How Laura Bush’s Father Fought in Germany

Watching America ^ | 5/9/08 | Nico Wingert

[Dawnsblood]

Millions of allied soldiers returned home after the defeat of the Hitler regime. Many were unable to speak about the horrors they experienced in Germany. One of those soldiers was Technical Sergeant Harold Bruce Welch – the father of First Lady of the United States, Laura Bush.

It was during the "National Days of Remembrance 2005,” that Laura Bush, First Lady of the United States, first spoke publicly about her father’s experiences in the war. That he served in the 104th Infantry Division of the U.S. Army and participated in the liberation of the notorious concentration camp "Dora" in Nordhausen. As a child, she had asked her father many times about this time in his life, but he never wanted to speak about it. “I think,” surmised Laura Bush in her speech, “He couldn’t bear to tell his child about the evil out there in the world.”

What Laura Bush’s father Harold Bruce Welch experienced in Germany, can be reconstructed from sources. Welch belonged to a raiding patrol called the Timberwolf in the 104th Division. Together with the 3rd Armored Division, they arrived at the concentration camp "Dora" in Nordhausen on April 11, [1945], and found approximately 5,000 dead and dying. Around two miles northwest of the camp, Welch’s division found the subterranean, top-secret production facility for radio-controlled rockets "Aggregate 4 (A4),” better known by its propaganda name "V2". Nearly 60,000 prisoners worked here under inhumane conditions for the Fascist war machine.

[Man50D]

My father participated in the liberation of the Nordhausen concentration camp. He has a photo album of the camp. Needless to say the photos are gruesome.

[Alia]

My dad was also involved with the liberation forces, advance team. He did not like to speak of those experiences. He would usually tell us the "funnier" parts of war and our troops. Our mom told us one, tho. He saw the "gas shower rooms", and found a container filled with teeth extracted from prisoners, all containing gold fillings.

In early 70s, my brother and I were watching "Soylent Green" on the TV. So out of character for my dad, tears were flooding his eyes, as he near begged us to turn off the movie. We didn't know why, we didn't ask why. We turned the tv off, and told him how much we loved him.

The things we remember.

[maica]

RE: “Briefly mentioned was the fact that Laura’s father was a leader in the Republican National Commitee and the Central Intelligence Agency after the war.

^^^^^^

When you read something that seems improbable, train yourself to be critical, not to accept what you read at face value, just because it has been published.

Laura Welch Bush’s father was a builder in Midland, Texas. The idea that he was involved in the CIA and it is just being made public now, with no fanfare except for this article, is not really credible.

The idea that he was a high official in the RNC and that “fact” has never been made public before now is also incredible.

[Dr. Scarpetta]

BTTT

[Wallace T.]

This story about Laura Bush's father being a leader in the Republican National Committee does not pass the smell test. The RNC isn't exactly a secret society or a clandestine agency, and his service there would be a matter of public record. It is hard to imagine such information not being picked up and discovered by the President's political enemies years ago. As for the CIA, it was not founded until 1948, and the article states that after World War II, Harold Bruce Welch entered business first in El Paso and later in Midland.

[Liberty Valance]

Good morning. I see that now. Maybe this translation got hosed up and was referring to the fact that George H.W.Bush was head of the Rep. Natl. Committee and also head of the CIA which he was. As an aside, I’ve seen interviews where Laura says she was a Democrat when she met W. Of course in those days there were many conservative dems in Texas. Texas own Charlie Wilson was (and still is) a Democratic, commie hating patriot.

[Straight Vermonter]

What Laura Bush’s father Harold Bruce Welch experienced in Germany, can be reconstructed from sources.

How does one go about doing this? My grandfather served in Europe and later in the Pacific. I'd love to see his records.

[maica]

Yes, I think the author confused Laura’s father with GHW Bush.

I wrote the post above to remind all of us to be careful in what we accept as “true.”

Genealogy is my hobby/passion, and it is amazing how often wrong data gets put on official documents, for innocent reasons. We all have experiences of finding errors in newspaper articles - when we have firsthand knowledge of the topic.

We have to remember this and be cautions about accepting anything about which we do not have first-hand knowledge as totally true.

[Alia]

Maybe this translation got hosed up and was referring to the fact that George H.W.Bush was head of the Rep. Natl. Committee and also head of the CIA which he was

Bingo.

[maica]

Check this out:

http://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records/get-service-records.html

How to Request Military Service Records or Prove Military Service
Military personnel records can be used for proving military service, or as a valuable tool in genealogical research. Most veterans and their next-of-kin can obtain free copies of their DD Form 214 (Report of Separation) and other military and medical records several ways:

If your parent is still alive, or you are next of kin, you can ask for his records.

[Straight Vermonter]

Thanks!

[NordP]

Thanks for the ping - great info!

God Bless such fine people. Brings back memories of my own wonderful father...35 missions over Germany.

Our fine military...LIBERATORS and protectors - making the World a better place!

[STARWISE]

That statement does seem quite
a far reach from what was
written about his career in
TX. May well be false.

Sure doesn’t take away one
iota of respect for the war
service he gave for our country.