad and brothers, Mike and David. The Smith family were from the Philadelphia area. Tom was serving in Vietnam, stationed in DaNang. His friend was David Bird. I would dearly love to find him. I believe he may have been stationed in Germany afterwards. Please help me find Tom.. I know many years have passed but I believe it is possible to get to meet him again. Your help would be appreciated so very much.
Carmel Gilligan cgilligan@gmail.com
+353 83 3023 745
Charles Bergstrom
I’m looking for my dad only info I have is his name is Charles Bergstrom he would be in his late 50s he served on the USS Missouri between 1978-1982. His mother's name is Mary he had/has 2 sisters Debbie and Jennifer. In 1983, I know he lived in Littleton Colorado.
Lost POW/MIA Bracelet
A POW/MIA bracelet was found by John Robbins in Big Lake, TX. He posted on Facebook to try and find the owner. He's also a veteran, so it hit home for him. I posted on more oil field/truck sites and someone suggested the Vietnam Wall of Names. I found the veteran on the bracelet is Samuel Almendariz. He was MIA in 1967. I found his name and information on your website. I don't know if you could trace who wore this bracelet so John can get it back to him/ her. I'm guessing this person works in the oil field, possibly as a truck driver. I would be highly upset if I had worn one of those bracelets and then lost it. John had a picture of it posted on Facebook.
The Library
Unbreakable Hearts Is the third book of a trilogy by Vietnam war veteran Earl "Dusty" Trimmer. His mission to compile a profound, factual legacy for Vietnam War veterans and families took him on a grueling 10 years and 1390 page odyssey to complete.
His first book Condemned Property! (2013) was his debut memoir and respected Kirkus Reviews called it a book that alarmingly factual offering devastating indictments of those who denied earned valor or benefits for returning Vietnam Veterans.
He pulled no punches in praising Vietnam's adversaries on both sides in enduring the deplorable jungle combat and painful living conditions of a thankless war.
Second book Pay Back Time (2015) Trimmer offered a non-fiction message of hope to his veteran buddies by taking readers on his personal roller coaster ride through his own jungle fights and multiple battles of denials and delays for earned disability benefits from the American government's VA system. One prominent reviewer described this book with these words; "Trimmer empties his heart out to help veterans challenge the VA, as he cluster bombed the VA with suppressing fire to cover his buddies against overwhelming odds and incomprehensible wrongs."
Unbreakable Hearts (2019) provides a brief unduplicated version of the first two and more. Make no mistake, this whopping 575 page book takes readers on adventures never expected with hard-core history about battles centuries old and some that still rage with Vietnam's Vets and their families. Unbreakable Hearts! Restores the valor that was stolen from Vietnam's warriors of both sides. It also leaves them with something no one else, not even the American government has left them with... a Proud Lasting Legacy!
Note: Unbreakable Hearts Launches on May 20th but advanced copies can be reserved with author with tax deductible payments and/or welcomed contributions as follows:
Condemned Property Co. 501c3
Hard Cover $30.00
Paperback $25.00
10% Discount offered to Vietnam Vets or families
P.O. Box 141 Aurora, Ohio 44202 Tele: 330-995-8837 (Dusty) Email: trimmerdustv@gmail.com
Worthy Causes
End Childhood Cancer
I've signed up for the 2019 Great Cycle Challenge and will be riding this June to fight kids' cancer! My goal is to pedal 150 miles throughout the month.
Why am I doing this? Because cancer is the largest killer of children from disease in the United States - 38 children die of cancer every week.
My challenge will be tough, but it's nothing compared to what these brave kids and their families face every day of their lives as they battle this terrible disease. Kids should be living life, NOT fighting for it. And so I am taking on this challenge to end childhood cancer and save little lives.
All funds raised will support Children's Cancer Research Fund to continue their work to develop innovative treatments and find a cure for childhood cancer.
Thank you for your support.
When you're early you're on time when you're on time you're late!
Vincent Davis
Disabled Veterans living in the U.P. of Michigan or Northern Wisconsin!
We are starting our Combat, Wounded & Disabled Veterans Western horsemanship Clinics later this Summer and Fall to be conducted in the Western U.P. of Michigan. It's a COWBOY U.P. approach to overcoming disabilities caused by wounds or service in the U.S. military.
Equine (horse) therapy and Western riding has been used to rehabilitate Veterans wounded and disabled since World War I and has been used effectively over the past 18 years of war.
We ride forward in our recovery!
Thanks for you consideration!
