Veterans Day

I'd like to thank all those Americans who helped liberate Europe from the horrors of fascism. Without you good people Europe would be a Nazi concentration camp, or a Stalinist Gulag. I will never forget, and I put a flower at the "Unknown Soldier's" monument every year.
Thank you guys – I kiss you. 💋
helenS

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Neoerectus · M

My father was part of the Rainbow division. He described the horrors when they entered one of the concentration camps.

An uncle fought at Iwo Jima. Unfortunately, we still have ego maniacs who feel war and genocide is the answer to political and economic problems.

helenS · 36-40, F

@Neoerectus I wonder why they did not simply hang all SS officers they found in the camps.

Neoerectus · M

@helenS It was important to use the rule of law with the trials. They chose wisely.

helenS · 36-40, F

@Neoerectus I would not have been able to abide by those rules. Yes you are right, they chose wisely.

samueltyler2 · 80-89, M

@helenS we lived next door to a European couple. He was a Transylvanian Count, her father sat on the Nuremberg tribunals. They were a very interesting couple.

helenS · 36-40, F

@samueltyler2 They had moved to the States?

Neoerectus · M

@helenS In the occupation, my father went out with two others to track down a German who harassed, raped, and otherwise hurt German women who were friendly with Ally occupiers.

Coming back, his Sargeant (an ex-con) of the detail tired of the German guy's beligerent lip. The sarge shot the German. When they reported to their commanding officer, they expected they would be disciplined, but the officer let them off.

Sometimes, that patience and adherence to the law was not as strict...

30 years later, my father spoke of the pain of the first guy he had killed in the Battle of the Bulge. Even tried to find the family. He did not talk about THIS guy. He obviously saw a difference in the honor of each.

samueltyler2 · 80-89, M

@helenS yes, both became US citizens.

samueltyler2 · 80-89, M

@Neoerectus my father in law said he could never kill another man, fired into the ground.

DogMan · 61-69, M

@Neoerectus When my dad talked about those he was forced to kill, his attitude was,
" they were trying to kill me and my buddies" good or bad, he did not feel remorse.

But I can sure understand why someone would. My dad suffered nightmares off
and on his whole life, remembering in his dreams, the things he had to do and see.

But he never woke up feeling guilty about anything. Guilt can do horrible things
to people.