Thank you for this video. My great grandfather served in the 28th division 109th regiment Company L as a ammo carrier for a machine gunner. I actually have his ammo box which is painted white to blend into the snow. This was helpful in helping me understand his campaign though Europe!
Growing up in Pennsylvania there were lots of 28th ID veterans around when I was growing up who had fought in the Hurtgen Forest and the Battle of the Bulge. Two great books are "Follow me and Die" and "I carried a Bloody Bucket on my Shoulder". Hard to believe how many small towns in Pennsylvania gave up all their young men fighting in Europe during WW II.
This was a very informative presentation with Walter. I was on a BoB tour with WWII Museum and the tour guide Roland Gaul. The tour did not skimp on the 28th Infantry Division story at all, and their stories remain with me today, as someone from Pennsylvania. The "Keystone in the Way" held back the German Army to give other US soldiers time to get in position. Thanks Walter and Woody.
was hoping for more of a chronology ...a timeline and history of this unit...my uncle and a friend joined-up in June of '42...the first thing I remember was him being sent out west for desert training...but I know little about what happened to them after that...I know he spent some time in England...even had a chick call me once from there inquiring about his whereabouts...he was quite the ladies man, thin little mustache and all...then the next thing we hear is he was wounded in the bulge,...taken in by a local woman and hidden away for about two weeks...something we used to tease him about...and his stories wound up with him in Austria......lot of holes to fill.....
There's a three-part TV series on "The Ardennes Offensive" on the British Army Documentaries UA-cam channel. Roughly half of the second part covers the 110th Regiment. The documentary gives the 28th Division full credit for delaying the German Army and enabling the US Army to get to Bastogne first.
Thank you for this video. My uncle, Staff Sergeant Howie Cripps, was in the 28th. He lost his life on Dec. 16, the first day of the battle. I visited his grave in Belgium and it was a spiritual experience.
Thanks for this. My family has lived in Pennsylvania since around 1682 (my ancestor arrived with Penn, himself). The Bloody Bucket is legend in my homeland.
The 28th holds a special place for me. While my grandfather fought in the 45th during WWII he joined the 28th after the war as my family was from Washington, PA. He retired a LtC in the early 70s. My great uncle, his brother in law, fought with the 110th Regiment in the First World War and was gassed over there. My Dad tells stories of learning to drive at the age of 8 in an army jeep at Camp Indiantown Gap. My grandmother spoke some about when my grandfather was in Indiana when the 28th was activated during the Korean War. I fondly remember him tell me about his time as the mayor (military) in I think it was Ulm. He came back with pictures of Rommel's house. He never would speak of his first trip to Germany on the government's dime when he was with the 45th from Sept 44 until the end.
My dad was in the 707th Tank Battalion, attached to the 28thID. It took heavy causalities during Hurtgen and the Bulge. The independent tank battalions get little mention and are largely forgotten.
I served in the Regular Army (2AD, 4ID, 11th Infantry Regiment) and the National Guard. I was in Iraq, in a 28ID Infantry battalion during OIF III when almost 60 percent of the combat arms maneuver units in Iraq were National Guard or reserve. The absolute hostility of the Regular Army toward reserve component units being recognized or given awards commensurate with combat performance was stupefying and outrageous. They went so far as to slow walk CIBs and Purple Hearts. My unit was recognized with a Meritorious Unit Commendation for “merit” almost two decades after deployment (a bulls**t award). The 28ID units serving under the Marine Corps? Awarded a Navy Unit Commendation. We were the best battalion in the northern half of Iraq in 2005, by the numbers. The Regular Army was so jealous that they opposed our individual and unit awards vigorously. It was jealousy to comedic proportions and an absolute petty venal disgrace.
Col Konzman sent me a pic of the guidon made by the company of Marines attached to 1/109IN. It was Inf blue with the Eagle, Globe and Anchor and E/1-109 designation. Apparently there were good relations in that joint forces arrangement.
It's not even the whole regular army either, I was enlisted regular army and I don't think anyone really gave a fuck about shit like that on the enlisted side. Yeah we all made jokes because duh were a bunch of drunk 18 year olds, but I guarantee you all the problems came from the careerist officers in the regular army. They are so worried about their own advancement and so conditioned to talk themselves up and write themselves awards it's gotten ridiculous. It's like corporate resume culture, where you always have to be 100 percent successful and always selling yourself and it creates a gross culture. Officers awarding themselves bronze stars for sitting around on non-combat deployments (we went to Afghanistan in 2016 and the regular army wasn't doing fucking shit then) because they need to sell themselves and their careers. They couldn't possibly have guardsmen looking better than themselves. I really wish we'd go back to WW2 culture where officers could fail and get fired constantly.
@@jacobpitts6846 I’m sure there are still some good officers out there, but your point on careerism and phony awards is well taken. It’s not just officers though, the Senior NCO ranks can be and often are just as political. When I get particularly disgusted by individual cases, I pause a minute and reflect on some of the good O’s and SNCOs I met along my two decades in uniform, so I don’t forget there’s still good ones out there. Not gonna lie, sometimes it’s difficult to have the mental self discipline to take that pause and reflect, lol. Cheers brother!
I joined coA 1/112, 28th in 1981. At our armory, we're pictures of past units. Not knowing at the time of my enlistment, my grandfather was in this same unit during ww2. Although back then it was co I, and now it's company A. We were awarded the presidential unit citation in 83 if I remember correctly. This unit I was a part of is full of history. Unfortunately, my unit in Warren Pennsylvania was closed in the late 80s or early 90s and moved to Bradford Pennsylvania. This was during all the down sizing and base closures. Out of all the different units I served with, the 28th has a place in my heart.
I missed this?! I was just reading the book an hour ago!! The 28th is one of the most unappreciated units in the Bulge!! I need to attach an alarm clock to these UA-cam notifications. That damn bell isnt loud enough. I have toured around the Ardennes about three times as much as Normandy, almost entirely self-guided. The 110th stand on the tiny villages around Hosingen, Clervaux, Marnach, on Skyline Drive. Even waded across the Our at Dasburg (in summer), everyone looking at me probably thought I was insane. Waiting to hear now about insights on Hurley Fuller, his frustrations and leadership style, and his fate post-capture.
You are right. My grandfather Clyde McNally was in the 110 th at hossingen. I always will remember him saying that he would still be there if they wouldn't have run out of ammunition.
I recall reading Charles Mcdonald's book "Company Commander", describing his time as a captain in the 28th division. There was a line about the fighting in the Ardennes that's always stuck with me. When the German's launched the Ardennes Offensive, his company had immediately come under intense pressure. They fought fiercely, holding off wave after wave of German attacks. But, as the day waned, they'd exhausted their ammunition and were finally forced to fall back. It was cold, dark, snowing and everyone was exhausted. Every time they tried to stop and rest for a bit, the Germans would be on them again and they'd be forced to resume their flight. He wrote... "I felt like I'd been running from Germans for my entire life.".
