A secret, Vietnam War-era bunker has been unearthed below the historic Metropole Hotel in downtown Hanoi. The hotel housed many foreign guests during the war, and the shelter below served to keep them safe from American bombings of the city. The story reminded me of a similar surprise Airborne trooper, Tom Steele, discovered in the [...]
Middle of the week and time for Letters From War Wednesday. Today, we feature a note from World War II veteran, Franklin Jacob, who served in Northern Europe with the 841st Ordnance Company. After we initially spoke several years ago, Jacob sent me a letter, which I found to be timeless. Though Jacob has since [...]
Earlier this year, shortly after the massive earthquake and subsequent tsunami rocked eastern Japan, including the city of Sendai, we made a post regarding the old 172nd Station Hospital. Since then, we’ve heard from several interested parties. Patricia and Marcia Taranto were the first set of twins born at the 172nd Station Hospital. They were [...]
Monday morning, and time for the 90th Infantry Division Pic of the Week. Let’s venture back to the Battle of the Bulge.
Good Friday morning to all. Time for what’s “new” in the world of “old” with the Weekly History Wrap Up. Former POWs of Oflag 64 will be reuniting this week in Florida, while WW II submarine veterans gathered for a reunion at Wahoo, Nebraska. Be assured, tokens from the Civil War are all around us. [...]
Yesterday’s post has kept me thinking about my old pal, BOOTPRINTS author and 90th Infantry Division soldier, Hobert Winebrenner. Then I came across another of his quirky notes. Ready for the latest installment of Uncommonly Hobert? “When Things Get Tough “Dig a hole in your backyard while it is raining. Sit in the hole while [...]
In this edition of Letters From War Wednesday, we stray from an actual letter to bring you a Silver Star citation from the Battle of Dillingen, Germany. Sergeant Hobert Winebrenner, author of BOOTPRINTS, served with the 358th Infantry, 90th Infantry Division, throughout Northern Europe. He earned the award for his heroics at Dillingen. “For gallantry [...]
And so it ends. Over the last two weeks, we’ve been posting portions (Part 1), (Part 2) and (Part 3), of a rather long, but ultra-interesting period article on the Battle of Dillingen, Germany. It is titled, “Yank ‘Pillbox Busters’ Blast Big Holes in Siegfried Line,” and was written by Pierre Huss, traveling with the [...]
Awesome weekend! But Monday’s upon us, and time for the 90th Infantry Division Pic of the Week. Today we travel back in time to Hof, Germany, where members of the 358th Infantry, 90th Infantry Division battle German snipers street-by-street, house-by-house. I love dissecting these period photos. First, for all you weapons experts, is that a [...]
The weather is absolutely beautiful here in the Midwest, making this Friday all the more wonderful. Time for the Weekly History Wrap Up. I love firsthand accounts, and here’s another great example. Former Marine, James Griffith of North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, escorted photographer Joe Rosenthal to the top of Mount Suribachi on Iwo Jima, [...]