Announcement

**Greg Sebring** · 11-06-2003, 07:48 AM

ring face...

**Greg Sebring** · 11-06-2003, 07:49 AM

ring inside....

**Fred Borgmann** · 11-06-2003, 09:18 AM

Greg the chained coins are 3 pences and are sterling silver (.925 fine) as is the 2 shilling coin ring. The glider badge engraved design ring is really neat! Fred

**Greg Sebring** · 12-05-2003, 08:20 PM

wall display

Dad has a collage of pictures, certificates, and others items he has collected on the family room wall. The small figurine is a croutching 82nd Airborne Trooper on the outskirts of Ste Mere Eglise. Dad's Glider and Parachute qualifying certificates are framed. The small shadow box is has two commerative medals (D-Day and Battle of the Bulge) along with a copy of the French Croix de Guere (sp?) his unit qualified for. They are hanging on a piece of WWII shroud line. The background has a piece of foreign currency from most of the countries Dad was in. An ID bracelet he wore with his Serial # is along the bottom. The picture of Dad in the beret was a front page photograph from the Bristol Herald Courier where he was the in the color guard leading a Veterans Day parade.

Attached Files

Copy of DSC00280.JPG (101.7 KB, 398 views)

**Greg Sebring** · 12-05-2003, 08:22 PM

75mm shell

Attached Files

DSC00282.JPG (80.9 KB, 393 views)

**Adrian Stevenson** · 12-06-2003, 07:03 AM

Hi Greg, good collection of items from your Dad's service. Thye make a great display. I like the shell case. Was this actually one that your Dad's Pack How fired?
Cheers, Ade.

**Greg Sebring** · 12-06-2003, 03:06 PM

Originally posted by Adrian Stevenson

Hi Greg, good collection of items from your Dad's service. Thye make a great display. I like the shell case. Was this actually one that your Dad's Pack How fired?
Cheers, Ade.

Thanks Adrian,

...I wish it was. I had one heck of a time just securing this one. It was an eBay win. It is vintage WWII but I have no clue where it originated. The markings on the base are readable but I can't tell you at this time what they are. I just returned from a Holiday visit with the folks and Dad had to run me through his scrapbook of photographs again. I learn something new each time. He had photo of a 75 crew firing and he actually caught the piece in the recoil position and I saw stacked "cloverleafs" beside it. I was quite tickled as Dad gave me his class A uniform, overseas c*nt caps, and garrison hat. I'm looking into a display for them. The moth ball smell is strong but that's better than the alternative.

Thanks again & I hope you enjoy the coming holidays,

Greg

**Greg Sebring** · 12-08-2003, 10:13 AM

Latest "gifts" from Dad

On my last visit to my parents, Dad gave me his class A Eisenhower jacket, shirt with tie, two pair of pants with belts, his garrison hat and two overseas caps. I also found in the box an orange colored shoulder award of some type. I now have them on good hangers with the hopes of someday dressing a torso for display. (Note: Dad has since told me the orange Fourragere is not his. He has no idea what it is for and it was put in his box of uniforms after a mall display he participated in.)
I have a question for our uniform collectors. Is there a safe and efficient way to get the wrinkles out or will they "hang out" in time?

Greg

P.S. So our ribbon collectors don't go nuts....the bottom ribbon bar on the jacket pocket was pinned on Dad the day he returned home at the local American Legion Post by some grateful patron. Who knows what the hell it is. I think it adds a bit of character when the story is told. Dad's jump wings are on an 82nd Airborne ball cap he wears.

**Greg Sebring** · 12-08-2003, 10:14 AM

jacket

**Greg Sebring** · 12-08-2003, 10:14 AM

shirt and tie

Attached Files

Dad's shirt and tie.JPG (115.2 KB, 357 views)

**Greg Sebring** · 12-08-2003, 10:15 AM

pants

Attached Files

Dad's pants with belt.JPG (134.9 KB, 337 views)

