11 May 1945

438^th AAA AW BN

APO 230 % Postmaster, N.Y.

11 May, 1945      0830

Germany

Wilma, darling –

We’re having somewhat of a heat wave over here – and it’s most unusual. We still wear our woolens of course, and I suppose we’ll continue to, because we’ve worn them ever since we left the United States. So far – the only change in our uniform is that we don’t have to wear our helmet, but only our helmet liner – which is quite light and comfortable. Also – of course – we don’t have to worry about carrying gas masks. I personally had given that up a long ago because I felt certain no gas would be used. Other then that – things are the same here, dear.

Our battalion is still working hard with ex P.W.’s of all nationalities – and how long we’ll have that mission, I don’t know. Meanwhile I’ve got a bit of a job on my hands: I have to do a physical on everyone in the outfit – which in itself is quite a job even if we were altogether. As it is – I’ll have to do a bit of traveling around and it’s going to take me some time. But if it weren’t physicals, it would be an inspection of this or that – so it makes very little difference to me what I do now – as long as I can keep busy until we sail for home. Oh happy day!

Point systems and all that – were announced yesterday – and as usual – they don’t affect the officers. The biggest break comes to those who have a wife and particularly – a child. Darling – we’ll have to have one of those right off! I don’t suppose I’ll know where I stand for some time – because even when they publish the officer set-up – the Medical Corps will still be in another category. If the bulk of MC’s have to go – well – I’ll have to go, too – but if I get to find out that a lot of MC’s are hanging around while I’m still stuck with a line outfit for 3 years – well – you can believe me, darling – I’ll blow my bloody top. I don’t mind doing my legitimate share – but I’ve done a good bit of it already.

I got a nice V-mail from you yesterday, sweetheart – 24 April and one from Lawrence. The latter is still doing his darndest to get overseas and I guess there’s just nothing that’s going to change his mind. I’ve tried – but it has had no effect. I guess he’d have to go eventually – and the earlier he goes – the quicker he’ll comeback.

Meanwhile, dear, my only thoughts now are of you and me. It was always so – but now I’m thinking harder and with the realization that the war is – in fact – over and my chances of seeing you soon are so much better than ever before. It’s going to be a tough wait – but sweetheart – one of these days I will be back and there we’ll be – together! Does it seem possible? Yes – it surely does. And boy – am I going to love you!! No answer, dear – that was rhetorical.

All for now, love to the folks –

And all my deepest love

Greg

* TIDBIT *

about the USS Bunker Hill
and Mementos Returned


USS Bunker Hill - Spring of 1945

On 11 May 1945, the US Navy fleet was in the sea 76 miles east of Okinawa with the flagship the USS Bunker Hill (CV 17). The first wave of 25 carrier-based airplanes had taken off for Okinawa, and the second wave (30 airplanes), and the third wave (48 airplanes) were preparing to take off. The fleet represented the strength of the U.S. Navy with abundant goods and weapons.

At the same time, the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) was sending kamikaze pilots to the U.S. fleets in Okinawa every day. By the time the U.S. fleet got to Okinawa, the U.S. Navy had worked out countermeasures against kamikazes, making it difficult for the kamikazes even to get to the target fleet. Faced with such a difficult situation, the IJN carried out a massive kamikaze mission called "Operation Kikusui No. 6". In the early morning, young pilots took off from their base, saying farewell to those who were sending them off. Among those pilots were Lieutenant Junior Grade Seizō Yasumori and Ensign Kiyoshi Ogawa. That day they both flew Zeros, in a sortie dedicating their precious lives to their loved ones. Ogawa held letter to his parents, a picture of his comrades, and a tanka (a structured lyrical poem) in his chest pocket.

       
Seizō Yasumori                                       Kiyoshi Ogawa

Kiyoshi Ogawa was born in 1922 in the Gunma Prefecture in Japan. He studied at the prestigious Waseda University and became a student-soldier, gakuto, after graduation. He was trained as a pilot and was assigned to the 306th Fighter Squadron of the 721st Kokutai with the rank of ensign in the Japanese Navy. Near the end of the war, he volunteered to be a Special Attack Force pilot.

At 10:04 on the morning of 11 May, Marine pilot Captain James E. Swett, an ace pilot of the USS Bunker Hill, having accomplished his task to shoot down Japanese planes, was about to land on the carrier when he reported two Japanese fighters approaching. Yasunori struck first, releasing his 250 kg (550 pound) bomb which tore through the entire ship and exploded in the sea below. Following the bomb drop, he fired at the deck from his Zero, destroying the planes full of fuel and causing a big fire on the ship. He then flew over the deck and fell into the sea. It was a very brave attack.

About 30 seconds later, at nearly a vertical dive, Ogawa dropped his 550 pound bomb just before his plane crashed into the flight deck near the control tower at about 10:05 hours. The bomb penetrated the Bunker Hill's flight deck and exploded on the hangar deck. Gasoline fires flamed up and several explosions occurred. In the two attacks on the Bunker Hill, 373 crew perished, 264 were wounded and 43 were missing. Enough serious damage was caused to the carrier to place her out of commission for the remainder of the war.

Photos of the fire, dead, wounded and damage
from attack on USS Bunker Hill

CLICK TO ENLARGE


   

Ogawa's aircraft was not destroyed. Mr. Robert Schock, a US Navy diver and crewman of the USS Bunker Hill, was working on the carrier after the attack. In the carrier, he found Ogawa's Zero, which had remained without catching fire.

Ogawa's Wrecked Aircraft on Flight Deck of USS Bunker Hill

He also found Ogawa's mementos. He brought the mementos of the pilot back to the United States and kept them carefully. When Shock passed away on 17 November 2000, his grandson, Mr. Dax Berg, discovered the mementos while arranging his grandfather's belongings. He talked with Mr. Paul Grace, a superior in the company Schock was working for, on what to do with them. Mr. Berg first thought of selling the mementos on auction; however, he decided to return them to the bereaved family of the kamikaze pilot. Coincidentally, Mr. Grace's wife was Japanese. With his wife, Mrs. Miyuki (Mickie) Grace to take the leading part, a very difficult project to return the mementos of a kamikaze pilot to his family began.

Mickie Grace, one of the top translators in the United States promoted the project vigorously while doing her job as a translator. Fortunately, the Defense Agency of Japan was among her customers. The Defense Agency began to research and soon found out the name, the date of the sortie, and the birthplace of the pilot. By 19 December 2000, they discovered the squadron the pilot belonged to, and the address of his bereaved family. Mrs. Grace wrote a letter to Ensign Ogawa's family on 24 December. Although Ensign Ogawa's family had already moved out, and his father, whom Mrs. Grace wrote the letter to, had deceased, the letter got to Ensign Ogawa's family on 30 December. Later, with the cooperation of Ensign Ogawa's classmates, they found that the tanka Ensign Ogawa had been holding was sent by Mr. Iwama. They also found the names of Ogawa's companions in the photograph.

On 27 March 2001, the mementos of this Japanese soldier from World War II were given to Yoko Ogawa, Kiyoshi Ogawa's grandniece, Yoko's mother, and Masao Kunimine, an old college friend of Kiyoshi Ogawa in a Japanese restaurant in San Francisco. His letter to his parents said this:

"I will make a sortie, flying over those calm clouds in a peaceful emotion. I can think about neither life nor death. A man should die once, and no day is more honorable than today to dedicate myself for the eternal cause.... I will go to the front smiling. On the day of the sortie too, and forever."

Below is footage from the aftermath of the attacks, showing rescue efforts and damage done, followed by notes connecting
actions with "TCR" times shown on the video.

