Thank you for posting this exceptional video. My father was in the 87th Infantry Division as a Tech Sergeant and fought at the Battle of the Bulge along with the 84th. His stories of the battle were chilling, he lost many close buddies and his dedication and courage was a lifelong inspiration to me. When I finished college in the late 1960s I was commissioned in the Navy, ultimately commanded two guided missile warships, and served in five combat zones during my 30 years on active duty.
First, Dallas, THANK YOU for your Service to our Country for 30 Years! You entered the service during a dangerous time - your father must have been extremely proud! My Father was also in the 87th Infantry Division, Staff Sergent 347th Regiment, Anti- Tank Co. You are lucky that your father spoke about his experiences - mine did not. Unfortunately, AFTER it was too late, i became very interested in knowing more about his experience & constantly search for any & all personal accounts for more information. My dream is to one day retrace his steps through the Battle of the Bulge till the end of the war.
I dearly love our soldiers and all they sacrifice to preserve our freedoms. I wish all Americans could agree on this and give them the respect they deserve or pick up a gun and walk a day in their shoes.
God bless you and your family and your friends and thank you for your service and thank you to ALL the men and women who serve and have served the USA.
There was a gentleman in the Care Center i worked at , he told me his experience as a soldier in the" battle of the bulge "and I went home and wrote it all down in my journal. iam so appreciative & moved as I was able to listen and know what area this Vet spoke of because my father was a ww2 buff and had told me the" Battle of the Bulge " story while growing up . I will treasure that experience forever and respect so much the troops who fought so hard to defeat this injustice .These stories are truly priceless .
My uncle was a sergeant in the 84 div, 333rd regiment, L co. Earned Bronze star on 3rd day of combat, and was killed on his 5th day, Nov 23, 1944. Not found until 1964. It's sad that these men were not recognized for their contribution to the axis defeat. Their record is truly impressive.
My grandfather Joe fought with the 84th Infantry Division in WW2 in the battle of the bulge. He celebrating his 100th bday in Nov. 2018. Ever since my grandmother passed in 2011 he started talking about the war, such great stories.
My grandfather was a member of the 84th and a railsplitter, he lost a leg during the battle of the bulge. It was amazing how those men survived not only deadly low temperatures but being drastically outnumbered and underequipped.
Parts of the 84Th and 102Nd reached my homecounty at the WeserMountains on 5t April 1945 and Members of the 334Th Group was the first ones in the Towns Rodenberg - Lauenau - Messenkamp the area between the Deister & Süntel Forests while parts of the 102Nd cames fro the opposit direction from Hameln - Bad Münder - Einbeckhausen. There is still one Member of the 84Th 334 Group who didn´t know he have a daughter in Rodenberg!!! Some of the guys met the ,, Fräulein Wonder"!
My father, Oliver Sturrock, a medic and sergeant in the 84th, was with the division from the time of its landing in France until the Germans surrendered. He seldom spoke about his experiences, but once said he was in the basement of a house being shelled by the Germans and thought he was going to die. He was a fine man and a good father and husband.
My Dad was also a medic in the 84th. If you haven't gotten the book "The 84th Infantry Division In The Battle Of Germany" you should. It has every soldier that served in the 84th and any individual medals they were awarded. My Dad was with the medical detachment attached to the combat engineers. Also check the Library of Congress' website. They have the actual battle plans (maps) from the Bulge. I have them downloaded (huge) and sent copies to my niece, who does the family tree struff. And my Dad didn't talk much about that war. He talked about two things...and only talked about them once. • A pillbox that was across a river with unobstructive (line of fire) down a main street where everyone had to sprint across the street. • That the Malmedy massacre harden the resolve of the soldiers.
@@julieinthenorthwest4594 Perhaps our fathers served together. When my dad and the others got shelled, they were in a building in which they'd set up an aid station. It was near a river (possibly the Roer?) where an assault crossing was planned the next day and heavy casualties expected.
@@Demaenetus Could be the place my dad mention with the pillbox across the river. They could have crossed paths during a river crossing operation since your father was in B company, 309th Medical Battalion. My father was assigned to the Medical Detachment attached to the Headquarters and Service Company of the 309th Combat Engineer Battalion. FYI - Your father is listed on page 125 of the book as: Sturrock, Oliver M.., Tec 4, R.A. CE., Lufkin, Tx • The Tec 4 Is a Technical Sergeant. It's 3 stripes (chevrons) with a "T" under the stripes. • R.A. - Means that he served in the Rome-Arno Campaign (as most soldiers did that were in the 309th Medical Battalion). Since the 84th Infantry Division wasn't in Italy, my best (retired army) guess would be that he was in the 85th or 88th Infantry division during that campaign and later he (or more likely the battalion) was assigned to the 84th Infantry Division when they deployed to France since the Rome-Arno Campaign was from 22 January thru 9 September 1944 and the 84th didn't deploy to France (Omaha Beach) until 1 Nov 44. • CE - Means that he [also] served in Central Europe with the 84th.
@@julieinthenorthwest4594 Well I'll be darned! You know more about his service than I do, but then, he seldom spoke about his experiences. Whenever I asked him about the war he was very vague in his replies. I had no idea he served in Italy. Was the 309th an independent battalion attached to combat units as needed? I assumed he was with the Railsplitters from start to finish because he had a book about the division's WWII activities. Thank you so much for the insight on my father's life!
@@julieinthenorthwest4594 Julie, while looking at dad's honorable discharge document, I noticed that the only campaigns and battles listed are Ardennes, Rhineland and Central Europe. Could the "RA" you saw stand for Rhineland and Ardennes?
My mom and dad became Canadian citizens. When the war ended my dad was 8 years old. My mom was 6. My dad grew up in Stuttgart. He had become very ill with pneumonia. An American Soldier/Doctor gave my dad penicillin. That saved my dad's life. I never can remember a time ever when my dad had nothing but praise for the Americans. I think he realized that the US Army saved his life. I think the USA saved many Germans from certain death. I salute the US armed forces. I hope they and the Canadian armed forces will always stand for doing the right thing and what is just.
My grandfather came home just before the battle of the bulge, but his younger brother was there for it. Neither of them would talk about it. Grandpa started in North Africa, and came home shortly after the Normandy landings.
My father was the Chief of Smoke [71st DIVARTY] fOR the 71st Infantry Division that was on their flanks. He refused to speak about his WW2 experiences until after I came back from Desert Storm in 1991. I guess I had to mature militarily so when he related some of his experiences. The 71st later liberated one of the concentration camps known in Austria called Gunskirchen Lager near Gmunden, Austria, and published a pamphlet about it here ~~ remember.org/gunskirchen-intro.html
the ego to refuse to talk about it. wow! get over yourself, you went through some basic traumas. As if seeing your comrades limbless and screaming before your eyes is anything new. Would do some good to prepare the young guys for it by telling them about it, but no.
My father was a radio operator for the 84th - 334th Regimental HQ. Being part of HQ he was not normally at the point of the spear, but was close behind it. He talked little about his experiences, but the two I remember are these: He was sitting in the back of a parked jeep operating his radio with his headphones on when a German mortar barrage started - the only time he mentioned that he was that close to death. He jumped out of the Jeep to get to cover but forgot to remove his headphones first, and so ended up falling flat on his back, giving him a back injury that bothered him off and on the rest of his life. He died in 2019 two days after his 99th birthday. One day while driving with another NCO the came across a knocked out German half-track. Curiosity got the better of him so they stopped and investigated, I guess trophy hunting. When he looked inside he saw the driver sitting in his seat with the top of his head neatly sheared off like a giant cleaver had chopped it off. He said that satisfied his curiosity in a most nauseating way and he never again let his curiosity get the better of him.
@Kota Lz You are right, no one asked for my opinion. Furthermore, I don’t recall shitting on anyone. I don’t need anyone’s permission to speak my mind. As an honorably discharged Army infantryman I don’t need anyone’s permission for anything. Tim’s grandfather getting back alive is all that matters. Kota, shave and go home.
@L Lawliet You know it’s all good L Lawliet, but thank you nevertheless. I have seen horrific things in life and a “medal ceremony” made my skin crawl. Somewhere out there is a grieving mother and father who lost their son or daughter in a life and death struggle in a combat zone. I could tell you a story of what occurred during a medal ceremony but.......it ended in death for everyone of them, EVERYONE OF THEM.
My Dad was Career Air Force. Called the Army Air Corp during WWII. He was in Belgium at the end of the war. I grew up on Military Bases. He was a Veteran of 3 wars. I tell people I grew up in the shadows of Heroes. Met a lot of Combat Soldiers in my life. Always repected the sacrifice the Greatest Generation made for freedom.