Joe Tormala, Combat Wounded Horseman, FRHC - VHP Director
Together We Served - U.S. Marine joetormala19@gmail.com
"Trooper" My first feature film, "Trooper," about a returning Iraq veteran with PTSD, is finally available to the public via streaming and DVD. The film centers around the relationship between the main character, and his father, a Vietnam Vet. His brother is still deployed. The film deals with PTSD, TBI, and health issues like agent orange, and the VA. Veterans of all wars have hailed it as the definitive narrative of soldiers returning home, and their battle to readjust. Our film has affected the lives of so many veterans who have seen it. I’ve seen Iraq, Afghanistan, Gulf War, Vietnam, Korean, and World War II veterans in tears during our screenings. Some have stuck with us, and helped push our film, over the years. We told their story, finally. Right now we have an opportunity with AAFES, the Military Exchange Reel Time theaters, so we will soon be in theaters, available to all our troops, both at home, and deployed. Would you be able to watch our film below, for free, and write a review, sending the review out with our Amazon, Vimeo and social media links to your mailing list? It would be a huge service to us, and the veterans who have seen it want nothing more than for this film to be seen by other veterans, to offer them validation and hope. Here is our trailer (read all the positive veteran comments): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OTE-NG7BBhQ&t=2s Amazon (DVD) (Overwhelmingly positive reviews from veterans): https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07JZ5BM8V/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1541447893&sr=8-3&keywords=Trooper+Martini Amazon (Streaming): https://www.amazon.com/Trooper-Christopher-Martini/product-reviews/B00UMB2SLG/ref=cm_cr_dp_d_show_all_btm?ie=UTF8&reviewerType=all_reviews Vimeo On Demand: https://vimeo.com/ondemand/trooper Facebook (DVD): https://www.facebook.com/commerce/products/1928639240524159/?__tn__=HHH-R It has been our mission for over ten years to expose the plight of returning veterans, we’ve been told that our film has done it better than Hollywood, and we hope to find ways we can help each other in our common mission of providing support and healing to our troops. Respectfully, Chris Martini Writer/Director/Producer "Trooper" triplemartiniproductions@gmail.com
TWS Person Locator Service
Available for Together We Served members only! Together We Served has two hard working marines that devote their time and energy to help our members find long lost friends that are not yet members of our site.
If you have someone you are looking for, please send name, age they would be now and where they were from to us at admin@togetherweserved.com and we'll get them on the case for you.
The Battle of Stalingrad: One of the Biggest Battles in History
By Jay Hemmings
The Battle of Stalingrad was not only one of the largest battles of the Second World War, but it was also one of the biggest and bloodiest battles in human history.
German forces attacked the city of Stalingrad (now called Volgograd, located in southern Russia) on August 23, 1942. The battle lasted until the 2nd of February 1943, when Soviet forces retook what was left of the city.
During that time, 2.2 million people participated in the battle, around 700,000 of whom did not make it out of Stalingrad alive.
Adding those who were wounded or taken prisoner to that number brings the casualty total closer to two million, and it is estimated that the average life expectancy of a Soviet soldier at the height of the battle was a mere twenty-four hours.
The battle for control of the city of Stalingrad was part of Hitler's 1942 Summer Offensive against the Soviet Union, the aim of which was to capture the Caucasus oilfields and destroy what was left of the Soviet Army. The city of Stalingrad was strategically important in terms of the Germans' aims since it is on the Volga River, which was a key supply route for the Soviet interior.
It was also important in terms of morale and propaganda, both to the Germans and the Soviets. As the city bore Soviet leader Joseph Stalin's name, taking control of it would provide a massive morale boost for the German troops while simultaneously crushing the spirit of the Soviets.
To this end, German General Friedrich von Paulus, leading the Sixth Army and elements of the Fourth Panzer Army, was ordered to take the city.
He started his assault on the city on August 23, 1942. Hitler had ordered that when the city was taken, all male Soviet citizens were to be executed, while all the Soviet women and children were to be deported. Stalin, meanwhile, ordered that the city be defended at all costs, and he was prepared to sacrifice as many troops as it took to hold the city. The stage was thus set for a gargantuan battle.
In the weeks leading up to the assault on the city, four relatively ragtag Soviet armies engaged in a series of running battles against the German Sixth Army to try to at least slow the German advance. In terms of this goal, the Soviets were at least partially successful.
