Panzer lunch sack

[George Cone]

Has anyone ever seen one of these?
It was given to me by a Panzer Grenadier from the 29th Falke Div. He fought my dad at Salerno.

[George Cone]

2

[SurvivingPanzer]

Fought your dad at Salerno? Forget the lunch bag tell us that story!

[George Cone]

Well, my dad, Jack Cone was the first draft pick out of Ft. Worth in 1940. He was in the TX 36th div. He went to Africa with them, but hardly any saw action as the Axis went into the bag one month after their arrival.

The Fighting TX 36th div. was the FIRST American div to invade/crack Hitler's Continental Fortress Europe @ Salerno, Italy on Sept. 9, 1943. My dad was in the 2nd wave that went ashore at daylite; he went in with the 143rd IR. He was a tech sgt and carried a Tommy gun. He took half the platoon in one boat and the Lt. took the other half in another boat.

I am working on a documentary film about the invasion. Once my dad died, I started to go to the reunions. All the T Patchers lamented that history had forgotten them as they were the first American div. to land in Europe, 9 months before Normandy.

So I figured I could right the wrong....
I have been interviewing men for 4 years and have attended reunions of the 36, RAngers, 82nd Airborne, Geman paratroopers and the National Panzer reunion in Munster for the past 5 years now. I have found some of the Germans that were at the beach. The man that gave the bag to me was Hermann Graf of the 29th PzGr. div.
http://www.lestweforgetww2.com/Hermann_Graf.html

He was a very nice man that I interviewed....he gave me a few things when i left....but he has since passed.

here is my website:
http://www.lestweforgetww2.com

thanks for asking.

i studied and worked in germany to learn the language so that i could speak to the vets.....they are all incredibly nice men that fought for an evil regeim. i consider many of them my friends and make a point of visiting them whenever i can. i correspond with many.....they very much appreciate someone my age and from the opposing side asking questions as the german youth is not too interested or nice to them. i just ask and listen...i do not pass judgement.

below is Heinz Moeller of the Feldherrnhalle Pz Br. 106, of which I am an honorary memeber. His page is below:
http://www.lestweforgetww2.com/Heinz_Moeller_FHH.html

[Richie B]

George

My compliments on your website - very interesting stories, especially from the German perspective.

Richie

[History]

George I have two friends who were in the 36th during WW2. PM me if you need any contact info with them. One is in very good shape as far as his health and his mind is also very very sharpe. He was wounded by a German sniper in Italy. I want to add that I love your web site.

[PB106FHH]

Hallo George,

wie geht es Dir?

schön, dass ich Dich gefunden habe, bin jetzt neu hier im Forum.

Viele Grüße nach Texas sendet Matthias!

Sorry, you know, my English is not so good...

[djpool]

George,

The bag as well as your site are awesome. The bag will be featured in an upcoming book on German rations of WWII.

Heres a short excerpt from the book:

<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 11"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 11"><link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5COwner%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsoh tml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <wontGrowAutofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="1026"/> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:shapelayout v:ext="edit"> <o:idmap v:ext="edit" data="1"/> </o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]-->The German Tank Crew Candy Ration was an attractive, acceptable ration consisting of two packages of tartaric acid confection, two fruit bars, and one round chocolate disc. The total gross weight of the ration was 15.5 ounces. The translation of the printed information on the package stated that it was 15.5 ounces and that it was a two day supplementary ration. It was packaged in a Kraft paper bag.

I sent you a PM and E Mail.

Jim

[History]

George did you ever contact my friend?