Thank you for posting this video. As a the greatest generation is rapidly passing in history it's of the upmost importance to get their stories recorded for posterity. Those who don't know they're history are doomed to repeat it.
These are amazing documentaries and really show what it was like for these GIs especially with the first hand recollections of those who were there. Thank you for posting.
How could ANYONE give a thumbs-down to this video? Maybe, some junior high school kids that were forced to watch it in class when a sub was there, lol. We need to be teaching kids to get out of their apps and learn. WW2 is still one of the most fascinating periods of time in world history. My gosh, the shit that both sides, especially at the bulge, went through was harrowing. Thanks for posting!
"I" didn't defeat anyone, and, agree. The Soviets were a far more dangerous enemy, ref. The Cold War. It's the reason the US has an out of control military industrial complex. If..that's what you meant.
This div took pretty much the toughest blow. Im still finding artifacts in the grounds they fought on. Interesting and deadly adventures for these brave men.
My granddaddy even kept a little notebook where he wrote in everyday about what all happened that day, where he was, how many killed, etc. Its amazing.
My great grandfather fought in ww2 he landed on dday. He said that war ruined his life. He had night terrors to the day he died. He told me a few stories about how he spent weeks in a fortified fox hole, for 6 days he and 12 men were stuck in that position under constant shelling after those 6 days 3 of them lived. That really messed with him.
My Grandad was sent to England to prep for the invasion after a stint in north Africa. He never made it out if England. I was only 10 when he died in 76. Most memories were of him grouchy @ my Granny while driving & doing yard work. @ my uncle's funeral in 14' my 2 other uncle's & my dad told me what he did in England for about 3 yrs. He was a professional butcher b4 & after the war. I instantly understood why he drank so much & asked God to make sure he knew I forgave him & to give him the best seat behind the Pearly Gates & front row to every ball game. The details I was told was definitely living in hell.
My hairdresser when I was a little girl was married to a soldier who came back mentally messed up from the war. Her garage apartment was over the beauty shop, and she would have to go upstairs several times during her working hours to check on him. He never left that small apartment! Sad, sad...
@Yuck Foutube shame on you man/women whatever you are.any person that serves in any division of the armed forces is a hero🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸people like your are a big part of whats wrong with this country.these men where honored to die for there country🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
As a young boy I lived at RAF Giellenkirchen where my father was stationed as an RAF Officer. Late one afternoon in 1956,after school I wandered off into some woodland and beneath a large weeping willow tree I came upon the grave of a Germean soldier,his helmet still resting on the top of a crucifix made from the branches of a tree..My father never approved of anything that I did and in fear of a critical reaction and possible punishment ,I made no disclosure of my find. Ever since I have lived with the hope that this soldiers resting place was soon located by others,that his fate been known to his family
My father's first cousin, Tom, was in the Battle of the Bulge, shortly after graduating from Texas A&M. He stayed in the Army until retiring as a COL in the 1970, serving in WWII, Korea, and Vietnam. He retired in Arizona and then spent several years serving in the Arizona state legislature. He and Daddy were pretty close and Daddy said Tom never talked about his experiences in the Battle of the Bulge. Daddy had gone down to enlist the day after Pearl Harbor, and had been rejected due to his health, and he had used family influence to force the military to accept him and rose to the rank of Captain, but due to his health was not allowed to serve in combat, which he was always ashamed of. He worked in the nutrition labs at the University of Chicago, and was one of those who earned their guinea pig certificates as they have to eat the food items which made it into the rations sent to the soldiers, as well as many which were so bad they were rejected. So if you ever heard your forefathers complaining about the food in the rations, my father was one they could blame.
That is awesome . I understand why he felt ashamed - as a man and wanting to be there , do whats right etc. But he had absolutely nothing to be ashamed of ....totally awesome. I didn't serve but have been called all kinds of things because of my interest in war , soldiers , tactics, etc . I had thousands of the little plastic army men , tanks ,trucks , artillery ,etc ....mom n sister would get mad at me cause winter time n I couldn't play outside id take every cassette tape, dominoes , etc (fortifications) ,every bottle out of kitchen cabinets , bathroom cabinets (trees) .... we'll you get the picture . One thing that always amazed me was for each man that fought on the front line - how many men (and women ) did it take for that 1 man to be able to fight ??? And just like I tell the young guys I work with today - it takes all of us to get the job done!! My respect and gratitude !!
I had 2 great uncles in WW2. They were raw bone tuff. My Great Grand Father on my mothers side, was in WW1 in France, brutal war. He passed when I was 8.
An excellent documentary involving the eye witness accounts of combat by soldiers just a few years after the wars end while their combat experience's were still fresh in their minds. Outstanding footage as well. I found it interesting how the Dutch women who sought refuge in the castle recalled how the American soldiers wore rubber sole's and walked softly while the German soldiers wore steel tips and made much noise, 32:17 - 34:03. For the sake of survival ones senses become keen.
@@toddhellyar4167 they weren’t activated yet. They were one of the high numbered infantry divisions that got in combat in the fall-winter of 1944, the guys that slogged through and slugged it out to bring the war in the west to an end.
My absolute detention of HEROE'S. When I think back to what I was doing at 18-22 years old I am disgusted at myself. These poor boys made the ultimate sacrifice for me to be a total jackass. WE ALL NEED TO REMEMBER THESE GUYS!! Period end of discussion!!
John, they made the sacrifices because they were given no other choice. Had there been no WWII they most likely would have looked back on their Daddy's sacrifices in WWI and thought the same things about themselves that you said. I just hope future generations of Americans will be willing to step up to the plate if, God forbid, there is another large conflagration.
when I volunteered for the US Army in 1984, an older man at the shop, Henry M. gave me a gold plated razor. he said he was a "Railsplitter" during WWII. during Basic Training I found a "Railsplitter" patch and brought it to him when I was on leave. he was still very proud of his time with the 84th.
The 84th was originally a reserve Division from The State of Illinois. They were also known as The Lincoln Division; hence The Railsplitter shoulder insignia. The 84th actually stopped the German advance at the River Muse at The Battle of the Bulge. My father was an 18 year old infantry replacement; his 1st day of combat was Christmas Day 1944. Was a very proud Railsplitter. Company K; 334th.
@@danturner4709 the Rail Splitter came from it being known as "Abe's Brigade" for Abraham Lincoln being from the area where it was formed. Since he was an axe man, the Rail Splitter is it insignia.
At one time, I was hell. Fast. Strong. With a razor sharp wit. But now, all the long years have piled up high and heavy on me. Now, I'm just a tired old, used up man. And I must tell you that the spirit is willing, but the flesh ages and becomes fragile and useless. Watching this makes me feel tired and anxious. And a little frightened. If I were still young and strong, however, I would be one of the first ones to sign up to fight.
If you met one of these guys today and they were still young you probably wouldn't think much about about it..not knowing you'd met one of the bravest fire eating asskickers you ever will...it's amazing how those that have been they so much just want normalcy,peace and quiet...Nothing But Respect to Every one of those Widowmakers...
For us and our future I pray that the dignity continues You hold tight to everything you learned from that man and teach your brothers and your sisters His unselfish love
Hindsight and additional facts show many nuances later filled in so many details. BUT. The intimacy of hearing the words of the actual combatants is priceless.
Ah, back when men made an effort to speak properly. What they accomplished is incredible. They truly are the greatest generation. I love older documentaries. They’re not tainted by the ignorant judgements of modern “historians”, who aren’t even fit to shine these mens’ boots. ETA: My grandfather was a B-29 navigator in the Pacific theater. Unfortunately, I never got to know him personally, as he died when I was an infant.
Indeed! We should always honor our own Heroes. Never forget them!......but we should also realize that our own Heroes are never the heroes of the whole world because in the eyes of our enemies, they are the worst scumbags of the earth who killed innocent people/children. Funny about this thing is when you kill a few, you are a filthy murderer or just a killing machine being used, but when you kill a whole country in the name of war ( I call it stupidity), you are a Hero!.....a Hailed Conqueror! Indeed what Pride can do to a person.
@@hugbug4408 Abes Brigade was formed during the Blackhawk War. They became part of Wisconsin when Camp Randall became active during the Civil War as i believe to be a training Division. Good ole Honest Abe is a great man to have as the founder of the Rail Splitters.
Search UA-cam for “June 6 1944 The Light of Dawn”. It’s hands down, the best WW2 documentary I’ve ever seen. Tons of rare footage from soldier photographers. Unbelievable.