NOTES:

10:45:09 Men tend USS BUNKER HILL (CV-17) wounded on the deck of USS THE SULLIVANS (DD-537).
10:45:15 Pan of USS Osberg (DE-538.
10:45:24 Injured on DD-537.
10:45:42 Men lying on raft in water, swimmers w/ lines pulling to ship.
10:45:49 Hospital ship stack w/ red cross & US flag at half staff (?). MS Men in stretcher transferred from DD-537 to hospital ship, USS BOUNTIFUL, (AH-9) w/ MS nurses & officers at ship's rail. Carrier & AH-9 alongside.
10:46:55 Left Side USS BUNKER HILL burning & trailing large smoke cloud.
10:47:27 Close-up of damaged BUNKER HILL w/ sailors cleaning up & inspecting damage seen from ship alongside.
10:48:46 Debris in water.
10:49:04 Men swimming in water seen from above w/ men hauling them in. Pan of men in water. Whaleboat moving among them.
10:50:02 Survivors in motor whaleboat alongside ship; men helping survivors. into whaleboat. Man in life vest swimming. Man helped over side of DD.
10:51:50 Men in bosun's chair transferred from CV to DE. Pan of men watching from above on carrier.
10:52:22 Men on bow of DE (?) watching jettisoning of wreckage from flight deck of BUNKER HILL.
10:53:04 BUNKER HILL burning & passing close; large flames, smoke.
10:54:09 Men in water.
10:54:22 Bunker Hill burning. Flak in sky. Burning BUNKER HILL.

10 May 1945

438^th AAA AW BN

APO 230 % Postmaster, N.Y.

10 May, 1945      0830

Germany

My dearest sweetheart –

Well– another beautiful day and I’m settled at battalion and it’s not bad at all. If I can only keep track of the various places we’ve had our C.P. – dear – it would in itself make an interesting story, I think. We’ve been up and down the scale – and branched off too. Right now – we’re in a factory; I was led to believe it was an ammunition factory – but I’ve found that it was one of the largest wool factories in Europe. Now it must seem strange to you dear when I say we’ve got a good set-up – but it’s true. This is a very modern factory; the top floor is devoted to offices and we’ve got some beauties. Then there’s a long corridor lined by separate rooms the whole length of it – and each officer has his own. Mine is about the size of your living room, dear and it’s well furnished. There’s a sink in the room and plenty of plugs for radio, desk-lamp etc. Our kitchen is in the cafeteria and the officers have a separate room. My dispensary is the factory aid station and it’s excellently equipped and all in white. We have a shower room, projection room, etc etc and so you can see, darling, that it’s comfortable here.

Incidentally – my mentioning radios reminds me – since we now have electricity – I don’t use my little portable. I’ve got a swell electric set – which I picked up (with the help of a couple of my men.) It’s a beauty, dear – and takes 2 men to carry it. I got it in Halle and the price was right.

Well, sweetheart, when I got here yesterday, I found the topic of conversation to be the same as everywhere you go: do we get a chance to get to the States? When? How much red-tape? Could they possibly send us to the CBI without sending us home first? How long will we be in the States? What’s it like in China? etc. etc.

And when there are no more questions – the conversation goes like this: I heard about such and such outfit and they’ve been broken up; or – I heard such and such were going to be occupation troops, or another outfit is being relieved of this assignment and being given that one etc. etc.

I mention that sweetheart – so you’ll know that each of us is doing the same thing here that you are doing at home. In all discussions – I’m not sure where I fit. Will I stay with this outfit or will there be a reassignment? I’m going to float along and see what happens. My own guess is that with or without the outfit – I’ll get home for a vacation – anyway – and for whatever else you want to dear. Frankly, I’d like to get married. I wish I had known you a bit longer and we could be married already. Well – we’ll have to sweat that out – and this time, darling, the big decision will come from you. It’s nice to think about anyway – and while you’re thinking – just remember to think that I love you, darling, more than anything or anyone in the world – and I’m prepared to keep on loving you the same way for always. All for now, dear – love to the folks – and

All my sincerest love –

Greg

* TIDBIT *

about Choosing Targets in Japan

In September 0f 1942, Brigadier General Leslie R. Groves, Jr., was appointed director of the effort to invent a nuclear weapon, known later as the "Manhattan Project". Groves selected J. Robert Oppenheimer to head the project's secret weapons laboratory.

J. Robert Oppenheimer
April 22, 1904 – February 18, 1967

Oppenheimer and Groves decided that for security and cohesion they needed a centralized, secret research laboratory in a remote location. Oppenheimer suggested and championed a site that he knew well: a flat mesa near Santa Fe, New Mexico, which was the site of a private boys' school called the Los Alamos Ranch School. The Los Alamos Laboratory was built on the site of the school, taking over some of its buildings, while many others were erected in great haste. There Oppenheimer assembled a group of the top physicists of the time, which he referred to as the "luminaries". The joint work of the scientists at Los Alamos resulted in the first nuclear explosion at Alamagordo on July 16, 1945, which Oppenheimer named "Trinity." Having proved their concept worked, a larger scale bomb was built.

Truman, unwilling to risk the huge amount of lives that might be lost on both sides should the Allies invade the Japanese home islands, ordered the usage of the new technology. The scientists presented them with two such weapons, while the military sought uranium to produce a third.

But prior to the trials and eventual development of the bombs, Oppenheimer led a committee which came up with a list of cities most potentially suitable as targets of atomic attacks, among other issues.

The second meeting of the Target Committee convened at 9:00 AM 10 May 1945 in Dr. Oppenheimer's office. During the course of the meeting panels were formed from the committee members and others to meet in the afternoon and develop conclusions to items discussed in the agenda. The concluding meeting was held at 10:00 AM 11 May.

The agenda for the meeting, presented by Dr. Oppenheimer, consisted of the following items: [Click here to read the entire agenda. Items D through H are reported below the list.]

A. Height of Detonation
B: Report on Weather and Operations
C: Gadget Jettisoning and Landing
D: Status of Targets
E: Psychological Factors in Target Selection
F: Use Against Military Objectives
G: Radiological Effects
H: Coordinated Air Operations
I: Rehearsals
J: Operating Requirements for Safety of Airplanes
K: Coordination with 21st Program

D. Status of Targets

1. Dr. Stearns described the work he had done on target selection. He has surveyed possible targets possessing the following qualification: (1) they be important targets in a large urban area of more than three miles in diameter, (2) they be capable of being damaged effectively by a blast, and (3) they are unlikely to be attacked by next August. Dr. Stearns had a list of five targets which the Air Force would be willing to reserve for our use unless unforeseen circumstances arise. These targets are:

(a) Kyoto - This target is an urban industrial area with a population of 1,000,000. It is the former capital of Japan and many people and industries are now being moved there as other areas are being destroyed. From the psychological point of view there is the advantage that Kyoto is an intellectual center for Japan and the people there are more apt to appreciate the significance of such a weapon as the gadget. (Classified as an AA Target)

(b) Hiroshima - This is an important army depot and port of embarkation in the middle of an urban industrial area. It is a good radar target and it is such a size that a large part of the city could be extensively damaged. There are adjacent hills which are likely to produce a focusing effect which would considerably increase the blast damage. Due to rivers it is not a good incendiary target. (Classified as an AA Target)

(c) Yokohama - This target is an important urban industrial area which has so far been untouched. Industrial activities include aircraft manufacture, machine tools, docks, electrical equipment and oil refineries. As the damage to Tokyo has increased additional industries have moved to Yokohama. It has the disadvantage of the most important target areas being separated by a large body of water and of being in the heaviest anti-aircraft concentration in Japan. For us it has the advantage as an alternate target for use in case of bad weather of being rather far removed from the other targets considered. (Classified as an A Target)

(d) Kokura Arsenal - This is one of the largest arsenals in Japan and is surrounded by urban industrial structures. The arsenal is important for light ordnance, anti-aircraft and beach head defense materials. The dimensions of the arsenal are 4100' x 2000'. The dimensions are such that if the bomb were properly placed full advantage could be taken of the higher pressures immediately underneath the bomb for destroying the more solid structures and at the same time considerable blast damage could be done to more feeble structures further away. (Classified as an A Target)

(e) Niigata - This is a port of embarkation on the N.W. coast of Honshu. Its importance is increasing as other ports are damaged. Machine tool industries are located there and it is a potential center for industrial despersion. It has oil refineries and storage. (Classified as a B Target)

(f) The possibility of bombing the Emperor's palace was discussed. It was agreed that we should not recommend it but that any action for this bombing should come from authorities on military policy. It was agreed that we should obtain information from which we could determine the effectiveness of our weapon against this target.

