07-30-2005, 11:06 PM
The 7th Infantry captured Hitler's Berghof near Berchtesgaden, Germany on June 4, 1945. There was lots of loot to be found there, and the 7th Infantry took it's share! One of the items "liberated" was Hermann Goerings Mercedes Benz. Our Regimental commander, Col. John Heintges, took possession of it, but in order to use it, it had to be repainted in U. S. Olive Drab with white markings. The picture you see is the result. That's me (Russ Cloer) posing in the drivers seat for the picture. The Colonel liked to drive it himself on the Autobahn and used it to transport Army nurses between their station and his CP for dinner, dancing, etc., during Occupation Duty in nearby Salzburg, Austria.
Russ Cloer