My grandfather was driving a colonel to a meeting when he passed his brother marching to the front, they waved at each other. when my grandfather got to the mission he asked permission to go soo his brother and was given it. by the time my grandfather got to the front his brother had already been killed. it was the battle of the bulge at the time. I don't know at what point during the battle it happened and he only told me once so I can't remember a much of it. I do remember him telling me years later he got to Belgium to see his brothers grave.
I once read that only 30% of infantry soldiers fired their weapons in action during WWII. Has anyone heard the same? Apparently, digging foxholes and holding ground was a common activity. The drudgery of life for the rank and file infantryman lacked much in the form of glory and heroics depicted in Hollywood in the ensuing years after the war. It's understandable that many WWII infantry veterans only remember the misery and doldrums of their service in the war having their young lives interrupted by yet another European conflict. But served they did, and I appreciate the HELL out of that. GOD BLESS THEM ALL.
It's hard to fire your rifle when your dead within days of hitting the front it was fucking brutal before youtube went woke there was tons of archival footage and interviews
The Greatest generation indeed. Men were men. My Grandfather fought the Japanese in the Pacific and my Father fought in Vietnam. Later generations have been fortunate not to be conscripted into fighting but God bless those that enlisted and those who went when called.
@@chriswilliams2652 Pretty cold remark, considering that they were ALL soldiers of the same country, fought in foreign lands, bled just as freely, and died just as horribly! God bless our soldiers who also served in Iraq and Afghanistan!
@@vivians9392 what are you talking about cold remark? I said God bless those that enlisted! I was saying that the generations after Vietnam were lucky that there was no draft/conscription. I'm not talking about soldiers/marines/seaman that enlisted, I was saying citizens in later generations are fortunate not to have to worry about being drafted. Jeez
Most kids these days don’t either, there’s plenty of kids who have made the same exact sacrifices over the past 20 years, never mind the cause. The type of kids you’re referring to are minimal, they just get the attention. Even the greatest generation had their fair share of shit heads, they were just ignored as it should be.
True! Point in fact ALL Americans delt with suffering through decades of change in a lifetime. The boys sent off to war in ww2 had survived the great depression as babys and toddlers and grew up in a recovering nation.. as were the German people at the time. The men that came home surely liked to party in moderation. Tough generation by very unique time and place circumstances. Any comparison to that era should be seen as being just an influence of that era, an original. Came back with love of tattoos motorcycles fast cars burgers and women Many vets were still around in the 80's then many number passed every decade since. I'm still blessed to occasionally meet 90plus year old vets. I've been fortunate to have met dozens of really neat old soldiers in the past 30 years.
My Maternal Grandfather was one of the older guys who trained as a anti tank gunner in the Rail splitters at Camp Howes Texas before getting a Medical Discharge My Mom was about 15 years old when Her Dad was Drafted. Though He was not deployed or saw combat He was very proud of His time There. Three of My Dads four Older Brothers served one ran a gantry crane at Marinship setting superstructures on tankers. The youngest of those in the army saw his first action at Grandmenil Belgium as a combat engineer in thev289th RCT 75th infantry Div. one brother in law towed B-29’s in the pacific another earned a bronze star as a mechanic in the 14th Armored fixing a armored car under fire. Another brother in law earned a bronze star for drawing the fire of a German assault gun in Italy as a heavy machine gunner in the 168th Rgt 34th Infantry. He said serving in WW2 was the most important thing He ever Did in His whole life. He joined at 17 and had worked welding Conning towers on submarines at 15 years old at Mare Island Shipyard Ca.
My grandfather lived with a big piece of metal in his head from a artillery shell in the battle of the bulge.My grandmother told me how he suffered from headaches from metal in his head that was left alone because it was safer doing that ,than removing it.#warsucks Ripgrandpopandgra dmom
my late dad was in the 210th mp co starting in normandy on 6/6/44 to belgium and ending in germany. he liked to read ww2 history later in life and told me of his experiences. he must have been near the 84th id in the ardennes as he said it was a good outfit.
@shekels steinbergmancohensky They were there saving lives as military nurses, drivers, doing tons of office paper work. There was even women pilots who didn't fight in battle, but flew supplies and reconnaissance missions. A number of them perished. After the war the group was disbanded and never given the recognition they deserved. So, in answer to your smug question: These women who served and also died! Oops, I forgot to mention the women who assembled aircraft, tanks, guns, etc back home, so our boys could fight the war!
To see some of those young boys and the thousand yard stare look on their faces they saw and experienced stuff that was way too much for any man/woman. It saddens me that the understanding we have now of PTSD and continue to develop was not available, the closest I saw for for our men (British forces ) was the local pub I worked in as a young lad many would meet and drink there not speaking of the horrors they experienced but in a shared company of others who’d also been brutalised by war. I am proud that I made their acquaintance , many have passed now I hope they have eternal peace.
Nothing is tighter than the bond of veterans. Ive found nothing to equal it. It cant be explained, only experienced. A good marriage might come second. Decades can pass, but the camaraderie picks up instantly.
They said clearly in the video that they were anxious to perform well, and that the victory helped their self confidence... but then, they were not cowards who whine about "PTSD".
My Father was on the Sigfried line (Battle of the Bulged ) The German side he spoke highly of the American tanacity and bravery of the American soliders!
Martin Kruger my great grandfather was a German soldier on the eastern front.nanna came to America in 1947 but to this day she still speaks the language.altho I would never side wit a racist I am still proud of my German heritage and understand that alot of German soldiers were conscripts.and didnt exactly believe in wat they were fighting for.but still had a job to do.it was a sad time in history.my other grandad was in the us army stationed in phillipines dam good man.tuff as nails.
@@ryanbancroft3202 When the cease-fire was called, Germans and Americans got along once again. I've been stationed in Germany, and what I noticed was not the differences between our two peoples, but the similarities.
sagara sousuke, war is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things.The decayed and degraded state of moral and patriotic feeling which thinks that nothing is worth war is much worse. The person who has nothing for which he or she is willing to fight, nothing which is more important than their own personal safety, is a miserable creature and has no chance of being free unless made and kept by the exertions of better men than himself.
chris stix + Martha Vaughan + Sagara Sousuke + Eng Mac ua-cam.com/video/OCtN0YaYIzw/v-deo.html We are all being lied too. History repeats naturally again. Knowledge is power, truth will set us all free eternally.
Thank you for bringing those video so we could see history really happen all this we need to know thank you you too by putting those video history we need to learn the sacrifice in the Name of Love for the country my heroes
Myself as a retired soldier I am very disgusted with our country and what it’s become and feel that I wasted 24 years of my life to people that don’t deserve it.
I'm sure they're rolling over in their graves. They made the ultimate sacrifice, and for what?!!! A bunch of spoiled rotten, "entitled", non-patriotic assholes.
One story my uncle told me after they got to their potions and dug in it was dark . Anyway he said they could hear German tanks in the forest and in the fog and darkness it was a eerie sound also with the flickering of flares.
I don't care what color you are I don't care where you came from if you're wearing American Uniform you are my hero and thank you for your service someday I will get to thank you personally
People today need to remember our fathers and grandfathers fought to retain freedoms that are in danger of being taken away today by our own governments.
The Democrats want all Republicans removed..many Republicans are Democrats in Republican's clothes. It all boils down to a push for Socialism to take over America. BUT THEY MUST REMOVE ALL PERSONAL WEAPONS. That's first on the puppet Biden's agenda..as per Schumer, Pelosi and their sugar daddy in America, GEORGE SOROS. Dont know who he is..look him up. He betrayed the Polish Jews in his community during WWII by turning them into the Nazis. See his personal interview, no shame at all...years later he became a billionaire by FIRST, stripping Jewish homes after the Nazis took what they wanted.
@@scotts4769 Do you mean the Voter ID laws that will prevent illegal voting and stem the wave of socialist takeover? There is no "voter suppression" laws just voter ID laws which are greatly needed and wanted by all true Americans.
That was one awesome movie, and I take back every mean thing I said about you, just for preserving it and posting it! Except, I didn't say any mean thing to you! But, none the less, awesome, and Congrats!
That soldier at around 54:20 making a sketch of the Russian guy at the Elbe must've brought home a fascinating glimpse at history. Hopefully his works have been preserved somewhere.
