Comes A Soldier’s Whisper is pleased to share the following story and photo of some amazing souvenirs from WWII submitted by the son of a 101st Airborne paratrooper:

As a son of a WWII 101st Paratrooper, I now have my father’s collection of wartime souvenirs and a few stories that go with them. When I was a child, I would look at them time and time again trying to understand how my dad was like some of the men portrayed in WWII movies. I didn’t pursue answers from him too hard and he never got into much detail. In his older age, I was able to pull some info from him on few things. I like many others regret we didn’t ask our dads more while they were still with us. I know I am not the only son/daughter of a WWII vet that has these treasured items kept in memory of their father’s service to our country. How did they get all these items back to the states? Millions of soldiers sent things home! Here’s one way, I am sure there were others!

Para-phrased from “The Last First Sergeant” by Layton Black, 101st Airborne…as the war was ending.
“New orders came down from above on war souvenirs, they can now be sent home. This became a way of getting rid of German “tools of war”. This was done with build-your-own wooden boxes that could be shipped home with whatever you wanted in them, 8x10x42 inches, you could build as many as you wanted. All the men became carpenters!”

My father said there were many more items that got lost, stolen, given away or traded! I am so glad I have these, they will be handed down to my children and grand-children so my father’s WWII service & sacrifice will not be forgotten.

My father’s inventory:
2 – sheathed daggers, one taken from a German Colonel, a LIVE German Colonel!
Story – German Colonel in a group of prisoners was asked by my father to take off his uniform ( partial desire for great souvenir mostly desire to humiliate Offeice of the “master race”), Colonel refused….Colonel was told in no uncertain terms by my father pointing rifle at him that he would die if he did not comply. He complied!
Uniform belt with buckle “Got Mit Uns” (God with us) ironic?…..inscribed on the buckle
Nazi Flag, Nuremburg Desk Eagle
2 Nazi propaganda books
Story-books pulled from a pile of burning nazi propaganda outside Hitler’s Eagles nest. Another outfit got there first!

Comes A Soldier’s Whisper, remembering our veterans and history one day at at time. We would like to share your stories too! Submit to Jennylas51@yahoo.com

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