I am so happy to hear my Grandfather’s story told! One small error is my Grandfather (John Halada) was Czech and spoke Slavic from an early age. The languages were very similar so he quickly learned German. He lived in Florida but was buried in Pennsylvania next to his wife Lois. Another fun tidbit, when he escaped there was one night he had to hide in the loft of a barn. Two German soldiers entered and one started climbing the ladder to where John was hidden. He thought he was going to have to try and kill the soldier. The soldiers were both drunk and before the one got all the way up the ladder the other told him to get down before he broke his neck. Luckily, he turned around. Thank you for sharing these stories from our country’s past. I do wish the Ruger was still in our family as an heirloom but I’m sure my Grandfather had good reasons for giving it away. And as a result his story was told so that is wonderful.
What a fantastic story of a true hero and patriot. Thanks for putting this presentation together. My grandfather, Stephen E. Flynn, MD, was a ship's surgeon in the Pacific theatre. He was the 2nd physician on the cruiser USS Columbia. During the battle for the Philippine Sea, (I think), they were hit by 3 Kamikaze's in 24 hours. After the first hit, my grandfather and several Corpsmen were directed by the head surgeon to bring wounded back to sick bay for treatment. While my grandfather was stabilizing some sailors, the 2nd Kamikaze hit the ship, right in the area of the sick bay, destroying it and killing the head surgeon and several Corpsmen and wounded already there. So, for the next 24 hours, my grandfather performed triage and surgery on the open deck of the ship, while under continuous fire, including the third Kamikaze hit. He only had his doctor's bag and the first aid kits from the other Corpsmen, as all the equipment in the sick bay had been destroyed. He was awarded the Bronze Star medal with Valor for his actions. When he returned from the war, my uncles, who eventually became physicians as well, said that he was never the same man as before the war.
A wonderful, compelling story of an American hero. Respect to John Halada, may he Rest In Peace. Several years ago, in London, I was extremely honoured and fortunate to meet Babe Heffron and William "Wild Bill" Guarnere from Easy Company's Band of Brothers. They were hosting a Battlefield trip to Bastogne and were in London overnight. I was awestruck at being in the company of these two American heroes. They liked pints of Guinness and they loved to talk of their time during WW2. Both are deceased now, but I was privileged to have met them.
Of course, all great heroes in WW2 were solely Americans and Brits. You can be very very proud. But don´t choke yourself in front of so much self-elevation. The reality was unfortunately a little different.
I've always hoped some Hollywood types would begin making movies with several short stories of real experiences. They would make a fortune off of them.
First of all, I am German and I appreciate the fair way in which this American veteran described his war experiences. I have lots of respect for this decent man and the American armed forces in general. Although almost every male member of my family actually fought in WW2, but none of the few survivers considered Americans as enemies, because all of them fought against Russians on the eastern front. I was born in 68, but from a very early age I heard their stories about the war on every single family reunion and became interested in. When my Grandfather passed away, I was almost 20 years old, my Grandma gave me a cigar-box with some medals and - - - a gun. Unfortunately, she couldn't tell me very much about it. It is a Remington Rand 1911a1, and according to the the serial number, it is from 1943 (August, if I remember correctly). When I saw the luger 08 and heard the story, It instantly reminds me of that 1911 from an unknown soldier. All I know about it is that it my Grandpa get the gun in the Oberammergau /Garmisch-Partenkirchen area, which is located in Bavaria, app. 60 miles south of Munich. Before I die, I will give the gun back to where it belongs to. It's a piece of history and it should survive. All the best for your channel und Auf Wiedersehen... ✌🏻🤝
These stories are a very important part of our history. My father was a WWII vet, Marine Corp Iwo Jima, he had lots of stories he would share with me. They are the greatest generation!
Thank you, Tom for this great story, I love this video, my dad was a POW in WW2. He joint the Iowa National Guard 34th Infantry Division at age 17 with his brother who was age 19, and my dad SGT. The 34th Infantry Division was the first US Army Division sent to England. My dad was captured in North Africa in Nov of 1942. After the war my dad was stationed in Bad Tolz, Germany. He married a German woman my mother, her brother was a POW in the US. My mother's brother was in the German Army Tank Corp (panzer corps) and he was captured at Normandy, and was sent to the USA to Arizona to a POW camp. We must never forget the brave men and women who gave their all for our country. Thanks for the great videos and great guns.
