Hunting the Enemy Behind Their Lines at the Battle of the Bulge | John Charles George
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 28 ก.ย. 2024
- John Charles George joined the Army in 1943 and began his training with the 82nd Airborne Division in Georgia. Following his training he would be reassigned to the 101st Airborne Division as a replacement for casualties the unit had suffered following the D-Day invasion.
John would make his first combat jump with the 101st out of a heavily damaged airplane and into the Netherlands as part of Operation Market Garden. He would then move with the 101st into Belgium, the bitter cold, and the fierce combat known as The Battle of the Bulge. During his combat service he would be awarded two Purple Hearts amongst his many other commendations.
In 2005, John Charles George published the book Death Cheaters, which recounts his experiences serving as a paratrooper during World War II.
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He's reliving this as he speaks. You can see it in his eyes
And hear it in his voice.
I know, I saw that too. :-(
Every combat veteran has this look when talking their story out, I bet.
And his tears occasionally. Incredible man.
You can see it in his eyes
Let these men tell their stories without time constraints
gen Z can only stand 6 second videos
@@aceous99 Doesn't matter, the record will stand.
Looks like the only constraint now is the age of the interviewee. This was very well done, I hope to remember it on memorial day and Veterans Day.
@@aceous99 The first time iououooiuooiuooioioilllo pop
@@aceous99assuming you fit that category to
A friend of mine died recently. He was ninety years old, served in the Royal Air Force (after World War Two) and he used to tell me stories about growing up in Birmingham, England during the Blitz. He spoke about it so casually and matter-of-factly, but the things he described just hit me so hard. Stories of burning buildings and shattered lives. I can't even imagine what that must have been like.
Mr George has my undying respect. All of the soldiers and civilians who lived through that hellish war have my undying respect.
Oh, and to the people who downvoted this: what the hell is wrong with you?
Anyone down voting hasn’t got the brains god gave the common dog. Don’t give it another thought bro. Well said.
Mankind continues to Go to War. Yet NO DIVISION EXISTS . ONLY MONEY HUNGRY OIL OWNERS AND SELFISH POLITICIANS ARE THE PROBLEM. CITIZENS HAVE NO CHOICES.
Trolls down vote any video they see, simply to get a reaction.
Down dumpers are leftover Nazis.
@@timin770 I don't see any down vote number.
Humble, Most Humble are our heroes. Thanking the producers for letting him tell his story. Mercy we need more like him.
We have many like him! We, the general public, just don't want to hear the stories from our wars that have followed.
My father in law was in the pacific island hopping as a gunner on an artillery crew. His brother landed in France not long after D-Day and fought all the way to Berlin. Both were very humble, soft spoken men who had my complete respect. Both of them are gone and I miss talking with them.
Write your stories they told you down now, b4 you forget them.
His respect for the lady who brought food is a testament to her and his selflessness.
His emotion is evident.
Lest we forget cobber
It always surprises me to see the lack of subscribers , and lack of views these stories have. Ever since a child the stories of these brave men have always been an interest of mine.
It's a crying shame. Over the last year it seems, I've regularly come across any one of a number of "entertainment" focused channels with millions of subscribers and I can only shake my head at how they achieved that given their highly questionable or nearly worthless value from even an "entertainment" standpoint.
I am 36 years old, and I am the only person my age that I know that actively seeks these stories out. Most of my generation don't seem to remember or even care about the heroism of our forebears. We cannot repay them for their service, nor thank them personally.
But I will remember.
And so shall my sons.
Good man
38 here. you aren't the only one brother!!🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
There are MANY more than you would imagine.
I'm 24 and I'm beyond interested in people's sacrifices in our fights for freedom and I'm nothing but grateful for them
I am 29 and listen to one if these stories every day at lunch. Whoever coined the phrase "never forget" after 9/11 must have forgot what happened only 2 generations before.
My Uncle was in this man’s division in Normandy. Thank you sir for you’re service.
My grandpa was in the 82nd airborne and in dday , market garden , and wounded in the battle of the bulge. He was very reluctsnt talking about it , for it brought back bad memories!
@@hugbug4408 lucky you my great Gdad was col sink he was old by the time of the war, never met him.
@@Shaboomquisahe was only 40 years old🤷🏾♂️
God bless his humbleness, humility and resolve. Compare what he says about almost starving and his overwhelming gratefulness to the woman who helped his family, to people today that feel entitled to welfare and won't look for work. This man is a gem and these interviews are so critical to preserve.