First of all, I want to say thank you for delving into history in such detail and presenting it for all of us who are inclined towards it. What stirred me to make this comment in the first place was your mention of such huge proportion of young people not being aware of relatively recent events that shaped the world we live in today. I am in my late twenties and have been exposed to historical movies and narratives as far back as my youthful memory could recall. It strikes me as deeply unsettling that major parts of our history, in politics or the resulting warfare, seem to be largely overlooked by the upcoming generations. People seem vastly inclined towards romanticized sensualism rather than the oftentimes gritty and grim reality of things. There were deep motivations for people in the past to pick up arms and to put the lives of themselves and their families on the line for a more promising future... which we seem to forget today. Each story, be it of a general or a private, has more emotion and complexity than we can generally comprehend. You're doing a truly appreciable job here, grace to you.
This is fantastic and well presented, speaking as a Pennsylvanian. My father was also a Pennsylvanian, drafted during the war, and he was for a period assigned to the 26th Infantry Division, aka the "Yankee Division," as a replacement infantryman (he shot expert during basic training). That unit was a National Guard division from Massachusetts. I grew up knowing that the 28th was a Pennsylvania unit that had done great deeds during the war, and that it was known as the Bucket of Blood (which is what he called it - I know "Bloody Bucket" is the official term). I also knew that the Yankee Division (aka the "YD") had also fought at the bulge, although my father had moved on by then. I still have his "YD" shoulder patches from his time assigned to that division. He was from Lebanon, PA.
I am piecing together my great uncle Frank Kusnir's service as i go through his picturesa and memorabilia. He was in the castle during the battle and was the volunteer that carried out the white flag on 12/18. Taken to a POW camp following surrender. It is an honor to hear all these stories.
Great episode! It's really great to have WW2TV to listen to for an hour when I need a break from all the crazy stuff circulating on UA-cam, current wars for example. Cheers!
Thank you, great episode! Always great to see more about the 28th Infantry Division. I always found it sad that through the scenes in Band of Brothers, where the men of the 28th ID come out of the Ardennes forest, walking towards the newly arrived Airborne and handing over ammo etc. , were seen as "cowards" by many viewers, as if they were running from the German forces. Little did they know what had happened to these men before the Bulge hit them. Lots of good info in this episode, thank you both.
As many have already said, we appreciate highlighting the importance of what the Keystone did in the war. I’m the granddaughter of First Lieutenant Ralph Larson Platoon Leader Company K, 3rd Battalion 112th Infantry Regiment 28th Infantry Division Battle of the Bulge (WWII) General Cota pulled him off the front line in late January to write the official WWII history of the 28th Infantry Division.
just got through all your streams on the Hurtgen forest. I first cam across this battle on JDs channel history underground which made me go wow how come I haven't really heard of this before. the level of detail in all your streams on the battle is fantastic 👏👏👏
“To save Bastogne” is a very good book about the fighting on the skyline drive by the 28th I toured the area a few years ago and I was in no doubt about the heroic defense put up by the bloody buckets
Looking forward to reading your book, Mr. Zapotoczny. I loved reading Alamo in the Ardennes and I have deep respect for the men who fought in the 28th, the 99th and 106th divisions. Even with the sad record of the 106th, I know of great heroism. I was friends with a man from the 106th who was a part of 400 men who surrendered only after they had been completely surrounded and out of ammunition. I know there are a lot of great stories left to be told and commend them to the historians of the next generation. I did the story of my friend in the 106th and it was reprinted in the Congressional Record!
My uncle was in the 99th during the bulge, they most certainly were fresh, they were nicknamed the battle babies. He lost many friends, as an artillery scout, he was in the thick of it. Brought back a p-38 pistol, Luftwaffe training shirt patch (I’m guessing the Germans were throwing AA crews and anyone else into it. He described it much like the movie fury, in that regular Wehrmacht troops were treated properly but SS were liquidated, especially after the pow massacre was made known. He later was among the troops that crossed at remagen on the first day. There is a published book on the 99th battle history, and I’d love to hear them highlighted some day.
Yet another great unit action episode. It will only take another thousand or so episodes before every unit and every action are covered here in detail.
My father, Sgt. Ralph L. Herbst, Jr., fought with the 28th Infantry Division in the Battle of the Bulge. My dad was from Bethlehem, Pennsylvania and joined the Division as a replacement only a few days before the battle began. He found it extremely difficult to speak of his experiences because his memories rekindled post traumatic stress. He also fought in the Colmar Pocket in February, 1945. Raised a Lutheran, he came home from the war an atheist. He could not believe that a God would allow such suffering as he witnessed during the war.
great chat Paul thank you! I am not a reader my self as i struggle from dyslexia so UA-cam, films, podcasts and games are where i get all my history from. thanks a ton
From my perspective, use the hype of the 101st to your advantage when speaking about the 28th. When i watched Band of Brothers, and I saw retreating forces coming out of the forest before the 101 moved in, I wanted to know why they were retreating and who they were. Why were they leaving? what had happened? The 101st was only one part of the story. I need all the stories, not just one. As a history teacher, I use what people know to begin with and attach what they don't know to it. Just an idea.. I will be buying this book, thank you so much.
the 28th Infantry Division's efforts to delay the German offensive so the 101st and 82nd could get online is just as significant as Buford's Cavalry delqying Ewell's men on the 1st day's battle so Gen. Reynolds corps could get up and take the field and eventually fall back on the best ground any commander on a battlefield could have. Huzzahh to the Bloody Buckets for they're heroism!! Can't wait for this book!!!
Very interesting comment about the 28th ID being portrayed badly in movies. For me the iconic scene is in Band of Brothers where 28th ID men are shuffling past just as some Easy Company men arrive in Bastogne. Guarnere asks one of them for his ammo, just as Michael Kamen's iconic score rises, echoing the same refrain that accompanied the jump into Normandy. For my money, that scene simply shows that the 28th were spent, they'd held as long as they could before falling back under tremendous pressure. They were beaten and exhausted, but they'd taken a tremendous amount of effort to be beaten. There's no shame in that. Yes, I suppose that is an unflattering portrayal of the 28th ID, but for me it simply shows the reality. The 28th ID were probably dealt the worst hand of any American unit in the Western Europe campaign, and they fought bravely. How should that be portrayed? I suppose Band of Brothers could have done better at explaining things to the audience. But I like the portrayal of the men as it is, they held out against a massive attack and they were shattered by it. God bless them for fighting so hard.
The 106th ID Div would get the honor of getting the worst hand by being in the middle of the attack with them barely being in position for a couple of days
110th Infantry on Skyline Drive is one of my favorite topics and Ardennes area visits. “Alamo in the Ardennes” by John McManus is a go-to on this subject as well.
