This is my Grandfathers Brother KIA Malmandy Dec 21 1944

It's strange, I guess, but my grandfathers and their brothers that were in the war all came back (not that the Germans weren't trying in the cases of both of my grandfathers). I never had to hear about a grandfather or great uncle that died in the war, but so many must have had to. I think it would be especially (not sure of the word to use here poignant? not interesting, but something like it, perhaps) to have a family member die in this, one of the more infamous events in the war.

Man, when I think of Malmedy, it simply sends shivers up my spine. I can't imagine how frightening that must have been for all the men involved.

My Great uncle on my fathers side was Horace E Derrickson Co C 1278th ECB and My great uncle on my mothers side was Vincent P Callahan who was co C 2756th ECB Died non battle Apr 18 1945 in germany accidentially shot by 2 GIs messing with a german luger and accidentially firing it hitting him as he was reading mail !

I was recently reading an article in the December 2012 issue of America in WWII magazine about Charles Shulz of Peanuts fame. He said that he had a Luger that he was messing around with and almost shot a guy in the head that was across the street from him. The other individual in question was a medic and he was using the Red Cross as an aim point. Fortunately for both (more so for the medic) the distance was too great to hit his unintended target and the bullet grazed his cheek. The incident haunted Shulz for years. The article said there was a Peanuts strip where Charlie Brown was holding a pop-gun at another kid and it went "pop!" at which point Charlie Brown said, "Gee, I'm sorry. . .it went off!" I imagine that this was an all too often repeated mishap during WWII. The Luger has a very unique action which no GI would be familiar with. When there is a bullet in the chamber, a thin piece of metal protrudes slightly from the very top of the weapon and visible on the side is "GELADEN". Being unfamiliar with the pistol, it would be easy for someone (especially with the magazine removed) to think it was not loaded. My grandfather brought one back and I have shot it a few times. It shoots well, but it is easy to see how one could screw it up. The trigger doesn't take much pressure to release.

From http://www.lugerforum.com/ Just above the trigger, you can see the slot poke up when it chambers a round.

My grandfather's Luger. On the extreme left of the photo, you see the number 42. Just to the direct right of it is a 1.5mm wide slot that is about an inch long. That is what pops up and says "GELADEN". More pictures here.