An absolutely amazing man with an incredible story. As for today's generation, given that many seem to lack spine, hate the very country that these brave men fought & died for, and are happy to willingly give away their country 'no questions asked' to illegals immigrants, I doubt that they'll be ready to serve if required. Someone has done a fine job. of wrecking our countries from the inside out.
the people of whom you talk are a very miniscule contingent and are used by people whom don't like nor understand welfare as a bad faith argument against policy that would actually improve the economy. think better. noone likes being on welfare. its trash. David. I bet you fkn go to church too.
H6j
.😮yn
You are so right! I'm glad my father taught me to listen to my elders.
David , I seen this humility and fear in his eyes when he told that story , I concur with your statement. If I heard correctly he had 7 or was 1 of 7 , in his family so 7 kids and mom and dad so that's 9 , imagine feeding that many every day .To think starvation was in there minds ,perhaps even cannibalism. It brought tears to my eyes because , I see people today acting like they deserve and unlimited EBT and all the section8 vouchers they can hold . something I was pondering on was he said he lived in Michigan , no matter where at the growing season is not like it is in the south , could you imagine hunting for a deer with no gun, and having to forage for berries and greens .Listening to men and women like this make me appreciate what little I have .
Seeing this Man looking to the sky while recounting what he’s lived through has grabbed something deep inside inside me tightly and will not let go.
Titans.
Listening to these soldiers tell their stories is so powerful to me. It's hard to believe what happened to them was even real until you look into his eyes as he's telling you. What an amazing life.
From an Australian serviceman to this American WW2 hero, you Sir are an inspiration my generation and our society owe you and all like you so much, thank you so much for your service and sacrifices.
Thanks for service to your country as well. Protect freedom 🇺🇸 🤝 🇦🇺
These recordings are vital, being first hand recordings of WWII veterans, This one especially, during the Battle of the Bulge, which was trench warfare which was a turning point for the Allied forces. Engrossing, which made me we was longer. Fantastic to see his eyes gazed up like his face really was illuminated as he recounted flares shot up by the Germans to see the surrounding area, checking for ever so slight movements by the American soldiers who lay in their foxholes, immobile to avoid detection. Such precious first hand experience that can never be replaced. Bravo to those behind this video recording project.
I met him this weekend at the Flowertown Festival in Summerville South Carolina. I introduced myself as a veteran of the 101st Airborne and he said " My God!" and shook my hand with a grip like cold forged steel. We talked for a bit, all the while he kept that grip on my hand. I cannot express the experience in words Truly an amazing man. I bought a copy of his book, which he signed, and I look forward to reading it.
thank you for sharing!!! how can I find that book? it seems impossible to find!!!
If you have anyway to share this book please do.
Do you know where i. Can get a copy
I looked on Amazon and it says it is unavailable. Evidently he published it himself in 2005. I also looked on eBay, but no one has it for sale on there either. I wish I could find a copy.
God Bless this man, Mr. George for his service and devotion to this Country.
🙏 Amen
All the way.
In the face of unknowable fear…God brought him through! Thank God❣️
I live in Belgium, the Flemisch speaking part, and visited the memorials and museums in Bastonge. My wife and i have an intrest for our history in WW1 and WW2 and every time we visit a memorial or war cemetary we get so quit and humble and greatfull for the sacrefices these men and woman have made for our freedom.
What a hero. Because of his sacrifices and those of his comrades my country of the Netherlands is free. We are forever grateful.
Dear Mr. George, You are a true American hero! Thank you for the insight into a time that will never be forgotten. The part about your younger life and all the pain you went through trying to find something to eat..... That really hit me. You had one heck of a story to tell and I'm glad you did! May God Bless YOU!
Mr. George is absolutely right. Getting these stories told is IMPORTANT. Thank you, Mr. George, for putting your life on the line to defend freedom.
You are correct. 25:05. He gets it.
I knew so many of these men when I was young, including my father, uncles, etc.. I miss them all and they were real men!
I served just over 5 years as a Canadian Paratrooper in the 80s but it was nothing compared to what the Paratroopers went through during WWII. I was proud to get my U.S Army jump wing from the 82nd at Fort Bragg and the Navy SEAL jump wing from Coronado, California. Those years were the hardest and the best years of my life in the Canadian Army. All Gave Some, Some Gave all. May they all R.I.P. 🙏
Well done, Frogman! I appreciate your courage and service! 🇺🇸
@@e.conboy4286he said he just jumped with the SEALS, he was a Canadian paratrooper.