Another fascinating show. Just finished listening. Totally agree that the Bulge mantra has become the 101st at Bastogne, with Patton's 180, which was actually a 90, to the detriment of other units such as the 28th, or those defending the northern shoulder (Elsenborn Ridge etc). Its rather like the 1879 Anglo-Zulu War, with the Rorkes Drift defenders getting the bulk of the attention. Cheers Woody and Walter. ✌️
Having followed the 28th ID’s movements in the Hurtgen sev years ago, will trace the 110’s movements in the early days of the Bulge in Feb. Also know a man who’s F-in-L was a 110th soldier who was captured in Sept, I think, and spent the rest of the war as a POW; very likely saved his life, given what the 28th would endure in Nov and Dec.
This is a great way to expand the knowledge and stories of the Ardennes Offensive, most people will automatically think of the 101st when you mention the Battle of the Bulge, this proves that there is more to it than that.
Great presentation. The 28th Infantry Division seem to have been the real hero's of the BoB. National Guard vs "real soldiers". The alleged"amateurs" seem to have been very good. Especially the Cooks in the Castle. How many Germans did they hold up. Hurtgen was a leadership foxtrot uncle.
MacDonalds book on Huertgen quotes insanely optimistic daily reports by Cota’s chief of staff. I’ve always wondered about their physical and mental conditions at this time. I do believe either Cota was given a heart attack or actually ill. St. Vith, years ago, was always given due credit with Bastogne for our success. Along with representing the 28ths fine combat record in the bulge your discussion about the changing qualities, new additions, critical losses and time to integrate new additions of troops in combat at various times in their fighting careers was most important. It appears in many ways in a lot of these presentations and keeps me aware of this in other historical situations. Please forgive the Imogi I accidentally sent on the Comment below, I use a small iPad. And though that Imogi was earned I don’t use them. Thank you for another fine presentation
Good presentation by Walter. National Guard units like the 28th ID don't get much love with the Regular Army or their historians. But the NG divisions certainly gave the Germans much food for thought when in attack. Great soldiers and Europeans are very grateful they were there in 1944-45.
That made me think. How long do these episodes remain on YT, do you have recordings of them? This channel is becoming a priceless resource when it comes to WWII history and it would be a shame if it's content were to get lost somehow.
As a veteran of the 28ID I wanted to catch this one live, but wasn’t able to. Sadly the actions of the 28ID and 10th AD at Bastogne are overlooked by those of the 101st. The 28ID and 10th held back the Germans prior to 101st ever showing up.
60% of Britons today think of Churchill as a fictional character!!?? That makes me so sad. He was one of the greatest leaders the western world has ever produced, flawed, human, but still magnificent.
Great presentation. I’ve always known of the 28th but it’s always good to hear more spoken about them and what they achieved. As an aside, because I was curious, I researched the missing 111th INF RGT. It ended up fighting across the Pacific. And back to John McManus for another missing US Army piece of that theater.
Perhaps a lot of the bias is due to a desire to have closure. The 28ID fought bravely and well but in the end had to retreat. IMHO if the 101st had broken then all of the glory would go to whatever unit stopped the advance. Also the fight of the with was relatively short so there was no time for reporters to put in stories. Lastly, many of the men who should/could have written the accounts of the division’s performance paid for that performance with their lives.
The 110th Infantry Regiment was thought to have broken and surrendered ... because they had been so decimated holding the line of the Our river "at all costs." I now associate that phrase "at all costs" with Company K at Hosingen, Hurley Fuller's 110th Regiment headquarters at the Claravalis hotel in Clervaux, etc. Cota doesn't come off very well in this battle's history -- almost like a different man from Cota in Normandy.
The average draftee on all sides fought because the alternative was jail or worse. Your average grunt doesn't care about abstract principles and the greater good. All of that is a post hoc justification. That's why the government claims that the war is being fought, and it's usually a lie. It helps veterans sleep at night but the reason they fight, particularly draftees is because of a combination of threats and the social stigma of refusal. To those who think I'm being an asshole or shitting on war vets I'm not. I served in uniform. I remember the songs we sang while running, made by soldiers who were drafted for Vietnam and WW2. They speak for themselves. You fight because the guy next to you is fighting and because you were told go to war or go to jail as a draftee. You may not know who that guy next to you is, he may be just a face and a name to you but he's fighting the guys shooting at you and that's a good enough reason to fight for him.
Is not John McManus's Book Alamo in the Ardennes about this? I thought there would be more about what the men actually did to stop the Germans in this presentation. How about some of the soldiers in the 28th? Were they really ready? What about Pvt Slovak? I speak as an active soldier(10yrs) and as a reservist(13yrs), now retired. Why was Cota put in charge of the division? I am not saying the 28th was a bad division just asking questions. I read a lot of history, mainly military. One of the first books I read about "the bulge" was John Toland's Battle: the story of the bulge. What the 28th did to buy time for the allies to respond to the attack is explained. Col H Fuller's stand was well executed and a story I remember(110th RCT commander). I also know that the 28th's band made it back to Bastogne and help defend the town. There are a series photo's of the band at that time. Guess I was looking for more from this presentation. A little disappointed.
I am sorry that you were looking for more about what the men did. I have a lot of details in my book that will be released in May. Also in the book is why they fought, which most writers have not explained.
Interesting but I feel like I learned almost nothing about the actual combat, it was all about how they felt. Almost no mention of the 112th IR and how it was pushed north separately, joined the 7tD and fought for weeks, nor of the 109th. Why was the castle important? It’s mentioned that cooks fought to the last round, but why was the terrain important and can he quantify how long the Germans were delayed. This was a lot of talk without much substance. Hope his book is better but his presentation here does not drive me to buy it.
I've always considered the 28th to be one of those units that saw really ugly and hard fighting but never got the credit they deserved. Like the 96th ID in the Pacific or the 88th ID in Italy. Combat seasoned units that aren't household names with great stories still to be uncovered.
Really fascinating interview, so greatly appreciated!! My grandfather Private Michael Oles, Served as a combat medical aid man with 1st Bn. , 112th Infantry Regiment, 28th Infantry Division. He served under Captain Paschal Linguiti, the Battalion Surgeon. I believe that the Germans overran the 1/112th Battalion Aid Station as Captain Linguiti and his medics such as my grandfather, were treating the numerous wounded who obviously were unable to be evacuated. My grandfather would spend mist of the remainder of the war as a P.O.W. in Stalag 9-B, in Bad Orb, Germany until the camps liberation on 02 April 1945.
I love it when this channel makes me think, yet again. Woody, you mentioned figures suggesting many youngsters here and now in the UK think Churchill was some kind of a fictional character. I'm sure you did an episode to the effect that when De Gaulle turned up, in person, in your neck of the woods shortly after D-Day, countless thousand French people turned up just to see if this person they'd only heard of via the BBC really existed? They certainly seemed to applaud him when they realised he was a real person - a real French person.