My Dad William j brooks served with the rail splitters in all the meager campaigns Of the war he only talked To me about the campaign twice in my hole life when I was 7 when he started training me and my brother William about every thing he new about being a soldier he told me At the battle Of the bulge it was miserable they didn't have the equipment they needed some Of the men had To rap their feet in clothes because they didn't have boot's and you would sit down on log and it was a dead frozen soldiers and only other was when he signed me into the army to be a railsplitter like him in 82 I am a Sargent who is about To be retiring we are national guard we train every one else .they won't let me serve in combat anymore my Dad and the men he served with are my heroes they are the greatest and bravest men To finish what the enemy's Of are country those men gave every thing To keep are freedom. Rail splitters never die they just move through time.GOD BLESS you my four FATHER'S .and my brothers
Those guys had balls! Frozen feet?... Can you imagine Melennials out there? Whining and crying about the cold and that they deserve a metal of valor for just participating!
So what if he cant spell. He right them little bitches would have died from not having mommy. Bottom line millenials cant fight without wepons. We win.
@@zinostalbert2242 I was a hospital Corpsman in Iraq you loud mouth sob and there are four guys with my platoon that would fit the category of millennials that are buried in Arlington National Cemetery and they're worth a hell of a lot more than you will ever be.
My father and his younger brother served in WWII and both of them never left the states. How does that happen? His only war story was how he met my mother.
For every soldier who fought on the front there were something like 15 who supported them in some capacity behind the lines or in the home country. My dad built planes for the RAF and RCAF north of Toronto... Mosquitos mostly.
My grandmothers father was in the battle of the bulge. He did come home. I assume he had some kind of PTSD. My grand mother won’t talk about him. My great grandmother father on mother’s fathers side went back to Germany to fight in the war. Just up and left. He ended up having a whole family new wife kids ect. Died in Stalingrad from my understanding. My dads grandfather an immigrant from Poland worked in the ship yard in Philadelphia. Helped build the USS New Jersey.
and today these brave souls and men are looked at as nothing im 55 i rember shooting in the boy scouts as well with my grand dad ww2 vet and today i feel so bad to see where my America is at greetings from TX Don't Tread on ME !
GOD BLESS THEM ALL . LEST WE FORGET. I CANT THANK THEM ALL ENOUGH. WHAT HAPPENED TO HIS YOUNGER GENERATION? SO MUCH DISRESPECT FOR THE MILK AND HONEY LIFE THEY ENJOY. I WILL NEVER FORGET THERE SACRIFICE EVER!
@Jamie therin lies the undisputed proof, that your head is filled with shit from college professors. who's only goal is to dispute and besmirch the heroic efforts of these people that insured your freedom to NOT be taken out and executed for what you just proclaimed.
I would like to say first and foremost thank you for your service it's easy to say worth feel that you will excel in combat or be brave but just watching this film makes me think that being there under all that pressure and being shot at will make you change your mind really quick I hope that I would do good in battle if I had to be there a lot of Vietnam vets and world war II veterans sacrificed a lot of things body parts and family and their lives so we can be free so we can live in a country where you can say what you want do what want to pray who you want and I thank God for you the generations that came before us they had encourage and honor and love for this country it's easier to forget when you laying your bed safe how many people died so you could feel safe and go to synagogue and the mosque Catholic Baptist Protestant church wherever you want to go praise whoever you want to praise I hope it will never be another war but if it is I hope we're up to the challenge God bless all the veterans
My Father was in the 69th infantry on the Zigfried line also and I hope to see a video of their challenges and battles !!!! Great job and keep up the great work !!!!
I truly learned something to really appreciate and thank you to the person who submitted this video on this channel knowledge is power ,power comes from knowhow from those before us to keep these parts of history from happening again we as a nation see whats coming lets keep this from happening another day and yes i got deep on that one.
@Jamie i agree with some of this but as an American myself I never forget my failures because they made me a better prepared person afterwards failures are what true success comes from thank you for commenting 😊 ❤
Thank you for posting this exceptional video. My father was in the 87th Infantry Division as a Tech Sergeant and fought at the Battle of the Bulge along with the 84th. His stories of the battle were chilling, he lost many close buddies and his dedication and courage was a lifelong inspiration to me. When I finished college in the late 1960s I was commissioned in the Navy, ultimately commanded two guided missile warships, and served in five combat zones during my 30 years on active duty.
Thank you sir!
First, Dallas, THANK YOU for your Service to our Country for 30 Years! You entered the service during a dangerous time - your father must have been extremely proud! My Father was also in the 87th Infantry Division, Staff Sergent 347th Regiment, Anti- Tank Co. You are lucky that your father spoke about his experiences - mine did not. Unfortunately, AFTER it was too late, i became very interested in knowing more about his experience & constantly search for any & all personal accounts for more information. My dream is to one day retrace his steps through the Battle of the Bulge till the end of the war.
I dearly love our soldiers and all they sacrifice to preserve our freedoms. I wish all Americans could agree on this and give them the respect they deserve or pick up a gun and walk a day in their shoes.
God bless you and your family and your friends and thank you for your service and thank you to ALL the men and women who serve and have served the USA.
Thank you and your dad for your service
There was a gentleman in the Care Center i worked at , he told me his experience as a soldier in the" battle of the bulge "and I went home and wrote it all down in my journal. iam so appreciative & moved as I was able to listen and know what area this Vet spoke of because my father was a ww2 buff and had told me the" Battle of the Bulge " story while growing up . I will treasure that experience forever and respect so much the troops who fought so hard to defeat this injustice .These stories are truly priceless .
Did he say what unit he was attached too?
My uncle was a sergeant in the 84 div, 333rd regiment, L co. Earned Bronze star on 3rd day of combat, and was killed on his 5th day, Nov 23, 1944. Not found until 1964. It's sad that these men were not recognized for their contribution to the axis defeat. Their record is truly impressive.
Do you know why he was awarded the Bronze star?
My grandfather Joe fought with the 84th Infantry Division in WW2 in the battle of the bulge. He celebrating his 100th bday in Nov. 2018. Ever since my grandmother passed in 2011 he started talking about the war, such great stories.
Best regards to your grandfather he is a brave man
@@mikeyoung7660 + You should record him for your next generation to hear him .
Woow your lucky
God bless him thank you 4 my freedom with love from the UK x
Dude, my Father fought WW2 paratrooper, i he was 63 years old at my birth, 1988 im 30 years old, its 2019.
My grandfather was a member of the 84th and a railsplitter, he lost a leg during the battle of the bulge. It was amazing how those men survived not only deadly low temperatures but being drastically outnumbered and underequipped.
Parts of the 84Th and 102Nd reached my homecounty at the WeserMountains on 5t April 1945 and Members of the 334Th Group was the first ones in the Towns Rodenberg - Lauenau - Messenkamp the area between the Deister & Süntel Forests while parts of the 102Nd cames fro the opposit direction from Hameln - Bad Münder - Einbeckhausen. There is still one Member of the 84Th 334 Group who didn´t know he have a daughter in Rodenberg!!! Some of the guys met the ,, Fräulein Wonder"!
If they would stay at home in Germany they wouldn't have to deal with that.
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@@LightshamanaDhyana Huh?
@@wolfgangemmerich7552 Wow, I may have a sister I didn't know about! My father was in the 84th/334th.
My father, Oliver Sturrock, a medic and sergeant in the 84th, was with the division from the time of its landing in France until the Germans surrendered. He seldom spoke about his experiences, but once said he was in the basement of a house being shelled by the Germans and thought he was going to die. He was a fine man and a good father and husband.
My Dad was also a medic in the 84th. If you haven't gotten the book "The 84th Infantry Division In The Battle Of Germany" you should. It has every soldier that served in the 84th and any individual medals they were awarded. My Dad was with the medical detachment attached to the combat engineers.
Also check the Library of Congress' website. They have the actual battle plans (maps) from the Bulge. I have them downloaded (huge) and sent copies to my niece, who does the family tree struff.
And my Dad didn't talk much about that war. He talked about two things...and only talked about them once.
• A pillbox that was across a river with unobstructive (line of fire) down a main street where everyone had to sprint across the street.
• That the Malmedy massacre harden the resolve of the soldiers.
@@julieinthenorthwest4594 Perhaps our fathers served together. When my dad and the others got shelled, they were in a building in which they'd set up an aid station. It was near a river (possibly the Roer?) where an assault crossing was planned the next day and heavy casualties expected.
@@Demaenetus Could be the place my dad mention with the pillbox across the river. They could have crossed paths during a river crossing operation since your father was in B company, 309th Medical Battalion. My father was assigned to the Medical Detachment attached to the Headquarters and Service Company of the 309th Combat Engineer Battalion.
