My first day in combat in Germany - 102nd Infantry Division
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- Опубліковано 23 сер 2024
- During WW2, Staff Sgt. Ralph Sykes served in a rifle company in the 102nd Infantry Division and later with the 1st Infantry Division.
Today was the first time he was video recorded talking about his experience during the war. He remembered vividly crossing the Roer river in February 1945, carrying ammunition for the BAR man (Browning Automatic Rifle). It was with deep emotion he described how his BAR man was killed by artillery fire just next to him. He then picked up his BAR and continued to fight with it until the end of the war.
In April 1945, his division discovered a war crime in Gardelegen. Over 1000 prisoners from different concentration camps were forced to go in an empty barn that was set on fire by the germans. The discovery of this barn deeply impacted him and many men from his division.
The 102nd Infantry Division is unfortunately a less known unit because of the popularity of other units. However, the unit saw brutal combat in Europe and suffered around 5000 casualties. We should never forget them. 🥀
My dad was in the 102nd infantry division. He told me about Gardelegen. I took my 7 year old son there 8 years ago shortly after my dad passed away. We saw the graves of the people that died in the barn. Very tragic. The dead were buried by the men that lived in Gardelegen. Part of the denazification process was making German citizens see first hand what the Nazis had done. Making the citizens bury the dead was one way to achieve that.
Sgt. Sykes and the rest of the 102nd, thank you endlessly for your service and may God bless you all endlessly!!! ✝️🇺🇲✝️
Sir, Thank you for your service.
That sounds like trial by fire right there. Brave.
My Grandfathers Tank Division the 701sr fought with these guys and provided Tank support. His Tank unit went to Gardelagen and he never spoke if it. I learned of it through his unit yearbook.
never forget🙏
Grandpa Robert McGowan was 102nd infantry too. Tough dude.
My great grandfather Donald Omer Smith was in the 406 inf regiment. I like learning more about it