2. It was the recommendation of those present at the meeting that the first four choices of targets for our weapon should be the following:

a. Kyoto
b. Hiroshima
c. Yokohama
d. Kokura Arsenal

3. Dr. Stearns agreed to do the following:(a) brief Colonel Fisher thoroughly on these matters, (b) request reservations for these targets, (c) find out more about the target area including exact locations of the strategic industries there, (d) obtain further photo information on the targets, and (e) to determine the nature of the construction, the area, heights, contents and roof coverage of buildings. He also agreed to keep in touch with the target data as it develops and to keep the committee advised of other possible target areas. He will also check on locations of small military targets and obtain further details on the Emperor's palace.

E. Psychological Factors in Target Selection

1. It was agreed that psychological factors in the target selection were of great importance. Two aspects of this are (a) obtaining the greatest psychological effect against Japan and (b) making the initial use sufficiently spectacular for the importance of the weapon to be internationally recognized when publicity on it is released.

2. In this respect Kyoto has the advantage of the people being more highly intelligent and hence better able to appreciate the significance of the weapon. Hiroshima has the advantage of being such a size and with possible focusing from nearby mountains that a large fraction of the city may be destroyed. The Emperor's palace in Tokyo has a greater fame than any other target but is of least strategic value.

F. Use Against "Military" Objectives

1. It was agreed that for the initial use of the weapon any small and strictly military objective should be located in a much larger area subject to blast damage in order to avoid undue risks of the weapon being lost due to bad placing of the bomb.

G. Radiological Effect

1. Dr. Oppenheimer presented a memo he had prepared on the radiological effects of the gadget. This memo will not be repeated in this summary but it is being sent to General Groves as a separate exhibit. The basic recommendations of this memo are (a) for radiological reasons no aircraft should be closer than 2-1/2 miles to the point of detonation (for blast reasons the distance should be greater) and (b) aircraft must avoid the cloud of radio-active materials. If other aircraft are to conduct missions shortly after the detonation a monitoring plane should determine the areas to be avoided.

H. Coordinated Air Operations

1. The feasibility of following the raid by an incendiary mission was discussed. This has the great advantage that the enemies' fire fighting ability will probably be paralyzed by the gadget so that a very serious conflagration should be capable of being started. However, until more is learned about the phenomena associated with a detonation of the gadget, such as the extent to which there will be radio-active clouds, an incendiary mission immediately after the delivery of the gadget should be avoided. A coordinated incendiary raid should be feasible on the following day at which time the fire raid should still be quite effective. By delaying the coordinated raid to the following day, the scheduling of our already contemplated operations will not be made even more difficult, photo reconnaissance of the actual damage directly caused by our device can be obtained without confusion from the subsequent fire raid, and dangers from radio-active clouds can be avoided.

2. Fighter cover should be used for the operation as directed by the 21st Bomber Command.

Clearly, the effects of these bombs were grossly under-estimated if follow-up incendiary raids were considered!

09 May 1945

V-MAIL

438^th AAA AW BN

APO 230 % Postmaster, N.Y.

9 May, 1945     0825

Germany

My dearest sweetheart –

I missed you a terrible lot last night and if mental messages do have any power at all – you must have realized it. The war was over – and late p.m. 2 of our officers and an M.C. from another unit near here, dropped in. Well we decided to drink – that being the only way to commemorate a rather notable day. The day and evening were balmy and a good part of the evening I leaned out of the window and up into the sky – filled with stars. And I looked all the way across – to you, darling – and gosh – I would have loved to have been with you. Chalk up another Holiday we missed and which we’ll make up. It was strange, by the way, to have no black-out up and see the light from our window shine outside – and no one yelled “Put out that light!”

Am packing this a.m. and going up to Leipzig – so I haven’t much time – except to say – I love you. Love to everyone, dear.

All my deepest love,

Greg

VICTORY ORDER OF THE DAY
from General Courtney H. Hodges,
Commander of the U.S. First Army,
Distributing the Message from the Supreme Commander,
Dwight D. Eisenhower

CLICK TO ENLARGE




Now, typed for easier reading:

HEADQUARTERS
FIRST UNITED STATES ARMY
APO 230

9 May 1945

SUBJECT :      Victory Order of the Day
TO            :       Corps, Division and Separate Unit Commanders

       The following Victory Order of the Day issued by the Supreme Headquarters is to be delivered to every member of all headquarters and units under your command:

I

      "MEN AND WOMEN OF THE ALLIED EXPEDITIONARY FORCE:  THE CRUSADE ON WHICH WE EMBARKED IN THE EARLY SUMMER OF NINETEEN FORTY FOUR HAS REACHED ITS GLORIOUS CONCLUSION.  IT IS MY ESPECIAL PRIVILEGE, IN THE NAME OF ALL NATIONS REPRESENTED IN THIS THEATER OF WAR, TO COMMEND EACH OF YOU FOR VALIANT PERFORMANCE OF DUTY.  THOUGH THESE WORDS ARE FEEBLE THEY COME FROM THE BOTTOM OF A HEART OVERFLOWING WITH PRIDE IN YOUR LOYAL SERVICE AND ADMIRATION FOR YOU AS WARRIORS.

      "YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS AT SEA,  IN THE AIR,  ON THE GROUND AND IN THE FIELD OF SUPPLY,  HAVE ASTONISHED THE WORLD.  EVEN BEFORE THE FINAL WEEK OF THE CONFLICT,  YOU HAD PUT FIVE MILLION OF THE ENEMY PERMANENTLY OUT OF THE WAR.  YOU HAVE TAKEN IN STRIDE MILITARY TASKS SO DIFFICULT AS TO BE CLASSIFIED BY MANY DOUBTERS AS IMPOSSIBLE.

II

      "YOU HAVE CONFUSED,  DEFEATED AND DESTROYED YOUR SAVAGELY FIGHTING FOE.  ON THE ROAD TO VICTORY YOU HAVE ENDURED EVERY DISCOMFORT AND PRIVATION AND HAVE SURMOUNTED EVERY OBSTACLE INGENUITY AND DESPERATION COULD THROW IN YOUR PATH.  YOU DID NOT PAUSE UNTIL OUR FRONT WAS FIRMLY JOINED UP WITH THE GREAT RED ARMY COMING FROM THE EAST,  AND OTHER ALLIED FORCES,  COMING FROM THE SOUTH.

      "FULL VICTORY IN EUROPE HAS BEEN ATTAINED.

      "WORKING AND FIGHTING TOGETHER IN A SINGLE AND INDESTRUCTIBLE PARTNERSHIP YOU HAVE ACHIEVED A PERFECTION IN UNIFICATION OF AIR,  GROUND AND NAVAL POWER THAT WILL STAND AS A MODEL IN OUR TIME.

      "THE ROUTE YOU HAVE TRAVELED THROUGH HUNDREDS OF MILES IS MARKED BY THE GRAVES OF FORMER COMRADES.  FROM THEM HAS BEEN EXACTED THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE;  BLOOD OF MANY NATIONS -- AMERICAN,  BRITISH,  CANADIAN,  FRENCH,  POLISH AND OTHERS -- HAS HELPED TO GAIN THE VICTORY.  EACH OF THE FALLEN DIED AS A MEMBER OF A TEAM TO WHICH YOU BELONG,  BOUND TOGETHER BY A COMMON LOVE OF LIBERTY AND A REFUSAL TO SUBMIT TO ENSLAVEMENT.