FYI - Your father is listed on page 125 of the book as:
Sturrock, Oliver M.., Tec 4, R.A. CE., Lufkin, Tx
• The Tec 4 Is a Technical Sergeant. It's 3 stripes (chevrons) with a "T" under the stripes.
• R.A. - Means that he served in the Rome-Arno Campaign (as most soldiers did that were in the 309th Medical Battalion). Since the 84th Infantry Division wasn't in Italy, my best (retired army) guess would be that he was in the 85th or 88th Infantry division during that campaign and later he (or more likely the battalion) was assigned to the 84th Infantry Division when they deployed to France since the Rome-Arno Campaign was from 22 January thru 9 September 1944 and the 84th didn't deploy to France (Omaha Beach) until 1 Nov 44.
• CE - Means that he [also] served in Central Europe with the 84th.
@@julieinthenorthwest4594 Well I'll be darned! You know more about his service than I do, but then, he seldom spoke about his experiences. Whenever I asked him about the war he was very vague in his replies. I had no idea he served in Italy. Was the 309th an independent battalion attached to combat units as needed? I assumed he was with the Railsplitters from start to finish because he had a book about the division's WWII activities. Thank you so much for the insight on my father's life!
@@julieinthenorthwest4594 Julie, while looking at dad's honorable discharge document, I noticed that the only campaigns and battles listed are Ardennes, Rhineland and Central Europe. Could the "RA" you saw stand for Rhineland and Ardennes?
Great great uncle served in This division and died in the battle of the bulge,god bless him and all the other brave men of the 84th
MAD RESPECT
My uncle fault in the bulge to and lost a lot of friends .
@@greglaplante7593 MAD RESPECT
My mom and dad became Canadian citizens. When the war ended my dad was 8 years old. My mom was 6. My dad grew up in Stuttgart. He had become very ill with pneumonia. An American Soldier/Doctor gave my dad penicillin. That saved my dad's life. I never can remember a time ever when my dad had nothing but praise for the Americans. I think he realized that the US Army saved his life. I think the USA saved many Germans from certain death. I salute the US armed forces. I hope they and the Canadian armed forces will always stand for doing the right thing and what is just.
My Dad was a FM radio operator assigned to Head Quarters Company for the 84th! He had so many great stories to share!
Wow really?. Tell us
All that traffic, I bet.
My grandfather came home just before the battle of the bulge, but his younger brother was there for it. Neither of them would talk about it. Grandpa started in North Africa, and came home shortly after the Normandy landings.
Your grandpa is our grandpa, thank you and him for his great service
Yeah grandpa had shell shock he never spoke of his time in the 84th.... he got screwed over with compensation for Korea
My father was the Chief of Smoke [71st DIVARTY] fOR the 71st Infantry Division that was on their flanks. He refused to speak about his WW2 experiences until after I came back from Desert Storm in 1991. I guess I had to mature militarily so when he related some of his experiences.
The 71st later liberated one of the concentration camps known in Austria called Gunskirchen Lager near Gmunden, Austria, and published a pamphlet about it here ~~ remember.org/gunskirchen-intro.html
the ego to refuse to talk about it. wow! get over yourself, you went through some basic traumas. As if seeing your comrades limbless and screaming before your eyes is anything new. Would do some good to prepare the young guys for it by telling them about it, but no.
My father was a radio operator for the 84th - 334th Regimental HQ. Being part of HQ he was not normally at the point of the spear, but was close behind it. He talked little about his experiences, but the two I remember are these:
He was sitting in the back of a parked jeep operating his radio with his headphones on when a German mortar barrage started - the only time he mentioned that he was that close to death. He jumped out of the Jeep to get to cover but forgot to remove his headphones first, and so ended up falling flat on his back, giving him a back injury that bothered him off and on the rest of his life. He died in 2019 two days after his 99th birthday.
One day while driving with another NCO the came across a knocked out German half-track. Curiosity got the better of him so they stopped and investigated, I guess trophy hunting. When he looked inside he saw the driver sitting in his seat with the top of his head neatly sheared off like a giant cleaver had chopped it off. He said that satisfied his curiosity in a most nauseating way and he never again let his curiosity get the better of him.
I can't believe my grandpa was there! He was awarded many metals and is my hero RIP
Medals mean nothing to me, your Grandfather making it home in one piece is all that mattered. Just my two cents as a ex-infantryman.
@Kota Lz You are right, no one asked for my opinion. Furthermore, I don’t recall shitting on anyone. I don’t need anyone’s permission to speak my mind. As an honorably discharged Army infantryman I don’t need anyone’s permission for anything. Tim’s grandfather getting back alive is all that matters. Kota, shave and go home.
@L Lawliet You know it’s all good L Lawliet, but thank you nevertheless. I have seen horrific things in life and a “medal ceremony” made my skin crawl. Somewhere out there is a grieving mother and father who lost their son or daughter in a life and death struggle in a combat zone. I could tell you a story of what occurred during a medal ceremony but.......it ended in death for everyone of them, EVERYONE OF THEM.
@@davidpallin772 Great reply/rebuttal to Kota Lz.. BRAVO ZULU Brother 💯👍
My Dad was Career Air Force. Called the Army Air Corp during WWII. He was in Belgium at the end of the war. I grew up on Military Bases. He was a Veteran of 3 wars. I tell people I grew up in the shadows of Heroes. Met a lot of Combat Soldiers in my life. Always repected the sacrifice the Greatest Generation made for freedom.
@Big Bill O'Reilly nope
Cy
It always amazes me that the, “Greatest Generation” that fought the German socialists, raised the socialist hippies.
Still a sucker at your age believing all that bullshit about heroes fighting for freedom? Embarrassing.
My thanks to your Father for his service to our country.
Thank you for posting this video. As a the greatest generation is rapidly passing in history it's of the upmost importance to get their stories recorded for posterity. Those who don't know they're history are doomed to repeat it.
These are amazing documentaries and really show what it was like for these GIs especially with the first hand recollections of those who were there. Thank you for posting.
How could ANYONE give a thumbs-down to this video? Maybe, some junior high school kids that were forced to watch it in class when a sub was there, lol. We need to be teaching kids to get out of their apps and learn. WW2 is still one of the most fascinating periods of time in world history. My gosh, the shit that both sides, especially at the bulge, went through was harrowing. Thanks for posting!
You defeated the wrong enemy .
"I" didn't defeat anyone, and, agree. The Soviets were a far more dangerous enemy, ref. The Cold War. It's the reason the US has an out of control military industrial complex. If..that's what you meant.
Uncle Don was 1 of 2 out of his whole company to survive. Trained as a sniper he said, "Trench foot was the leading casualty of the war."
This div took pretty much the toughest blow. Im still finding artifacts in the grounds they fought on. Interesting and deadly adventures for these brave men.
“This was one of the few times I had to call down artillery strikes on our own positions “. Let that sink in. Holy shit.
Philip A Fedeli 1925-2014 my grandfather.he was a railsplitter.still have all his letters
God bless him...
Awesome..very nice to have my friend!..God Bless him 🇺🇸
God bless your Gradfather
My granddaddy was a glider pilot, have all his letters too!!😊
My granddaddy even kept a little notebook where he wrote in everyday about what all happened that day, where he was, how many killed, etc. Its amazing.
My great grandfather fought in ww2 he landed on dday. He said that war ruined his life. He had night terrors to the day he died. He told me a few stories about how he spent weeks in a fortified fox hole, for 6 days he and 12 men were stuck in that position under constant shelling after those 6 days 3 of them lived. That really messed with him.
My Grandad was sent to England to prep for the invasion after a stint in north Africa. He never made it out if England. I was only 10 when he died in 76. Most memories were of him grouchy @ my Granny while driving & doing yard work. @ my uncle's funeral in 14' my 2 other uncle's & my dad told me what he did in England for about 3 yrs. He was a professional butcher b4 & after the war. I instantly understood why he drank so much & asked God to make sure he knew I forgave him & to give him the best seat behind the Pearly Gates & front row to every ball game. The details I was told was definitely living in hell.
My hairdresser when I was a little girl was married to a soldier who came back mentally messed up from the war. Her garage apartment was over the beauty shop, and she would have to go upstairs several times during her working hours to check on him. He never left that small apartment! Sad, sad...
God rest and bless his soul.he's a hero
@Yuck Foutube shame on you man/women whatever you are.any person that serves in any division of the armed forces is a hero🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸people like your are a big part of whats wrong with this country.these men where honored to die for there country🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
@Yuck Foutube Your name says a lot. Curious, for what would you die?
