I received a "baggie" of sand from Omaha Beach yesterday...

[Adam Helmer]

I now have a sample of sand from Omaha Beach, Normandy, France among my WWII memorabalia. My neighbor went to France two weeks ago and just arrived home here in PA 3 days ago. He honored my request and brought back some sand from the D-Day Beach. He was able to sneak my sand through Customs and now my den has an addition that enhances the WWII theme.

He also brought back a bottle of red French wine that will be consumed at dinner tonight and the empty bottle will repose in my den.

Adam

[Rapier]

Adam,
Congrats on getting something you have wanted for some time from the conflict.

I also collect WWII items, mostly signed books and prints, and have a fair representation of some fairly famous WWII folks. One prize I had given to me was a sword taken from a German SS Staff Sergeant’s body by Sgt Mike Smith, 506th Parachute Regiment, 101st Abn Div. The SS trooper from the 2nd SS Panzer Division, "Das Reich" leading an assault, fell to Sgt Smith's BAR during a night action at Bastogne, Belgium on 12-23-1944. That is one of two items I have in glass cases.

I guess I was lucky to start, when these guys were still alive in great numbers. Oh, the stories of Mike Smith were one reason I joined the 101st.
Ed

[Adam Helmer]

Rapier,

Thanks for the reply. In 1960, my 10th grade history teacher was John Hepp who was a 1st Lt. in the 101st and at Bastonge in December 1944. He was on the line as Officer of the Day of the sector that the Kraut's motorcycle and sidecar came to the Bastonge lines under a white flag. The German Lt. and Captain were blindfolded and taken by U.S. Jeep to see McAuliff. About an hour later their terms had been received and McAuliff responded "Nuts." and the Germans were brought back to their motorcycle and sidecar.

The German Captain asked Hepp, "Nietze, Nietze, was bedeautet Nietze?" (Nuts, nuts, what does that mean?) John Hepp had a First Sergeant from Lancaster, PA who was fluent in German. Hepp asked the 1st Sergeant to elaborate in German. He did and about 30 minutes later the Krauts shelled the hell out of the crossing point. All of my male high school teachers were WWII veterans, who attended college under the GI Bill, and often they alluded to their service.

That era is passing and I feel richer for my experiences being in their classes.

Adam