When we left our hotel this morning, I really didn’t realize what the day had in store. It was overcast, sprinkling here and there and cold. Or first stop was to be in Saint Vit, a little town just east of the Moselle River, to visit a Memorial to five GI’s who were killed there on the 8th and 9th of September, 1944. A local WWII buff and historian, Michel Marlin, was to meet us in the parking lot near the town hall and take us to the monument.
When we arrived, we were enthusiastically greeted by a group of 15-20 French veterans, some from WWII, wearing their medals, the mayor, a reporter from the area newspaper and the town Honor Guard. We were escorted to the monument as guests of honor for a wreath laying ceremony complete with flags and music. Steve Weiss was asked to present the flowers. Taps was played, followed by the Star Spangled Banner and then the Marseille.
We all were then asked to pose for formal pictures. Heart felt gratitude and thanks from people to the citizens of the country whose Army liberated them from an oppressive invader.
Michel, who was wearing a ball cap with the 3rd Division patch on it and the slogan “Rock of the Marne” (a nick name earned in the First World War for it’s tenacious fighting at the Marne), was especially excited to meet me, the son of a 3rd Div. Vet. After the ceremony, he took us to Esplanade de la 3eme Division d’Infanterie Americaine in Besancon. We met some friends of his and they showed us around, explained the fighting there and gave us croissants.
We viewed the memorial to the men of the 3rd Div. Who lost their lives during fighting there on 7 September 1944. The crack down the middle of the monument is intentional; it represents the Marne River.
Our next stop was the Epinal American Cemetery in Dinoze, France, were 5,255 Americans are buried. There is a Court of Honor with the names of 424 Americans listed as MIA, their remains either un-recovered, or unidentified. 69 of them are buried here. Also, in 14 instances, 2 brothers are buried side by side. Like all American Military Cemeteries, it is pristine, peaceful and solemn.
We were met at the cemetery by Jean-Marie Siret, another local WWII historian, and another French Vet, who escorted us 2,000 feet up into the mountains of the Vosges near Biffontaine,
to a monument commemorating the bravery of the of the 36th Div. And the 100 Inf. Bat and the 442 Regimental Combat Team, who had been cut of and surrounded by the Germans. Running out of ammo and food, they decided to break out with a downhill “bonsai” charge. The maneuver worked, saving the man from capture or death.
Jean-Marie then took us to the 45th Div. Monument in Fremifontaine, accompanied by the Vet from the cemetery and another we met on the mountain.
We met a couple more at the 45th monument, paid our respects and then headed to the 3rd Div. Monument at the “Haut Jacques” mountain pass near Brouvelieures. There, we were met by more Vets and a re-in-actor, who drove up in a Willy’s Jeep. He had on jump boots and the wrong pants, but the jeep was immaculate. He hopped out of the jeep and gave me a salute which I returned (hey, I’m as GI as he is). 
He got out his flags and along with one of the Vets, provided a Color Guard. Flowers were again presented to Steve Weiss, who placed them at the monument, followed by Taps, The Star Spangled Banner and the Marseille.
An amazing day.
I wonder how much it would cost to mail this jeep home?
When we arrived, we were enthusiastically greeted by a group of 15-20 French veterans, some from WWII, wearing their medals, the mayor, a reporter from the area newspaper and the town Honor Guard. We were escorted to the monument as guests of honor for a wreath laying ceremony complete with flags and music. Steve Weiss was asked to present the flowers. Taps was played, followed by the Star Spangled Banner and then the Marseille.
We all were then asked to pose for formal pictures. Heart felt gratitude and thanks from people to the citizens of the country whose Army liberated them from an oppressive invader.
Michel, who was wearing a ball cap with the 3rd Division patch on it and the slogan “Rock of the Marne” (a nick name earned in the First World War for it’s tenacious fighting at the Marne), was especially excited to meet me, the son of a 3rd Div. Vet. After the ceremony, he took us to Esplanade de la 3eme Division d’Infanterie Americaine in Besancon. We met some friends of his and they showed us around, explained the fighting there and gave us croissants.
We viewed the memorial to the men of the 3rd Div. Who lost their lives during fighting there on 7 September 1944. The crack down the middle of the monument is intentional; it represents the Marne River.Our next stop was the Epinal American Cemetery in Dinoze, France, were 5,255 Americans are buried. There is a Court of Honor with the names of 424 Americans listed as MIA, their remains either un-recovered, or unidentified. 69 of them are buried here. Also, in 14 instances, 2 brothers are buried side by side. Like all American Military Cemeteries, it is pristine, peaceful and solemn.
We were met at the cemetery by Jean-Marie Siret, another local WWII historian, and another French Vet, who escorted us 2,000 feet up into the mountains of the Vosges near Biffontaine,
to a monument commemorating the bravery of the of the 36th Div. And the 100 Inf. Bat and the 442 Regimental Combat Team, who had been cut of and surrounded by the Germans. Running out of ammo and food, they decided to break out with a downhill “bonsai” charge. The maneuver worked, saving the man from capture or death.
Jean-Marie then took us to the 45th Div. Monument in Fremifontaine, accompanied by the Vet from the cemetery and another we met on the mountain.
We met a couple more at the 45th monument, paid our respects and then headed to the 3rd Div. Monument at the “Haut Jacques” mountain pass near Brouvelieures. There, we were met by more Vets and a re-in-actor, who drove up in a Willy’s Jeep. He had on jump boots and the wrong pants, but the jeep was immaculate. He hopped out of the jeep and gave me a salute which I returned (hey, I’m as GI as he is). 
He got out his flags and along with one of the Vets, provided a Color Guard. Flowers were again presented to Steve Weiss, who placed them at the monument, followed by Taps, The Star Spangled Banner and the Marseille.An amazing day.
I wonder how much it would cost to mail this jeep home?
1 comment:
Now I'm really jealous. Keep it coming.
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