Operation Market Garden

Can We Stop the Stigma of History?

September 19, 2018 by Jennifer Holik Leave a Comment

Last weekend I was in Son, Netherlands for the Operation Market Garden (OMG) commemorations and living history for the 101st Airborne. Coming up this weekend in Arnhem, they will be commemorating the British aspect of OMG. As I was in the Airborne re-enactment camp, I spoke to many Dutch people about the stigma of war that still exists in society and families today. I spoke to many about the past, the choices that were made, and how we heal in the present and move forward.

My point of view is, the past is not all black and white or right or wrong or good or bad. It just isn’t one or the other. We live in a completely different time, our way of life is completely different than those who lived through WWII (or any other time period for that matter.) It is not ours to judge the past but to observe, research, understand, see the choices that were made in circumstances we cannot imagine. We were not there so who are we to judge?

What would it take for the stigma and secrets of the past to be brought into the light? Is it possible we can take one step into the light and talk about our families and their choices without fear of being cast out of society? What would that one step into the light change for us, the past, the present, and the future?

Are you brave enough to look into your dark past? Are you brave enough to take one step into a brighter future?

Seeing the Value of Living History

September 17, 2018 by Jennifer Holik 2 Comments

I spent the weekend in Son, Netherlands at the 101st Airborne commemorations and living history camp for the 74th Anniversary of Operation Market Garden. As with any living history event anywhere in Europe, there are people who love it and people who do not. The people who tend to not, judge every single thing that is incorrect about the people portraying those from the past. Rather than see the value in providing some education and commemoration, there is nasty judgment spread all around and people only see what is “wrong” rather than the 95% of what is good about the event.

No matter what time period we see people portraying the past through living history, we will never see anything that is 100% correct in every….single…..way.

So, is it possible to step back, stop judging for a moment, and see the value and beauty in living history?

Can we appreciate that the people participating have invested a lot of time and money into their hobby? That most of them have done research and can talk to the population about the event, the battle histories, the lives of specific soldiers?

Did you know many re-enactors (for any time period) have a past life connection to the people they portray and this is one way to heal themselves and others?

Are you aware these events are a place to connect and network? Have discussions about the past, our present, and moving forward in peace today?

Can we see the beauty in children learning about the past in a hands-on, non-threatening or violent way? Through the eyes of those children, can we remember, honor, and commemorate the past and the freedom we have today?

Do you see the value in living history in America or Europe? Have you had a good experience you would like to share? Please tell our readers in the comments.

Paratrooper Bernie Tom from D-Day to Death

October 11, 2017 by Jennifer Holik Leave a Comment

This week we are honoring Bernie Tom and the anniversary of his death with articles on some of the letters he wrote to his parents and explaining how the details can help researchers understand not only military service of an individual, but also who he was.

You can read the first article, Band of Brothers in Letters – Bernie Tom KIA 9 October 1944.
You can read the second article, Paratrooper Bernie Tom – Part 2.

As we move through the final set of letters Bernie wrote to his parents, I’d like to point out a few things I learned about Bernie.

He has a great sense of humor. In one letter dated 1 June 1944, he tells his parents General Taylor is supposed to talk to the troops. He jokes he will make some time to talk business with the General to speed the end of the war. On 2 June he writes one final letter containing general chatter and then writes nothing until 16 June 1944.

He has a confidence and strength not seen in every young man. He seems to have a sense of what he is contributing to the world. Bernie has a plan for the future and sent a lot of money and war bonds home throughout his entire service.

The war was real before D-Day, but it is even more real after. Bernie discusses France in his 16 June 1944 letter saying people have it hard. They wear straw for socks and walk around in wooden shoes. Most are happy to see the Americans, but not all. He goes on to say, “The jump wasn’t bad but i was never more scared in my life…..” This is the first time he admits he has any fear.