@@jacobyorks8298 only thing I was told was 28th Infantry Division 112th Infantry Regiment company H? There was company H written on a paper my uncle found in his old papers and stuff
It's not that we don't read books, it the fact we don't have the time! I listen to these videos while doing the laundry, washing the dishes, and other endless chores around the house! (And yet I do buy the books!)
I am a book reader put stopped with it a couple of years ago. Ever since internet went adult and info was more visual availible. I am 56 and started as a bookworm to get my knowledge to be become a bachelor of sceince in precision engineering. I now get my knowlegde from the youre channel and the youtube channels “the great war”, “TimeGhost history”, “world war two“, “TIK”, “Drachinifel” and many others. All because the Oral and Visual presentation makes it more easy to learn the history. Reading and mentaly visualisation is demanding and with my wide interrest would demand a national library at home. Also the current generation is more into oral and visual presentation which is really the primal way in which the human brain is working. Therefore I appriciate the effort that content makers like you and youre guests put into this medium to spread the knowledge. Especially the lesser told stories.
Thanks for this. My grandfather, Roy Green, was a BAR man in Company G, 109th Infantry Regiment, 28th Infantry Division. He joined the 28th as a replacement while the division was still in the Hurtgen Forest. When speaking about the Battle of the Bulge, he once said that he melted the barrel of his BAR from all the shooting. He said that his sergeant told him, "You really did it this time" and had to go find him a replacement BAR. Edit: Thought that I'd add that my grandfather was from Oklahoma, and had done his basic training in Texas. I originally thought that it was weird that the army would assign him to the 28th Division. I had wondered why he hadn't been assigned to the 36th Division, or the 90th Division with all of the other Okies and Texans. I think the reason is that the 28th Division had been federalized, so the army started bringing in replacements from everywhere, not just Pennsylvania as it had originally been when it was a National Guard unit. Which goes along with what Mr. Zapotoczny says about it not being the same group, so the original group dynamic of men exclusively from Pennsylvania had fallen away, and it became men from all over the United States fighting together as Americans.
The story of Felix Sparks 1939, he was called to active duty for World War II, and in 1940 he received his commission as a second lieutenant. Assigned to the 45th Infantry Division, Sparks served with the division's 157th Infantry Regiment throughout the war, from its arrival in North Africa through combat in Sicily, Italy, France, and Germany. Near the end of the war, Sparks was commander of the 157th Infantry's 3rd Battalion, which he led during its participation in the liberation of the Dachau concentration camp. Known as the Thunderbirds serving 500 days on the front, is a story needing told Paul? They got so little recognition for the units heroics as they were as misfits compared to white soldiers. 2days before D-Day 44 his command helped liberate Rome from Germany. All the Division did was over shadowed by D-Day. These boys and men died fighting the same ideology in horrendous conditions, that wanted them all dead. The Thunderbirds endured horrors at some of WWII's toughest spots: Anzio, Salerno and the snowy Vosges Mountains. At Anzio - the town on Italy's western coast where the Allies invaded in early 1944 - the Thunderbirds held a key line and prevented a big German victory, but Sparks lost his whole company except for one man. That alone is truly remarkable which no other company suffered 99.9% destruction in one battle anywhere in WWII Western Front. You’d think that was enough to break any man but not Sparks. During his military time he rose ranks quickly. He was promoted to first lieutenant in February 1942, captain in October 1942, major in August 1944, and lieutenant colonel in November 1944. By the end of the war, the division's initial number of men would be replaced seven times, and nine out of 10 men who shipped out with the division were killed, wounded or taken prisoner. The man was strict but never hated any German. Right up to the court martial he was subjected to falsely. Only in the 1990’s did film show exactly what Felix Sparks did was correct, in stopping the execution of injured Germans. As these were not the soldiers of the camp who fled already. Gen. George Patton himself described the court-martial charges against Sparks and his men as "a bunch of crap" and tore them up. At that time in mid-1945, Patton was the military governor of Bavaria. But the false accounts of what happened wouldn't go away. Getting the unit and its men the credit they deserve Paul should be brought up? Anyway thanks to anyone that read this brief part of an important unit. Their heroism was unwavering no matter the job none were refused even as hard to believe they stuck to their objectives hence the Anzio slaughter of them.
*I have to, respectfully, disagree with the Statments the guest made when talking about the "Commrodierty" of the USA soldiers not being that high because they "barely" knew each other and most of them just joined the unit/squad a few days prior.... Just because they don't know them personally on a really good friendship type relationship, they are still BROTHERS and theres plenty of Commrodierty to go around when fighting with your brothers in arms. You dont have to be bestfriends with a fellow soldier and know everything about them to be able to have Commrodierty with them.* *Amazing video, either way!*
Thanks for your comment. While comrodery probably played a part, I was trying to suggest that there were other reasons too that account for why they fought so bravely. Most who have written about the battle tend to attribute comrodery as the main reason. I believe there was more.
Thank you. My Dad served in Anti-Tank Co. 112th infantry regiment. He was fortunate as he was hospitalized at the time of the Bulge and was evacuated back to England three days into the Battle.
I served active duty and National Guard, 328th BSB in Lancaster. Guard soldiers are the most dedicated people you'll meet. Not taking away from anyone on AD but on Active, its just a job
Thank you for this video. My great grandfather served in the 28th division 109th regiment Company L as a ammo carrier for a machine gunner. I actually have his ammo box which is painted white to blend into the snow. This was helpful in helping me understand his campaign though Europe!
Growing up in Pennsylvania there were lots of 28th ID veterans around when I was growing up who had fought in the Hurtgen Forest and the Battle of the Bulge. Two great books are "Follow me and Die" and "I carried a Bloody Bucket on my Shoulder". Hard to believe how many small towns in Pennsylvania gave up all their young men fighting in Europe during WW II.
This was a very informative presentation with Walter. I was on a BoB tour with WWII Museum and the tour guide Roland Gaul. The tour did not skimp on the 28th Infantry Division story at all, and their stories remain with me today, as someone from Pennsylvania. The "Keystone in the Way" held back the German Army to give other US soldiers time to get in position. Thanks Walter and Woody.
was hoping for more of a chronology ...a timeline and history of this unit...my uncle and a friend joined-up in June of '42...the first thing I remember was him being sent out west for desert training...but I know little about what happened to them after that...I know he spent some time in England...even had a chick call me once from there inquiring about his whereabouts...he was quite the ladies man, thin little mustache and all...then the next thing we hear is he was wounded in the bulge,...taken in by a local woman and hidden away for about two weeks...something we used to tease him about...and his stories wound up with him in Austria......lot of holes to fill.....
There's a three-part TV series on "The Ardennes Offensive" on the British Army Documentaries UA-cam channel. Roughly half of the second part covers the 110th Regiment. The documentary gives the 28th Division full credit for delaying the German Army and enabling the US Army to get to Bastogne first.
