I happened across this story on CNN and have included the link to the entire article here. It is an amazing and heartbreaking story of the bravery, heroism and courage of men captured by the Nazis after the Battle of the Bulge. In honor of Veteran's Day and the men who have served this country, it is worth the read.
WW II vet held in Nazi slave camp breaks silence: 'Let it be known'
Story Highlights
World War II vet held in slave camp witnessed Nazi atrocities first-hand
Anthony Acevedo, 84, was one of 350 U.S. soldiers held at Buchenwald subcamp
Only about 165 survived captivity and their subsequent death march, he says
Survivors signed documents never to speak; Acevedo says now people "must know"
WW II vet held in Nazi slave camp breaks silence: 'Let it be known'
Story Highlights
World War II vet held in slave camp witnessed Nazi atrocities first-hand
Anthony Acevedo, 84, was one of 350 U.S. soldiers held at Buchenwald subcamp
Only about 165 survived captivity and their subsequent death march, he says
Survivors signed documents never to speak; Acevedo says now people "must know"
5 comments:
Yes Sylvia that was wonderful reading. It is so hard to even contemplate what these men (and women) must have gone through. My mother's father was a prisoner of war for five years in Singapore held captive by the Japanese. He still had nightmares until he died in his 90s. He told us fleeting things about it but I guess he kept most of it to himself. My mother wrote a book about him. Interestingly, I have just been reading his wife's diary (she kept one for sixty years). I think sometimes we forget the families who also had to live through the pain of not knowing whether their loved ones were safe or not. My grandmother brought up 5 children and life was hard for her. Its these kinds of stories we should here more of. Sometimes ceremonies and medals and marches dont bring home the message of just how horrific war is nor how courageous the men and women who go to war are. How they return to a normal life after, is simply incredible. We can just never do enough for these wonderful people or their memories.
That was hard to read. I had to turn my mental imaging off.
I will never understand what makes humans treat other humans in such a depraved manner.
That war was horrible, but was fought to rid the world of the monster that was Hitler.
Why are we fighting, killing and maiming now?
This was very painful to read. My mother always said war makes humans worse than animals. It's true isn't it? But then there's our government hiding things again...
Horrible details, but they serve to remind us of where we do not want to go, ever again.
Makes you think hard, doesnt it. All these power hungry leaders, fighting wars , and the real heroes are the ordinary folks who exhibit so much care and fellow feeling for their colleagues, so much bravery, and so much patriotism in the best way, even after being close to , being physically almost broken. I salute Anthony and his colleagues. And may we all learn something for the future.
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