Bernie did a good job overall in writing his letters. Almost nothing censored. One letter dated 20 June 1944 had several things blacked out, including the name of the fountain pen he was using, which seemed an odd thing to black out. He was sitting in a Red Cross Club in France as he wrote this letter and was likely using a pen they provided as he mentioned the Red Cross Club had writing desks, pens, and paper. That same letter had a sentence in which it appears he talked about killing Germans (Krauts) as those words make sense in the blacked out portions. Interesting those words would be blacked out when it was common knowledge the Americans were fighting the Germans. Bernie also mentions in this letter he had his first bath since they arrived in France on 6 June. His bath was out of a bucket. How often do we take bathing for granted?

Bernie’s letters are less frequent through the rest of June and contain general news about how he is and questions for his parents. He states several times he really knows nothing about how the war is progressing unless he sees a news bulletin. Often those are two to three days old. By 4 July 1944 he is still in France, hasn’t bathed for a month and comments on something his dad wrote in a letter saying he didn’t read anything about Bernie’s involvement in D-Day. Bernie responds the 506th may not have been mentioned in the papers but his Division was, though he couldn’t say which Division at that time. He did say he was one of the first to drop into France on D-Day.

Bernie takes great pride in the work he does for the war. On 5 July 1944 in his letter to his parents, he asks if they read anything about the fall of Carentan. He said, “The papers mention the Rangers took the town, but it was solely a paratrooper victory…..I know because I was there.” Later that month his unit returns to England to await the next jump.

Between late July and mid-September, Bernie’s letters are few and far between. The unit is training a lot and he mentions being tired and behind on writing letters. By this point he knows his brother Dana is overseas, but not exactly sure where. Unfortunately the two did not meet up prior to Bernie’s death.

His final letter home is dated 15 September 1944 and he asks about the family and mentions he rode into town in a 1938 Hudson, the largest car he’d seen in England. This is just prior to the jump into Holland.

If any of Bernie’s other letters exist, if he wrote any others prior to his death, they are not part of this collection.

Bernie Tom died on 9 October 1944 near The Crossroads.

Paratrooper Bernie Tom – Part 2

October 10, 2017 by Jennifer Holik 2 Comments

Bernie Tom after jumping into Holland September 1944.

This week marks the anniversary of PFC Bernie Tom’s death on 9 October 1944. After reading three binders of letters from him to his parents and friends, and some from his parents and friends to him, I chose to write a few articles to honor his life and service. Also to explain what we can learn about our soldiers through their words. You can read the first article, Band of Brothers in Letters – Bernie Tom KIA 9 October 1944.

All quotes are typed as Bernie wrote them, spelling and punctuation.

Bernie arrives overseas early in 1944, first landing in Ireland. the V-Mail to his parents for 19 February 1944 stated, “The Crossing was awful, especially for me. I was sick most of the time. Not so much sea sickness but it was the food. It was the worst I had ever left on my plate. I lost about 10 pounds all together.”

Can you imagine losing 10 pounds within a short period of time crossing the Atlantic? For most of these soldiers, this was their first time on a boat or a ship. I wonder what they were thinking, how they felt.

As the months of February and March 1944 go on, Bernie reports the food is better, he is better and that he will have a lot to tell his parents when he gets back. His letters provide a sense that he will return. In some of his letters, there is a sense of homesickness, as he describes thinking about his mother’s apple pie or playing football with his friends. He also seems to mention in most of his letters, that he received another letter from his parents dated x, and it took a month/2 weeks etc. to cross the ocean. In future months, Bernie reports the air mail is much faster than V-Mail and asks his parents to send air mail stamps.

Bernie often has to cancel dates with local girls because of last minute guard duty he is told to do. He mentions this often in his letters.

By April 1944, the unit has moved from Ireland to Scotland to England and by 10 April 1944 (exact date unknown until I do the research), Bernie has been assigned to F Co 506th PIR 101st Airborne.

His letter of 17 April 1944 stated he was in the field for a week and it rained the entire time. The men stayed in the same clothes all week as it rain fell and the mud got deeper. Seems they were being prepared for what was to come – fewer showers and changes of clothes.

Bernie writes his parents often and while he seems to write at least weekly, and often more when he knows he’s about to move, he apologizes for not writing enough. In his 1 May 1944 letter he ends with, “PS – I think your the swellest folks a guy could ever have. I love you both more than you’ll ever know.”