Thank you for this video. My uncle, Staff Sergeant Howie Cripps, was in the 28th. He lost his life on Dec. 16, the first day of the battle. I visited his grave in Belgium and it was a spiritual experience.
Thanks for this. My family has lived in Pennsylvania since around 1682 (my ancestor arrived with Penn, himself). The Bloody Bucket is legend in my homeland.
The 28th holds a special place for me. While my grandfather fought in the 45th during WWII he joined the 28th after the war as my family was from Washington, PA. He retired a LtC in the early 70s. My great uncle, his brother in law, fought with the 110th Regiment in the First World War and was gassed over there. My Dad tells stories of learning to drive at the age of 8 in an army jeep at Camp Indiantown Gap. My grandmother spoke some about when my grandfather was in Indiana when the 28th was activated during the Korean War. I fondly remember him tell me about his time as the mayor (military) in I think it was Ulm. He came back with pictures of Rommel's house. He never would speak of his first trip to Germany on the government's dime when he was with the 45th from Sept 44 until the end.
My dad was in the 707th Tank Battalion, attached to the 28thID. It took heavy causalities during Hurtgen and the Bulge. The independent tank battalions get little mention and are largely forgotten.
From what I have read, the 707th was almost wiped out in the Bulge.
I served in the Regular Army (2AD, 4ID, 11th Infantry Regiment) and the National Guard. I was in Iraq, in a 28ID Infantry battalion during OIF III when almost 60 percent of the combat arms maneuver units in Iraq were National Guard or reserve. The absolute hostility of the Regular Army toward reserve component units being recognized or given awards commensurate with combat performance was stupefying and outrageous. They went so far as to slow walk CIBs and Purple Hearts. My unit was recognized with a Meritorious Unit Commendation for “merit” almost two decades after deployment (a bulls**t award). The 28ID units serving under the Marine Corps? Awarded a Navy Unit Commendation. We were the best battalion in the northern half of Iraq in 2005, by the numbers. The Regular Army was so jealous that they opposed our individual and unit awards vigorously. It was jealousy to comedic proportions and an absolute petty venal disgrace.
That's awful.
Col Konzman sent me a pic of the guidon made by the company of Marines attached to 1/109IN. It was Inf blue with the Eagle, Globe and Anchor and E/1-109 designation. Apparently there were good relations in that joint forces arrangement.
It's not even the whole regular army either, I was enlisted regular army and I don't think anyone really gave a fuck about shit like that on the enlisted side. Yeah we all made jokes because duh were a bunch of drunk 18 year olds, but I guarantee you all the problems came from the careerist officers in the regular army. They are so worried about their own advancement and so conditioned to talk themselves up and write themselves awards it's gotten ridiculous. It's like corporate resume culture, where you always have to be 100 percent successful and always selling yourself and it creates a gross culture. Officers awarding themselves bronze stars for sitting around on non-combat deployments (we went to Afghanistan in 2016 and the regular army wasn't doing fucking shit then) because they need to sell themselves and their careers. They couldn't possibly have guardsmen looking better than themselves.
I really wish we'd go back to WW2 culture where officers could fail and get fired constantly.
@@fdeluccie that’s awesome Frank. I hope the family’s doing well and you’re in enjoying your hard earned and well deserved retirement. Cheers brother!
@@jacobpitts6846 I’m sure there are still some good officers out there, but your point on careerism and phony awards is well taken. It’s not just officers though, the Senior NCO ranks can be and often are just as political. When I get particularly disgusted by individual cases, I pause a minute and reflect on some of the good O’s and SNCOs I met along my two decades in uniform, so I don’t forget there’s still good ones out there. Not gonna lie, sometimes it’s difficult to have the mental self discipline to take that pause and reflect, lol. Cheers brother!
I joined coA 1/112, 28th in 1981. At our armory, we're pictures of past units. Not knowing at the time of my enlistment, my grandfather was in this same unit during ww2. Although back then it was co I, and now it's company A.
We were awarded the presidential unit citation in 83 if I remember correctly. This unit I was a part of is full of history. Unfortunately, my unit in Warren Pennsylvania was closed in the late 80s or early 90s and moved to Bradford Pennsylvania. This was during all the down sizing and base closures.
Out of all the different units I served with, the 28th has a place in my heart.
Hey Brother! I spent 28 years with the 28th ID.
I missed this?! I was just reading the book an hour ago!! The 28th is one of the most unappreciated units in the Bulge!! I need to attach an alarm clock to these UA-cam notifications. That damn bell isnt loud enough. I have toured around the Ardennes about three times as much as Normandy, almost entirely self-guided. The 110th stand on the tiny villages around Hosingen, Clervaux, Marnach, on Skyline Drive. Even waded across the Our at Dasburg (in summer), everyone looking at me probably thought I was insane. Waiting to hear now about insights on Hurley Fuller, his frustrations and leadership style, and his fate post-capture.
You are right. My grandfather Clyde McNally was in the 110 th at hossingen. I always will remember him saying that he would still be there if they wouldn't have run out of ammunition.
The Colmar Pocket would be a FANTASTIC topic for a future show, Paul! Great program, as usual.
Great suggestion!
I recall reading Charles Mcdonald's book "Company Commander", describing his time as a captain in the 28th division. There was a line about the fighting in the Ardennes that's always stuck with me.
When the German's launched the Ardennes Offensive, his company had immediately come under intense pressure. They fought fiercely, holding off wave after wave of German attacks. But, as the day waned, they'd exhausted their ammunition and were finally forced to fall back. It was cold, dark, snowing and everyone was exhausted. Every time they tried to stop and rest for a bit, the Germans would be on them again and they'd be forced to resume their flight.
He wrote... "I felt like I'd been running from Germans for my entire life.".
McDonald's other book- "A Time for Trumpets" also provides a good account of the 28th in the battle as well.
MacDonald was a Company Commander in the 2nd US Infantry Division NOT 28th.
@@mikesmeets4418 It's been thirty years since I read it. I must have miss remembered.
First of all, I want to say thank you for delving into history in such detail and presenting it for all of us who are inclined towards it.
What stirred me to make this comment in the first place was your mention of such huge proportion of young people not being aware of relatively recent events that shaped the world we live in today.
I am in my late twenties and have been exposed to historical movies and narratives as far back as my youthful memory could recall.
It strikes me as deeply unsettling that major parts of our history, in politics or the resulting warfare, seem to be largely overlooked by the upcoming generations.
People seem vastly inclined towards romanticized sensualism rather than the oftentimes gritty and grim reality of things. There were deep motivations for people in the past to pick up arms and to put the lives of themselves and their families on the line for a more promising future... which we seem to forget today. Each story, be it of a general or a private, has more emotion and complexity than we can generally comprehend.
You're doing a truly appreciable job here, grace to you.