I was in the 82nd in the 80s. We must have passed each other at some point. AATW!
You might not have served my country, but Thank you for your service and God Bless.
My Uncle was 82nd Airborne in D-Day, Market Garden and the Bulge. How he managed to get home defies imagination. Thank you for your service, my Uncle would have been proud of you.
This guy and guys like him are my personal heroes! I am amazed at what these soldiers were able to accomplish.
So brave and so humble.Never forget these brave veterans, we owe them so much. Shame on the person who gave a thumbs down.
I was stationed at the 101st in the early 80's an bye no means went through what these men did. I will however say that their lessons the very thought of being in the 101'st was a dream come true for me. Being an infantry soldier we trained, trained, trained! God Bless those before during an after me.
Sir, From one combat wounded soldier to another. Thank you for leading the way.
It won’t be long before there are no more WWII veterans left. That’s why these recorded interviews are so important. I was grateful that the interviewer just let him talk without interruption. He made reference to a book, Cheaters Of Death. I will look for it.
Man. I can't get over the fact that a lot of them died already. Infact it's been 80 years since the end of the war.
"Death Cheaters" he is evidently the author.
@@42069TV in 2021, it has been 76 years since the war ended in May 1945, not 80!
@@vivians9392 shoot
in the UK, a couple of years ago we lost our last surviving WW1 "Tommy."
A wonderful man named Harry Patch, who went on to become a vociferous detractor of warfare, and spoke eloquently in relentless support of the sacrifices of our Grandfathers, on all sides of that horrific war, and he was an ardent humanitarian.
His passing initiated a lengthy national mourning, such ws the esteem he and his ilk are held in by the British public.
it will be another sad day when the final WW2 generation are gone.
This is what bravery is people. God Bless this man.
Great story, thanks for taking the time to share. Airborne! All The Way!
@Mike Raffphone 82nd Signal BN / DSTB (Division Special Troops BN) '02-'06
@@MrGlenbo357mag : I’m so proud of you sir and offer my appreciation! 🇺🇸
82nd MP Company in the mid 80's. AATW!
It's hard for me to watch interviews. In this case the interviewer was respectful to let this hero tell his story. Well done! Thank you John for everything and putting this important piece of history on film for future generations to here directly from a man who lived it.
Thank you very much for making this interview happen! Most importantly, thank you John for your service and everything you sacrificed.
One of perhaps the greatest from the Greatest generation. Period
I love that stories like these from some vets are on youtube so they never go away and will always be here. Their stories will never die with them and we will always be able to learn what they had to go through and learn just how brave and heroic those vets are and were.
This man is a true American Hero, god bless him and all American veterans.
These interviews always make my eyes tear up. I wish there was more. Full Interview ? 26 minutes :( This man has a lifetime of knowledge and wisdom and experience to share. I hope it was short due to the gentlemans wishes and not the interview crew was short of time. God Speed Auld Boy! Love from Scotland!
"God bless em all"
How can anyone put it any better anywhere? Well God bless you as well Mr George 🙏... humble hero if there ever was 1 !
Thanks to men like him this country is still moving on.. God bless men like him
His amazing courage and story telling , we can't forget those special lucky men and women , their stories will be here for ever, spoken by soldiers who were their, all on TH-cam
One of the greatest Americans this country has ever had, a true definition of a hero and patriot! Thank you Sir, God bless!
My hero's as I grew up and I've come to have respect, gratitude and honor for these dedicated men & women. Thank you
Thank you so very much for your service to our country! God bless you!
Thank you very much for sharing your combat experience. I know it may not have been pleasant to relive those memories. Just know the viewing audience appreciates your sacrifices. Hand salute…
He fought to protect country and his family at home, even though they were struggling to live back home. I always had great respect for soldiers and especially those from WW2. Hearing his story reminds me why. What heroes. God bless him.
I WILL never, “FORGET” all that have saved us in the U.S.A. NEVER FORGET !!!!
Guys like this Men like this are amazing brave courageous well respected men who gave there all for us to have all . So Thank you Sir . our family is truly thankful for your service
God bless this kind soul who’s tougher than most.