They managed to put enough of a dent in the Germans' momentum to ship cattle, railway cars, and grain out of Stalingrad and across the Volga River. Most of the city's citizens, however, were not evacuated in time. Thus, when the Sixth Army appeared on the horizon, and the Luftwaffe planes began their bombing campaign, many civilians were still in the city–around 400,000, according to historical estimates.
Luftflotte 4, one of the largest divisions of Germany's Luftwaffe, was the division tasked with bombing Stalingrad. At the time this division launched its offensive, it was the most powerful single air formation on earth. One thousand tons of bombs were dropped on the city in 48 hours, some of which caused a massive firestorm. By the time Luftlofte 4 completed its bombing mission, most of the city had been reduced to rubble.
Despite this, those factories that had not been destroyed continued to produce tanks and weapons, and civilians were put to work repairing infrastructure and manning defenses.
Much of the city's defense up to this point was conducted by the 1077th Anti-Aircraft Regiment. A volunteer force composed mainly of young women, they took on the advancing German tanks of the 16th Panzer Division with their anti-aircraft guns.
Despite being poorly trained, they fought fiercely, and it was only when most of their posts were overrun that the surprised Germans discovered that they had been fighting women.
Other aspects of the city's defense involved untrained civilians pressed into hastily-formed militias. They did what they could against the Germans but were not particularly effective. Some of them were sent into battle without rifles, which made them little more than cannon fodder.
The Luftwaffe's control of the skies proved to be a major boon for the Germans. Any attempts at counter-attacks by the Soviet armies on the ground were swiftly quashed by German airplanes. Fighting soon moved into the city itself, and this was where things became especially fierce and bloody.
Soviet commanders were under strict orders to execute any deserters and to die rather than retreat. If any Soviet commander gave an order to retreat, he knew he would face a fate worse than death if he survived. The Germans were under similar orders from Hitler, so they knew that they had to take the city at all costs.
By September 12th, after a few weeks of ferocious fighting, the Soviet 62nd Army in the city had been reduced to a mere 20,000 troops. However, in the fighting in the streets and among the ruined buildings, they had managed to exact a severe toll on the German invaders.
Soviet reinforcements arrived from across the Volga, but they could do little to stem the seemingly unstoppable tide of the German advance. The 13th Guards Rifle Division, for example, sent in to bolster Soviet defenses in mid-September, suffered a 30% casualty rate in their first 24 hours in the city. Not much longer after this, almost every one of the 10,000 members of the 13th was dead.
Despite many incidents like this, the Soviets refused to surrender, fighting hard to retake every building lost to the Germans, with some ruined buildings changing hands dozens of times over a 24-hour period. In the combat among the ruins, snipers played an important and deadly role for both sides, with snipers such as Vasily Zaytsev killing 225 German soldiers in the city.
By the end of October, the Germans controlled most of Stalingrad, and Soviet resistance was limited to a few small patches along the western bank of the Volga, as well as a particularly stubborn spot of Soviet resistance called Lyudnikov's Island. By the middle of November, German forces controlled over 90% of the city. If the Germans thought that the battle was won, however, they were in for a terrible surprise.
On November 19, 1942, the Soviets launched Operation Uranus, a massive counter-attack that aimed to retake Stalingrad. The Hungarian and Romanian Axis armies protecting the German flank were overrun by Soviet forces. Three Soviet armies encircled the city, trapping the German forces inside and cutting off their supplies.
In addition to impending starvation and the fact that ammunition was starting to run out, the Germans had another foe to contend with: the bitter winter, for which they were ill-prepared. Nonetheless, beleaguered as they were, many German troops within the city put up fierce resistance to the Soviet counter-attack, and it took the Soviets a further two months to recapture the city.
When the last remnants of the once-mighty German Sixth Army surrendered Stalingrad to the Soviets on February 2, 1943, the Germans had lost over 500,000 men. Including Soviet casualties and people taken prisoner, over 1.8 to 2 million lives were lost in the battle, making it one of the bloodiest in history.
It was to be a major turning point in the Second World War, with any Axis hopes of ultimate victory being effectively squashed after Stalingrad.
Book Review: Unbroken
A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption
By Laura Hillenbrand
On June 23, 1943, three American soldiers had been drifting in the Pacific Ocean for twenty-seven days. The rafts were deteriorating, their bodies were covered in salt sores, and they didn't know it at the time, but there would be another twenty days of drifting ahead for them. Only two of the three would survive. One of them was former Olympic runner Louis Zamperini whose life would never be the same.
