My father was stationed in Cherbourg with US PT Squadron 30 at that time. They were off duty Christmas eve but they were called to the rescue. They rescued 6 US Army personnel from the water. They saw the Leopoldville actually sink.The next morning there were over 700 dead US Soldiers "Piled up like cordwood". My Pop suffered every Christmas eve thinking about those boys dying. Today they call it PTSD. ZDF German television did a documentary on it called "The last Christmas" of WWII. I obtained a copy because my father was interviewed on the video. It was never televised in the US. God Bless the men of the 66th Panther division lost on the SS Leopoldville Christmas Eve 1944.
my Great Uncle Coy C. Craig, SGT, was on the Leopoldville. He drowned and his brother, my paternal grandfather, Wallace J. Craig. was fighting in the Battle of the Bulge. My great uncle is buried at Shirley Cemetery in Oklahoma, next to his father. RIP G Uncle Coy and Thank you for your sacrifice.
My grandfather William Paul Siegrist was an American soldier on the Leopoldville. When they were torpedoed, one of his fellow soldiers tongues was cut in half and went down his throat. My grandfather helped pull his tongue out of his throat, and they both ended up surviving that Christmas Eve. They both lived to see each other about 5-0 years later, and had stayed in touch
Wow man, that’s insane. Your grandfather was a brave man. Do you know where he was located on the ship? My grandad was on the ship as well. Lehman Jackson. He gave his bunk to a friend because he couldn’t sleep. When they got hit, he saw his friend, his head was caved in. My grandad was one of the few to survive on that deck
Thanks for producing and posting this. My father, William Frederick Miller, Jr was on the Leopoldville. He was one deck at the time of the torpedoing. He was rescued by a British patrol boat.
Thank you for enlightening me on this part of our WWII history. One of my closest friends from school's father was on the Leopoldville and survived and fought and was awarded the Silver Star. I do not have a citation for his heroism in the 66th and none exists for all I know. He lived into his 90s and was a very successful man and raised three fine sons and was married for over 70 years. He was a true southern gentleman and somewhat of a stoic. They were never big celebrations of Christmas in their family from what I remember. Perhaps, the memory of that experience made him just want to get through those days as quietly as possible. RIP
My uncle was on the Leopoldville when it was torpedoed. He was supposed to be below deck but people were throwing up and the smells and motion were getting to him as well. He found a spot on deck and was there when the ship was hit. He was rescued. I grew up hearing the story from my grandmother, including about the poor men who tried to jump to a rescue ship and got crushed between the ships. My uncle never spoke of it.
Excellent video, and so important to remember the sacrifice they gave for our freedoms today - My Dad proudly served on HMS Garlies as part of the Royal Navy 1st escort group, he recalled to me this disaster the sinking of the Leopoldville and the torpedoing of 2 ships HMS Affleck & HMS Capel some 80 lives lost in the 1st escort group the following day - All my Dad could say was how sad it was to see young people losing their lives and being so helpless to save people in the water and he finished by saying - avoid wars at all costs but sometimes you have to go to war - he was age 20 in 1944 and joined the navy at 18, he still recalled this nightmare to me at the age of 97, before he passed away.....
Thanks, Doc for your time and effort to record and share this tragic event… My Grandfather Ronald Gilchrist who was 18 and on the high school Basketball team enlisted to serve, like his father had done in the first world war. Grandpa Gilchrist 66th Infantry *16196714 He was a survivor and lived a good full and Happy Life. ✌️🇺🇸
My Uncle Garlon Jason Carlton perished in this . He wàs MIA. 😢 We just received a Memorial Stone; in his Memory; From the Military.We had always thought that his name was Garlan but, it was Garlon.
I think the graphic at 4:00 should read U-468 instead of U-486. My grandfather Daniel Sullivan was in the 66th, CO M, 262nd. Thanks for a great video of this tragic event.
My father, aunt and grandparents thought my uncle in the 264th regiment was killed in this tragedy . He didn't speak much of the war. I have been trying to research if my uncle survived the Leopoldville or was on the other troopship, the Cheshire.
Good friend of mine, his cousin, a Capt in Army, died while trying to help save crew members etc. The Capt dad, never even knew the TRUTH!! About what really happened,.. some kind of cover up, lot wasn’t learned till later
My father was stationed in Cherbourg with US PT Squadron 30 at that time. They were off duty Christmas eve but they were called to the rescue. They rescued 6 US Army personnel from the water. They saw the Leopoldville actually sink.The next morning there were over 700 dead US Soldiers "Piled up like cordwood". My Pop suffered every Christmas eve thinking about those boys dying. Today they call it PTSD. ZDF German television did a documentary on it called "The last Christmas" of WWII. I obtained a copy because my father was interviewed on the video. It was never televised in the US. God Bless the men of the 66th Panther division lost on the SS Leopoldville Christmas Eve 1944.
