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Bill Yaeger (AA Chapter Member)
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Submitted by Bruce Hadler (AA Chapter Member)
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United States Army Veteran, Infantry
European Theater of Operations World War II
Bill served in Europe 1944 through 1946.
"Thank you, Bill!"
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My father, Richard Albert Hadler, was a Sgt. in the United States Marine Corps at TARAWA...I am so proud of him. His specialty was Communications. He ran lines for radio communication in the field and operated the radio between battalion HQ and company HQ. It was a backpack radio. He's 81 now and still very active.
"Thank you, Richard!"
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Letter submitted by Brooks Kelley (AA Chapter Member)
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My Dad, who just turned 91 and is very healthy, served in World War II.
He was in front line fighting in the Battle or the Bulge and the Battle of the Ardennes.
So that you can appreciate the hard fighting, he stated that he never saw an officer last the night although they were never informed if they were killed or just wounded.
Although my dad had a masters in history, he was drafted as a private since that was where they needed the men.
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After the war ended, he was at the School of Kirkaville (sp?) where he taught American History to the Germans who were latter responsible for setting up their current form of government.
He was officially assigned as a guard for the prisoners of war (after the war ended) but he only had a small firearm (which they never taught him how to fire) and he was surrounded by 1,000s of German prisoners.
He would be sitting down and they came up and talked with him.
Those that could speak English were the closest and it was translated to the others.
In my office sits a copy of the painting that one of the German officers did of my father in 1945. It shows my dad in his uniform. A copy is also at the Smithsonian in Washington DC.
What is also interesting about this picture, is that a relative of the artist was one of the individuals who tried to assassinate Hitler.
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At my Dad's home, there are carvings from other German officers.
In about 1990, my Dad tracked down and wrote the artist of the painting in Germany and he sent another painting.
About two months ago, I found out the story behind that painting.
It is a painting of a beach on the ocean. While at the School, my Dad liked to look at the ocean.
Only later did he discover that he was walking through land mines.
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My father-in-law was also in the Navy although it was the Japanese Navy.
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Two of my cousins served in Vietnam and one cousin became a Colonel and just retired a few years ago.
His daughter and son-in-law are currently serving in the military although I do not know their exact location.
My niece was stationed in Korea a couple of miles from the border until about six months ago at the last I knew.
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"Thank you, Mr. Kelley and others of the Kelley family!" |
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James Skochelak (AA Chapter Member)
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Edward R. Straub III (son of Mary Cortese, AA Chapter Member)
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Cpl. United States Marine Corps, 1982 - 1988
Infantry - specializing in Mortars, also Battalion Sniper
Currently, the Service Officer for the Saline American Legion Post.
"Thank you, Jim!"
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Major, United States Marine Corps, 1994 - present; Company Commander of Charlie Company, the 4th Combat Engineering Battalion, 4th Marine Division.
Ed's wife, René (Urban) Straub, United States Navy, 1995 - 2003, Nurse.
"Thank you, Eddie and Rene'!"
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