It was not a picnic up on those mtns. in Italy, '43-'44. Melted snow for drinking water had packets of instant coffee and our squad carried a little Gasoline coleman stove. We took turns carrying it. Was hell in a foxhole. I thank the LORD ALMIGHTY for watching over me and for me to write this. Rocky
If you watch the Band of Brothers episode when they arrive in Bastogne I really like 1 quote. "Were are we?" other guy: "We sure ain't in hell ... it's too damn cold".
Later I heard that someone (sorry for don't remembering the name of the veteran) said that he couldn't believe it was that cold in hell.
I am happy you survived Rocky and still here with us to share your stories etc. We can only imagine how it was and even then it must have been much worser.
All the best to you,
Frank
We are paratroopers. We are supposed to be surrounded.
Captain Winters in Bastogne 1944.
Liberation of Noorbeek and Roy Booher tribute:
If you watch the Band of Brothers episode when they arrive in Bastogne I really like 1 quote. "Were are we?" other guy: "We sure ain't in hell ... it's too damn cold".
Later I heard that someone (sorry for don't remembering the name of the veteran) said that he couldn't believe it was that cold in hell.
I am happy you survived Rocky and still here with us to share your stories etc. We can only imagine how it was and even then it must have been much worser.
All the best to you,
Frank
Band of Brothers is a movie, I don't watch those kind. Of course my situation was a lot different than that of Bastogne. Up on the mtns. was not the same.
Roque J.(Rocky) Riojas
Bottom line is this; it was hell for everyone that winter, whether in Bastogne, Phillipsbourg, or the mountain cities of Italy. No one should have had to experience that, and how can we compare one to the other? As been said; ALL WAR IS HELL!
Marion J Chard
Proud Daughter of Walter 'Monday' Poniedzialek
540th Combat Engineer - H&S Company
Why is it that in every war there seems to be "the worst winter in recorded history" (e.g. 1812 in Russia, Valley Forge, Battle of the Bulge, Chosin Reservoir, etc)?
It's about 40 this morning here in Georgia (don't throw snow balls at me! it aint my fault!) but my siblings and sister-in-law in Dallas and Fort Worth are now missing their 3rd day in a row. That's gonna suck come Spring Break when they have to make up all of their missed days.
Maj Todd O. USMC, Retired
Grandson of LTC John O'Brien
Bottom line is this; it was hell for everyone that winter, whether in Bastogne, Phillipsbourg, or the mountain cities of Italy. No one should have had to experience that, and how can we compare one to the other? As been said; ALL WAR IS HELL!
Amen--"WALTS' Daughter", I know that you know someone PERSONALY that was in that mess also !!!!!!!!!
Roque J.(Rocky) Riojas