Laura Hillenbrand's Unbroken is an amazing study in resilience, defiance, and strength that takes you on the journey of one man's lifetime. Zamperini was an incorrigible child, a natural runner, and a man who would not be broken. He survived unspeakable torture and deprivation at the hands of his Japanese captors only to find himself being tortured by his memories after returning home at the end of the war.
Being overtaken with the reoccurring tortures that resided in his mind, Zamperini turned to alcohol. He reclaimed his life after hearing an inspiring speaker in a tent on a street corner in Los Angeles. That speaker was Billy Graham. Graham taught him about total forgiveness. It was then and there that Louie was able to release the hatred and take hold of his own life and destiny.
Laura Hillenbrand, the author of Seabiscuit, brought the story of depression era wonder horse to us all. Now she brings us the story of Louis Zamperini, who as of this writing is ninety-three years old and residing in Los Angeles. Hillenbrand said that she came across an article about Louis Zamperini while doing research for Seabiscuit and set it aside. I'm glad she went back to Zamperini's story. In one of her countless interviews with Mr. Zamperini spanning seven years, he assured Hillenbrand that "I'll be an easier subject than Seabiscuit because I can talk." Although Unbroken is over 450 pages in length, but there's never a dull or lagging moment, just the opposite. The story flows quickly, and the suspense keeps you turning the pages.
Zamperini's struggle to reclaim his life is beautifully told by Hillenbrand. In Unbroken, Hillenbrand captures the spark of a man determined to survive what he had to and to come out the winner he'd always been.
Reader Reviews
I'm a voracious reader. Addicted to reading since I was a young child. I love and read a great deal of history. This book was hands down, one of the best written I've ever read on WWII. Laura Hillenbrand is now as beloved an author to me as Stephen Ambrose.
My grandfather spent years in Europe during WWII. My mother tells the story of meeting her father for the first time when he came home after the war. He left when she was a toddler and she had no memories of him before the war. Sadly, there was no information on PTSD in those years. He did his best, but the war broke him in profound ways that would chase all his children and grandchildren through the years.
This book has given me great sadness for what all the men suffered but has also healed a wound. Grandfather didn't hate us all, he was merely dealing with a burden he could never share. Great book. Very well written. I haven't stayed up all night reading in many years, but this book has me that rare pleasure of trading sleep for getting lost in a story. ~Amazon Customer
Laura Hillenbrand follows her spectacular biography of racehorse Seabiscuit with the gripping tale of Louis Zamperini's life and tribulations as a downed airman in WWII. "Unbroken" is written in Hillenbrand's inimitable style, blending global events with personal anecdotes from the lives of Lt. Zamperini and his family and fellow airmen.
Prior to the war, Zamperini had overcome serious obstacles to become one of the best milers in track and field history, competing in the 1936 Olympics in Berlin with Jesse Owens and other famous American Olympians. As America entered WWII he became a bombardier flying B-24s in the Pacific Theater. When his plane ditched in a remote part of the Pacific, Louie and two colleagues survived the crash and drifted thousands of miles for more than 47 days before being picked up by a Japanese ship. During those weeks they endured unthinkable hardships: one of their companions died aboard the life raft, they were repeatedly attacked by sharks, and strafed by Japanese planes.
After Louis and his pilot, Russell Allen Phillips were "rescued," an even more harrowing journey began, as both men were incarcerated in a series of brutal Japanese POW camps. The vivid descriptions of camp conditions and the inhuman brutality of many of the prison guards are gut-wrenching. The depth of depravity that Louie and his fellow prisoners had to endure is unimaginable, and the fact that he survived to live a productive life is a testament to his incredibly resilient and unbreakable will and spirit.
The author does not shrink from telling about Louie's post-war troubles with alcohol, rage, and PTSD. The account of Zamperini's reluctant encounter with evangelist Billy Graham, is touching and instructive, for it proved to be the event that allowed Louie to finally come to peace with his hatred of the worst of the Japanese guards, Mutsuhiro Watanabe, "The Bird," Louie was finally free of the haunting nightmares and his need to seek revenge.
As I was reading this book, one of my close friends saw the book in my hand and said: "This book changed my life!" The story of Louie Zamperini and his trials and tribulations is that inspiring. ~Alan L. Chase
About the Author
Laura Hillenbrand grew up in the northern suburbs of Washington, D.C., and began writing at an early age. While attending Kenyon College, her life would change when she suddenly fell ill with chronic fatigue syndrome, a debilitating condition with no cure. Confined to her home, Hillenbrand began writing in earnest, and her first book, 'Seabiscuit,' published in 2001, sold more 6 million copies in the United States alone and has been translated into 15 languages. It also spawned a hugely successful film that garnered seven Oscar nominations.