**Michael Loeke** · 12-08-2003, 03:51 PM

Originally posted by Greg Sebring

Dad told me that when the 82nd Airborne was stationed in Berlin to help with security of the American Sector, they had nothing but problems with the Soviet forces. Across from the barracks where Dad was assigned was a cemetery. Dad said that from the time they were first assigned there to the time they were ordered back to the States, over 300 Russian soldiers were buried in the cemetery from having met an untimely demise by the American Airborne forces. Dad said it resulted from regularly finding dead American G.I.'s in the street almost every morning somewhere in Berlin ... several with Russian stillettos in their backs. There was an intense distrust that grew to a hatred between the Americans and Soviets. Dad even said they had a term for the nightime "activities". They called it "Rooskie hunting" . I was quite surprised when Dad first told me about it because I had this picture of the allies all working in harmony for the same cause. Dad said the Russians were as ruthless, cruel, inhumane to the German people as the "SS". Little was mentioned in the press about the post-war conflicts as politics started playing into everything. The nice Walther P-38 with exceptional hard shell holster that Dad has was "liberated" from a Russian...much to the reds dismay. Dad told me on guard duty one night he was Sergeant of the Guard and was responsible for a couple of bridges over a river. This was post war and the Allies all agreed that the traffic over all bridges in every sector was to cease at 11:00 PM. If you were caught on the wrong side when the bridge was closed....too bad. You waited until the next morning. Dad told me quite often American G.I.'s would straggle back having shacked up somewhere with some Frau/Frauline. He would always let them pass on their way. Vehicular was totally banned. One night Dad said a Russian staff car with four officers tried to cross his bridge after 11PM. Dad made hand gestures to them pointing to his watch, making a circular motion with his finger, and pointing back the way they came from. Dad said they cursed at the American guards and slowly turned around driving out of sight. Dad thought there would be further trouble so he told the other guards to wait for him to fire if it came to that. Dad added shortly they heard an engine reving and tires squealing. The staff car was approaching rapidly and was going to crash the gate. Dad said when the car was near, He, and then the other G.I.'s opened fire on the staff car with their Thompsons. The staff car careened off the bridge and into the water. When the heads popped up above the water they were sent back down for good with additional bursts. Dad said he was called into the Captains office for debriefing the next morning. The Captains main and only concern was that no one got away. Dad assured him no one did. This apparently was common all over and much was done to keep things quiet. Dad added he even sold rolled toilet paper to the Russian soldiers on the blackmarket as cigarette rolling papers. They would buy anything and everything with their military script. I guess you could say the "Cold War" started in Berlin.

Hi, Greg,

this is a very interesting story about your dad's time in Berlin. It really surprised me.
How long was his stay in Berlin.
Besides the P 38 Pistol was there other german Militaria he took back to the us?

Bye

Michael

Go on with the stories

**Greg Sebring** · 12-08-2003, 05:09 PM

Hello Michael,

Dad discharge date from the Army was January 1946. I remember him telling me when his Division was being relieved in Berlin to be sent home, there was a large convoy all headed toward Le Harve, France to catch a ship. I can't tell you the exact date he left Berlin but I can tell you another little story about the trip. The Captain of Dad's outfit needed a new driver since the regular one got some boils on his rear end. Dad was chosen for the trip as he had qualified for it. It was winter time and very cold and Dad couldn't fathom driving from Berlin to Le Harve in an open jeep....so..... he had a German citizen build a wooden enclosure so the jeep occupants would all ride inside. He obtained a small portable heater so the Captain and himself would all ride in style and warmth. This was very non regulation and probably funny to look at even though Dad said the German did a very good job making it air tight. The funny part was when the Battalion Commander was ready to pull out he was standing near the Captain. The Captain had to tell Dad several times to bring the jeep up. Well, Dad didn't want the Battalion Commander to see the contraption thinking he'll want to use it. Finally, Dad was able to get the Captain off to the side and politely tell him to shut up and the jeep will appear in good time. The Captain said," Sebring, what the hell have you done now?" As it worked out, Dad was able to bring the jeep up and everyone was toasty warm on the trip to Le Harve. Dad got the cover built for a few packs of cigarettes.

Dad also brought back a small 7.65 pistol and holster and a small assortment of pins, etc.

Thanks for showing interest.
Greg

Attached Files

**Greg Sebring** · 12-10-2003, 11:56 AM

"March Order"

Dad told me another tid bit last week. At one point, (in France I believe), Dad said his unit (319th FA) was called up to assist an Airborne Infantry unit. He thought maybe it was the 504th PIR but wasn't sure. It seems the U.S. 7th Armored over extended itself and got cut off being surrounded by the Germans. The U.S. forces were successful in re-opening the lines to the surrounded troops. Somewhere along the line the communication broke down badly and Dad said his battery was totally exposed with no no infantry support in front of them. Dad said all of a sudden there was tracer fire coming through their como netting over the howitzers with the Germans closing in on them. Dad Hollared "March Order" and the battery hastily packed up and fled barely escaping being overrun. Apparently this command is never given by an NCO.

**Greg Sebring** · 01-04-2004, 10:20 PM

e-mail message received

I had a pleasant surprise this morning when I opened my e-mails. The son of an army buddy my Dad served with contacted me. As it turns out, Dad's buddy lives in Florida and is in failing health. His son lives in Burlington, VT. The son read a post I placed on another site and decided to contact me. With his permission, I will post one of his messages as I found it interesting and I'm sure some of you will too. I informed him about this forum and I think he might join us someday.