We lived in Lewisburg, Pa, center of the state. My dad was drafted at age 32 from a civil service job, married and two small children. He spoke 7 languages, was fluent in German, French, Spanish and English. He was assigned to be a driver and interpreter for a Colonel and he, too, brought home a German Luger, a 1940 made weapon with all matching serial numbers which I now have. He returned after the war uninjured and in great shape. As I recall he only had 10 weeks of basic training before being sent to Europe. His brother, my uncle, unmarried, enlisted, was commissioned and served as a company commander in New Guinea. Wounded, he received a Purple Heart, Silver Star and 2 Oak Leaf Clusters. I had 4 cousins all brothers who enlisted from Woodmont, Ct. George the oldest went in the army, Fred, next in line Navy, Ed, the third brother enlisted in the Army Air Corps, became a gunner on a B-24 which was shot down over Germany and became a prisoner of war in Stalag 17 for about 2 years (His name is mentioned in the book written by another prisoner) , and the youngest Roger who at 16 enlisted and served in the navy. All of the above returned home and lived normal and healthy lives following wars end. Only one of the six mentioned served in the Asian theatre. None are alive today.
What a wonderful and well done story. As a Vietnam era Veteran I really need to thank everyone that was involved in its presentation. So good of the presenter / speaker to show so much respect for the military folks.
Love the story my grandfather was a glider pilot in Europe I loved listening to his stories growing up he was a remarkable man as many of these soldiers. I also have a ac 41 Walther that was a vet bring back in the original holster presented to a neurosurgeon that operated on the airborne soldier that captured it. I’m honored to be the care taker. Keep up the work
Thanks for sharing! BOTH my Grandfathers fought in WW2. One in the US Navy and the other in Italian Air Force. I remember my grandfather in the Navy (USS Kendrick DD-612) would tell me that he was balding bc the shell casings were so hot and he would sweat and have to wipe his forehead with his hands. His battle station was to clear the shell casing as they were piling up and they were so hot that his hands were burning and thus burned the hair off his forehead LOL... I never got to meet my Grandfather who fought for Italy Vincenzo Scelsi KIA. After Mussolini was overthrown the Germans took as many Italian soldiers prisoner as they could capture. These Italian prisioners were not treated as POWs they were treated as traitors and sent to concentration camps. My grandfather suffered the fate as did so many others and was starved and beaten to death at the end of the war in a concentration camp. My father was later adopted by his Aunt who lived in America and started a new life here and a new last name. All of my family on my fathers side is in Italy to this day, I have been born and raised here in America but I am proud of ALL of my family on both sides of the worst war in history. It was a bad time for all and should NEVER be forgotten especially the suffering of the civilians. I know my Grandmother with 5 children who now had no father and no food in the ashes of war-torn Italy suffered horribly. She sent her youngest to live with her sister in America and that is how I am to be in this world. Sometimes I wonder that if the Germans did not kill my Grandfather then my father would have never met my Mother and I would have never been... I am sad and grateful... war is hell
Great history...Makes me proud to be from Pennsylvania.. My father was a U.S Army engineer in the Pacific theater. He operated heavy equipment and never wanted to talk about the war.... A guy named Dick Winter was also a Pennsylvanian.
@@awizardalso Just recalled that he did mention one situation....They were on a transport ship and came under air attack. They were ordered to go below deck. He & others crawled under their machines instead. He got in trouble as we can imagine but never told me what happened.
I truly appreciate the history that you bring to life in presenting these memorabilia and firearms from the various wars that our country has had to unfortunately be involved in.
Thank you for bringing us this great American story. Although I am a combat veteran myself, I cannot but be amazed and humbled by the grit and selflessness of this brave WWII veteran. A salute to you for offering us this video and a special salute to Mr Halada.
Loved this story. Thank you for sharing. My Dad also came home from the war with a Luger along with the officers Iron Cross and the belt with an awesome buckle. Dad was 10th Mountain Division in the Italian Campaign. Dad, like a lot of the vet's. did not talk too much about the war. Truly, John along with my Dad, were a part of the greatest generation. Thank you to all the Men and Women that have served and are serving!
