Marion Hope this isn't over the top!!

206thmpco:-

You talked about the weather well here's a good photo of what

conditions were like 24/7 during the Battle of the Bulge. I'm still cold.

j3rdinf did it also and roque had it just as bad in Italy. If we didn't

joke about it we'd be in a rubber room for sure even after all the years.

I truly wonder how any of us walked out of this Battle in these conditions.

Sgtleo also for j3rdinf and rogue

Sarge and all!

I sometimes wonder that myself. I know I wouldn't have lasted through the winter of '44 in Italy or Germany, Belgium, France, etc. One thing I could never imagine is being sick on top of that and BEING OUT THERE.

Whenver I am stuck outside for a while and shoveling snow on a really cold day, I literally think of my dad and all of you, and then I shut my mouth and continue to do what I have to do without word. It's kind of a humbling experience. Puts things into perspective, qui? For those of us who never had to live thought that, we tolerate the cold. For those of you who lived through it, you ENDURED the cold. Une grand difference.

Well you know you've earned my respect. I just wish others around the world could understand as well too.

MARION, THANK YOU FOR YOUR THOUGHTS. THE PICTURE ABOVE THE ONLY THING

DIFFERENT IS THERE WERE NO TREES ON THE MOUNTAINS IN ITALY. Rocky

Sgt Leo & Roque,

Though we can look at the pictures and imagine what it must've felt like,

we can't ever experience it as you guys did. To be so cold, so wet, so

tired - and then worry about getting killed or wounded - only

you guys who were there could possibly understand what that felt like.

Like Marion says - we understand only a portion of it when we're outside

and start bitchin' about the cold & think: "Hey you whiner! how'd THEY

feel livin' it day after day, no hot chow, no dry boots & getting shelled?!".

My Uncle John Harrington was Airborne Glider Infantry and I know that

he got frostbitten feet which gave him trouble throughout his life.

I'd don't think I've ever told anybody this, but one of the biggest regrets of

my life was one night during a blizzard, I was mad at my father

& wouldn't give him a ride to work. It wasn't far, only up the street,

but I can still see him in my mind - in his overcoat, trudging up the street

in the freezing cold & blowing snow. I was young & stupid & was sorry

about it too late to go up after him. It may not seem like a big deal, but - OH how

I regretted it and regret it still. He was a working man all his life & never asked for

anything for himself. After he died and I read his letters from Italy & France and

began to "understand" what it must've been like for him & all you guys,

the memory of him & that snowstorm came back to me & I bawled my eyes out.

To this day, I can't think about it without tears. Recalling it, I always say: "Forgive me Dad!".

Whether you realize it or not - you guys teach all of us (and we NEED to be taught!).

You also MUST be thanked . My Dad's not here for me to thank,

so that means I'm thanking YOU all, whether you like it or not! so just shut up and

stand at attention while you are being thanked!! ha!

mary ann

mary ann(that's also a song I like) All day,all night, Mary Ann etc.

That was quite a story about your Dad and I was feeling sorry for you

until you gave those orders and you came across like a new "ASTP Butter

Ball Lt." whom we ignore!!

Do you realize that beside getting Frost Bite etc.;suffering in the cold;

having no clean clothes(could smell us before you saw us) we could

have been hurt as those lousy Krauts were using REAL BULLETS!!!!!

Don't believe me - ask Roque or j3rdinf.

Sgtleo

yeah go ahead and ask me.. Never argue with a Sgt. You're right Sgt. We called it

trench foot.One got it so bad he had to be carried down on a strecher.Hell he was

halfway down and we could still smell his clothes. Roque Talk to me JOE!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Moderator jumping in here...

Sorry I will be brief! (thank God huh?)

I've noticed lately that quite a few people on the forum are using the QUOTED REPLY when adding to a post. Please only use this if you are want to QUOTE something that is more than a few replies up. In other words, if you are responding to a post that is directly above, please do not use the quote. Use the ADD REPLY button.

This makes it much easier to read, and takes up a lot less space. In other words, keeps the continuity.

Thanks to all.

I've been deleting unnecessary quotes all week. Must be in the stars...

Sarge - I don't think I'm even gonna ask what a new "ASTP BUTTER BALL LT"

is!

Does this mean I'm now on KP???

Something tells me that most of the Krauts bullets would've

just bounced off you & Rocky & Joe.

And God help anybody who tried to take you guys prisoner!

They'd either be VERY sorry or else return you to your squad right quick!

"all day all night Mary Ann"

Moderator jumping in here...

 

Sorry I will be brief! (thank God huh?)

 

I've noticed lately that quite a few people on the forum are using the QUOTED REPLY when adding to a post. Please only use this if you are want to QUOTE something that is more than a few replies up. In other words, if you are responding to a post that is directly above, please do not use the quote. Use the ADD REPLY button.

 

This makes it much easier to read, and takes up a lot less space. In other words, keeps the continuity.

 

Thanks to all.

 

I've been deleting unnecessary quotes all week. Must be in the stars...

I am one of the guilty ones, I'm sorry, I'll take 20 lashes with a wet noodle Rocky

Tha reminds me of something my grandpa said a few years ago. I came in from work on a really cold evening, well, I thought it was cold around 20° or so. I said, "Man, its friggin cold!" My grandad calmly replies.... "Be glad you're not laying out here in a hole, with people shooting at you."

:

B