III

      "NO MONUMENT OF STONE,  NO MEMORIAL OF WHATEVER MAGNITUDE COULD SO WELL EXPRESS OUR RESPECT AND VENERATION FOR THEIR SACRIFICE AS WOULD PERPETUATION OF THE SPIRIT OF COMRADESHIP IN WHICH THEY DIED.  AS WE CELEBRATE VICTORY IN EUROPE LET US REMIND OURSELVES THAT OUR COMMON PROBLEMS OF THE IMMEDIATE AND DISTANT FUTURE CAN BE BEST SOLVED IN THE SAME CONCEPTIONS OF COOPERATION AND DEVOTION TO THE CAUSE OF HUMAN FREEDOM AS HAVE MADE THIS EXPEDITIONARY FORCE SUCH A MIGHTY ENGINE OF RIGHTEOUS DESTRUCTION.

      "LET US HAVE NO PART IN THE PROFITLESS QUARRELS IN WHICH OTHER MEN WILL INEVITABLY ENGAGE AS TO WHAT COUNTRY,  WHAT SERVICE,  WON THE EUROPEAN WAR.  EVERY MAN, EVERY WOMAN,  OF EVERY NATION HERE REPRESENTED, HAS SERVED ACCORDING TO HIS OR HER ABILITY,  AND THE EFFORTS OF EACH HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE OUTCOME.  THIS WE SHALL REMEMBER -- AND IN DOING SO WE SHALL BE REVERING EACH HONORED GRAVE, AND BE SENDING COMFORT TO THE LOVED ONES OF COMRADES WHO COULD NOT LIVE TO SEE THIS DAY.

SIGNED DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER."

COURTNEY H. HODGES,

General, U.S. Army

Commanding.

* TIDBIT *

about Victory Day in the Soviet Union

 

Searchlights and Fireworks over Red Square
9 May 1945

The German capitulation to the Allied nations in Reims was signed on 7 May 1945, effective 23:01 CET 8 May. This date is commonly referred to as the V-E Day (Victory in Europe Day) in most western European countries. However, the Soviet Union's only representative in Reims was General Ivan Susloparov, the Military Liaison Mission Commander. General Susloparov's scope of authority was not entirely clear, and he had no means of immediate contact with the Kremlin, but nevertheless decided to sign for the Soviet side. Susloparov was caught off guard; he had no instructions from Moscow. But if he did not sign, he risked a German surrender without Soviet participation. However, he noted that it could be replaced with a new version in the future. Joseph Stalin was later displeased by these events, believing that the German surrender should have been accepted only by the envoy of the USSR Supreme command and signed only in Berlin and insisted the Reims protocol be considered preliminary, with the main ceremony to be held in Berlin.

Shortly before midnight on May 8, a second unconditional surrender was signed in the outskirts of Berlin, Germany. The signing ceremony took place in a villa in an eastern suburb of Berlin called Karlshorst. Representatives of the USSR, Great Britain, France, and the United States arrived shortly before midnight. After Soviet Field Marshal Georgy Zhukov opened the ceremony, the German command representatives headed by General Field Marshal Wilhelm Keitel were invited into the room, where they signed the final German Act of Unconditional Surrender entering into force at 23:01 Central European Time, which was 9 May by Moscow's time zone and calendar.

From The Independent UK, published on 9 May 2005, comes this:

In London they danced in the fountains but in Moscow they were too shell-shocked, too exhausted and too battle-weary to manage such high jinks. Up to 30 million soldiers and civilians were dead, the Soviet Union had lost a third of its national wealth, cities such as Stalingrad had been reduced to lunar landscapes, and an entire generation of men had been decimated.

That is not to say there was not euphoria though. Searchlights illuminated a city that a few years earlier had almost fallen to the Germans, cannon-fire and fireworks exploded over the Kremlin and relieved citizens crowded into Red Square to share their enormous collective relief.

A large and apparently grateful crowd gathered outside the US embassy in Moscow and revelers on Red Square danced, kissed, sung and chatted excitedly. One Soviet captain was overheard saying, "Pora jit" (It's time to live).

But Josef Stalin was not in celebratory mood and reportedly became annoyed when his then underling, Nikita Khrushchev, telephoned him to congratulate him on his victory. "Why are you bothering me?" he is reported to have snapped. "I am working." The night before, one of the USSR's most respected radio announcers had reported the German surrender.

This is Moscow. On May 8th, 1945, the representatives of the German High Command signed in Berlin the Act of the Unconditional Surrender of all German troops. The Great Patriotic War waged by the Soviet people against Nazi invaders has been victoriously concluded. Germany has suffered a total defeat. Eternal glory to the heroes who fell in the battles for the freedom and independence of our Motherland. Long live the victorious Red Army and Navy!"

It would not be until 24 June 1945, that the USSR held a proper victory parade, in torrential rain. On that day, one by one, soldiers lined up to toss the defeated German army's banners and standards, including Hitler's own personal standard, into a sodden mess at Stalin's feet beneath Lenin's tomb.

General Zhukov salutes the Red Army soldiers
during the Victory Parade on 24 June 1945

and downed and thrown German flags (below)

 

Rainy Day Parade

The parade was particularly poignant because just a few years earlier, when it looked as if Moscow itself might fall to Hitler, soldiers had marched straight from Red Square to the front. The circle was complete.

During the Soviet Union's existence, May 9 was celebrated throughout the USSR and in the countries of the Eastern Bloc. After the fall of Communism in Central and Eastern Europe, most former USSR countries retained the celebration as a national holiday even though it was not openly celebrated by some of them. Today and traditionally, ceremonial military parades are held on the day, such as the one in Moscow on the Red Square.

08 May 1945

438^th AAA AW BN

APO 230 % Postmaster, N.Y.

8 May, 1945      0825

Germany

Dearest sweetheart –

Happy V-E day to you and the family! I guessed wrong – but I’m glad my error was one month to the good. Despite the fact that the past week’s events made the end undramatic – the full impact of what this all means is difficult to analyze. But it’s a wonderful feeling, darling, and – I hope you get the same reaction I got: I somehow feel immeasurably more close to you now. Up to today – it has always been a question of how I’ll get home – after the war over here is over. Now, dear – the war is over, and I’m so ready for the next move! They can’t help but send us back to the States – regardless of what they do with us afterwards. Eleven months of continuous combat is hard to beat in any theater – and we should be given a break. And even it it’s a question of the Pacific afterwards – and I’m hoping that the M.C.’s will get a further break – we’ll still be in the States a few months, I’m sure. The point is that after a 21 day leave or furlough, they have to re-equip, retrain etc – at some Camp – and from what we’ve heard – that’s about a 10 or 12 week job.

But, darling, I’m getting way ahead of myself. I may be all wet; well, I’d rather paint the worst possible picture and then be surprised. Right now – the one big thought in my mind is – ‘when do I get back to you?’ Gosh – sweetheart – that will soon become a reality. Does it frighten you a bit? It if does – shake it off and remember that through all these months of waiting, we’ve been constant, we’ve been in love – we’ve been each other’s prime interest. And we were that before I left. I’m going to see you, hold you, kiss you and tell you I love you – and it’s going to be the most natural thing in the world, too. And why shouldn’t it be, too, when all I’ve thought and dreamed about is you and us?

Good Lord – to be home, see familiar places, wear a shirt – even Army – with a tie, to wear a cap and not a helmet, to ride around and feel free for a while – even – all that and you, sweetheart – hell – I’m already overcome. Now I’m sorry I sold my car because I won’t have anything to run around in – but I’ll get something.