The person who gave this a thumbs down should be ashamed of themselves
An ungrateful person who has had everything given to them in life. My uncle died in the bulge. 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
The person that gave it a thumbs down should leave this country
@@youtubeisleftyshit8377 Exactly Right. The Scumbags Don’t Deserve The Freedom That We Have Fought For. Scumbags Will Always Be Scumbags
Must of been a Nazi bastard..
AMEN
God bless you sir! Thank you for your service.
Thank you for your service mr George. Greetings from the Netherlands.
These men, many still just boys, really, saw more, accomplished more, learned more and earned more respect and adulation than I have in my entire life (turned 54 yesterday). What a treasure.
I'm your generation and I'm right there with you. I paraphrase Shakespeare's Henry V... "I hold my manhood cheap whilst any of these men speak!"
You can honour them with your kindness, compassion and humanity, that's all they would ask. :)
These men are hard as they come..When I grow up I wanna be one of these Badasses...
Hold on tight to your dream, Fireman Dan. There are many opportunities for you. Have you enlisted yet?
@@e.conboy4286 yes sir served 8 years ...Army.infantry...These men are true Heros
Thank you Sir for your service and for sharing this with us . My grandfather was in the Airborne, at the Battle of the Bulge also . He broke his neck on a jump, survived , but was rendered disabled and passed away in 2000. I send Much love and respect to you Sir from NY. May God Bless you. ❤🙏✝️
I don’t know if I could go through what he did, but I was raised to fight and hunt. I say thank you for what you went through because of if not for you and all the others we would not be here now, home of the brave.
4-28-23. Being able to describe these vivid memories, in such an articulate manner is absolutely amazing. True Heroes and Warriors each and every soldier. I sit here today as a 66 yr old in complete reverence for them.
What a man god bless him unbelievable what they all went through
Wow I have watched hundreds of these veteran interviews, just love them.
This guy must’ve had it the worst, he seems to cry, almost the whole time
Thank you for this video. Such emotion. God speed.
I am ignorant … as I only became aware of this TH-cam channel last week. It’s so important for these stories to be told by these heroes. God bless them all … 🙏🏽
That was an incredible story. Thank you for your service
Thank God for men like you. You are a Hero by any standard. I was 101st from 58-60. AATW
Thank you for sharing your inspiring story along with your service, sacrifice and courage for freedom 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
God bless that woman he made me tear up😢 but you can tell he really appreciated that and you know what I would too thank you for your service buddy very much much appreciated❤❤❤
God bless you, Mr George, sir. Thank you for your service and sacrifice for our freedom. You are an American hero, as all of you men and women who served. There's no way we can pay you back, but we can ensure that our freedoms remain intact!!!
John Charles George is an amazing man. I am glad he wrote a book about his experiences. They are the greatest generation for sure. My dad served in WWII also, but didn’t talk about it much. He was awarded 3 medals during his service, and some dishonest caregiver stole them (along with other irreplaceable family items) and pawned them. My family will never see those medals again, but I am still very proud of my dad’s service to our country. She can’t take that from me.
These men are beyond brave and the reason the world has survived since 1945.
I wept watching and listening to this veteran. Thank you soldier, and thanks American Veterans Center for these interviews and their great production value.
Thank you sir for your service and the sacrifices you all made for us.
Thank you for sharing your experience and story. For what you guys did generations to come should never have to.
A brave and humble soldier, like so many of his generation under arms. With all the horrors they endured, the sights, sounds and smells of war, it is a wonder that men like Sgt. George keep their quiet composure and dignity intact.
What a soldier .
A true warrior
God Bless these Men. Thank you
TH-cam is so important for bringing to light the sacrifices men and women made for freedom to have a chance. It's almost a time machine in a way. Thank you sir for all you've done. The greatest generation are the real superheros
I'm reading Stephen Ambrose's "Band of Brothers" about the 101st, and it's absolutely gripping. This gentleman confirms a lot of it. Those guys were absolute STUDS!
My grand uncle died for the allies in this battle. 😢 ❤ thank you for your service sir 🙏
I thank this man for his service and everyone involved. We could be living under Japan and German era if these guys didn't fight, fight, and win.
More precisely, ultranationalist far right fascism.. Which is on the rise again unfortunately.
