Soldbuch returned to original owner

[jagjetta]

The scene could have come straight from a screenplay. It is 1944, and the American Army is pushing retreating Germans out of France across the Rhine River. Sniper fire is a constant threat, and when the war-weary Americans capture two enemy soldiers, vengeance seethes to the surface. Against the military discipline so valued by their commanding officer Maj. Vincent Jerome Bellis, the troops issue an order to the POWs: Run. One of the men is shot down in the bloody target practice; the other is wounded. Their "Soldbücher"—soldier's identification books—are delivered to Bellis.

Fast forward 61 years to 2005 in Greenville, where Vincent Jerome Bellis—this one a junior—is perusing the worldly possessions of the senior, who died in December 1998. From a metal box, a German first-aid kit brought home by Bellis Sr., he retrieves the soldbuch of 19-year-old Andreas Hupfer, wounded long ago by frustrated soldiers in the elder Bellis' charge.

For complete story:
http://www.militarytrader.com/Default.a ... 51Articles

John A-G
Iola, WI

[Simon H]

Hello John,

What an interesting story and a happy ending. It could almost be the start for a short screen play. A pity that both old soldiers could not have met up again which would have been really special.

Thanks for sharing it.

[Scott Revell]

Fantastic Story. Thanks for sharing.

Scott

[Annelie]

Great story, thanks for sharing.

Love the fact the Vet got back his buch and that he lived.

[mightythor99]

one of my family stories, is of "mein onkel", who was in the luftwaffe, went to leningrad, transfered to italy. he was in palermo, and fought all the way up the italian boot. he was in monte cassino. a little past there, someone stole his backpack, with all his papers and stuff in it........ he ended up going through brenner pass, ended up back in germany, and months later, when he finally got home, his family was shocked to see him. they produced a letter, from teh german govt, saying, "we regret to inform you, that your son has been killed in italy,... bla bla bla".
guess the guy who ripped off his back pack, got what he had coming!