And we’ll have so much to discuss – just the two of us. Marriage – as far as I’m concerned – will have top priority – I mean the subject of marriage. I don’t know exactly how you feel or will feel, darling. I know there’ll be a half-a-hundred ‘ifs’. But that’s something you’ll have to decide. I know I’ve changed a lot in that respect – as have so many of the other officers who aren’t married and have fiancées. The fact is I’d love to marry you pronto, darling – but as I’ve just said – you’ll have to do the rationalizing. A soldier coming home to his fiancée after a long time away – isn’t quite capable of good rationalization.

And all this because V.E. day is finally here this p.m. at 1500 when Churchill speaks – the two other officers and I are going to start drinking. Yes, I know dear – there doesn’t seem to be any point – and yet – VE comes once in a lifetime, and I want to remember it – one way or another.

Here is Churchill making that speech...

Right now – I’m going to drive up to Battalion and see what’s new there. I should be leaving here officially – in the next couple of days, I think.

Meanwhile – sweetheart – I can with justice say – sit tight just a little while longer – because I’m sure to be coming home to you soon. Hold on, honey, hold on!!

So long for now, dear, love to everyone at home – and

All my sincerest, deepest love to you

Greg

P.S. And I really love you !!

Route of the Question Mark


[CLICK TO ENLARGE]

(A) Helfta to (B) Halle to (C) Leipzig, Germany (25 miles)
16 April to 30 April 1945

Leipzig... The War finally came to an end, and we celebrated V-E Day by drinking the cognac, wine and assorted liqueurs that we had been carrying with us for weeks in anticipation of this event. The first three graders pulled guard that night so all felt quite secure. It was fitting for the War to end here as our quarters were the grandest we ever had, the luxurious offices of the directors of Stöhr & Co., a great textile firm. Steam heat, electric lights, running water, rugs, typewriters for everyone, desks and chairs in our rooms, almost private and (hold on to your hat) an elevator, the best addition ever; a swimming pool with Pfc [Leonidas W.] ZOIS in charge, assisted by Pvt [John] CUTTER [Jr] and Pvt [George] JOHN; a softball team that is still trying to win a game; The Polish pianist providing music with our meals; the kitchen crew and its famous quotation... Lt [Michael C.] MALANE asked, when he saw a fly trap rapidly filling, "What are you going to do with the flies now that the trap is full?" Answered a cook, "Why we take the trap outside, open the top, and let them go!" Now I ask you! T/5 [Marvin E. or Walter B.] JOHNSON left us for the States, 100 points to his credit and the envy of everyone. 1sr Sgt [Stanley F.] KOWALSKI, T/Sgt Albert W. or Roland C.] WRIGHT, T/Sgt [Manuel C.] OLIVIERA and Pfc [Donald E. or William K.] SMITH, are sweating it out, all have over 85, Good Luck and Happy Landings! Cpl [James E.] DOWLING and Pvt [Dennis J.] HAYES, both over the 42 age limit, have signed their five page request for discharge. Pfc [Daniel] HOLZER, blowing taps every night, lulling us all to sleep. T/5 [George W.] CHEETY wished he had given his correct age when inducted into the Army, 40's not close enough to pay off. Yes, it's over, as we have all the time in the world to do NO fraternizing.

From the Normandy beaches
to Leipzig, Germany...
Distance travelled --- 1425 miles!!!!

Never a Dull Moment!

THE END

* TIDBIT *

about Stöhr & Co. and a Board Member,
Walter Cramer

Stöhr & Co. Aktiengesellschaft (AG) was founded by Eduard Stöhr in Leipzig in 1880. It was also incorporated in 1880 and is headquartered in Mönchengladbach, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany. Today top quality yarn for customers all around the world is produced at the certified locations Mönchengladbach and Famalicao (Portugal). The success of this ongoing work at a high standard is reflected not least in the development of new, additional capacities.

Stöhr & Co. - Quarters described in The Route of the Question Mark
with Front and Side shown below

   

The dynamic development of Stöhr & Co. AG resulted in the establishment of Kammgarnspinnerei Stöhr GmbH in 1976, which since that year has been the umbrella for all worsted yarn activities of the AG (company limited by shares). Stöhr is one of the 100 largest companies in Germany and all Europe. The company is active in Germany and exports its products in The United Kingdom, Turkey, Portugal and France. Its production operations in Romania are carried out by Stoehr Rom Srl; in Portugal, by Stöhr Portugal-Companhia Industrial Textil, Lda. In addition, the company’s German subsidiary, Kammgarnspinnerei Stöhr GmbH, produces worsted yarns, both pure and dyed, from 100% wool or a combination of wool and other materials such as Lycra, polyester, viscose, linen, mohair and polyamides. The products are used in the manufacture of women’s, men’s and children’s clothing, automobile interiors and cushions and pillows.

Wilhelm Bernardo Walter Cramer was a German textile merchant from Leipzig. In 1919, Cramer became managing director of the Kammgarnspinnerei Gautzsch AG, a worsted yarn spinning mill. Four years later, in 1923, he was on the board of directors of the Stöhr Worsted Spinning Mill (Leipziger Kammgarnspinnerei Stöhr & Co. AG), another corporation in the same industry. Walter Cramer had a wide range of contacts both in Germany and abroad.

After 1933 he dissociated himself from the National Socialists. In the first half of the 1940s, Cramer took part in civilian resistance against the Nazi régime with his friend, Leipzig's former mayor, Carl Friedrich Goerdeler (1884-1945).Cramer was married to Charlotte Weber, with whom he had two daughters and a son. He was well acquainted with some of the generals and officers involved in the plans for a coup, and increasingly condemned Hitler’s conduct of the war. In his firm Cramer distributed copies of the sermons of Cardinal von Galen opposing the National Socialists’ murder actions against mentally ill people. Cramer made intensive efforts to help persecuted Jews in Germany, as well as Jewish employees in his firm’s branches in southeastern Europe.

At Goerdeler’s request, Cramer offered his services for the planned coup as political commissioner in military district IV (Dresden). After the unsuccessful assassination attempt on Adolph Hitler at Wolf's Lair in East Prussia on 20 July 1944, Cramer was arrested in Leipzig on 22 July 1944. He was brought from Dresden to the prison at 3, Lehrter Straße in Berlin and subjected to severe maltreatment in the Gestapo headquarters at 8, Prinz-Albrecht-Straße. Later he was transferred to Tegel Prison in Berlin. Walter Cramer was found guilty of treason and high treason and was sentenced to death by the People’s Court under Roland Freisler on November 14, 1944. He was hanged at Plötzensee Prison in Berlin the same day.

Walter Cramer
1 May 1886 - 14 November 1944

In 1945, a street in the Gohlis neighbourhood of Leipzig was named Walter-Cramer-Straße after him. The City of Leipzig also honored Walter Cramer with a monument in the Johannapark in 1996.

07 May 1945

438^th AAA AW BN

APO 230 % Postmaster, N.Y.

7 May, 1945      0830

Germany

Dearest darling Wilma –

Monday morning and the start of another week. This one, though, should be an uneventful one – and thank God for that! It rained all day yesterday and generally, it was a sort of moody day. But I’ve had those before and I got over it all right. Sometimes it seems as if the war will be tougher for us now than before when there was an element of danger, moving front lines – etc – we were always tense, keyed up – and the days really went by swiftly – individually and collectively.

0915

Sorry, dear – but I was called away in a hurry. Some one found a Frenchman who had hanged himself – in the cellar of one of the barracks buildings. I had to pronounce him dead. I have done that already, but a couple of Frenchmen are still giving him artificial respiration. No one knows who the fellow is; there are only a handful of French left here – mostly officers. This fellow apparently got into camp last nite – unseen. C’est la vie.