As the month of May progresses, Bernie writes more often to his parents, using V-Mail as the primary communication tool. He talks about a night jump he did where he was not injured. Mentions friends he received letters from and boys from Athens, OH, where he’s from that he runs into here and there. Thanks his parents for every box they send filled with cookies, candy, film, and other things Bernie requests. He always mentions how much the boys in the barracks enjoy the box as each time one receives a box, they all share.

Wouldn’t it be great if all of us stopped to appreciate these “small” things in life and stopped blowing up over the insignificant things? Every letter Bernie writes and mentions a box, is filled with gratitude. You can feel it. What would it be like if we all lived that way every day?

As May winds down, Bernie’s letters increase as he must know things will happen soon. He tells his parents more than once, not to worry if he doesn’t write for a while, he’s just out in the field. One very interesting thing he wrote on 23 May 1944 is a request for his parents to donate all his clothing, except the uniforms he sent home. He wants to buy all new clothes when he returns. The energy I picked up on this letter was strange – I couldn’t quite tell if he knew he would never return home or if his body had already changed so much from the food (or lack of) and training, that after the war, he would not be the same as he was before – in any aspect.

Finally, as D-Day approaches, Bernie sends off several more letters and mentions he has no idea what is happening with the war. The Athens Messenger newspaper he was receiving is at least a month old. The men are told almost nothing. So he is not able to respond if his parents mention something in their letters. Sadly all their letters do not exist in this collection. A few do, but not all.

What else can we learn about Bernie’s service from his letters? Well, he is about to jump into Normandy and there are more letters to read.

Book Review – Orange is the Color of the Day

September 27, 2016 by Jennifer Holik Leave a Comment

So many World War II books, not enough hours in the day to look at them all! Do you ever feel that way?

If you are interested in the history of the Airborne in Holland during World War II, the book Orange is the Color of the Day. Pictorial History of the 101st Airborne Division During the Liberation of Holland by Peter Hendrikx and Michel De Trez, is a must have book!

The author, Peter Hendrikx, from Eindhoven, explains his fascination with the 101st Airborne, which began with some photographs his father took during the war. Over the course of his life, he began researching more and searching for one photograph which was lost after the few photos his father took were submitted to a newspaper for printing with a war dairy. After connecting with Michel De Trez, a 101st photograph expert, he was eventually able to find a copy of the lost photo. This began a journey into documenting the story of the Liberation of Holland for these two men.

The book contains a lot of history of the Airborne taken from books written by veterans, some 101st Airborne Historians, and other sources. There is no bibliography of sources used, but each paragraph or photo has a short citation. I’m guessing if one really wanted to know more, they could contact the authors and inquire.

The book is over 555 pages and contains hundreds of photographs. All the photographs are sourced, most being from personal collections. A few from Army Signal Corps photos. Unfortunately, the Army Signal Corps photos do not have any reference number so a researcher could go into the National Archives to view them with others taken at the same time. The photographs are not small, but take up 1/4 – to almost an entire page. The book itself is over a foot tall and slightly less wide. There are views of soldiers walking through towns, Dutch citizens welcoming liberators, German prisoners, maps, and more.

If you are searching for an incredible resource for the 101st Airborne, you should check out this book.

What great pictorial histories about World War II have you read and can recommend to our readers?

Honoring Service – Living History in the Netherlands

September 21, 2016 by Jennifer Holik 2 Comments

Operation Market Garden Anniversary

This weekend I went to Son, Netherlands, to watch my fiancé participate in his 101st Airborne re-enactment group for the anniversary of Operation Market Garden. This was the first time I had seen him participate and I wasn’t sure what to expect. I had never been to a re-enactment in the U.S. and while I had seen photos of my fiancé’s group, being there live and in person, was a whole different experience.

On Friday 16 September, his group plus several others set up a WWII Airborne Combat Camp on the edge of the town of Son, a short walk from the old Town Hall and main street, where fighting took place. By the time we arrived, several tents, vehicles, and a lot of equipment had been set up on the grounds. The idea was to show visitors and school children, what a camp, Aid Station, Field Hospital, vehicles, guns, and life was like during this time in September 1944.

