Now THIS creeps me out.

I am not sure if you have to be a member of Facebook to see this or not...my apologies if you do.

THIS is the link to the Erwin Rommel Fan Club on Facebook. Not nearly as creepy as say the Herman Goering Fan Club, but creepy and weird enough for me. But then again I'm the guy who wouldn't even consider making a model airplane of our WWII foes until I was in my 20's.

This seems to be the cousin of those folks who dress in Nazi uniforms and go to military collector shows. Yeah, I can't stand them either.

Something to do with what that uniform represents, I think. But then again I'm funny like that.

A Band of Brothers

Not a big fan of the opera (by that I mean I can't stand it). But on this 64th anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge, I thought this video might be appropriate.

Fans of the HBO series, "Band of Brothers" may recognize the melody.

This Is Just Sad...

From The UK Times via The Mudville Gazette.

Adam Sage in Saint Pierre de Varengeville-Duclair
The names “Thomas and Dorothy” were carved in the bark of one trunk. Another said “Bob and Carma”. Other trees were marked with soldiers’ home states - Iowa, Maine or Alabama - and several bore hearts and the names or initials of a wife or girlfriend.

The beech trees of Saint Pierre de Varengeville-Duclair forest bore a poignant testimony to the D-Day landings for more than six decades. Thousands of American soldiers stationed there after the liberation of Normandy spent their spare hours with a knife or bayonet creating a lasting reminder of their presence.

Although the trees grew and the graffiti swelled and twisted, this most peculiar memory of one of the 20th century’s defining moments remained visible - until now. Amid bureaucratic indifference and a dispute between officials and the forest owner, most of the trees have been felled, chopped up and turned into paper.

Many locals to their everlasting credit wanted to keep the trees...but local officials deemed the trees "unsafe" and ordered them to be chopped down. I bet those trees were safer than say an MG-42 or a PzKpfw IV...not that they care obviously.

...and time marches on.

Happy Birthday!

Silencing the Guns by Jim Dietz

Found this on Blackfive

The "Paratrooper of Love" wishes MAJ Dick Winters a happy 90th birthday.

For those of you who have seen the HBO mini series "Band of Brothers", MAJ Winters was, among other things the commander of Easy Company 506th PIR during the Normandy invasion.

At this site there is a link to a petition to upgrade the Distinguished Service Cross Maj Winters received to the Medal of Honor.

I have linked a video below of the Cable TV version of those events.



This show is the best thing I have ever seen TV/ Movies you name it in regards to presenting the soldier and his experience in that particular war. Obviously I'm not a WWII veteran, so I can't comment on the overall accuracy, but the tone and feel of it was so well done. I can watch this series over and over again. If you've never seen it go out and rent or buy it NOW.

On a related note I have always wondered what CPT Spears received for his actions that day in Belgium when he took over command of Easy company in the middle of combat and then raced through German lines to affect a link up with friendly forces on the other side of town, only to return through the same German lines after the link up was achieved. That to me was the other defining moment of this show.