While out barbecuing and celebrating this 3-day weekend I encourage everyone not to forget what this weekend is really about - it's about honoring those who made the ultimate sacrifice to keep our great nation free. I remember my father Vernie Thomas Rhodes (b. 1922, d. 1997), who went ashore at Normandy about a month after D-Day as a PFC in the 44th Engineer Combat Battalion (3rd Army, VIII Corps Maj. Gen. Troy H. Middleton). For the next year he slogged through the mud and blood with Patton's 3rd Army on their way to Germany. He was there at the Battle of the Bulge and went missing in action until they found him in a Belgian Hospital with frozen legs. His unit was overrun by German Panzers on the opening day of the battle. His battalion at the Defense of Wiltz was the last organized unit that made an attempt to leave the city - they lost 160 men, over half the battalion. For every man that managed to get out of the city there is a personal story of kindness from Belgian civilians. My dad died in 1997 from cancer and it was only after his death when I began researching his service during WWII that I learned of the great heroism of his battalion. He didn't talk much about his service in the war, like a lot of other veterans. A book that I highly recommend is: A Time for Trumpets, The untold story of the Battle of the Bulge, by Charles B. MacDonald.
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May God rest his great soul. He paid his dues...and then some.
ReplyDeleteEl Greco
Thank you!
ReplyDeletegordianguy
On behalf of Lee Thienel
ReplyDeleteWe are grateful for the service of you father to this Country. The service of him and thouse he fought with in Europe will not be forgotten.
Your post made we think that we don’t remember those who served this country often enough. So on Memorial Day I’d like to remember my children’s ancestors who served this nation. (I left out the colonial wars – King Philips War etc). We should all take some time today to remember those who served and those who are serving now.
Revolution
Fife Major Peter Rogers, RI Brigade, Regimental Staff, 4th Connecticut Regiment, 1st Divison. On the muster roll at Valley Forge Dec 1977 – June 1778 during that winter with General Washington. (6 G Grandfather)
Cival War:
Private Samuel Cobb Yeaton, served in the Civil War as a private in Company E, 7th New York State Militia. He enlisted on 26 Apr 1861 and was honorably discharged on 3 Jun 1861. He re-enlisted on 25 May 1862 and was honorably discharged on 5 Sep 1862. He re-enlisted on 26 Jun 1863 and was honorably discharged on 20 Jul 1863. (3G G Grandfather)
Sergeant Ezra D Biggam, Messenger, Michigan’s 5th Cavalry, Company B (Colonel George Armstrong Custer’s unit). He was wounded when his horse fell on his leg, and a year later was treated for a “GSW Rt. side head”. Served 18 Aug 1862 – 20 Jun 1865. He is buried at Forest Lawn Cemetery in the veterans section of the cemetery - Lot G1 Section G.A.R. (GG Grandfather)
World War I
Ammerigo Alexander (Alex) Orsette, an Italian immigrant to the US. On 20 Mar 1918 his address was Camp Laurel, MD, Truck Co. #4, Eng. while serving in the US Army. He served in World War I in the 23rd Engineers in France. He was a VFW member #679 Ford Dearborn Post #1494. He may have lied about his age so he could go to war. (G grandfather).