As a young boy I lived at RAF Giellenkirchen where my father was stationed as an RAF Officer. Late one afternoon in 1956,after school I wandered off into some woodland and beneath a large weeping willow tree I came upon the grave of a Germean soldier,his helmet still resting on the top of a crucifix made from the branches of a tree..My father never approved of anything that I did and in fear of a critical reaction and possible punishment ,I made no disclosure of my find. Ever since I have lived with the hope that this soldiers resting place was soon located by others,that his fate been known to his family
Awesome! These are the kind of documentaries I really like...hearing from the soldiers themselves. They were there, they know what happened.
My Dad fought with the 638 Tank Destroyer Battalion which was attached to the 84th. He was almost captured twice during the Bulge.
I love these retrospective analyses by the guys who were there and part of the action.
My father's first cousin, Tom, was in the Battle of the Bulge, shortly after graduating from Texas A&M. He stayed in the Army until retiring as a COL in the 1970, serving in WWII, Korea, and Vietnam. He retired in Arizona and then spent several years serving in the Arizona state legislature. He and Daddy were pretty close and Daddy said Tom never talked about his experiences in the Battle of the Bulge. Daddy had gone down to enlist the day after Pearl Harbor, and had been rejected due to his health, and he had used family influence to force the military to accept him and rose to the rank of Captain, but due to his health was not allowed to serve in combat, which he was always ashamed of. He worked in the nutrition labs at the University of Chicago, and was one of those who earned their guinea pig certificates as they have to eat the food items which made it into the rations sent to the soldiers, as well as many which were so bad they were rejected. So if you ever heard your forefathers complaining about the food in the rations, my father was one they could blame.
Let your cousin know that there's people out here who thinks he's a hero and thank him for his service for all of us
Juju
Thank you for sharing a bit about him. Unfortunately very few are around now, so their stories are all we have
That is awesome . I understand why he felt ashamed - as a man and wanting to be there , do whats right etc. But he had absolutely nothing to be ashamed of ....totally awesome. I didn't serve but have been called all kinds of things because of my interest in war , soldiers , tactics, etc . I had thousands of the little plastic army men , tanks ,trucks , artillery ,etc ....mom n sister would get mad at me cause winter time n I couldn't play outside id take every cassette tape, dominoes , etc (fortifications) ,every bottle out of kitchen cabinets , bathroom cabinets (trees) .... we'll you get the picture . One thing that always amazed me was for each man that fought on the front line - how many men (and women ) did it take for that 1 man to be able to fight ??? And just like I tell the young guys I work with today - it takes all of us to get the job done!! My respect and gratitude !!
The only thing I'll blame him for will be the C ration ham and eggs! The rest were OK to good. He did an important job and did it well.
I had 2 great uncles in WW2. They were raw bone tuff. My Great Grand Father on my mothers side, was in WW1 in France, brutal war. He passed when I was 8.
Total Respect for these guys
So many young did not return..so sad.
I agree with You
An excellent documentary involving the eye witness accounts of combat by soldiers just a few years after the wars end while their combat experience's were still fresh in their minds. Outstanding footage as well. I found it interesting how the Dutch women who sought refuge in the castle recalled how the American soldiers wore rubber sole's and walked softly while the German soldiers wore steel tips and made much noise, 32:17 - 34:03. For the sake of survival ones senses become keen.
.
84th was one of the best performing infantry division in the ETO.
How did they go from 1939 until 1941?
@@toddhellyar4167 they weren’t activated yet. They were one of the high numbered infantry divisions that got in combat in the fall-winter of 1944, the guys that slogged through and slugged it out to bring the war in the west to an end.
My absolute detention of HEROE'S. When I think back to what I was doing at 18-22 years old I am disgusted at myself. These poor boys made the ultimate sacrifice for me to be a total jackass. WE ALL NEED TO REMEMBER THESE GUYS!! Period end of discussion!!
Well said John, it's too easy to be critical when somebody else has done the dying for us. I share your sentiment because it's truthful. God bless.
Thank all soldiers that where remember we wouldn’t be here if they lost war thank God Bless of soldiers that where there
John $3
John, they made the sacrifices because they were given no other choice. Had there been no WWII they most likely would have looked back on their Daddy's sacrifices in WWI and thought the same things about themselves that you said. I just hope future generations of Americans will be willing to step up to the plate if, God forbid, there is another large conflagration.
Well said John.
when I volunteered for the US Army in 1984, an older man at the shop, Henry M. gave me a gold plated razor. he said he was a "Railsplitter" during WWII. during Basic Training I found a "Railsplitter" patch and brought it to him when I was on leave. he was still very proud of his time with the 84th.
Where did the name "Rialspitter " come from?
The 84th was originally a reserve Division from The State of Illinois. They were also known as The Lincoln Division; hence The Railsplitter shoulder insignia. The 84th actually stopped the German advance at the River Muse at The Battle of the Bulge. My father was an 18 year old infantry replacement; his 1st day of combat was Christmas Day 1944. Was a very proud Railsplitter. Company K; 334th.
@@danturner4709 the Rail Splitter came from it being known as "Abe's Brigade" for Abraham Lincoln being from the area where it was formed. Since he was an axe man, the Rail Splitter is it insignia.
@@danturner4709 They did railway work, like rail engineering work. Only a portion was Infantry.
@@d.b.6240 What???? Naw.... just watch the video!
At one time, I was hell. Fast. Strong. With a razor sharp wit.
But now, all the long years have piled up high and heavy on me.
Now, I'm just a tired old, used up man.
And I must tell you that the spirit is willing, but the flesh ages and becomes fragile and useless.
Watching this makes me feel tired and anxious. And a little frightened.
If I were still young and strong, however, I would be one of the first ones to sign up to fight.
Thank you for all your service to this great country
If you met one of these guys today and they were still young you probably wouldn't think much about about it..not knowing you'd met one of the bravest fire eating asskickers you ever will...it's amazing how those that have been they so much just want normalcy,peace and quiet...Nothing But Respect to Every one of those Widowmakers...
My Great Uncle, Roland Gray, died 12/24/1944 with the 84th. Thank you for posting this.
I am so sorry. I know how hard the holidays were for your family. This has me crying.
For us and our future I pray that the dignity continues You hold tight to everything you learned from that man and teach your brothers and your sisters His unselfish love
Hindsight and additional facts show many nuances later filled in so many details. BUT. The intimacy of hearing the words of the actual combatants is priceless.
Ah, back when men made an effort to speak properly. What they accomplished is incredible. They truly are the greatest generation. I love older documentaries. They’re not tainted by the ignorant judgements of modern “historians”, who aren’t even fit to shine these mens’ boots.
ETA: My grandfather was a B-29 navigator in the Pacific theater. Unfortunately, I never got to know him personally, as he died when I was an infant.
Now we have tic tok smh
The world should never forget these brave men and women..
Indeed! We should always honor our own Heroes. Never forget them!......but we should also realize that our own Heroes are never the heroes of the whole world because in the eyes of our enemies, they are the worst scumbags of the earth who killed innocent people/children. Funny about this thing is when you kill a few, you are a filthy murderer or just a killing machine being used, but when you kill a whole country in the name of war ( I call it stupidity), you are a Hero!.....a Hailed Conqueror! Indeed what Pride can do to a person.
See any women in this video? Nope lol
Women were not in the draft and have never been..
@@syntiy5737 That is NOT Party Approved Correct Thinking and Speech. Chairman Biden would like to know your location.
@@waterheaterservices to gulag with them
@@jopokk to the “ re education “ camp !
There's nothing that can compare to participating in a war. It never leaves you.
Pray an act of perfect contrition everyday
Whas ,,,,,,,,,,, the Siegefrie line ,,,,just like our Southern border?
I hope that standard line,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, of if it doesn't kill U ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, makes U stronger ,,,,,,,
is it true?
@@david-leethompson62 "D"
@@david-leethompson62 It is a quote from Fredrich Nietzsche, who wrote some of his most famous stuff whilst going mad suffering from syphilis
84th Division aka The Rail Splitters or Abe's Brigade.
My father retired as an E9 in it's Armor Division.
God Bless him and the 84th
• blitzedPIG yes God Bless him and the rest of them
Must b part of the Illinois national guard?
@@hugbug4408 Abes Brigade was formed during the Blackhawk War. They became part of Wisconsin when Camp Randall became active during the Civil War as i believe to be a training Division.
Good ole Honest Abe is a great man to have as the founder of the Rail Splitters.
@@daBEAGLE1017 Luv 2 read bout the origin of these army/marine div.s.Thanx 4 knowledgeable info..
