My friend’s dad was a paratrooper on D Day. They took terrible losses. He and his men flushed out some German troops in a house with grenades and gunfire. The owners had been evicted fortunately. They killed the Germans. A few years ago prior to passing he went back to the house and knocked on the door. Oddly they recognized him despite his and their age. The owners did not repair the bullet holes inside. They left them untouched as a reminder of being liberated by the Americans. He was treated like royalty. Today a plaque is attached to the house celebrating their action on that day.
Yes, not a surprise. One of the guys on our trip had dinner with a family in Luxembourg. He was captured in their barn during a battle. A German soldier pulled him aside and was going to kill him because the American had killed his friend in hand-to-hand combat during the fight. A German officer noticed and saved him, said no, we aren’t doing that. He spent 7 months in a prison camp, wearing his uniform for the entire 7 months there.
Amazing accounts. Thanks for posting!