Adding to her massive bestseller, 'Seabiscuit,' was 'Unbroken,' the life story of Louis Zamperini, Olympic athlete, and war hero. Like her first book, 'Unbroken', was another major bestseller that inspired a 2014 film, directed by the actress Angelina Jolie.
Hillenbrand continues to write for publications like The New York Times and Vanity Fair, among others.
Letters to the Editor
How a bloody Ka-Bar knife fight during the Vietnam War got this Marine a Navy Cross 52 years later
A childhood friend of mine, Cpl. Charles L. Salter was killed in action in this battle. The notification of his death provided no real details of the circumstances but the internet has made it possible to find things like after action reports and a few details not included in the story. Charlie Co. 1/9 was a reaction force responding to another unit in contact with the NVA that began with an ambush of an ONTOS recoilles rifle vehicle earlier that day. From there the stories are very similar.
I’m glad Lance Cpl. James H. Stogner was finally recognized for his selfless acts of heroism. Thank you for providing another perspective on a battle that took the lives of so many good Marines. Somehow it helps me to accept the loss of my friend.
The next year, Hooper enlisted in the US Army as a Private First Class. After graduating Basic Training, he volunteered for Airborne School. From there he did tours of duty in Fort Bragg, Korea, and Fort Hood, eventually making his way to Fort Campbell's 101st Airborne Division.
With these positions destroyed, he concentrated on the last bunkers facing his men, destroying the first with an incendiary grenade and neutralizing two more by rifle fire. He then raced across an open field, still under enemy fire, to rescue a wounded man who was trapped in a trench. Upon reaching the man, he was faced by an armed enemy soldier whom he killed with a pistol. Moving his comrade to safety and returning to his men, he neutralized the final pocket of enemy resistance by fatally wounding three North Vietnamese officers with rifle fire. Hooper then established a final line and reorganized his men, not accepting (medical) treatment until this was accomplished and not consenting to evacuation until the following morning."
Much like the war he fought in, Hooper is not as well-known as other Medal of Honor recipients of his stature. According to accounts, he was a likable guy who partied hard, drank a lot and related to veterans. However, he was allegedly rather troubled by America's treatment of soldiers and attitudes towards the war in general.
But there was much more to the conflict than those iconic events. Britain's war with the Zulus tends to be defined in the broadest modern perception by the film "Zulu", a 1960s classic, which tells a story of the defense of Rorke's Drift, rather than the story.
Meanwhile, the British had fought a succession of wars against tribes reluctant to accept the new reality but there were never enough imperial troops to do all the work and the available forces would find themselves hard-pressed in 1879.
The senior British soldier Garnet Wolseley was an uncompromising figure who did not favor the award of gallantry medals. His reservations about Coghill and Melville also applied to the award of eleven Victoria Crosses for the defense of Rorke's Drift where a reinforced company of the 24th Foot held off around four thousand Zulu warriors in a terrifying ordeal where the British fired upwards on twenty thousand rounds with their Martini-Henry rifles.
Clarke Booth's actions were heroic, to say the least, and having shepherded the survivors he was prepared to go out again but was prevented from doing so. Four VCs were awarded for actions at Hlobane Mountain included the award to Redvers Buller, one of the greatest soldiers of the age.
This is where TWS can help. We have just invested in a high quality Fujitsu book and photo scanner that can scan any size of photo or yearbook. As a service to our members, we would like to offer you a free photo scanning service for your most significant photos from your service which we will then return to you, in original condition, along with a CD containing your photo files.
"We didn't think about whether it was dangerous or not," Joachim Ronneberg, the 23-year-old Norwegian resistance fighter charged with leading the mission, later told Britain's Telegraph newspaper. "We didn't think about our retreat. The most important decision you made during the whole war was the day you decided to leave Norway to report for duty. You concentrated on the job and not on the risks."
Yet even Ronneberg's exploits were chronicled in books, television series and movies such as "The Heroes of Telemark," a popular 1965 film starring Kirk Douglas and Richard Harris, Ronneberg resisted being glorified as a war hero.
The plant was already the world's leading commercial supplier of heavy water, a moderator that German scientists were using to try to produce weapons-grade plutonium for an atomic bomb. It proved less effective than graphite, which their American rivals working on the Manhattan Project used to create the bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945.
