I 'borrowed' this from another site, because I thought it was worthy of posting here ...

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I found this appropriate for our Rifle dropping buddies in France, despite it being towards the people of Holland, it can also go for France.

This is from the Book BAND OF BROTHERS by Stephen Ambrose. Of course most of you watched the HBO series based on this book. This is about Cpl. Walter Gordon. Gordon was shot in the back and paralyzed at Bastogne, but still managed to regain the ability to walk, thought with some difficulty and pain. I'm taking this passage directly from the book:

In December 1991, Gordon saw a story in the Gulfport Sun Herald. It related that Mayor Jan Ritsema of Eindoven, Holland, had refused to meet with General H. Norman Schwartzkopf, because the commander of the U.N. Forces in the Gulf War had "too much blood on his hands." Ritsema said of Schwarzkopf, "He is the person who devised the most efficient way possible to kill as many people as Possible."

Gordon wrote to Mayor Ritsema: "On Sept. 17.1944 I participated in the large airborne operation which was conducted to liberate your country. As a member of Company E, 506th PIR, I landed near the small town of Son. The following day we moved south and liberated Eindoven. While carrying out our assignment, we suffered casualties. That is war talk for bleeding. We occupied various defense positions for over two months. Like animals we lived in holes, barns, and the best we could. The weather was cold and wet. In spite of the adverse conditions, we held the ground we had fought so hard to capture.

The Citizens of Holland at the time did not share your aversion to bloodshed when the blood being shed was that of the German occupiers of your City. How soon we forget. History has proven more than once that Holland could again be conquered if your neighbor, the Germans, are having a dull weekend and the golf links are crowded.

Please don't allow your country to be swallowed up by Liechtenstein or the Vatican as I don't plan to return. As of now, you are on your own."

That is a very good Post Slim...


BTW Bro Welcome Back!!!
Glad to see your Puter is back up and Running!!!

Hog

on another Note: the Band of Brothers can be rented now at local Video stores... on vhs there are like 3-4 tapes... it is a great Show/documentury to watch!!!

Hog

Some years ago, one of my (then) co-workers was a man from The Netherlands ... he'd been a young boy during the war, but his memories of the events of that time were quite clear and strong ... he and his family had been quite active in smuggling Jews out of Germany and hiding them from the Nazi occupiers of their country and came to the US after the war was over ... I haven't seen Will in quite a few years, but am pretty sure what his reactions to this mayor's stance would be ...

Cops on their beat aren't always universally appreciated ... until there's a need to dial 911 ... those flashing lights look pretty damn good at times like that.

Thanks, Slim .... damn good post, sir!!

our Own Hansen here on CB is a Native of the Netherlands "Denmark" I was over there for a Nato Exercise in 91 and got to visit the whole country... it is something how the Germans came in and Occupied there land... and there are still allot of war relics and rememberances left for History Buffs to check out.... Great Country also... Beautiful!!! the churches and castles... I'll dig up a few pics on it...

Hansen????? Where are ya Man!!!!!

Hog

Man usahog ... you're really going to get Hansen riled up!

People always seem to get them mixed up ... but 'The Netherlands' is actually Holland, and NOT Denmark.

They are two different countries ...

I remember awhile back on another forum, folks were teasing him on how he was able to ride his motorcycle with 'wooden' shoes.

That didn't go over very well with him either ... 😉

Denmark is situated in 'Northern Europe' between the North Sea and the Baltic Sea, and Denmark is the only Scandinavian country connected to the European mainland. (The southern Jutland Peninsula borders Germany.) All in all, Denmark consists of 406 islands, many of which are uninhabited.

The Netherlands are in 'Western Europe', bordering the North Sea, between Belgium and Germany ...

Great posting! More people should be grateful and proud to live in a country like we have!

Charlie

Slim, this shouldn't get Hansen fired up... he and I have talked about this before... long time back... the place we went was Denmark... but yes there are many Islands (sp) making up the Netherlands...I didn't know some of them were Un-inhabited tho... hmmmmmmmm what a place to put a cabin!!! LMAO!!!!
One of these Days I'm going to head over and Herf with Leaf and his Motorcycle Club!!!!

Hog

Hog --- all I was trying to clear up ... is that Denmark and The Netherlands (Holland) are two differnt nations (countries).

They are not related ...

Hi ya all, buddies. I'm here. I'll get back later, I haven't got time to reply right now, but I will. Ha... tomorrow I'll be going to our capital Copenhagen. Might get myself an ISOM for a treat. I'll report back on this.

Hey!!!

There you are ... oh, BTW, could I ask you to pick up one of those 'pucks' of Copenhagen while you're there?

I've go a friend who loves to put a wad of that nasty stuff between his lip and gums ... hehehe!

... just having a little fun, and you have a LOT of fun while you're there, you luck dog!

You ain't going up there Window Shoppin are Ya Leaf??
are the trffic lights really different in Copenhagen?
Go on Red and stop on Green??? LMAO!!!!!

Have a Great Time Bro!!!!


Slim Point taken!! thanks LoL

Hog

Hog-

I agree, the HBO series is incredible, I love how it was shot like Saving Private Ryan. The old school techniques really lend to the overall effect. I was given the DVD set by HBO, some of the extra footage and such is really great!!

I don't own a dvd as yet.. but when I do that will be one of the first.. also "We Were Soldiers" the second....but I told the Wife there's no need to buy the VHS because I'm tossing it out!!!! LoL
then I will start a collection of Biography dvd's on past history's events...BTW A&E has Saddams Biography on tonight at 7 pm Central... which is right NOW!!!!!

I'll bbl

Hog