@@hugbug4408 peace friend and my info may not be 100% accurate but close enough.
This is the craziest realist documentary ive ever watch.. thanks wow im still speechless
Search UA-cam for “June 6 1944 The Light of Dawn”. It’s hands down, the best WW2 documentary I’ve ever seen. Tons of rare footage from soldier photographers. Unbelievable.
In memory of my Grandfather, L. Montgomery. "Railsplitters", 335th Infantry Division, C Company. Bronze Star with V device recipient.
Thanks Gramps!
My great great uncle served in the Sam division and regiment and earned a silver star,god bless em both
My grandfather was driving a colonel to a meeting when he passed his brother marching to the front, they waved at each other. when my grandfather got to the mission he asked permission to go soo his brother and was given it. by the time my grandfather got to the front his brother had already been killed. it was the battle of the bulge at the time. I don't know at what point during the battle it happened and he only told me once so I can't remember a much of it. I do remember him telling me years later he got to Belgium to see his brothers grave.
My uncle was with the 84th infantry division. K company 333rd regiment.
Great to here from the Vets themselves. Thanx.
hear, that is.
My late Uncle Fred served in I Company,335th. Infantry Regiment , 3rd.Battalion, 84th. Infantry Division.
My great great uncle was also in the 335th reg, I don’t know what battalion or company though
WOW - I didn't actually "see" a Railsplitter Patch until 49:19 !!! I was in the 84th 1978 to 1990 -"Strike Hard !!!"
Excellent and very watchable with out back ground music.
I agree...
My late Uncle Fred was a "RailSplitter''. He served in the 335th. Infantry Regiment , 3rd. Battalion. I Company, 84th. Infantry Division.
My Grandfather was a Railsplitter; 335th Inf, Div., C Company, Infantry Division. He was a B.A.R. man.
@@uberkafer This Soldiers reached my homecounty on april 6th 1945.
Thank you for a well documented history in the making
I once read that only 30% of infantry soldiers fired their weapons in action during WWII. Has anyone heard the same? Apparently, digging foxholes and holding ground was a common activity. The drudgery of life for the rank and file infantryman lacked much in the form of glory and heroics depicted in Hollywood in the ensuing years after the war. It's understandable that many WWII infantry veterans only remember the misery and doldrums of their service in the war having their young lives interrupted by yet another European conflict. But served they did, and I appreciate the HELL out of that. GOD BLESS THEM ALL.
It's hard to fire your rifle when your dead within days of hitting the front it was fucking brutal before youtube went woke there was tons of archival footage and interviews
The Greatest generation indeed. Men were men. My Grandfather fought the Japanese in the Pacific and my Father fought in Vietnam. Later generations have been fortunate not to be conscripted into fighting but God bless those that enlisted and those who went when called.
Yea what about Iraq and Afghanistan longest war ever fought by us.
@@mickga3564 Those men and women were not conscripted or drafted. Like I said in my post God bless those that enlisted.
@@chriswilliams2652 Pretty cold remark, considering that they were ALL soldiers of the same country, fought in foreign lands, bled just as freely, and died just as horribly! God bless our soldiers who also served in Iraq and Afghanistan!
@@mickga3564 May God bless them all who stood and served our country!
@@vivians9392 what are you talking about cold remark? I said God bless those that enlisted! I was saying that the generations after Vietnam were lucky that there was no draft/conscription. I'm not talking about soldiers/marines/seaman that enlisted, I was saying citizens in later generations are fortunate not to have to worry about being drafted. Jeez
Those kids back then didn't any safe spaces for words
Members of the greatest generation
Most kids these days don’t either, there’s plenty of kids who have made the same exact sacrifices over the past 20 years, never mind the cause. The type of kids you’re referring to are minimal, they just get the attention. Even the greatest generation had their fair share of shit heads, they were just ignored as it should be.
True! Point in fact ALL Americans delt with suffering through decades of change in a lifetime. The boys sent off to war in ww2 had survived the great depression as babys and toddlers and grew up in a recovering nation.. as were the German people at the time. The men that came home surely liked to party in moderation. Tough generation by very unique time and place circumstances. Any comparison to that era should be seen as being just an influence of that era, an original. Came back with love of tattoos motorcycles fast cars burgers and women Many vets were still around in the 80's then many number passed every decade since. I'm still blessed to occasionally meet 90plus year old vets. I've been fortunate to have met dozens of really neat old soldiers in the past 30 years.
And they damn sure we're not communists
No safe spaces just racial segregation
Some of the best footage I've seen. My dad fought on the ground in Germany with the 94th Division. Man did he have stories!
My Maternal Grandfather was one of the older guys who trained as a anti tank gunner in the Rail splitters at Camp Howes Texas before getting a Medical Discharge My Mom was about 15 years old when Her Dad was Drafted. Though He was not deployed or saw combat He was very proud of His time There. Three of My Dads four Older Brothers served one ran a gantry crane at Marinship setting superstructures on tankers. The youngest of those in the army saw his first action at Grandmenil Belgium as a combat engineer in thev289th RCT 75th infantry Div. one brother in law towed B-29’s in the pacific another earned a bronze star as a mechanic in the 14th Armored fixing a armored car under fire. Another brother in law earned a bronze star for drawing the fire of a German assault gun in Italy as a heavy machine gunner in the 168th Rgt 34th Infantry. He said serving in WW2 was the most important thing He ever Did in His whole life. He joined at 17 and had worked welding Conning towers on submarines at 15 years old at Mare Island Shipyard Ca.
My grandfather lived with a big piece of metal in his head from a artillery shell in the battle of the bulge.My grandmother told me how he suffered from headaches from metal in his head that was left alone because it was safer doing that ,than removing it.#warsucks Ripgrandpopandgra dmom
my late dad was in the 210th mp co starting in normandy on 6/6/44 to belgium and ending in germany. he liked to read ww2 history later in life and told me of his experiences. he must have been near the 84th id in the ardennes as he said it was a good outfit.
You must be my age, in 70s.
Also The cloudy days look so familiar......feels like I was there.
excellent doc..thank you very much for sharing!
God Bless our brave men+ women who fought so gallentlly+ saved millions of lives!!!
@shekels steinbergmancohensky They were there saving lives as military nurses, drivers, doing tons of office paper work. There was even women pilots who didn't fight in battle, but flew supplies and reconnaissance missions. A number of them perished. After the war the group was disbanded and never given the recognition they deserved. So, in answer to your smug question: These women who served and also died! Oops, I forgot to mention the women who assembled aircraft, tanks, guns, etc back home, so our boys could fight the war!
To see some of those young boys and the thousand yard stare look on their faces they saw and experienced stuff that was way too much for any man/woman. It saddens me that the understanding we have now of PTSD and continue to develop was not available, the closest I saw for for our men (British forces ) was the local pub I worked in as a young lad many would meet and drink there not speaking of the horrors they experienced but in a shared company of others who’d also been brutalised by war. I am proud that I made their acquaintance , many have passed now I hope they have eternal peace.
Nothing is tighter than the bond of veterans. Ive found nothing to equal it. It cant be explained, only experienced. A good marriage might come second. Decades can pass, but the camaraderie picks up instantly.
They said clearly in the video that they were anxious to perform well, and that the victory helped their self confidence... but then, they were not cowards who whine about "PTSD".
@@gatocles99 and you would know all this ?
@@dickdastardly5534 Yes, I would. And you wouldn't.
@@gatocles99 Well said!!!
My Father was on the Sigfried line (Battle of the Bulged ) The German side he spoke highly of the American tanacity and bravery of the American soliders!
Martin Kruger my great grandfather was a German soldier on the eastern front.nanna came to America in 1947 but to this day she still speaks the language.altho I would never side wit a racist I am still proud of my German heritage and understand that alot of German soldiers were conscripts.and didnt exactly believe in wat they were fighting for.but still had a job to do.it was a sad time in history.my other grandad was in the us army stationed in phillipines dam good man.tuff as nails.
@@ryanbancroft3202 When the cease-fire was called, Germans and Americans got along once again. I've been stationed in Germany, and what I noticed was not the differences between our two peoples, but the similarities.
still watching, thanks for the homage.
FINALLY !! Was waiting a long time for a video.
God bless any soldiers who fought or fight for our freedom .
Oh boy, wake up.
sagara sousuke, war is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things.The decayed and degraded state of moral and patriotic feeling which thinks that nothing is worth war is much worse. The person who has nothing for which he or she is willing to fight, nothing which is more important than their own personal safety, is a miserable creature and has no chance of being free unless made and kept by the exertions of better men than himself.