The few French officers – by the way – are a swell bunch. One of them is an M.D. Shabby as their clothes may be after 4 years of being kicked around, they nevertheless carry themselves with dignity and always seem to have an air of smartness lacking in the American officer. And they certainly surprised us yesterday when they asked us – 3 American officers to dinner. Their rations are not as good as ours and they don’t have the facilities, but damn it – they have the imagination! Where they dug up a cook, I don’t know – but we sat down to a neatly arranged table and first of all had hors d’oeuvres – yes hors d’oeuvres! It consisted chiefly of sardines, onions, radishes and salad – but hell – we never have that. I don’t know where they got it – but the radishes were fresh and the salad was green fresh lettuce – and it had salad oil and vinegar. We then had horse-radish – cut-up and flavored as I’ve never had it before. The main course was roast veal. We then went to their quarters and had two types of cake – mocha and chocolate – with frosting, filling and all, plus coffee and finally a liqueur. Mind you, dear, these officers are ex P.W.’s and have taken a tremendous physical and mental beating – until released very recently. It was a revelation – and certainly puts our cooks to shame.

I’m writing this at the Infirmary. I brought this along when I was called away. And you may think you sometimes have a lot of confusion at your place, darling. You should be here to hear Mullins – my Kentucky prodigy – trying to find out from a Russian – what’s the matter with him. Even an American has trouble understanding him; besides – we have a Dutchman who works as an aidman, and a Ukranian. The patients – fortunately – are all Russian so we’re consistent in the reactions we get.

I was going to look thru a few of your old letters and answer some of the things you’ve mentioned but I’m going to have to close now instead. If I wait until later – I’ll not get this mailed today. So will you excuse me, sweetheart? Heck – I haven’t even told you how much I love you – when actually that thought is first in my mind – morning, noon and night. It will be nice – when life returns to normalcy and I can concentrate on things that are most important to me – ‘things’ being you, darling. All for now – love to the folks – and remember – I’m

Yours for always,

Greg

* TIDBIT *

about The AP'S Article about the European War's End
and
The Story Behind the Story

CLICK TO ENLARGE

From The New York Times Learning Network's "On This Day" came this article re-print:

By Edward Kennedy
Associated Press Correspondent

Reims, France, May 7 --- Germany surrendered unconditionally to the Western Allies and the Soviet Union at 2:41 A. M. French time today. [This was at 8:41 P.M., Eastern Wartime Sunday.] The surrender took place at a little red school house that is the headquarters of Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower. The surrender, which brought the war in Europe to a formal end after five years, eight months and six days of bloodshed and destruction, was signed for Germany by General Gustav Jodl. General Jodl is the new Chief of Staff of the German Army.

The surrender was signed for the Supreme Allied Command by Lieutenant General Walter Bedell Smith, Chief of Staff for General Eisenhower. It was also signed by General Ivan Susloparoff for the Soviet Union and by General Francois Sevez for France. [The official Allied announcement will be made at 9 o'clock Tuesday morning when President Truman will broadcast a statement and Prime Minster Churchill will issue a V-E Day proclamation, General Charles de Gaulle also will address the French at the same time.] General Eisenhower was not present at the signing, but immediately afterward General Jodl and his fellow delegate, General Admiral Hans Georg Friedeburg, were received by the Supreme Commander.

Germans Say They Understand Terms

They were asked sternly if they understand the surrender terms imposed upon Germany and if they would be carried out by Germany. They answered, "Yes." Germany, which began the war with a ruthless attack upon Poland, followed by successive aggressions and brutality in internment camps, surrendered with an appeal to the victors for mercy toward the German people and armed forces. After having signed the full surrender, General Jodl said he wanted to speak and received leave to do so.

"With this signature," he said in soft-spoken German, "the German people and armed forces are for better or worse delivered into the victors' hands. In this war, which has lasted more than five years, both have achieved and suffered more than five years, both have achieved and suffered more than perhaps any other people in the world."

Now here is "The Story Behind the story," taken largely from an article published by the UK's Daily News online on 4 May 2012.

Sixty seven years later, The Associated Press is apologizing for the way it condemned and then fired Edward Kennedy for reporting perhaps the biggest scoop in its history.

Journalist Edward Kennedy on Anzio Beach
1 March 1944

Edward Kennedy and 16 other journalists were taken by Allied military officials to witness the 7 May 1945, surrender by German forces at a schoolhouse in Reims, France. On the flight to Reims, Military censors swore the journalists to secrecy (as a condition of being allowed to witness it firsthand), saying they couldn't report the surrender until given the OK by Allied commanders .

But later that day German officials went ahead and announced the news.

That meant, Kennedy knew, that the transmission had been authorized by the same military censors gagging the press. Furious, Kennedy went to see the chief American censor and told him there was no way he could continue to hold the story. Word was out. The military had broken its side of the pact by allowing the Germans to announce the surrender. And there were no military secrets at stake.

The censor waved him off. Kennedy thought about it for 15 minutes, and then acted.

"He used a military phone, not subject to monitoring by censors, to dispatch his account to the AP's London bureau" the wire service says. "Notably, he didn't brief his own editors about the embargo or his decision to dodge the censors. The AP put the story on the wire within minutes." In fact, Edward Kennedy gave his news agency perhaps the biggest scoop in its history.

Retribution was swift. The military briefly suspended the AP's ability to dispatch any news from the European theater. When that ban was lifted, more than 50 of Kennedy's fellow war correspondents signed a protest letter asking that it be reinstated. The military expelled Kennedy from France. Condemnation also came from the AP's president at the time, Robert McLean. Kennedy was fired.

"The Associated Press profoundly regrets the distribution on Monday of the report of the total surrender in Europe which investigation now clearly discloses was distributed in advance of authorization by Supreme Allied Headquarters," he said in a public statement on 10 May 1944.

Now, in May of 2012, current AP CEO Tom Curley says that was "a terrible day for the AP. It was handled in the worst possible way." Curley rejected the notion that the AP had a duty to obey the order to hold the story once it was clear the embargo was for political reasons, rather than to protect the troops. Of the news that Kennedy broke, Curley says, "once the war is over, you can't hold back information like that. The world needed to know."

He called Kennedy's dismissal "a great, great tragedy" and hailed him and the desk editors who put the surrender story on the wire for upholding the highest principles of journalism. "They did the right thing," Curley said. "They stood up to power."

Kennedy, who died in a traffic accident in 1963, had long sought such public vindication from his old employer. His daughter, Julia Kennedy Cochran, of Bend, Oregon, said she was "overjoyed" by the apology. "I think it would have meant a lot to him," she said.

06 May 1945

438^th AAA AW BN

APO 230 % Postmaster, N.Y.

6 May, 1945     0845

Germany

My dearest sweetheart –

It’s Sunday morning again – but it’s a gloomy one. It’s cold, grey, and drizzling outside – a good day to stay indoors. We’ve had rotten weather for about two weeks now, and we should be due soon for some nice balmy Spring. I had planned to go up to Battalion today but it’s not good weather for jeep driving and I’ll just stick around here. I don’t’ think I’ll be here much longer, though; things are pretty well organized and besides – in the last arrival of Russian, there were two Russian doctors. The plan is – as much as possible – to have the ex-prisoners run their own camps. So I’ll be going back one of these days, although there isn’t a damn thing to do there.

The news, of course, continues to be excellent, and each news broadcast, it seems – has some important development announced. There’s not much left now – but we’re all waiting for the actual statement from Shaef that all hostilities have ceased. Then – darling – anticlimax or not – battalion headquarters is going to get pie-eyed, and no doubt, the rest of the Army too. We’ve planned this from back in Normandy and not long ago we came across a cache of liquor that we’ve put away. There’s enough for every officer and man in the battery and it will be passed out at the appropriate time.

Talking about Normandy reminds me, dear, that not a heck of a lot of troops around here have been on the continent longer or as long as we. The fact is that most of the outfits fighting around here didn’t get going until sometime after the breakthrough at St. Lo.

