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    #1

    A Christmas Tale of Death and Remembrance 1944

    I have told this story to about 3 people in the last 20 some years but I will post it here for posterity. When I was a young soldier in the American Army stationed in Germany. I researched bases and people around the area I was stationed and local events during WWII. One thing I discovered by reading local resources on WWII History was that there was an RKT with Oak Leaves buried in a small town near where I was stationed.

    http://www.luftwaffe.cz/struning.html


    I went to the cemetery to visit the grave but could not locate it. Looking back at the WWII Newspaper articles and photos I was able to match up one very distinctive building in the back ground and find the grave.
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    #2
    So, I researched the crash and the burial and was able to match up the buildings to locate the grave and brought it to the attention of a local historian and author Helmut Euler. He assured me that he would "take care of it".
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      #3
      I was excluded from any credit and he took "care of it" claiming credit for everything essentially. He told me that they would not want to deal with an "American Soldier". I am half real-live German but the guy is a 100% jack ass so no worries. It still pisses me of but Heinz knows.
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        #4
        So, was his grave not marked at all before you were able to locate it? I cannot read enough German to get the complete story.

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          #5
          No, the bushes were there but no stone etc. His wife died and there was no marker. Not a claim to fame but things were set right. My Dad was flying missions with the 9th Airforce that night too. Roll of the dice.

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            #6
            Hi John,

            Great story. As you are aware, your victory is in righting a wrong and identifying the man's final resting place. Claiming the fame is but a fleeting gesture and Euler is certainly aware of that.

            Good Job!

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              #7
              Thank Mike, he used the opportunity to advertise his book and store. He was on television as well. The cemetery has an "Unbekannt SS Rottenfuhrer" in it as well way back in the corner. I also wondered about him as well.

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                #8
                Johnny,

                Nice work indeed. In addition to the late Heinz Strunning (a great night fighter ace) we all know the truth now. Again, you did real nice!

                Douglas

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                  #9
                  I wrote to the Imperial War Museum and through their assistance received copies of the reports of the RAF pilots that reported shooting him down. These were also given to Euler but I do not know what ever came of them.

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                    #10
                    Hello.

                    As said above, the satisfaction of your work is worth more than a newspaper article although the thanks of the family would I'm sure have been nice.

                    Possibly an American soldier connected to the find would have upset the family? Maybe it was fate playing a helping hand all along.

                    Well done anyway.

                    Regards,
                    Chris.

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                      #11
                      In my opinion Euler is a selfish a$$hole - short-term thinker as well.

                      Without you nothing would have been done at all - it´s good to know the truth.

                      Thank you for helping some thick westphalian skulls to get their asses in gear and finally honour their soldiers!

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                        #12
                        Great job Johnny.

                        Sad to see that another one did run away with it.

                        yours friendly

                        Eric-Jan

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                          #13
                          Originally posted by Thorsten B. View Post
                          In my opinion Euler is a selfish a$$hole - short-term thinker as well.

                          Without you nothing would have been done at all - it´s good to know the truth.

                          Thank you for helping some thick westphalian skulls to get their asses in gear and finally honour their soldiers!
                          Hello.

                          I think your ability in the English langauge is evident!

                          Regards,
                          Chris.

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                            #14
                            I say... excellent work Johnny... and yes you should be a little perturbed... I would be... there is just no "honor" in some people.

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                              #15
                              A big thanks to you Johnny and dont care about that guy.

                              Jens

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