Germany’s Hurtgen Forest saw some of the most brutal fighting of World War II. In fact, for the U.S., it still stands as the longest running battle in history, spanning from September 1944 to February 1945. U.S. First Army casualties topped 33,000. Tom Franks, from Wawaka, Indiana, fought in Northern Europe with Company I, 121st [...]
Summer 1945 saw World War II draw to a close across Northern Europe. Allied troops simultaneously squeezed German forces from both fronts. As the vise tightened, impromptu meetings of East and West occurred throughout occupied Germany and Czechoslovakia. Perhaps most notable is the meeting of leaders, Stalin, Churchill and Truman, at the Potsdam Conference, where [...]
For those dedicated followers of the site, you might remember last Monday we featured a World War II, 90th Infantry Division photo from Chambois, France. The 90th ID experienced heavy fighting in the Chambois area during the Battle of the Falaise Gap in August 1944. Our historian friend from France, Tristan, who lives in the [...]
Sadly, another good one is gone! Local World War II veteran, Raymond Waldron, from Brimfield, Indiana, passed away last week. I had the pleasure of speaking to Ray several times over the last seven years. He had a truly amazing story. Waldron served in General George Patton’s household as the jeep driver for one of [...]
Good Monday morning to all. Time again for the 90th Infantry Division – Picture of the Week. This photo is dedicated to a friend and follower of the site, Tristan in France. Tristan is especially interested in the World War II history of his region, particularly the Allied push through the Falaise Gap in the [...]
Hope all went well for you this weekend. More snow here in the Midwest. Time to get back to work, and to the 90th Infantry Division Picture of the Week. I absolutely love this photo. For whatever reason, I think there’s a common misconception that foxholes were these nicely sculpted, plenty deep, often times timber-lined [...]
It’s LFWW time again. This week we’ll feature a note from Lt. Bob Gage, of Albion, Indiana. Lt. Gage was a B-24 bomber pilot, serving with the 370th Bomb Squadron, 307th Bomb Group, 13th Air Force in the South Pacific. He and his crew had quickly made names for themselves. Lt. Gage was bumped up [...]
This Wednesday, we’re featuring a letter from World War II infantryman, Ralph Conner. He fought through North Africa, Sicily and into Italy with Company L, 7th Infantry, 3rd Infantry Division. Conner, while on the Italian Front, wrote this short December 1943 note to his little sister, Lois, back home in Noble County, Indiana. Dear Lois, [...]
I think I can safely say that we’ve all been amazed by the progress of Arizona Representative, Gabrielle Giffords, in the aftermath of the shooting at Tucson. Some would call her climb thus far nothing less than a miracle. We all certainly wish her well. It got me thinking of others, that I’ve talked to [...]
This kind of weather has the History Junkie thinking of the Battle of the Bulge. The cold. The snow. Hell, HJ even woke up this weekend to thick dense fog. Following the D-Day landing at Normandy, Adolf Hitler witnessed his German forces being systematically pushed toward the homeland. In December, he struck back, with the [...]