This incredible, miracle of a man, told this(his) story, with his face, tears, voice and particularly his heart ❤️ incredible, wonderful. Ty
Thank you for doing this
My father was a paratrooper in WWII and every time I tried to get stories out of him je would not elaborate. When je was 94 I made one more last attempt, and he walked to his dresser and came back with an official document that stayed he was a paratrooper….. this is all I know about his war experience. After listening all the war vets tell their stories, I now understand my father’s silence……it was probably too painful to speak about…..Since I was a child I remember he had nightmares, and it was the same scenario every time…. my mother told us kids about the nightmare and it was war related. Now I understood. Dad, you can RIP now and thank you for your service.
If his eyes was a projector and that wall a projector screen we could literally watch this man’s memories
I work in healthcare and about 10 years ago, a vet told me a story where he was on the beach of Normandy during d-day and he was struck in the chest by a machine gun. It just so happens he had a Bible in a tin case in his shirt pocket and it stopped the bullet from injuring him. These stories are so important to tell. Lately, TH-cam has been sensitive to a lot of photos and videos of historical reports. These stories are so important.
I pray this Man finds a way to pull himself out of the war he’s still in to this day
This just makes me sad how he’s been through so much and not many people care or know
As a young soldier in the German Wehrmacht, my father was seriously wounded on the Eastern Front in Smolensk in 1943 and was sent to Normandy in 1944 after he was halfway well (he had three small splinters in his body for life). There he fought against the US Army in the Bocages. He then went into American captivity in the Falaise pocket. Sometimes I ask myself if the enemies of yore weren't much closer than the people of today in their alienated and broken societies?
Thank you for your sacrifice SGT. Thank you for having the courage to fight for the men to your left and right. God bless you, and give you peace!
What a humble gentleman. Sir, I salute you.
Extraordinary man. Soldier, author, gentleman.
This so awesome possum and I always love hearing these kinds of stories about how our veterans lived life before their service . I've met lots of veterans while I worked in an assisted living for a few years .
Thank You, Mr. George. 🫡❤
I.held.on.to.every.word. I feel so small next to men of that generation. God bless
A true American hero, thank you so much for your service and sacrifice
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE SIR!!!!!!!!!!
I salute you and all my brothers and sisters from WW2.My uncle was in a tank turret during that time.
WOW! That is a hell of a place to be, isn’t it? He is one of my HEROES!
Just to hear this man speak of these events and know that he lived it and he can see it all over again, and must skim past all of the details that his mind is utterly saturated with, countless things that would be absolutely appalling and horrifying to the average person, miserable conditions and freezing temperatures, the inherent danger, and he trudged through it day after day for weeks after weeks, and and all he wanted was to go back to do what he could to help save his brothers in arms. There is no greater form of bravery or selflessness and it is an incredible honor to belong to the nation that this man fought to protect.
Back when men were men and could finish a day's battle with a chunk of their head missing AND survive it.
2008 navy seal gets shot 27 times and gets hit by a grenade shrapnel from 4 Taliban, manages to kill all 4 and walk back to the rescue helicopter. So when is that "back when " that you're talking about
@@absoliutenuds I think this guy fought in WW2 so 1945 maybe?
@@absoliutenuds THAT IS A MAN! 🇺🇸
@Lisa Schmidtsdorf Holy smokes!! (no pun intended) Tough as nails.
Greatest generation!
Now they knew what a real struggle was and never complained. Todays society is so spoiled. They're getting ready to see what hard times are all about.
The other thing was the average person did not, as a rule, see the people around him as “the enemy.” (Chief exceptions would be POC, disabled, etc. - such might be seen as *less than human.)* I know I was in the early sixties, and that was *after* these hard lessons, when *many* of these people were still around.
That said, Poverty *can* be a great “leveler” when it’s near-universal.
as a vet myself... around the 5 min mark... You can see him re-enter the memory... he's between present reality and the memory. He is right back there as he is describing it.
They were on the brink of starving.
The Depression.
Starving to death
(malnutrition death).
The Lady came with bags of food,
(Likely canned food).
He cried remembering Her.
Respects from the Pacific region 🙏 a generation of real men, it really was. God bless them.
These interviews are priceless. Oral history from the human being that experienced it, opinions that were respectful and honest. I wish he had been introduced at the beginning or end but his full name was mentioned in the comments so I can do what he asked and find the truth and teach others about how close the world came to the whims of Authoritarian regimes and leaders.
You can tell this man deeply relives every moment he experienced in that war when he talks. It’s not easy to talk about these things but I’m glad i am able to watch and listen to these great men and the sacrifices they all made for my freedoms.