Jim...The battalion hqs. of the 48th was at the Hotel at the Koening Sea. A beautiful place. We only stayed in the area about three days & then WE moved back to the area of Heidelberg. I managed to bring several "Items" back to the States. SS Knife, Flags, chevrons, caps, & five beautiful pistols. The day before the war was over I liberated a munitions dump & "salvaged about 250 German pistols. On the eight of May I had my 1st Sgt. lay them all out on the company street. Every man in the company selected one to bring home. My son has all my goodies. AL
Wow....this thread has been a real learning exp for me! Like many who viewed the "Band of Brothers" series, I was under the impression that the 101rst AB were the first ones to "liberate" Berchesgarten and Goebbels wine celler ...wrong! If ever anyone deserved a good drunk it was you guys!
AL- I would LOVE to see some pictures of your son's "loot" from there. I have a few nice items in my collection but I'm sure I would be embarrassed to put it up alongside that haul! The fact that you were the one who actually got them must be a source of great pride, and certainly no doubt about authenticity, as is usually the case with German collectables from WWII. It is so great of ALL YOU GUYS to share your memories with us here...can't thank you enough.
Today (May 9th) is the day they celebrate V-E Day in the former Soviet Republics, rather than the 7th like we do...I have a friend in Ukraine who's Grandfather was in the Red Army and spent time in Mauthausen concentration camp, so we always needle each other in a friendly way about which is the "real" V-E Day...of course you and I know it's May 7th !
Thanks again!
Jim