This is fantastic and well presented, speaking as a Pennsylvanian. My father was also a Pennsylvanian, drafted during the war, and he was for a period assigned to the 26th Infantry Division, aka the "Yankee Division," as a replacement infantryman (he shot expert during basic training). That unit was a National Guard division from Massachusetts. I grew up knowing that the 28th was a Pennsylvania unit that had done great deeds during the war, and that it was known as the Bucket of Blood (which is what he called it - I know "Bloody Bucket" is the official term). I also knew that the Yankee Division (aka the "YD") had also fought at the bulge, although my father had moved on by then. I still have his "YD" shoulder patches from his time assigned to that division. He was from Lebanon, PA.
I am piecing together my great uncle Frank Kusnir's service as i go through his picturesa and memorabilia. He was in the castle during the battle and was the volunteer that carried out the white flag on 12/18. Taken to a POW camp following surrender. It is an honor to hear all these stories.
Great episode! It's really great to have WW2TV to listen to for an hour when I need a break from all the crazy stuff circulating on UA-cam, current wars for example.
Cheers!
Thank you, great episode! Always great to see more about the 28th Infantry Division. I always found it sad that through the scenes in Band of Brothers, where the men of the 28th ID come out of the Ardennes forest, walking towards the newly arrived Airborne and handing over ammo etc. , were seen as "cowards" by many viewers, as if they were running from the German forces. Little did they know what had happened to these men before the Bulge hit them. Lots of good info in this episode, thank you both.
As many have already said, we appreciate highlighting the importance of what the Keystone did in the war. I’m the granddaughter of
First Lieutenant Ralph Larson
Platoon Leader
Company K, 3rd Battalion
112th Infantry Regiment
28th Infantry Division
Battle of the Bulge (WWII)
General Cota pulled him off the front line in late January to write the official WWII history of the 28th Infantry Division.
Excellent presentation which highlights the important contribution of the 28th in slowing the German attack in the Ardennes
just got through all your streams on the Hurtgen forest. I first cam across this battle on JDs channel history underground which made me go wow how come I haven't really heard of this before. the level of detail in all your streams on the battle is fantastic 👏👏👏
Thank you. We go into a lot of detail on WW2TV, so welcome aboard
“To save Bastogne” is a very good book about the fighting on the skyline drive by the 28th I toured the area a few years ago and I was in no doubt about the heroic defense put up by the bloody buckets
Looking forward to reading your book, Mr. Zapotoczny. I loved reading Alamo in the Ardennes and I have deep respect for the men who fought in the 28th, the 99th and 106th divisions. Even with the sad record of the 106th, I know of great heroism. I was friends with a man from the 106th who was a part of 400 men who surrendered only after they had been completely surrounded and out of ammunition. I know there are a lot of great stories left to be told and commend them to the historians of the next generation. I did the story of my friend in the 106th and it was reprinted in the Congressional Record!
My uncle was in the 99th during the bulge, they most certainly were fresh, they were nicknamed the battle babies. He lost many friends, as an artillery scout, he was in the thick of it. Brought back a p-38 pistol, Luftwaffe training shirt patch (I’m guessing the Germans were throwing AA crews and anyone else into it. He described it much like the movie fury, in that regular Wehrmacht troops were treated properly but SS were liquidated, especially after the pow massacre was made known.
He later was among the troops that crossed at remagen on the first day. There is a published book on the 99th battle history, and I’d love to hear them highlighted some day.
Yet another great unit action episode. It will only take another thousand or so episodes before every unit and every action are covered here in detail.
Great way to end a fantastic interview, thanks Paul (and Walter!)
My father, Sgt. Ralph L. Herbst, Jr., fought with the 28th Infantry Division in the Battle of the Bulge. My dad was from Bethlehem, Pennsylvania and joined the Division as a replacement only a few days before the battle began. He found it extremely difficult to speak of his experiences because his memories rekindled post traumatic stress. He also fought in the Colmar Pocket in February, 1945. Raised a Lutheran, he came home from the war an atheist. He could not believe that a God would allow such suffering as he witnessed during the war.
Thanks for sharing
great chat Paul thank you! I am not a reader my self as i struggle from dyslexia so UA-cam, films, podcasts and games are where i get all my history from. thanks a ton
From my perspective, use the hype of the 101st to your advantage when speaking about the 28th. When i watched Band of Brothers, and I saw retreating forces coming out of the forest before the 101 moved in, I wanted to know why they were retreating and who they were. Why were they leaving? what had happened? The 101st was only one part of the story. I need all the stories, not just one. As a history teacher, I use what people know to begin with and attach what they don't know to it. Just an idea.. I will be buying this book, thank you so much.
the 28th Infantry Division's efforts to delay the German offensive so the 101st and 82nd could get online is just as significant as Buford's Cavalry delqying Ewell's men on the 1st day's battle so Gen. Reynolds corps could get up and take the field and eventually fall back on the best ground any commander on a battlefield could have. Huzzahh to the Bloody Buckets for they're heroism!! Can't wait for this book!!!
Very interesting comment about the 28th ID being portrayed badly in movies. For me the iconic scene is in Band of Brothers where 28th ID men are shuffling past just as some Easy Company men arrive in Bastogne. Guarnere asks one of them for his ammo, just as Michael Kamen's iconic score rises, echoing the same refrain that accompanied the jump into Normandy.
For my money, that scene simply shows that the 28th were spent, they'd held as long as they could before falling back under tremendous pressure. They were beaten and exhausted, but they'd taken a tremendous amount of effort to be beaten. There's no shame in that.
Yes, I suppose that is an unflattering portrayal of the 28th ID, but for me it simply shows the reality. The 28th ID were probably dealt the worst hand of any American unit in the Western Europe campaign, and they fought bravely. How should that be portrayed? I suppose Band of Brothers could have done better at explaining things to the audience. But I like the portrayal of the men as it is, they held out against a massive attack and they were shattered by it. God bless them for fighting so hard.
Except the reality was they weren't beaten. They formed an ad hoc unit and came back for more.
The 106th ID Div would get the honor of getting the worst hand by being in the middle of the attack with them barely being in position for a couple of days
110th Infantry on Skyline Drive is one of my favorite topics and Ardennes area visits. “Alamo in the Ardennes” by John McManus is a go-to on this subject as well.
Thank you for this presentation Walter. I look forward to reading your book.
Really interesting, keep up the good work
Another fascinating show. Just finished listening. Totally agree that the Bulge mantra has become the 101st at Bastogne, with Patton's 180, which was actually a 90, to the detriment of other units such as the 28th, or those defending the northern shoulder (Elsenborn Ridge etc).
Its rather like the 1879 Anglo-Zulu War, with the Rorkes Drift defenders getting the bulk of the attention.
Cheers Woody and Walter. ✌️
Having followed the 28th ID’s movements in the Hurtgen sev years ago, will trace the 110’s movements in the early days of the Bulge in Feb. Also know a man who’s F-in-L was a 110th soldier who was captured in Sept, I think, and spent the rest of the war as a POW; very likely saved his life, given what the 28th would endure in Nov and Dec.
