June 10, 2009
ATLANTA, Georgia (CNN)
I'll never forget holding World War II medic Tony Acevedo in my arms. He wept and convulsed for more than 10 minutes, his body constricting and tightening in a way I'd never seen before. "I'm sorry," he said, repeating, "I'm sorry. I want to say more, but I can't."
I held his hand and hugged him until he calmed. I had asked what I thought was a simple question. "When I say the name Erwin Metz, what comes to your mind?"
(excerpt)
I’ve seen it, bookmarked it before but it’s worth saying again. You’ve got the best FR home page, one of the best all around bookmark collection pages I”e seen.
Thanks for posting.
ping
Thanks for this post. I wasn’t aware of this particular story.
This is the reason my dad who was in WWII never let us watch Hogan’s Heroes growing up, because of what a mockery that show made of the true hell our guys went through. Thanks for posting this.
Sobering thread - thanks.
I went to Dachau in the late 70s. Imagined or not, that place had a terrible feeling to it. I’ll never go to another, and I’ll never forget it.
I Will Bear Witness by Victor Klemperer is outstanding...and heartbreaking. It’s a 2 volume translation of his diary.
And in contrast German POWs were treated very well in the states.
http://jkezo.s3-solutions.net/writing/STALAG%20IN%20WISCONSIN%20BOOK%20REVIEW.htm
In fact, they received such humane treatment at the hands of our military that many requested permission to stay here. Although the government’s negotiated peace treaty denied all such requests, an estimated 5,000 POW’s found work sponsors and immigrated back to the U.S. during the 1950’s.
Tell me again how America is not exceptional and the last best hope on Earth.
Any one know what keywords to add to this?