Normandy June 1944

This year marks the Sixtieth Anniversary of VE Day, the day when peace finally came to war-torn Europe. Those who served have been gratified by the recognition and thanks received from European leaders and citizens.  The salute from Andre and Orchestra, with Suzan's glorious Hallelujah, seemed to have special fervor.

Perhaps it was because Holland's agony was longer than that of any other Western European country. After smashing Poland in 1939, the Nazi hordes turned west in May 1940. Holland resisted fiercely, even sending a destroyer into the canals to aid its troops!

Infuriated by Dutch resistance, Adolph Hitler ordered a reprisal bombing of Rotterdam, even though the garrison had surrendered! German bombers attacked the morning of May 14, killing nearly one thousand men, women and children. Thousands more were wounded and a hundred thousand made homeless.

Four years later, when peace came--VE Day--hundreds were still starving in Northern Holland. Relief came from the air. Allied planes dropped food and medicine for nearly two weeks until ground aid reached isolated villages.

I served on the Continent from June 1944 until December 1945 but I was in Holland only one night! In January 1945, as the "Battle of the Bulge" was ending, I was returning from Aachen, Germany to Namur, Belgium.

Overtaken by darkness at Maastricht, I was billeted in a Dutch home.  This all happened at a time far distant from today. Thus, I do not recall the name of the hospitable Dutch couple. I do remember the bed was warm and church bells seemed to ring all night--a strange, but welcome, sound to a tired soldier from Texas!

Thank you, Maastricht and Thank You, Andre.

Jerry Stover, Dallas, TX June 2, 2005