This is a great way to expand the knowledge and stories of the Ardennes Offensive, most people will automatically think of the 101st when you mention the Battle of the Bulge, this proves that there is more to it than that.
Thank you for something intelligent, historic and interesting.
Another great job fantastic story, I personally never underestimated the 28th contribution to the war but great interview
Great presentation. The 28th Infantry Division seem to have been the real hero's of the BoB. National Guard vs "real soldiers". The alleged"amateurs" seem to have been very good. Especially the Cooks in the Castle. How many Germans did they hold up.
Hurtgen was a leadership foxtrot uncle.
At 60 years old ,a Pennsylvania native ,i was quiet aware of the history, from a number of first hand sources
MacDonalds book on Huertgen quotes insanely optimistic daily reports by Cota’s chief of staff. I’ve always wondered about their physical and mental conditions at this time. I do believe either Cota was given a heart attack or actually ill. St. Vith, years ago, was always given due credit with Bastogne for our success. Along with representing the 28ths fine combat record in the bulge your discussion about the changing qualities, new additions, critical losses and time to integrate new additions of troops in combat at various times in their fighting careers was most important. It appears in many ways in a lot of these presentations and keeps me aware of this in other historical situations. Please forgive the Imogi I accidentally sent on the Comment below, I use a small iPad. And though that Imogi was earned I don’t use them. Thank you for another fine presentation
Good presentation by Walter. National Guard units like the 28th ID don't get much love with the Regular Army or their historians. But the NG divisions certainly gave the Germans much food for thought when in attack. Great soldiers and Europeans are very grateful they were there in 1944-45.
That made me think. How long do these episodes remain on YT, do you have recordings of them? This channel is becoming a priceless resource when it comes to WWII history and it would be a shame if it's content were to get lost somehow.
They should be there forever but I have back up copies
An uncle who served in the 30th ID from Normandy to wars end sadly called these the "Blood Bucket" division.
As a veteran of the 28ID I wanted to catch this one live, but wasn’t able to. Sadly the actions of the 28ID and 10th AD at Bastogne are overlooked by those of the 101st. The 28ID and 10th held back the Germans prior to 101st ever showing up.
I wasn't live anyway Troy, we recorded it well before Christmas and I uploaded yesterday
Thanks Paul, for some reason I was thinking it was a live show. Time to catch up on new myth shows from today that I missed.
The “Bloody Bucket”
Awesome 👏 🇬🇧🇺🇸
60% of Britons today think of Churchill as a fictional character!!?? That makes me so sad. He was one of the greatest leaders the western world has ever produced, flawed, human, but still magnificent.
Great presentation. I’ve always known of the 28th but it’s always good to hear more spoken about them and what they achieved. As an aside, because I was curious, I researched the missing 111th INF RGT. It ended up fighting across the Pacific. And back to John McManus for another missing US Army piece of that theater.
Perhaps a lot of the bias is due to a desire to have closure. The 28ID fought bravely and well but in the end had to retreat. IMHO if the 101st had broken then all of the glory would go to whatever unit stopped the advance. Also the fight of the with was relatively short so there was no time for reporters to put in stories. Lastly, many of the men who should/could have written the accounts of the division’s performance paid for that performance with their lives.
The 110th Infantry Regiment was thought to have broken and surrendered ... because they had been so decimated holding the line of the Our river "at all costs." I now associate that phrase "at all costs" with Company K at Hosingen, Hurley Fuller's 110th Regiment headquarters at the Claravalis hotel in Clervaux, etc. Cota doesn't come off very well in this battle's history -- almost like a different man from Cota in Normandy.
That's the unit that my grandfather was in Clyde McNally. He told me that he would still be there defending if they hadn't run out of ammo.
The average draftee on all sides fought because the alternative was jail or worse. Your average grunt doesn't care about abstract principles and the greater good. All of that is a post hoc justification. That's why the government claims that the war is being fought, and it's usually a lie. It helps veterans sleep at night but the reason they fight, particularly draftees is because of a combination of threats and the social stigma of refusal.
To those who think I'm being an asshole or shitting on war vets I'm not. I served in uniform. I remember the songs we sang while running, made by soldiers who were drafted for Vietnam and WW2. They speak for themselves. You fight because the guy next to you is fighting and because you were told go to war or go to jail as a draftee. You may not know who that guy next to you is, he may be just a face and a name to you but he's fighting the guys shooting at you and that's a good enough reason to fight for him.
Is not John McManus's Book Alamo in the Ardennes about this? I thought there would be more about what the men actually did to stop the Germans in this presentation. How about some of the soldiers in the 28th? Were they really ready? What about Pvt Slovak? I speak as an active soldier(10yrs) and as a reservist(13yrs), now retired. Why was Cota put in charge of the division? I am not saying the 28th was a bad division just asking questions. I read a lot of history, mainly military. One of the first books I read about "the bulge" was John Toland's Battle: the story of the bulge. What the 28th did to buy time for the allies to respond to the attack is explained. Col H Fuller's stand was well executed and a story I remember(110th RCT commander). I also know that the 28th's band made it back to Bastogne and help defend the town. There are a series photo's of the band at that time. Guess I was looking for more from this presentation. A little disappointed.
There are different types of show with different levels of detail. This was more of an overview with a focus on the Division as a whole
I am sorry that you were looking for more about what the men did. I have a lot of details in my book that will be released in May. Also in the book is why they fought, which most writers have not explained.
Well I enjoyed our chat a lot Walter, thanks
Interesting but I feel like I learned almost nothing about the actual combat, it was all about how they felt. Almost no mention of the 112th IR and how it was pushed north separately, joined the 7tD and fought for weeks, nor of the 109th. Why was the castle important? It’s mentioned that cooks fought to the last round, but why was the terrain important and can he quantify how long the Germans were delayed. This was a lot of talk without much substance. Hope his book is better but his presentation here does not drive me to buy it.
But as we discussed, the focus of his book was on the men, not the strategy
❤
German tanks ran out of oil
Yep
I've always considered the 28th to be one of those units that saw really ugly and hard fighting but never got the credit they deserved. Like the 96th ID in the Pacific or the 88th ID in Italy. Combat seasoned units that aren't household names with great stories still to be uncovered.
❤
Really fascinating interview, so greatly appreciated!! My grandfather Private Michael Oles, Served as a combat medical aid man with 1st Bn. , 112th Infantry Regiment, 28th Infantry Division. He served under Captain Paschal Linguiti, the Battalion Surgeon. I believe that the Germans overran the 1/112th Battalion Aid Station as Captain Linguiti and his medics such as my grandfather, were treating the numerous wounded who obviously were unable to be evacuated. My grandfather would spend mist of the remainder of the war as a P.O.W. in Stalag 9-B, in Bad Orb, Germany until the camps liberation on 02 April 1945.