Thank you for doing this video. My Grandfather was on this ship and served in the United States Army 66th Infantry division.
my Great Uncle Coy C. Craig, SGT, was on the Leopoldville. He drowned and his brother, my paternal grandfather, Wallace J. Craig. was fighting in the Battle of the Bulge. My great uncle is buried at Shirley Cemetery in Oklahoma, next to his father. RIP G Uncle Coy and Thank you for your sacrifice.
My grandfather William Paul Siegrist was an American soldier on the Leopoldville. When they were torpedoed, one of his fellow soldiers tongues was cut in half and went down his throat. My grandfather helped pull his tongue out of his throat, and they both ended up surviving that Christmas Eve. They both lived to see each other about 5-0 years later, and had stayed in touch
Wow man, that’s insane. Your grandfather was a brave man. Do you know where he was located on the ship? My grandad was on the ship as well. Lehman Jackson. He gave his bunk to a friend because he couldn’t sleep. When they got hit, he saw his friend, his head was caved in. My grandad was one of the few to survive on that deck
My mom's only brother JIM COEN, a medic on Leopoldville where died, buried in france. Parents from SLIGO IRELAND who were immigrants to NYC
Thanks for producing and posting this. My father, William Frederick Miller, Jr was on the Leopoldville. He was one deck at the time of the torpedoing. He was rescued by a British patrol boat.
My dad was on the Leopoldville when it was torpeodoed
Thank you for enlightening me on this part of our WWII history. One of my closest friends from school's father was on the Leopoldville and survived and fought and was awarded the Silver Star. I do not have a citation for his heroism in the 66th and none exists for all I know. He lived into his 90s and was a very successful man and raised three fine sons and was married for over 70 years. He was a true southern gentleman and somewhat of a stoic. They were never big celebrations of Christmas in their family from what I remember. Perhaps, the memory of that experience made him just want to get through those days as quietly as possible. RIP
My uncle was on the Leopoldville when it was torpedoed. He was supposed to be below deck but people were throwing up and the smells and motion were getting to him as well. He found a spot on deck and was there when the ship was hit. He was rescued. I grew up hearing the story from my grandmother, including about the poor men who tried to jump to a rescue ship and got crushed between the ships. My uncle never spoke of it.
Excellent video, and so important to remember the sacrifice they gave for our freedoms today - My Dad proudly served on HMS Garlies as part of the Royal Navy 1st escort group, he recalled to me this disaster the sinking of the Leopoldville and the torpedoing of 2 ships HMS Affleck & HMS Capel some 80 lives lost in the 1st escort group the following day - All my Dad could say was how sad it was to see young people losing their lives and being so helpless to save people in the water and he finished by saying - avoid wars at all costs but sometimes you have to go to war - he was age 20 in 1944 and joined the navy at 18, he still recalled this nightmare to me at the age of 97, before he passed away.....
Thanks, Doc for your time and effort to record and share this tragic event… My Grandfather Ronald Gilchrist who was 18 and on the high school Basketball team enlisted to serve, like his father had done in the first world war. Grandpa Gilchrist 66th Infantry *16196714
He was a survivor and lived a good full and Happy Life. ✌️🇺🇸
Thank you for remembering these soldiers.
My grandmother's brother was on that ship. Ralph Cram . She never got over losing her brother.
My late Father Bernie Groont of the 66th Divison was of SS Leopoldville picked up by a French Fishing boat I'm very proud
My Uncle Garlon Jason Carlton perished in this . He wàs MIA. 😢 We just received a Memorial Stone; in his Memory; From the Military.We had always thought that his name was Garlan but, it was Garlon.
I think the graphic at 4:00 should read U-468 instead of U-486. My grandfather Daniel Sullivan was in the 66th, CO M, 262nd. Thanks for a great video of this tragic event.
Thanks for catching that. You are right it should read U-486. Glad you enjoyed the video
My father, aunt and grandparents thought my uncle in the 264th regiment was killed in this tragedy . He didn't speak much of the war. I have been trying to research if my uncle survived the Leopoldville or was on the other troopship, the Cheshire.
I didn't know it was a U-boat I always thought it was a patrol boat like our P.T boats from the war
Good friend of mine, his cousin, a Capt in Army, died while trying to help save crew members etc. The Capt dad, never even knew the TRUTH!! About what really happened,.. some kind of cover up, lot wasn’t learned till later
My grandfather was an American not Belgium. He died on the SS leopoldville and left behind a wife and baby. I never was able to meet my grandfather 😭
My cousin Herbert Pukis was on that ship. His mother never knew what happened because it was hushed up
It was U 486. My father was there. 🇺🇲😔