Hi Gregg,
I was excited to receive your reply this afternoon. Yes, I am quite sure the fellow your dadd recognized at Ft. Bragg was my father since he has related the same story to me. I printed out the attached photo, which I assume is one of those yard long group photos. Also, I went too the webb site forum you linked for me and read with great enthusiasm the additional stories you related in there. Some of it sounds very familiar. I recall my father telling me that a SGt. in the battery was killed while riding on the running board of a truck when it hit a mine - now I have heard of the same incident but from another perspective and in some greater detail.Like you I could listento these stories all day long and not grow tired of them. Indeed, my earliest memories include watching "Combat!" with my father. He would comment to me or offer advice impromtu, "See the way those guys are bunching up! Don't ever do that! They'd all be dead by now if this were real." or "Unbelievable, grenades don't make that big an explosion." His only comment on the Band of Brothers episodes was that he didn't remember the men cursing and swearing so much. He is quite sensitive about that sort of thing, but I am inclined to believe the use of four letter words was certainly not so widespread as it is today. I have printed out the entire thread from the forum, along with other bits I've downloaded from the 319th webbsite this week, and will send it all down to him to read. In fact, I talk to him every Sunday and will tell him about our communication when we talk later.

I am struck by some of the similarities we have in our interest in and attitude about our fathers' time in WWII. I take it that you have been a miltaria collector? I have been one most of my life. Most items I sold off when I went blind, but in the last few years I've taken to scrounging around for WWII American uniform items and such like. Now there is a closet full of this stuff again. For quite a few years I owned a business which produced exact copies of historical uniforms. This was mostly American Civil War and German WWII items. In those days American WWII stuff was not worth reproducing except for jumpsuits and tanker jackets. Since I have this clothing manufacture background I am able to appreciate uniforms and caps despite my being unable to see them.

As I mentioned, my father has a jumpsuit he was issued but no other uniforms. I have dressed out an ETO jacket with his original ribbon bars, and brass. Theonly original patch he had was a 1st Allied Airborne patch silk embroidered on pale blue felt. That is in a shadow box now along with other insignia and hanging in his offic e at home. In fact, if you know where I could lay hands on another of these 1st Allied Airborne patches, please let me know. Except for a few belts braided from parachute lines, all the other items he brought back that are still around are civilian in nature. A pair of childrens wooden shoes from Holland. A Vogtlander camera with ttripod that he says he found in the home of an SS officer in Germany or Belgium (now sitting on my dresser). There was a lot of other stuff that I would love to have now but it was all given away or stolen - a typewriter from the Ford Motor factory in Cologne with a SS runes key, a Nazi dress dagger of some sort, A Nazi banner from the Wobelein concentration camp which my mother threw in the trash because of it's foul odor.

Like you, I've heard these stories a thousand times and there are many of them.I have aspirations of assembling these someday. Perhaps with his photos it would have some publishable potential. In the last two years I've become a regular writer for Military Trader magazine, and have kicked this idea around with the editor a little. Seems like we both feel the need to relate these stories to others.

I tried to register with the forum you linked me to but it required a visual piece that I could not satisfy. Maybe some time when my stepson is around I can get logged into this forum as I would like to participate in it. Stories . . . . Thinking back on the significant ones . . .the glider crash in Normandy and getting wounded in it, a Medic in Holland who executed a young German/Dutch prisoner, German jets straffing in Holland,coming across a field full of dead frozen Germans in the dead of night during the Bulge, taking a pair of camoflage mittens from an SS prisoner, trying to make a snow camo suit from a woman's nightgown, wearing a GI sleeping bag in the Bulge which he had refurbished into a sleeveless vest,taking cover from shellfire with Gen'l Gavin inBelgium, directing artillery fire from the roof of the Ford factory near Cologne, discovering the ungaurded concentration camp outside Ludwigslust, and meeting up with Soviet tankers driving lend lease Sherman tanks ("Shove your nanutski up ;your kaputski!" was his answer when being shown the Soviet markings on the American tanks), and on and on. You know, my dad is a very emotional man and cries easily. I once asked him if he was always that way. he said, "No, just since the war. I think I learned that there are things in life worth crying over." When asked if he thinks about the war, he answered, "Every day. Some of it I remember like it happendd this morning."

One more thing before I close. My dad didn't go to Berlin, but his best buddy, Rolnd Greubling of Milwaukee did. I visited Greubling once back in the early 80s on my way up to Green Bay. It was fascinating to talk with him and see his photos, many obviously taken at the same time or from the same roll of film as my father's . Greubling told me that he killed a Russian soldier who tried to steal his wrist watchwatch. I always doubted this story and atributed it to the category of a tall tale. After reading your fathers description of the Berlin occupation, I am inclined to believe that Greubling really did shoot a Russian with his .45 and dump his body over the bridge.

Best regards

Announcement

Well, they're not German...

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Users Viewing this Thread