I love it when this channel makes me think, yet again. Woody, you mentioned figures suggesting many youngsters here and now in the UK think Churchill was some kind of a fictional character.
I'm sure you did an episode to the effect that when De Gaulle turned up, in person, in your neck of the woods shortly after D-Day, countless thousand French people turned up just to see if this person they'd only heard of via the BBC really existed?
They certainly seemed to applaud him when they realised he was a real person - a real French person.
Also, the 111th Infantry, a 28ID unit, fought in the pacific landing at Kwajalein Atoll versus the Japanese
My grandfather was 28th Infantry Division 112th Infantry Regiment during WW2 but would never really talk about the war.
Do you know what battalion?
@@jacobyorks8298 only thing I was told was 28th Infantry Division 112th Infantry Regiment company H? There was company H written on a paper my uncle found in his old papers and stuff
It's not that we don't read books, it the fact we don't have the time! I listen to these videos while doing the laundry, washing the dishes, and other endless chores around the house! (And yet I do buy the books!)
I read Rockie Blunt's book, twice. He was with the 28th, great read. My Great Uncle was a radioman, 99th i.d. be cool if you covered them sometime 😅
I am a book reader put stopped with it a couple of years ago.
Ever since internet went adult and info was more visual availible.
I am 56 and started as a bookworm to get my knowledge to be become a bachelor of sceince in precision engineering.
I now get my knowlegde from the youre channel and the youtube channels “the great war”, “TimeGhost history”, “world war two“, “TIK”, “Drachinifel” and many others.
All because the Oral and Visual presentation makes it more easy to learn the history.
Reading and mentaly visualisation is demanding and with my wide interrest would demand a national library at home.
Also the current generation is more into oral and visual presentation which is really the primal way in which the human brain is working.
Therefore I appriciate the effort that content makers like you and youre guests put into this medium to spread the knowledge.
Especially the lesser told stories.
Understood, thanks for the comment
Thanks for this. My grandfather, Roy Green, was a BAR man in Company G, 109th Infantry Regiment, 28th Infantry Division. He joined the 28th as a replacement while the division was still in the Hurtgen Forest. When speaking about the Battle of the Bulge, he once said that he melted the barrel of his BAR from all the shooting. He said that his sergeant told him, "You really did it this time" and had to go find him a replacement BAR.
Edit: Thought that I'd add that my grandfather was from Oklahoma, and had done his basic training in Texas. I originally thought that it was weird that the army would assign him to the 28th Division. I had wondered why he hadn't been assigned to the 36th Division, or the 90th Division with all of the other Okies and Texans. I think the reason is that the 28th Division had been federalized, so the army started bringing in replacements from everywhere, not just Pennsylvania as it had originally been when it was a National Guard unit. Which goes along with what Mr. Zapotoczny says about it not being the same group, so the original group dynamic of men exclusively from Pennsylvania had fallen away, and it became men from all over the United States fighting together as Americans.
Thanks for sharing
This is a great channel for WW2 enthusiasts. Thanks for your work.
The story of Felix Sparks 1939, he was called to active duty for World War II, and in 1940 he received his commission as a second lieutenant. Assigned to the 45th Infantry Division, Sparks served with the division's 157th Infantry Regiment throughout the war, from its arrival in North Africa through combat in Sicily, Italy, France, and Germany. Near the end of the war, Sparks was commander of the 157th Infantry's 3rd Battalion, which he led during its participation in the liberation of the Dachau concentration camp.
Known as the Thunderbirds serving 500 days on the front, is a story needing told Paul?
They got so little recognition for the units heroics as they were as misfits compared to white soldiers.
2days before D-Day 44 his command helped liberate Rome from Germany. All the Division did was over shadowed by D-Day.
These boys and men died fighting the same ideology in horrendous conditions, that wanted them all dead.
The Thunderbirds endured horrors at some of WWII's toughest spots: Anzio, Salerno and the snowy Vosges Mountains.
At Anzio - the town on Italy's western coast where the Allies invaded in early 1944 - the Thunderbirds held a key line and prevented a big German victory, but Sparks lost his whole company except for one man.
That alone is truly remarkable which no other company suffered 99.9% destruction in one battle anywhere in WWII Western Front. You’d think that was enough to break any man but not Sparks.
During his military time he rose ranks quickly. He was promoted to first lieutenant in February 1942, captain in October 1942, major in August 1944, and lieutenant colonel in November 1944.
By the end of the war, the division's initial number of men would be replaced seven times, and nine out of 10 men who shipped out with the division were killed, wounded or taken prisoner.
The man was strict but never hated any German. Right up to the court martial he was subjected to falsely.
Only in the 1990’s did film show exactly what Felix Sparks did was correct, in stopping the execution of injured Germans. As these were not the soldiers of the camp who fled already.
Gen. George Patton himself described the court-martial charges against Sparks and his men as "a bunch of crap" and tore them up. At that time in mid-1945, Patton was the military governor of Bavaria.
But the false accounts of what happened wouldn't go away.
Getting the unit and its men the credit they deserve Paul should be brought up?
Anyway thanks to anyone that read this brief part of an important unit. Their heroism was unwavering no matter the job none were refused even as hard to believe they stuck to their objectives hence the Anzio slaughter of them.
It is a story worth telling and we already have on WW2TV. Check the show with Alex Kershaw
Roll on!
*I have to, respectfully, disagree with the Statments the guest made when talking about the "Commrodierty" of the USA soldiers not being that high because they "barely" knew each other and most of them just joined the unit/squad a few days prior.... Just because they don't know them personally on a really good friendship type relationship, they are still BROTHERS and theres plenty of Commrodierty to go around when fighting with your brothers in arms. You dont have to be bestfriends with a fellow soldier and know everything about them to be able to have Commrodierty with them.*
*Amazing video, either way!*
I think l somewhat disagree too, but he's drawn the conclusion based on his studies
Thanks for your comment. While comrodery probably played a part, I was trying to suggest that there were other reasons too that account for why they fought so bravely. Most who have written about the battle tend to attribute comrodery as the main reason. I believe there was more.
Thank you. My Dad served in Anti-Tank Co. 112th infantry regiment. He was fortunate as he was hospitalized at the time of the Bulge and was evacuated back to England three days into the Battle.
Making popcorn.
@@susanyu6507 congrats
I served active duty and National Guard, 328th BSB in Lancaster. Guard soldiers are the most dedicated people you'll meet. Not taking away from anyone on AD but on Active, its just a job
I am really looking forward to buying his book. Great show! Tom Mullen, Geneva, IL USA.
More content please
I usually put out 5 shows a week and will hit 1000 shows in 4 years this June, I'm working as hard as I can
@@WW2TVI only ask because i cant get enough!Love the less covered WW2 content
Their are no good Nazies.
Read Alamo in the Ardennes.