"It was a mackerel sky. It was a marvelous sunrise," Ronneberg told the Telegraph, recalling the moment hours later when he and his team had returned to the mountains, safely out of reach of Nazi guards. "We sat there very tired, very happy. Nobody said anything. That was a very special moment."
He married Liv Foldal, a crafts teacher, in 1949, and had three children: Jostein, Asa, and Birte.
We are still searching for Boot Camp/ Basic Training Photos and Yearbooks. So if you have yours available, please contact us at 
By the end of 1967, the Communist cause in the Vietnam War was in deep trouble. The build-up of American forces - nearly half a million men were deployed in Vietnam by December - had put the Vietcong on the defensive and led to bloody repulses of the North Vietnamese Army (NVA), which had started intervening on the battlefield to ease the pressure on its Vietcong allies.
33,000 men killed in action, all for no gain. By the end of 1969, over 70 percent of South Vietnam's population was rated by the U.S. military as under government control, compared with 42 percent at the beginning of 1968.
Marines huddling under cover, never mentioning that the Marines were steadily pushing back the NVA and inflicting heavy casualties.
Presidential candidate Eugene McCarthy seized on the news that the Vietcong "had seized a section of the Embassy" (which was entirely false) and entered Hue as proof that it was the Communists, not the Americans, who were winning the war. Cronkite's TV broadcast all but doomed the reelection campaign of President Lyndon Baines Johnson; in April McCarthy won the Wisconsin primary by a stunning ten points and LBJ bowed out of the race. Robert Kennedy seized the opportunity to enter the race on an anti-war platform; less than three months later he was dead by an assassin's bullet. The Democratic national convention descended into violence and chaos, as the Vietnam war became the key divisive issue in American politics - and a hot-button issue in our culture ever since.
The "real" Oradour lies about two hundred meters to the southwest of the modern town. The original Oradour is a town frozen in time. If anyone lives there, it is the ghosts of those who died there on June 10th, 1944.
Also, in the area were the Milice (militia), the collaborationist fascist police. Many Frenchmen hated them more than they hated the Nazis. Exceedingly anti-Semitic and strongly pro-Vichy, the Milice were known throughout France as torturers and thugs. Much of the war in France during the Occupation took place between the Milice and the Resistance, with the Germans watching the two tear themselves apart.
Before he died in combat, SS Officer Adolf Diekmann, who had been present, declared that the killings were done in revenge for the actions of a nearby Resistance cell and the capture and killing of an SS Officer. Many in the SS thought the Officer had been burned to death. Diekmann was subject of a military inquiry initiated by Rommel, but after his death in combat, the inquiry was ended.
Now you can also purchase custom Together We Served branded merchandise. Please check out our range of ball caps, polo shirts, T-shirts, jackets and windbreakers 
Together We Served is pleased to announce our partnership with the Coast Guard Chief Petty Officers Association
Looking for Army and Marine Corps Volunteers Memorial Team
NEW TWS Invite Cards
Hundreds Witness Veteran Kill Himself in VA Waiting Room
Trump OKs Renaming VA Site After Mayor Killed in Afghanistan
Homeless Veterans Community Employment Services
Navy, Army See Most Valor Medal Upgrades in Pentagon's Review
Homeless Veteran Gets Probation in GoFundMe Scam
Army Secretary Defends Decision To Cut CH-47 Chinook Program
Retired Army Major General Dies After Lawnmower Accident
New Measure Would Allow Troops to Sue For Military Malpractice Mistakes
Did You Serve at Wiesbaden?
Adding those who were wounded or taken prisoner to that number brings the casualty total closer to two million, and it is estimated that the average life expectancy of a Soviet soldier at the height of the battle was a mere twenty-four hours.
To this end, German General Friedrich von Paulus, leading the Sixth Army and elements of the Fourth Panzer Army, was ordered to take the city.
Despite being poorly trained, they fought fiercely, and it was only when most of their posts were overrun that the surprised Germans discovered that they had been fighting women.
Despite many incidents like this, the Soviets refused to surrender, fighting hard to retake every building lost to the Germans, with some ruined buildings changing hands dozens of times over a 24-hour period. In the combat among the ruins, snipers played an important and deadly role for both sides, with snipers such as Vasily Zaytsev killing 225 German soldiers in the city.
He survived unspeakable torture and deprivation at the hands of his Japanese captors only to find himself being tortured by his memories after returning home at the end of the war. 
About the Author
