April 29, 1945: *Liberation of Dachau Concentration Camp by US Troops, Nazi Germany, WW2

[appalachiablue]

6. Many others have these concerns, for good reason. I never thought the US

would go this way, what a challenge for democracy. For those who can move, I wish them the best.

During WWII my father was a young artillery officer in the US 7th Army under Gen. Patch. He saw combat in the Rhineland Campaign, was at Dachau and endured battle fatigue. Like many other veterans, he never spoke much about his wartime experiences. His younger brother served in the US Coast Guard in WWII. They were fighters.

I have some of Dad's insignia, medals and parts of his uniform, also an SS patch. In a way I'm glad he and my mom aren't here now given the sacrifices they and many others made to defeat fascism 50 years ago.

When young I travelled to the Munich area and environs with European students and I saw it again several years later. We spent time in the lively Schwabing student district, the famous Hofbrau House and more. Many years later I learned my father was in the very same area at the end of WWII and also in Marseille in Southern France on leave.