The Mushroom Pickers
This is a lovely little film made by the Minnesota Historical Society. My Aunt sent it to me because her husband (my father's baby brother) is feature in it speaking about the loss of their brother Robert E. Lee in WWII. There is a picture of Bob, the beautiful, handsome young man, I believe only 20 that year he was killed at the Battle of the Bulge. I have been reading his letters sent home that a cousin assembled. It is a touching film.
6 comments:
The young R.E. Lee is a striking looking, even beautiful, young man and the movie clip is intriguing. I'd like to see more. Two quick questions: Lee's burial cross says he died March 1, 1945 but I think the Battle of the Bulge ended in late Janurary of that year. Did he die later of wounds? And where does the Mushroom Pickers idea come into play?
you know Ded I never really thought about it before. You are right. The family has always said he was killed at the battle of the bulge, but perhaps he was just involved. He died in combat on March 1st.
"Thursday Mar 1, 1945
‘There is no rest for the weary – that is an old adage and finds a truer proof in war, perhaps, than anywhere else. The 2nd battalion had been relieved and pulled back to Meckel – but this was of short duration. Their historian takes up the thread of their story again: ‘The rest period ended for the men at noon on the 1st of March when the troops were ordered to relieve the 3rd battalion southeast of Gilzem. Easy Company (Bob’s company) spearheaded the advance through this town, which was in friendly hands, and bore the brunt of the attack on Kunkelborn. Immediately after arriving at the front lines, E Company supported from the left rear, with G Company advancing through a draw northeast of town.
‘The 3rd platoon was the assault element followed by the company weapons platoon and, as they approached, they ran into a hail of rifle fire. Lt Robert E. Lee (serial number 0551073) the weapons platoon leader, ordered the machine gun section into action but, turning, discovered that he had only one of the two guns and that only one crew-man remained. Instantly he fed the gun and directed 1st fire until he was fatally wounded.’
‘Sgt Thompson then Pfc, picked up the hot gun in his hands, moved to another position and finished the mission. As a result of their action sufficient covering fire was laid upon the enemy to enable the assaulting riflemen to overrun the positions…In the meanwhile the riflemen of the 2nd platoon cleared the adjacent slope where dozens of Jerries were entrenched. The company bypassed the town itself and pressed on to the ridge overlooking Olk.’"
this is from the history that my cousin put together
-Dec 16, 1944 – Jan 17, 1945 – Battle of the Bulge (see above)
-Mar 7, 1945 – Allies cross Rhine at Remagen
-May 8, 1945 – VE Day
oh and I have no idea about the mushroom picker part :)
Bob's death completely devastated his father and thus affected all the boy's lives (there were 6 of them) Bob was the golden boy, engaged to be married. It was a great sadness in the family I recall and that may explain my abhorrence of war
a favorite cousin of my moms was killed in WW11 and many years later the pain of it still lingered in the family. he was a handsome young man with everything before him.
and thanks for sharing the film.
I'm reminded of my grandmother's story from WWI. The family received a telegram from the war department informing them that her favorite brother, James Goodloe, had been killed in France. He was closest to her in age, and had always doted on her. We have several things he sent her from Europe when he was there--a little gold locket that I wore in my wedding is one.
Anyway, in the midst of their terrible grief, my grandmother received a letter from James dated several days AFTER the day the telegram said he had died.
They never had any peace of mind about what happened to him, and eventually one of the other brothers went to France to search for him. They never found either him or a burial place for him, and exactly what happened will always be a mystery. The parents never got over it.
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