Well yesterday, sweetheart, I really got some good distribution in my mail. They sent it down to me. There was a letter from you, 25 April, one from Eleanor – same date, one from Dad A in Ohio – same date, and one from Lawrence – 20 April. Now that’s the kind of mail a fellow can’t complain about, – so I didn’t complain. I was sorry to read that you were still apparently run down after your trip to New York. And what in the world did you eat that put your stomach on the bum for so long?

You philosophized a bit in that letter – about time, separation and change. Yes, darling – it will be two years soon, but unlike you, I don’t feel we’ve changed – or I should say “I”. I really mean that, too, although when I get home – I suppose I’ll be told differently. I feel about the same, weigh about the same – and have pretty nearly the same outlook on life. How much energy I have in comparison to what I had when I first joined the Army, I can’t exactly say, because it has been some time since I had to expend any; by that I mean that Army life kills one’s incentive, but I‘m pretty sure I’ll have all I used to have when I’m a civilian once again. I don’t know in what other respects I may have changed. Mature? I think I was mature before; Affected by the horrors of war? I haven’t been affected – I’ve just had my eyes opened, but it hasn’t made the ruffian out of me that almost everyone expects you to become. I honestly think I’m about the same. The one thing I’ll never get over though is the fact that this damned war has cheated me of some very valuable time – cheated us, darling – but when you consider that so many others have been cheated of life itself – well – I have to stop complaining. I pray only, darling, that I get home safely as soon as possible so we can see each other, talk, discuss, plan – and if possible – get married without delay. Like you, dear – that is foremost in my mind these days – but I’m doing the best I can to be patient.

And now – over to the Infirmary for a couple of Russian lessons. I can now say in Russian “2 tablets every 3 hours” – and everybody, dear, is getting the same instructions, regardless of the tablet or the disease.

Love to the folks – and

All my everlasting love –

Greg

* TIDBIT *

about The East Coast Battle of the Atlantic


Ship attacked by a U-Boat off North Carolina

The last actions of the Battle of the Atlantic in American waters took place on 5-6 May 1945. There were two such actions, against U-853 off the Rhode Island coast, and U 881, south of Cape Race, Newfoundland, both sunk during the same period.

Following Nazi Germany’s declaration of war on the US on 11 December 1941, the U-boat Arm of the Kriegsmarine attacked American shipping in earnest, beginning in January 1942 with "Operation Drumbeat". While the nation was still stunned by the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, German U-boats began prowling the waters off the Atlantic East Coast.The U-boat Arm continued to make offensive patrols against US coastal shipping, while German wolf-packs searched for and attacked convoys in mid-ocean.

For seven months, from mid-January to early August 1942, German U-boats would take control of America’s East Coast waters, sinking freighters and oil and gasoline tankers—anything and everything steaming off the coast. Ship by sinking ship, the Nazis achieved a victory over the United States comparable to and even more devastating than the one the Japanese had enjoyed at Pearl Harbor a few weeks earlier. For months, the US Navy failed to come up with a plan to end the slaughter.

Meanwhile, the American people were not being told how close they were to disaster. Concealed by censorship, it was a crisis that embarrassed Washington, panicked Britain, frightened coastal communities and nearly changed the course of history. Three hundred ninety-seven ships -- tankers, freighters and transports --- were sunk or damaged in just half a year. Nearly 5,000 people burned to death, were crushed, drowned, or simply vanished into the vast, endless sea. Few people realized how close to home the war had come, but Outer Banks residents became used to hearing explosions and seeing ships on fire off the coast. Hundreds of ships were blown from the water off Virginia and North Carolina. Coast Guardsmen, Navy crews and civilians saw the evidence firsthand, as beaches became coated with oil from stricken tankers and bodies washed ashore. Survivors would tell horrifying stories of shipwreck and flames. The unlucky ones would drift for days and weeks, dying one by one of starvation and exposure. Bloated corpses would wash ashore or simply disappear beneath the gray Atlantic.

Here is a video about Germany's Operation Drumbeat", as posted on YouTube by Dark Docs, with the caveat, "As images and footage of actual events are not always available, Dark Docs sometimes utilizes similar historical images and footage for dramatic effect and soundtracks for emotional impact. We do our best to keep it as visually accurate as possible."

Here is a video of interviews with some who saw the results of some U-boats:

Several ships were torpedoed within sight of East Coast cities such as New York and Boston; indeed, some civilians sat on beaches and watched battles between U.S. and German ships. At the end of April of 1942, Commander in Chief of the US Navy Ernest King and Admiral Adolphus “Dolly” Andrews, commander of the Eastern Sea Frontier of the United States, agreed that Andrews would take direct control over tanker sailings. All tanker traffic on the coast was ordered into port to await further orders. While Andrews worked on what to do next, the seaborne hauling of oil was halted, which hampered the Allied war effort from the oil-hungry factories of New England all the way to the empty petrol tanks of old England. A solution was needed fast.

By mid-May planning was coming together for a true convoy system for the Eastern Sea Frontier. As convoys were implemented, U-boat skippers began to notice that sightings of individual ships occurred much less frequently. When ships were sighted, they were found in clusters with trawlers, cutters, and destroyers scurrying about in escort. Overhead, Army and Navy patrol planes kept an eye out for subs. The risks of attacking grew as the waters and skies filled with sub-hunters. The rejuvenated American effort began to take a toll on the Germans. The coast guard’s Icarus sank U-352, and army pilot Lieutenant Harry Kane dropped two depth-bombs on the U-701 in a perfect attack.

[CLICK TO ENLARGE]

In May and June 1942, as the convoy system was still being phased in (with increasing enthusiasm from King, a former foe of convoys), there were 87 attacks on Allied shipping. In July and August, with well-escorted convoys moving under air cover and with the coast finally blacked out at nighttime, there were only 26. But in the first half of 1942, the U-boats had scored the most one-sided and damaging victory against the United States of any foreign naval power. Every month of Operation Drumbeat German subs had destroyed 3.5 percent of the tanker fleet for a total of 22 percent. The operation caused major disruptions in war-material production and in the shipping of supplies to the war fronts.

By 1945 U-Boat actions had been reduced to pin pricks, but their potential forced the Allies to maintain large naval and air forces, and expend considerable resources, to counter the threat. During the first five months of 1945, the U-boat Arm dispatched 19 U-boat patrols to American waters, including seven sailings constituting group Seewolf, the last wolf pack of the Battle of the Atlantic.

On 4 May 1945, U-boat Headquarters sent a signal to all U-boats ordering the end of attacks on Allied shipping effective 8 AM May 5th. That day there were just nine still at large; six off the US coast, and three Seewolf boats in mid-ocean. Of these, two were involved in action with the United States Navy, the last actions in American waters during the Atlantic campaign. At 5:40 PM. On 5 May, U-853, lying in wait off Point Judith, Rhode Island, sighted and fired on SS Black Point, a collier underway for Boston, Massachusetts. Her torpedoes struck, and within 15 minutes, Black Point had capsized in 95 feet (29 m) of water, the last US-flagged merchant ship sunk in World War II. Twelve men died and 34 were rescued.

SS Black Point

According to former President of C.H. Sprague & Son Co., which operated the SS Black Point:

Her Captain at the time she was sunk was Charles Prior, now deceased, from South Portland, Maine. It was a little after 1800, and he had just come onto the Bridge. The ship was coming out of Long Island sound, about 3 miles from Point Judith, Rhode Island headed for Boston Edison with 8,000 tons of coal. He had just reached in his pocket for a cigarette when the explosion occurred. He told us later, "I can't remember whether I lit that cigarette, or swallowed it!"

One of the rescuing ships — SS Kamen — sent a report of the torpedoing that was picked up the destroyer USS Ericsson, destroyer escorts USS Amick and Atherton, and frigate USS Moberly; they discovered U-853 bottomed in 108 feet (33 m), and dropped more than 100 depth charges through the night.

U-853 and crew

   
USS Moberly dropped hedgehog depth charges and an explosion ensued.