I really appreciate your doing this story. My father was the Battalion aid surgeon who landed 2nd wave at Omaha Beach and won a Silver Star for his efforts. He was wounded 2 weeks later, and was interviewed by Earney Pile, and a paragraph about him appeared in his book, Brave Men. He later ran a hospital in southern France. When General Patton was injured, he was asked to help take care of him. Thanks again for the wonderful story. Dr.Fred Klein, Tucson, Arizona
I like the approach you have in showcasing these VFW bios. The human story behind the bragadocio is what we have in common. I too as an investment banker would have enjoyed Mr. Halada´s stories, for sure. I grew up in Potomac, Md., went to the Deutsche Schule, got an MBA in Finance and went to work for Commerzbank in Capital Markets origination in Frankfurt in the Eighties. I joined a pricy hunt club and shortly afterwards was invited to a Deutsche Bank Corporate event in Wiesbaden. After dinner someone introduced me to two elderly gentlemen sipping their cognac in a fireside chat. It turned out they were both former tank commanders from the Battle of Prochorowka. Made me later feel like Forrest Gump stumbling through history when I read about their wartime activities...they were Rudolf von Ribbentrop and Franz Staudegger. I very much appreciate the rigorous work you go through. What Dr. Brett Johnson does for early Porsche 356s you guys do for 20th century German weapons. Good job! Provenance does decide price!
My cousin was a anti air craft gunner on the uss Franklin cv 13 during a kamakazi attack.him and his anti aircraft gun was blown into the water.as luck would have it.his hand hit a floating piece of wood.......most likely from the wo to den flight dect. Iij t kept him floating for 10 hours after a destroyer picked him up and transferred right back the uss franklin cv 13.he continued putting out fires right up to entering the Hudson river ny.1954 I met him at the sub base groton ct.me a usmc private.him a sgt usmc. 1954.he was from old lyme ct. Great american.
My dad was also in the 79th Infantry and brought home a Luger, my brother has it and we took it to the range and it shot great. Dad got the Luger after crossing the Rhine during the early morning hours. His unit came upon a building that had a large red cross on it and it was just disguised as a hospital, it was actually an Officers Barracks and pop and the rest of his unit got them all out of bed and captured them. Dad got the luger and also a german dress sword, which my brother has also from an officers locker in that barracks. Dad told me a few stories of his war experiences but he was really reluctant to talk about it, I think he really had some rough times in the combat infantry. Dad was 6'4" tall and they guys nicknamed him long tom because he was so tall. He was wounded a few times and was captured during the battle of the bulge, but him and a couple of other guys stole a german tank and made it back to our lines in a german tank. Dad also spoke german, His Dad, my grandfather was born here in the U.S. but Dads mom was born in Germany and came over here when she was 7 years old. Enough, sorry to bore ya have a wonderful day.
My dad Bernard James McCluskey, Jr. served as a medic in the last year of WWII in the Pacific theater. He never talked about his time in the war. When he came home he worked at a hospital in New York City. I was born at St. Elizabeth Hospital in upper Manhattan (Hudson Hgts) on May 3rd 1954. We moved to Cleveland, Ohio in 1957.
This video made me think of the P38 pistol my father brought back from the war. He said he took it from a German prisoner. At the end of hostilities they accepted a lot of surrenders. He said one task they were assigned was to drive down roads and collect all the discarded weapons. He said he sent all kinds of stuff home, helmets and such. He related that his mother some time, maybe years, threw it all away. I suspect my own mother got tired and worried about the pistol being in our house and she blamed a burglary when it disappeared. I was in high school at the time, and actually surprised the burglars in the act. They ran off, had only started their crime, didn't run off with anything, and had not opened the closet where the pistol was kept. Still, my mom later blamed them for its loss, I think she just threw it away. It would have been interesting to review its history as was done in this video.
My uncle John was in the 101st who landed on D-day and got wounded when a German tossed a stick grenades over the hedge rows. He picked it up and tried to toss it back over but it hit the top of the hedges and went off wounded John in the leg and hip. The Germans dragged him to their side of the hedge row and a German medic treated him and left him their for the Americans to pick up. Uncle John limped the rest of his life and always said if not for the Germans treating his would he would have bled to death. My take away is soldiers are soldiers no matter whos Army they serve.
Many thanks for bringing Mr. Halata’s amazing story to us. As others have said, far too many times these stories are left untold and are buried with the heroes who lived them. The part of the story about the Luger, while interesting, pales in comparison to the brave soldier who brought it back. Please do more of these fascinating heroic accounts. Thanks again.
