Toward the end of World War II, my Dad flew the 2nd Glider across the Rhine during opening moments of Operation Varsity. (Varsity was and is the largest airborne operation in history.) Operation Varsity was the first phase of the invasion of Germany early in 1945.
The Army Air Corps learned from airborne operations earlier in the war to form up the glider pilots and glider crews into infantry units and put them in the fight after they were on the ground. My father fought in a battle that was pivotal during Operation Varsity. It was called “Burp Gun Corner.” The pilots were ordered to hold a critical crossroad near Wesel. My Dad’s company of glider pilots accomplished their mission by blowing up a Panzer tank on a narrow city street and that disabled tank stalled a Nazi counter attack allowing the Allie’s offensive to continue.
Here is what General Bereton, Commander of the 1st Airborne Army had to say:
“The conduct of glider pilots, in general, is beyond written words of commendation. Not only did they deliver a magnificent and well-coordinated landing which in many cases was in the midst of hostile positions, but were immediately engaged with the Airborne associates in the hottest kind of hand-to-hand fighting. In one instance, a glider pilot serial immediately organized for all-around defense and withstood heavy counter-attacks with the weapons at their disposal, putting one enemy tank out of action in this engagement. The discipline and combat efficiency of these glider pilots has called forth the highest praise of Division and Regimental officers."
When Dad
came home from the war, he had his B-4 bag of uniforms, a duffel bag of flight
suits and other pilot gear and 2 two foot lockers. In one of the foot lockers
he carried home some Nazi memorabilia, two large Nazi flags, a small flag from
the disabled tank, signed by his fellow pilots turned infantry men. A Nazi
officer’s cap and dress belt and dagger and a Nazi army steel helmet.
No matter
how many times my friends and I played “Army” none of us would ever use any of dad’s
“Nazi stuff” to enhance our war play along the banks of the Red River. I remember
putting on the Nazi helmet once and getting a strange feeling as I looked at my
child face in the mirror.
I can’t
recall my Dad ever looking at his little collection. Like every combat vet, he
didn’t talk about actual fighting. He did tell plenty of great stories about
London and Paris though. The best was his co-pilot getting a bloody nose when
he walked into the glass door of a small Paris bistro or getting blown out of
his bed in a London hotel during a Luftwaffe bombing raid on the city or
listening to a speech on a French airstrip given by General Eisenhower after
the Nazi surrender.
This past
week I’ve often thought what my Dad would think of what happened in
Charlottesville last weekend, Nazis marching and chanting by torchlight or the
president’s defense of white supremacy. Dad hated everything the Nazi regime
stood for. He knew and loved his fellow pilots who died or were wounded during
his time in the Army Air Corps. He felt he was fortunate to come home alive to
Mom and his family and to me. He went into battle knowing mom was pregnant with
me, I’ve often wondered how that weighed on his mind. His letters to mom were
upbeat and positive. He never sounded tense or afraid. I know he was from my
conversations later in life with his friend Bob Anton, who spent his time at
war as an Army tanker. Anton and Dad would sit and talk over Seagram’s VO from
time to time, if I’d show up the conversation would stop. They were talking
about the war, their war.
The only
time I remember dad saying anything about Nazis was when George Lincoln
Rockwell, the head of the American Nazi party was scheduled to speak at the
University back in the 60’s. All Dad said was “he’s a Nazi son of a bitch.”
I think he’d
feel the same today, I know I do.
