60 years later, Virginia man remembers WWII massacre

Virginian Pilot ^ | 17 DEC 2004 | ROBERT MCCABE

[csvset]

A local talk show host read this on the air. A salute to Mr. Merriken for his service.

[NautiNurse]

Amazing story of survival. Thanks for the post.

[mainepatsfan]

Yet another thing not taught in our public schools.

[tkathy]

This same sort of thing is happening all over the Muslim world, and the MSM has its face buried in the bloody dirt.

[Gunrunner2]

You got that right. . .now, if it was American's who did that it would be required reading and tested each term.

[AEMILIUS PAULUS]

I saw the monument at Malmedy. The names of our neighbors makes one sick. As an aside the german commander was killed by an explosion in his bookstore circa the 1970's. It was claimed that it was the French underground survivors that did it.

[mainepatsfan]

Just like I don't think the Bataan death march is required course material at any high school history class.

[get'emall]

You got that right! I recently received "The Longest Winter" as a gift. It's a terrific (and illuminating) book. The Battle of the Bulge was one of the most decisive events in world history. Hard to understand why it wasn't a topic during the school years.

[mainepatsfan]

It seems almost impossible to imagine that battle taking place with today's media covering it.

[csvset]

I recently received "The Longest Winter" as a gift.

I don't read nearly as much as I used to; I'll have to read that.

[Nailbiter]

ping

[vetvetdoug]

I was reared as an USAF brat in the 50's and 60's. Overseas, we were taught about D Day, The Battle of the Bulge, and many of the Japanese atrocities and the things the PC doesn't allow. USAF regulations required the wearing of the Dress Blue uniform on June 6th in honor of the men that died D-Day. In public schools in Texas near the USAF bases, we were taught by a good many retired Army and USAF men that put their personal experiences into the curriculum. I believe that the NEA and the Teacher's Unions have been corrupted by the left with few veterans to offset the liberal leftist agenda that has been so prevalent since the late 60's into the present.

[get'emall]

No doubt about the perversion of our schools by the lefties in the teachers' unions. You were fortunate to learn where and what you did.

[tgslTakoma]

FYI

[Gritty]

USAF regulations required the wearing of the Dress Blue uniform on June 6th in honor of the men that died D-Day

Engaged in 1969, I chose June 6, 1970 as our Wedding Day even though I was less than a year old when the actual invasion took place. Using that date, I knew I would be very unlikely to forget our anniversary. I never have. Clever, eh?

In those years June 6th was a very significant date. Nowadays, it is pretty much forgotten as that awful war fades from national memory, with much thanks due to an incompetent and malicious public education system seemingly intent on obliterating so much of our history from our collective memories.

It is more than "sad".

[StayAt HomeMother]

Ping to the Foxhole.

I first heard of the Malmedy Massacre only a few days ago: "The FReeper Foxhole Revisits John Kline & The Bulge (Dec. 16-19, 1944) - December 17th, 2004."

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-vetscor/1303267/posts

"The Malmedy Massacre where nearly 90 American Soldiers were slaughtered was the worst atrocity, against the Americans, during the European Campaign."

Snippy, Sam, can you somehow append this article to your original post on that thread?

[NautiNurse]

Recovery operations did not begin at the Malmedy massacre location for another month, when US troops recaptured the area. As they worked to identify frozen remains of the fallen soldiers, they operated under enemy fire.

For more information about the recovery process, see Mortuary Affairs Operations At Malmedy-Lessons Learned From A Historic Tragedy

[TheDon]

From perhaps 10 feet away, as Merriken tried to cross a fence, the German pointed his pistol at him and attempted to fire, but the gun jammed.

Thanks to all the WWII veterans! To those who came home, and those who did not.

[Chode]

Peiper was murdered by french communists in his home on 14july1971

[AntiBurr]

I'm currently re-reading Robert E. Merriam's "Battle of the Bulge". Merriam was an official historian for the 9th Army and was eventually the officer in charge of the official history of the battle. The book is based on his researches which took place immediately following the battle. In my opinion, it is one of the best accounts of that battle.
My copy is in paperback and published by Ballantine. The original title was "Dark December" and was published by Ziff-Davis.