I became acquainted with two WW1 veterans who were in the same battle. Americans were charged with holding an area of France at a place called Chateau Thierry. These young soldiers had been given minimum training and were lightly armed.
The Germans thought and probably rightly so that this was the weak point in the line. They attacked the Americans in force and nearly wiped them out. The American line did hold long enough for the French and English to counterattack and drive the Germans off. The Americans had fought surprisingly well against overwhelming odds with the Germans being better equipped, trained and with much combat experience.
My Grandfather was in this battle. He was from Wales. The other gentleman was a Jewish guy from Moscow.
My Grandfathers coping mechanism was alcohol. Lots of alcohol. He died at age 62 and from what I've been told it was a miracle he lived as long as he did. The Jewish guys coping mechanism was work, lots of work. He was a tailor from Moscow.
Both men had been recruited at Ellis Island. The army was their first task on the road to becoming an American.
After the battle like I said most of the Americans were dead but the survivors had been shot, gassed, bayoneted etc. None of them were fit for further service.
The Jewish guy did better than my Grandfather by a long shot. He died in his 90's. My Grandfather only lived to be 62.
To coping mechanisms.
The Germans thought and probably rightly so that this was the weak point in the line. They attacked the Americans in force and nearly wiped them out. The American line did hold long enough for the French and English to counterattack and drive the Germans off. The Americans had fought surprisingly well against overwhelming odds with the Germans being better equipped, trained and with much combat experience.
My Grandfather was in this battle. He was from Wales. The other gentleman was a Jewish guy from Moscow.
My Grandfathers coping mechanism was alcohol. Lots of alcohol. He died at age 62 and from what I've been told it was a miracle he lived as long as he did. The Jewish guys coping mechanism was work, lots of work. He was a tailor from Moscow.
Both men had been recruited at Ellis Island. The army was their first task on the road to becoming an American.
After the battle like I said most of the Americans were dead but the survivors had been shot, gassed, bayoneted etc. None of them were fit for further service.
The Jewish guy did better than my Grandfather by a long shot. He died in his 90's. My Grandfather only lived to be 62.
To coping mechanisms.
via International Skeptics Forum https://ift.tt/362WXzr
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