It's a bit cold outside.....

Had a WWII reenactment at the airbase at halls, here's a video that one of the german reenactors shot of the japanese running at us: http://home.bellsouth.net/p/s/community.dll?ep=87&subpageid=256936&ck=

Here's a pic of me and a D-Day Airborne vet at Trenton, these guys are few in number, but always a pleasure to meet.

Here I am at halls dressed as Army in the Pacific Theatre, ready to take on the whole Japanese army,  OORAAH!

The Japanese were even nice enough to stop attacking me and pose for a picture:

Audie Murphy, the most highly decorated soldier of WWII, turned out to be a poet.  Here is one of my favorites:

FREEDOM FLIES IN YOUR HEART LIKE AN EAGLE

Dusty old helmet, rusty old gun, They sit in the corner and wait - Two souvenirs of the Second World War That have withstood the time, and the hate. Mute witness to a time of much trouble. Where kill or be killed was the law - Were these implements used with high honor? What was the glory they saw? Many times I've wanted to ask them - And now that we're here all alone, Relics all three of a long ago war - Where has freedom gone? Freedom flies in your heart like an eagle. Let it soar with the winds high above Among the spirits of soldiers now sleeping, Guard it with care and with love. I salute my old friends in the corner, I agree with all they have said - And if the moment of truth comes tomorrow, I'll be free, or By God, I'll be dead! . . . Audie Murphy

Got a few pics back from Europe, what a trip that was.  It was a sort of pilgrimage in a way for me to go see all the famous places I have studied about for years.

Here is the Champs Elysees and Arc de Triomph in Paris in 1944:

Here is me on the same street 62 years later:  If only I had  brought my uniform with me!

Here is that ever famous bad-guy, Hitler himself, in front of the Eiffel tower shortly after the German occupation of Paris.  (Note: Nazism is BAD and I do not support it whatsoever, photo for historical comparison ONLY)

Me in front of the same tower (and it looks like its on my head)

The famous Arc de Triomphe with German occupants:

Me in front of the Arc de Triomphe:

This is the Louvre with some Germans in the picture during WWII:

Many years later, the present day Louvre:

Here is me in front of a statue of my namesake, Charles de Gaulle, the famous leader of the French in WWII (and had an airport named after him too)

Here are some WWII Submachineguns, called STENS, which were airdropped to French civilians who were members of the resistance, which frequently and covertly sabotaged the German forces.

Now you really have to wonder what people would say if somebody brought one of these on "Pimp my Ride".........

I must admit that I was pretty tempted to go in this place.........Just Kidding

And of course, Notre Dame was pretty big..........

Here is an interesting sign that reads:

"Here is Fallen, on the 22nd of August, 1944

Paul Boehm, who died for France"

I do not know the man's story, but he was likely a resistance fighter.

Hope you enjoy!

-Charles

"God of the free, we pledge our lives and hearts today to the cause of all free mankind.

Grant us victory over the tyrants who would enslave all free men and nations. Grant us faith and understanding to cherish all those who fight for freedom as if they were our brothers. Grant us brotherhood in home and union, not only for the sake of this bitter war, but for the days to come which shall and must unite all the children of the earth.

Our earth is but a small star in the great universe. Yet, of it, we can make if we choose, a planet unvexed by war, untroubled by hunger or fear, undivided by senseless distinctions of race, color or theory. Grant us that courage and foreseeing to begin this task today so that our children and our children's children may be proud of the name of man.

Yet, most of all, grant us brotherhood, not only for this day but for all our years--brotherhood not of words, but of acts and deeds. We are all of us children of earth--grant us that simple knowledge. If our brother is oppressed, then we are oppressed. If they hunger, we hunger. If their freedom is taken away, our freedom is not secure.

Grant us the common faith that man shall know bread and peace; that he shall know justice and righteousness, freedom and security; an equal opportunity and an equal chance to do his best not only in our own lands, but throughout the world. And in that faith, let us march toward the clean world our hands can make."

May this whispered hope from our past echo as loud as thunder from this day on, and may the lives of the WASP continue to inspire us all to fly higher and dream bigger...because it is the right thing to do...and because each person can make a difference.

God bless you all, every one!"

-President Roosevelt, 1942.