I recently purchased an old home - the old man who had been living there passed away. Behind a secret panel in the back of one of the closets, I found something very interesting. It was a stash of old items; old records, photo equipment, a Lionell train, and erector set, and a box of Nazi memorabilia! Belt buckles, arm bands, bayonet sheaths, coins, stamps with Hitler’s face on them, and a full length building banner. Apparently, these were all war trophies, collected by Sergeant Edwin Bakken, Company C of the 747th tank battalion. The wooden box used to send these home to his little brother Willie had his name, rank, serial number, and unit, along with an inventory list of what was sent. I know that the 747th tank battalion landed the day after D-day, but I cannot find much other information about their specific engagements and other duties. I know they were attached to the 29th infantry division, but I never seem to see them on any of your maps during the episodes. What can you tell me about them, where they were, what they did? I’d love to be able to figure out exactly where some of the stuff was captured, and what Edwin’s experience was like.
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Great title for a book … “The Untold Stories of the WWII Soldiers” … 365 blank pages.
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