They Remember: Memorial Day, Margraten, Netherlands

Irma Haex | May 28, 2007 | David Allender

[RedRover]

I received an e-mail today from Mrs. Irma Haex of Holland. She and her teenage son, Wesley, have adopted the graves of four Americans buried in the Netherlands American Cemetery in Margraten.

Irma writes...

We do this out of respect for the men who paid the ultimate price for our freedom, it is 62 years ago that the war ended, but most of the Dutch people won’t forget.

I thought people here might enjoy knowing that there people like Irma and Wesley Haex, tending the graves of our fallen overseas.

_______________________________

Irma Haex at the grave of Sergeant Robert E. Grame, 333rd Infantry Regiment, 84th Infantry Division (Sgt. Grame entered the service from California. Died: November 23, 1944)

Wesley Haex at the grave of Lt. Col. Robert G. Cole, 502nd Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division (Lt. Col. Cole entered the service from Texas. Died: November 13, 1944. Awards: Medal of Honor, Purple Heart, French Croix de Guerre with Palm)

From today’s ceremony at the Netherlands American Cemetery

Each for his own memorial
Earned praise that will never die
And with it
The grandest of all sepulchres
His mortal bones are laid
But a home
In the minds of men.

[RedRover]

The Netherlands American Cemetery in Margraten

[RedRover]

Ping!

[353FMG]

Dank U Mevrouw Haex.

[freema]

Very inspiring.

[sweetiepiezer]

Thank you for posting. Praise for this women and her son.
God bless them.

[RedRover]

Two other graves adopted by Irma and her son…

Rodney Hines, Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army Air Forces, 336th Bomber Squadron, 95th Bomber Group, Heavy. SSgt. Hines was a ball turret gunner on a B- 17 F. (Entered the service from Ohio. Died: February 21, 1944. Awards: Air Medal, Purple Heart.)

Leonard McGee, Captain, 194th Infantry Regiment, 17th Airborne Division. Capt. McGee was a combat surgeon. (Entered the service from Pennsylvania. Died: March 24, 1945.)

[Marine_Uncle]

"Very inspiring."
These fine people pay honor to those that freed them from tyrany while in the NW USA goons replaced American Flags on our military graves with NAZI flags.

[Marine_Uncle]

"...We do this out of respect for the men who paid the ultimate price for our freedom, it is 62 years ago that the war ended, but most of the Dutch people won’t forget."
Well damn it fine people. You had better start doing something about the Islamofacist that want to take your country over right now! Or do you want to see new grave sites of honorable American GI's having to yet again free you from a absolute tyrany.

[RedRover]

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, March 3, 1863, has awarded in the name of the Congress the Medal of Honor to

Lt. Colonel Robert G. Cole
UNITED STATES ARMY
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty:

Lt. Col. Cole was personally leading his battalion in forcing the last 4 bridges on the road to Carentan when his entire unit was suddenly pinned to the ground by intense and withering enemy rifle, machinegun, mortar, and artillery fire placed upon them from wellprepared and heavily fortified positions within 150 yards of the foremost elements. After the devastating and unceasing enemy fire had for over 1 hour prevented any move and inflicted numerous casualties, Lt. Col. Cole, observing this almost hopeless situation, courageously issued orders to assault the enemy positions with fixed bayonets. With utter disregard for his own safety and completely ignoring the enemy fire, he rose to his feet in front of his battalion and with drawn pistol shouted to his men to follow him in the assault. Catching up a fallen man's rifle and bayonet, he charged on and led the remnants of his battalion across the bulletswept open ground and into the enemy position. His heroic and valiant action in so inspiring his men resulted in the complete establishment of our bridgehead across the Douve River.

The cool fearlessness, personal bravery, and outstanding leadership displayed by Lt. Col. Cole reflect great credit upon himself and are worthy of the highest praise in the military service.

Rank and organization: Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Army, 101st Airborne Division. Place and date: Near Carentan, France, 11 June 1944. Entered service at: San Antonio, Tex. Birth: Fort Sam Houston, Tex. G.O. No.: 79, 4 October 1944.

A park at Fort Campbell is named for this division hero.

[tet68]

God Bless these fine people.

[RedRover]

Great to see you, tet68. Yes, their actions brought more than one tear to my eye.

[RedRover]

Thought you’d like to see this.

[Army Air Corps]

Thank you, sincerely, for the ping to this thread. It is a balm to the spirit in light of the thread on war grave desecration on our own shores.

To Mrs. Irma Haex, those men passed to you and your people the vey preciuos flame of liberty. Guard it and feed it.

[Army Air Corps]

preciuos = precious

Damn my blurry, fuzzy screen.

[Army Air Corps]

Thank you Mrs. Irma Haex. Thank you for tending to the final resting places of the remians of our men. Thank you for honouring their sacrifice; a price that they paid willingly to people who they never met and for the betterment of generations yet to come.

[AZamericonnie]

If you could RedRover please pass on my admiration for Mrs. Irma Haex & her handsome son Wesley for their good works & deeds in adopting these graves of our fallen heroes. They honor them & themselves in doing so.

[jazusamo]

Thanks for posting this, Red.

God Bless them.

[Army Air Corps]

Ping

[Brad’s Gramma]

Thank you both!!! Quite the contrast, AAC, isn’t it?

[PAR35]

Looking at the date and the unit, it appears that he may have been killed during Market Garden.