Sounds like a nice quote, but infact thats just a paradox.
chris stix + Martha Vaughan + Sagara Sousuke + Eng Mac
ua-cam.com/video/OCtN0YaYIzw/v-deo.html
We are all being lied too. History repeats naturally again.
Knowledge is power, truth will set us all free eternally.
No, All go to hell a long time you know Eph 6:10 -
i like watching these documentary they remind me of my great great grandad
Thank you for bringing those video so we could see history really happen all this we need to know thank you you too by putting those video history we need to learn the sacrifice in the Name of Love for the country my heroes
I often wonder what these men would say or do about the current state of American society.
Agree...no more patriotism. Just, "Me, me, ME."
They would be disgusted to say the least...
Myself as a retired soldier I am very disgusted with our country and what it’s become and feel that I wasted 24 years of my life to people that don’t deserve it.
They'd be disgusted at how all their sacrifice has meant nothing all these years later.
I'm sure they're rolling over in their graves. They made the ultimate sacrifice, and for what?!!! A bunch of spoiled rotten, "entitled", non-patriotic assholes.
One story my uncle told me after they got to their potions and dug in it was dark . Anyway he said they could hear German tanks in the forest and in the fog and darkness it was a eerie sound also with the flickering of flares.
RIP Bob Richards. Bob was in the 84th all the way to the end.
RIP to that Rail Splitter!
@@daBEAGLE1017 m
Those men are now resting in their graves. May we never lose the freedom they fought for.
Tough loyal brave patriotic men mark UK special bondx
yup
I just finished watching this and am rewatching it. I find myself reading comments and totally missed sections.
I don't care what color you are I don't care where you came from if you're wearing American Uniform you are my hero and thank you for your service someday I will get to thank you personally
People today need to remember our fathers and grandfathers fought to retain freedoms that are in danger of being taken away today by our own governments.
The Democrats want all Republicans removed..many Republicans are Democrats in Republican's clothes. It all boils down to a push for Socialism to take over America. BUT THEY MUST REMOVE ALL PERSONAL WEAPONS. That's first on the puppet Biden's agenda..as per Schumer, Pelosi and their sugar daddy in America, GEORGE SOROS. Dont know who he is..look him up. He betrayed the Polish Jews in his community during WWII by turning them into the Nazis. See his personal interview, no shame at all...years later he became a billionaire by FIRST, stripping Jewish homes after the Nazis took what they wanted.
@@janepatterson6779 Our first fight must be against Republican anti-intellectualism, ignorance, lies, and faith in Trump.
The biggest threat is the new voter suppression laws trying to undermine our constitution and democracy!
@@abacab87 Thank you for your comment. You identified our biggest threat to the security of this great nation...YOU! and others like you.
@@scotts4769 Do you mean the Voter ID laws that will prevent illegal voting and stem the wave of socialist takeover? There is no "voter suppression" laws just voter ID laws which are greatly needed and wanted by all true Americans.
That was one awesome movie, and I take back every mean thing I said about you, just for preserving it and posting it! Except, I didn't say any mean thing to you! But, none the less, awesome, and Congrats!
That soldier at around 54:20 making a sketch of the Russian guy at the Elbe must've brought home a fascinating glimpse at history. Hopefully his works have been preserved somewhere.
My Dad William j brooks served with the rail splitters in all the meager campaigns Of the war he only talked To me about the campaign twice in my hole life when I was 7 when he started training me and my brother William about every thing he new about being a soldier he told me At the battle Of the bulge it was miserable they didn't have the equipment they needed some Of the men had To rap their feet in clothes because they didn't have boot's and you would sit down on log and it was a dead frozen soldiers and only other was when he signed me into the army to be a railsplitter like him in 82 I am a Sargent who is about To be retiring we are national guard we train every one else .they won't let me serve in combat anymore my Dad and the men he served with are my heroes they are the greatest and bravest men To finish what the enemy's Of are country those men gave every thing To keep are freedom. Rail splitters never die they just move through time.GOD BLESS you my four FATHER'S .and my brothers
Those guys had balls! Frozen feet?... Can you imagine Melennials out there? Whining and crying about the cold and that they deserve a metal of valor for just participating!
Ok clam down dude it's obvious they wouldn't live and you spelled millenials wrong
So what if he cant spell. He right them little bitches would have died from not having mommy. Bottom line millenials cant fight without wepons. We win.
Zinos talbert can’t
@Jamie if McDonalds corporation wants to give free burgers thats their business.
@@zinostalbert2242 I was a hospital Corpsman in Iraq you loud mouth sob and there are four guys with my platoon that would fit the category of millennials that are buried in Arlington National Cemetery and they're worth a hell of a lot more than you will ever be.
That Officer that went to sleep in silk pajamas in a combat zone just to make his troops feel safeer must have had balls of steel.
My father and his younger brother served in WWII and both of them never left the states. How does that happen? His only war story was how he met my mother.
For every soldier who fought on the front there were something like 15 who supported them in some capacity behind the lines or in the home country. My dad built planes for the RAF and RCAF north of Toronto... Mosquitos mostly.
My respects to the allied forces, from the UK.
But the UK was with the allies
America will always have its big brothers (UK) back.
11:58 I hope that soldier was recognized for his actions, risking personal safety and possibly death to carry a German stranger to safety
Dickhead
You, not the soldier 🤡
😯
I guess we wont know?
This documentary is great!
Love the silk pj story
My grandmothers father was in the battle of the bulge. He did come home. I assume he had some kind of PTSD. My grand mother won’t talk about him.
My great grandmother father on mother’s fathers side went back to Germany to fight in the war. Just up and left. He ended up having a whole family new wife kids ect. Died in Stalingrad from my understanding.
My dads grandfather an immigrant from Poland worked in the ship yard in Philadelphia. Helped build the USS New Jersey.
wonderful pressentation. Are there ones units/divisions filmed like this? I really enjoy this style
Told by those who survived. Very impressed I am!
Obrigado por compartilha ha história.
My frat grandfather was in ww2 he was a medic
My uncle was killed there in WWII
W the tank corp.''Battle of the buldge.''
and today these brave souls and men are looked at as nothing im 55 i rember shooting in the boy scouts as well with my grand dad ww2 vet and today i feel so bad to see where my America is at
greetings from TX Don't Tread on ME !
And when we had reached our objective, we became the enemy, this is truth in all war
GOD BLESS THEM ALL . LEST WE FORGET. I CANT THANK THEM ALL ENOUGH. WHAT HAPPENED TO HIS YOUNGER GENERATION? SO MUCH DISRESPECT FOR THE MILK AND HONEY LIFE THEY ENJOY. I WILL NEVER FORGET THERE SACRIFICE EVER!
Stop, why are you yelling!?
@Jamie therin lies the undisputed proof, that your head is filled with shit from college professors. who's only goal is to dispute and besmirch the heroic efforts of these people that insured your freedom to NOT be taken out and executed for what you just proclaimed.
I would like to say first and foremost thank you for your service it's easy to say worth feel that you will excel in combat or be brave but just watching this film makes me think that being there under all that pressure and being shot at will make you change your mind really quick I hope that I would do good in battle if I had to be there a lot of Vietnam vets and world war II veterans sacrificed a lot of things body parts and family and their lives so we can be free so we can live in a country where you can say what you want do what want to pray who you want and I thank God for you the generations that came before us they had encourage and honor and love for this country it's easier to forget when you laying your bed safe how many people died so you could feel safe and go to synagogue and the mosque Catholic Baptist Protestant church wherever you want to go praise whoever you want to praise I hope it will never be another war but if it is I hope we're up to the challenge God bless all the veterans
My Father was in the 69th infantry on the Zigfried line also and I hope to see a video of their challenges and battles !!!!
Great job and keep up the great work !!!!
I truly learned something to really appreciate and thank you to the person who submitted this video on this channel knowledge is power ,power comes from knowhow from those before us to keep these parts of history from happening again we as a nation see whats coming lets keep this from happening another day and yes i got deep on that one.
@Jamie i agree with some of this but as an American myself I never forget my failures because they made me a better prepared person afterwards failures are what true success comes from thank you for commenting 😊 ❤
wow, what a cold, wet, soggy hell these guys endured. A big Airborne Salute to them all from me!
My grandfather was in the 82nd airborne;from dday,market garden,and battle of bulge.
T.O🇨🇦 Here ...gotta THANK all them Brave Soldiers who Protected us from TRUE EVIL!!!! THANKS