World War II Blogs

September 30, 2024

September 30, 1944 – Dad and his front-line men now sensed things were going to get increasingly worse

As the month of September closed, the Divison was embroiled in heavy fighting. Enemy counterattacks were characterized by a ferocity hitherto encountered only in Italy the […]
September 29, 2024

September 29, 1944 – Scarves, washed clothes, and an powerful answer to prayer in Remiremont, France

One of Dad’s men, Sgt. Norman Mohar, wrote the story below in his WWII memoire, which I first located while researching my book at the U.S. […]
September 28, 2024

September 28, 1944 – War hero Audie Murphy writes about the worsening conditions

On 28 September 1944, at Remiremont, France, Dad’s 30th Infantry Regiment devoted the entire day to the care and cleaning of equipment and preparation for participation […]
September 27, 2024

September 27, 1944 – Dad and his men receive an uplifting letter from General Truscott

Two days after receiving the “Dear John” letter from his girl, Marilyn, back home, Phil and his men were still on a respite break. Phil had […]
September 25, 2024

September 25, 1944 – Dad receives a shocking “Dear John” letter from home

The next day, Phil received a stack of letters from home. He quickly flipped through them until he came to a lightly scented one with Marilyn’s hand-writing. […]
September 24, 2024

September 24, 1944 – Dad writes home as an early autumn and terrible weather descends

As the drive advanced, the 30th Infantry continued moving to the north and northeast through France, fighting through and liberating village after village as the season turned to […]
September 23, 2024

September 23, 1944 – Dad saves a platoon with a near miraculous shot

By nightfall on September 23, 1944, Dad’s 30th Infantry Regiment had reached the Moselle River, but they found the waterway swollen by heavy rains. The approach was so […]
September 22, 2024

September 22, 1944 – The dye was cast. Phil and his men were being sent to the deadly Vosges Mountains

On the afternoon of 22 September, 1944, General Eisenhower met with his major subordinate commanders, including Generals Devers and Patch, to consider new plans.[1]
September 22, 2024

September 22, 1944 – Gen Truscott writes his VI Corps troops, including Phil and his men

On 22 September 1944 the “Officers and Men” of the American GI’s of the VI Corps received the following letter signed by General Lucien K. Truscott, […]
September 21, 2024

September 21, 1944 – Phil’s 30th Infantry began some of the most bitter and exhausting fighting in its entire history

During the period of September 20-26, 1944, the 30th Infantry engaged in some of the most bitter and exhausting fighting in its entire history and contributed […]
September 20, 2024

September 20, 1944 – Phil’s 3rd Division battles toward the Moselle River

By September 20, the 3rd Infantry Division was now only a short distance from the headwaters of the Moselle River, which rises on the north face […]
September 18, 2024

September 18, 1944 — Phil, his men, and Love Company receive their first Presidential Distinguished Unit Citation

(CONTINUED FROM YESTERDAY)The situation for the few remaining soldiers of Love Company along with Phil and a few of the men from hi’s Ammunition and Pioneer […]