The next morning, on 6 May 1945, two blimps from Lakehurst, New Jersey — K-16 and K-58 — joined the attack, locating oil slicks and marking suspected locations with smoke and dye markers. K-16 also attacked with 7.2 inch (180 mm) rocket bombs. Finally, planking, life rafts, a chart tabletop, clothing, and an officer's cap floated to the surface, indicating destruction with all 55 men. U-853 was destroyed at sometime between midnight, when success was first claimed, and 1225, when it was confirmed.

On 6 and 7 May 1945, Navy divers attempted to enter the wreck to recover the captain's safe and the papers within, but failed. Recreational divers first visited the site in 1953. In 1960 a recreational diver brought up a body from the wreck. This provoked former Navy admirals and clergy to petition the US government for restrictions on disturbing the dead. The German crewman was buried with full military honors in Newport, Rhode Island. At least two recreational divers have died from exploring the wreckage. Renowned deep sea diver Stephen Hardick perished in 2005 while filming the U-boat.

"Remains" remain in wreckage of U-853

Also on 6 May, shortly after day-break, the destroyer escort USS Farquhar — assigned to the Mission Bay hunter-killer group — detected U-881, a Seewolf boat running submerged 300 miles (260 nautical miles; 480 km) south-east of Cape Race, Newfoundland. Making a sudden attack, Farquhar closed and dropped 13 depth charges in a single attack, which destroyed U-881 with the loss of all hands.

These were the last U-boats destroyed in action in American waters.

05 May 1945

438^th AAA AW BN

APO 230 % Postmaster, N.Y.

5 May, 1945      0840

Germany

Wilma darling,

Well there’s not a heck of a lot of Germany left and I can imagine the effect at home is a good one. By that I mean that the piecemeal surrender of the Germans is assimilated better by everyone and when the fighting in Europe is entirely over – the reaction should be moderate. We here – are very behind what’s left of the war – and I can truthfully say – I don’t miss it one bit, because whether you were actually on a front line – and darling – there were times our outfit was – or whether you were a few miles back, anywhere from 2-5, – the tension was the same, as far as I was concerned; it was either the mortar shells up front, or the artillery – farther back. As far as the infantry was concerned – those I spoke with when I worked at that hospital back at Carentan – in Normandy – all said they preferred the front line – where most of the time they had to put up with land mines and rifles. They hated the artillery. No matter how you look at it though, it was a deadly choice.

But to show you how funny a war can become – last night, after not hearing any big guns for quite awhile – we were rather startled to hear some – only a couple of miles away. We contacted a T.D. outfit (tank destroyer) which is also in town – and they had already sent out a recon party. They called us back a short while later and said that they had found an outfit out on a night problem – a practice affair – and apparently a new outfit with not too much – if any – combat time. So that cleared that one up – although it seemed to us – the C.O. might have told the other outfits in town – what was going on.

Meanwhile, sweetheart, I’m still here at the ex-POW Camp and taking care of mobs of Russians. I can now ask a couple of questions in Russian – but I’ll be damned if I know the answers I get. But they all end up with some sort of pill or other and they seem quite happy about it.

There was no mail sent down for me yesterday, dear, but I hope you’re getting mine fairly regularly. I manage to have my letter to you and the folks sent up to battalion every day – and from there it gets out.

And I’m sorry I didn’t mention it before, sweetheart, but I got the biggest kick ever out of that curl of yours you sent me. I don’t know why I never thought of asking for one. You can’t imagine my reaction. It was in fact – a part of you brought so close to me. I looked and looked at it and was surprised to notice how golden it was. Before I knew it – I was building all the rest of you around it and the effect was swell. I’ve now got it in my wallet – where I hope it lasts. Gee, darling, wish I could do the same for you – but I looked over the situation very carefully, and from every point of view – and I just couldn’t see how I could do it. You understand – of course.

But honestly – it was swell – the curl – and the reaction – and as inanimate as a lock of hair can be – it nevertheless made me realize how much I want you, how much I miss you – sweetheart, how much I love you. It’s a good thing this European affair is coming to an end. Something good is bound to happen and I just hope my own particular piece of luck continues to hold out. I don’t dare think what might happen if it doesn’t –

Well, darling, again it’s time for me to go. You haven’t mentioned Mother B’s health for a long time. As a matter of fact – you haven’t mentioned the folks very much at all – of late. How are they, what are they doing etc. Send my love to them, dear – and say ‘hello’ to Mary, too.

All my deepest, sincerest affection,

Greg

* TIDBIT *

about Six Dead in Oregon

On 5 May 1945 a Japanese balloon bomb killed six people in rural eastern Oregon in a town called Bly. These six were the only World War II U.S. combat casualties in the 48 states.

Months before an atomic bomb decimated Hiroshima, the United States and Japan were locked in the final stages of World War II. The United States had turned the tables and invaded Japan’s outlying islands three years after Japan’s invasion of the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor.

That probably seemed a world away to a Sunday school teacher, her missionary minister husband and five students near Klamath Falls. Reverend Archie Mitchell was driving the group along a mountainous road on the way to a Saturday afternoon picnic, according to the Mail Tribune, a southern Oregon newspaper.

Teacher Elyse Mitchell (26), who was pregnant, became sick. Her husband pulled the sedan over. He began speaking to a construction crew about fishing conditions, and his wife and the students momentarily walked away. They were about a hundred yards from the car when she shouted back: “Look what I found, dear,” the Mail Tribune reported.

One of the road-crew workers, Richard Barnhouse, said “There was a terrible explosion. Twigs flew through the air, pine needles began to fall, dead branches and dust, and dead logs went up.”

The minister and the road crew ran to the scene. Jay Gifford (13), Edward Engen (13), Sherman Shoemaker (11), Dick Patzke (14) and their teacher were all dead, strewn like spokes in a wheel around a one-foot hole. The teacher’s dress was ablaze. Dick Patzke’s sister, Joan Patzke (13) was severely injured and died minutes later, the Mail Tribune wrote.

The six were victims of Japan’s so-called Fu-Go or fire-balloon campaign. Carried aloft by 19,000 cubic feet of hydrogen and borne eastward by the jet stream, the balloons were designed to travel across the Pacific to North America, where they would drop 26 pound (12 kg) incendiary devices or a 33 pound (15 kg) anti-personnel bomb with four 11 pound (5 kg) incendiary devices attached.

Made of rubberized silk or paper, each balloon was about 33 feet (10 m) in diameter. Altitude was controlled via an electric altimeter that jettisoned sandbags when the balloon dipped below 9,000 meters and vented hydrogen when it climbed above 11,000. After three days the balloon finished its 5,000 mile trip across the Pacific, a timer tripped, and the deadly payload would be released onto...whatever might lie below. Their launch sites were located on the east coast of the main Japanese island of Honshū. They landed and were found in Alaska, Washington, Oregon, California, Arizona, Idaho, Montana, Utah, Wyoming, Colorado, Texas, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, North Dakota, Michigan and Iowa, as well as Mexico and Canada.

Some caused minor damage when they landed, but no injuries. One hit a power line and temporarily blacked out the nuclear-weapons plant at Hanford, Washington. Two landed back in Japan but caused no damage. American news media kept these attacks a secret during the war in cooperation with the US government to prevent fear, panic, and confusion which would fulfill the Japanese propaganda goals. The news blackout also caused the Japanese doubt about the effectiveness of their program.

Between November of 1944 and April of 1945, the Japanese released more than 9,300 balloon bombs. At least 342 reached the United States. Some were shot down. But the only known casualties from the 9,300 balloons — and the only combat deaths from any cause on the U.S. mainland — were the five kids and their Sunday school teacher going to a picnic.

Monument to the Balloon Bomb Victims
in Bly, Oregon

Postscript: Missionary Archie Mitchell disappeared while being held captive by the North Vietnamese in 1962.