Letter to home from US Navy sailor describes German display of solidarity.

Personal email | 10/24/01 | Unknown

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

This letter was sent to me from a friend at work. He said his Aunt forwarded it to him. I apolgize for any posting faux pas, but this is my first posting. I would not have posted this as fact, however, I have a photograph of the German vessel at the time of the incident as provenence of the letters veracity. I don't know how to link to the photo but I'm working on it. If anyone would like to see it I can email the .jpg to you if you FReepmail me. It is quite spectacular.

[dighton]

Click for pic.

[BlackJack]

bump

[Vermonter]

Thanks, as an ex-destroyer sailor (and an American), I appreciate it.

[MudPuppy]

this letter is legit and circulating widely

A Letter from Underway

Semper Fi!

[Isthatso]

Outstanding, thanks for the post.

[cactmh]

BTTT!

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

Thanks for the link, mate. That's the photo. A real heart sweller.

[SMEDLEYBUTLER]

[Nyralthotep]

Thanks for posting, having served in the US Army for 8 years, the significance of what the German ship did is enormous and a grand honor to our Navy and nation. This gives me a higher level of respect for the German military.

[MudPuppy]

Click on Current Deployment then go to:
"For a personal account of our experiences out here in Northern European waters,
please see a letter written by an Ensign aboard USS WSC that she has graciously
agreed to publish on this site."
...and click the link.
This letter is posted on a navy.mil site....the pictures are there also.

[Mo1]

Oh WOW ... That is a great Photo .. did anyone hear the speech by the German guy yesterday .. I think he was a PM or something

Anyhow .. He went on to say how during W.W.II America came to the help of many Germans when the Nazi's took control and Americans helped the German people get rid of Hitler and the Nazi's .. That Germany has never forgotten and that Germany would help America get rid of terrorist

I have to say .. I haven't heard another country (except Britain) say that ... I wish more would

[Notforprophet]

I wonder if the Lutjens is one of their glass-bottomed ships?

[ken5050]

Thanks for the great post....But I'm curious about one thing..I thought that Lutjens was a Nazi WW II admiral....(wasn't he in command of the Bismarck when she was sunk?).....and the Germans are naming ships after him?

[seams2me]

very cool. BUMP

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

"wasn't he in command of the Bismarck when she was sunk?"

Gunther Lutjens was an Admiral on board at the time and was killed in the final battle. He would have been ranking officer on board. Don't know if he was in command. I'm checking my sources.

[ken5050]

Lutgens was in command of a two ship squadron..Bismarck and the cruiser Prinz Eugen....when they broke out....Prinz Eugen was detached and returned to base before the Bismarck was finally cornered....so an admiral on board a one-ship fleet, is effectively in command.....though he makes "suggestions" not orders.....but I thought Lutgens was a rabid Nazi......he committed "gotterdammerung" with the Bismarck and the crew..

[ken5050]

Lutgens was in command of a two ship squadron..Bismarck and the cruiser Prinz Eugen....when they broke out....Prinz Eugen was detached and returned to base before the Bismarck was finally cornered....so an admiral on board a one-ship fleet, is effectively in command.....though he makes "suggestions" not orders.....but I thought Lutgens was a rabid Nazi......he committed "gotterdammerung" with the Bismarck and the crew..

[ken5050]

Lutgens was in command of a two ship squadron..Bismarck and the cruiser Prinz Eugen....when they broke out....Prinz Eugen was detached and returned to base before the Bismarck was finally cornered....so an admiral on board a one-ship fleet, is effectively in command.....though he makes "suggestions" not orders.....but I thought Lutgens was a rabid Nazi......he committed "gotterdammerung" with the Bismarck and the crew..

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

Found it. Ernst Lindemann was the 'Kapitän zur See'. He was in command at the time of the sinking.
I must add that my father-in-law, when I asked him that question, came up with that name in less than 5 seconds. Amazing.