Several school groups came through the camp Friday afternoon to visit. Each child received a booklet with questions to answer. The kids had to go from tent to tent, talking to the soldiers and asking questions. Maybe the “best” question was in the medic’s area. Children had to ask about the “miracle medicine.” When they did, they received some of this medicine – a chocolate bar.

On Saturday 17 September, most of the re-enactors were there by early morning. After breakfast I walked through town and saw men arriving at the bridge, which the Germans blew up. A lot of fighting took place there. Walking down the main street it was common to spot Airborne troopers walking in small groups on patrol, jeeps and other vehicles riding on the roads, even the ambulance was picking up the wounded.

No battles were fought and no blank ammunition fired, as that was not allowed, but each group designated one person to be the wounded man so he could be picked up and taken to the field hospital where a nurse and surgeon were waiting. Near the Old Town Hall, I almost walked past a group of soldiers sitting in a circle “dug into” the group.

While the men were doing their thing on Saturday, a couple of the wives of my fiancé’s re-enactor friends, took me for a ride in a WWII jeep around Son and Best, to see WWII sites. I saw the Temporary American Cemetery at Son, which after the war, when the graves were disinterred, became a corn field again. I saw the Joe Mann Memorial. Joe was awarded the Medal of Honor for saving the lives of several men. Mann was wounded and when a grenade landed in his foxhole, he threw himself on top of it. Mann was killed, but his buddies survived. I also saw the Drop Zones and Glider Landing Areas, now corn fields for the most part. There are monuments at each site. It was quite an educational afternoon.

Honoring Service Through Re-Enactment (Living History)

What many Americans don’t know is …… Europeans honor the service of our American WWII soldiers not only by adopting their graves and showing their respects during the year, but also through re-enactment. I’ve spoken to many Americans about re-enactment, because in the U.S. we see a lot of Civil War and Revolutionary War re-enactment. I hear a lot of comments to the effect, ‘It’s a lot of old guys dressed up playing war.’ Yet, when we see re-enactment of people like Abraham Lincoln walking around Springfield, IL or colonists at Williamsburg, we see and classify that not as re-enactment, but living history.

Jennifer meets Jim "Pee Wee" Martin at the camp. — Jennifer meets Jim “Pee Wee” Martin at the camp.

What if we changed our perspective? What would we see then?

An opportunity to see, outside a museum, the uniforms and gear an Airborne soldier or medic carried.
An opportunity to talk to the re-enactors and learn the history of the area, battle, or war. These men not only dress as an Airborne Trooper, but know the history of the unit the re-enact. Since they live in or near the areas where these battles were fought, they are excellent resources for boots on the ground knowledge. I tell people when I lecture, that these are the people you want to connect with in Europe if you plan to walk in your soldier’s footsteps. These are the people who know a lot about the battles and can show you places your soldier fought, and sometimes, died.
When battles are re-enacted, you get to experience what it might have been like as a town was taken. Often the groups re-enact with American and German forces.
A chance to go back in time and sit and observe life in a combat camp or life during the war in a town.
You might meet World War II veterans! During the major battle or campaign anniversaries, large groups of veterans and their families come to Europe to see where they fought, where their buddies died, and some are still buried. I had the honor of meeting Jim “Pee Wee” Martin Saturday, when his convoy of jeeps and trucks, pulled into the camp.
American dignitaries, ambassadors, and active military personnel attend these events. You might connect with someone from the U.S. who can help move your research forward.

Whatever you think you know about re-enacting, I ask you to reconsider your view and give it a try if you have the opportunity. You might meet interesting, knowledgeable people, and learn many things about your soldier’s service.

Want to learn more?

Want to know more about Living History groups in Europe? Read the latest issues of Drop Zone Magazine. You’ll find an article in there about my WWII research books also!

I am taking new clients at this time if you are interested in working with a researcher to pull records for any military branch. I’m also scheduling speaking appearances in Europe for 2017. Please contact me if your group is interested in a program. I have seven to choose from on my website.

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