Almost 72 years after WWII, I revisited the places in France, Austria and Germany that I had served at in wartime. I wanted to see them when we were at peace. Here is a recounting of my revisit to Europe in 2017.


Bavaria – Central Europe Campaign

World War II Connections by Bob Whelan April 30, 1945 - Germany Two significant events were occurring that day… In ...

Anglesqueville

I chose to title this story Anglesqueville because, while no longer the name for the town of Val de Saane ...

Luneville

To some extent this story is an extension of the first story in this Trip series. It, like the Siegburg ...

Siegburg

Here’s another story where one door closes, Another opens. Siegburg, was such a place. The name Siegburg translates as “Victory ...

Mettmann

One door closes, Another opens. Mettmann was such a place. The door had closed for the over 300,000 German troops ...

Wuppertal

Growing up in the 1930’s, I had a tremendous fascination for futuristic devices and stories. Foremost in my memories are ...

Opladen Connections – Part 1

Why Opladen? As explained in the Long Meadow story I used the name as an umbrella term for most of ...

Opladen Connections – Long Meadow

A Company’s role in the Ruhr Pocket, in my view, was a different scene from that in and around Berg ...

Patton – Transport 3

We, in A Company said goodbye to our halftracks we left behind in Berg, and pretty much retraced our journey ...

Berg – Transport 2

We crossed over the Inn for the last time on June 25, 1945. Vacation time was over. The next day ...

Berg – Transport 1

An Armored Division travels on wheels and tracks. Armored Infantry does most of its combat traveling on half tracks and ...

Berg – R&R

72 years is a long time. Time enough to gather one’s thoughts and take another look at what has been ...

Berg – House

Yes, Berg was the happy beginning of our 2017 return… Happy, because even the memories were happy in this place ...

Braunau

April 30, 1945 – July 8, 2017 My 13th Armored Division stories start at Braunau, Austria. As outlined in my ...

Brothers Reunited

Horst Przybilski          Ike Refrice World War II – Europe          World War II ...

Dienstglas

The following story took place in the Ruhr Valley of Germany in April 1945. This is a pair of WWII ...

Lost and Found

I lost a hat It fit upon my head It was my face I found a heart It was under ...

An Amazing Grace

These stories have a purpose. A purpose not immediately brought to light, but revealed in a completely unanticipated episode of ...