A great and fascinating story. Thank you. The connection between the Legacy weapons and the vets who brought them home is truly wonderful. These vets are dying off and only a few will remain in a few more years so tributes are fitting to these old guys. Great post. More please!
..the story behind every piece makes it a " living thing" from that part of history and in a way, an informal encounter with the personality who originally owned it..
Great story!! I am from the areas of PA you speak of. It was a whole different time then. I am glad you told this story. It only makes me regret I did not learn more from my grandfather's and there experiences. One was a sebee who never spoke of the war till the year before he passed. The other was in the 101st airborne. He spoke more of the war and his wounds. He was a bar man too.
My dad was combat medic in the ETO. He brought back a bunch of firearms. One Luger, three P-38's, a Mauser rifle and a M1 carbine with ammunition for all of them. After VE day he was assigned to a MP/ Riot squad in the American Sector of Berlin until February 1946. By the time he went home to Northern Idaho no one was inspecting duffle bags. Dad kept the Luger and gave his father and two brothers the P-38's, we are no sure where the rifles went. The P-38's are long gone but the Luger and holster are in my safe. Great story about Mr. Halada.
What a great story. There were so many heroes and great Americans and they are not talked about or highlighted the way they should be. This is great American history and we need to make our youth aware of it and give them some pride instead of all the self loathing that is being dumped on them. God bless all of our vets and brave Americans throughout history.
Michele: Great Luger! Greater Legacy! Greatest Generation! Thank you for the outstanding video and incredible history of Mr. Halada and his Luger. Besides being a tough (and lucky) soldier, Halada, on 3 occasions, and showed bravery compassion for others, by inserting himself between oppressor and oppressed. Love to see these type of videos that bring a face and history to a weapon.
Excellent content Tom and Thank God we had men like John Halada on our side. Keep these vids coming. You said you wanted to hear stories...OK. I was fortunate enough to meet/ speak with a MOH recipient who received his medal for his role in the Battle of the Bulge. Francis S Currey. Mattell made a GI Joe doll of his likeness which I promptly purchased after meeting him. There is a town in Sullivan County NY that named a street after Francis S Curry and they had a parade every year honoring him. He earned his medal using a BAR and was very humble about his actions. He passed in Oct 2019. The Greatest Generation is damn right.
Beautiful story of an American hero. Thank you for sharing it with us. Also thank everyone who has served this great nation with honor. I'm proud of my service, and that of all my brothers and sisters in arms.
I'm age 76, my father was in the US Army prewar, a sgt, 6' 4" and very good. Right before shipping off to Europe in '43 he suffered a collapsed lung and ended up being discharged for this bad medical. He always missed his buddies and seeing action. He became a pro ball player, and was a great guy. My paternal grandfather was in WWI in France, late in the war, was an officer with a horse. He never got into any action, but he said his unit marched all over France, never getting into a fight. He was still bothered that they all so out of food that his horse was killed for his company to eat. After that he said he had to walk with everyone else, so not good that way. He came home never firing his weapon and resentful of the French in not providing the food they promised the US Army. He said his horse was the greatest, wonderfully trained "I sure miss that horse" he would say.
Thanks for a refreshing look into the past, a nice break from the day to day current embarrassment occurring in our country today. My deepest thanks to him for putting it on the line so I could be here.
Thank you! The French are very grateful to these GI's that freed their country and saved civilisation. Thank you Mr Halada, you have indeed been a hero and fully deserved to belong to the "Légion d'honneur"...
79th division patch I was going to say that unit was comprised of a lot of Pennsylvanian people. I think it remained a reserve unit in PA for decades after the war. My uncles were members, and both saw war time service in WWII
OH ... and BTW ..... When I was asked, "sprechen sie deutsch" .... my reply is always, "Fuckhen sie off"........ spoken in a German accent of course....
You got my attention with the shoulder patch of the Cross of Lorraine - the cross of the Knights Templar. I wasn't aware of the 79th I.D. and it's history in France dating back to the 'Great' war. Fascinating!
This reminds me I had better write down my grandpas story of capturing the pistol I received after my Grandmother passed away (my grandfather gave it to her).I remember when I was about 10 years old he told me about it.
Love these stories, these men were very brave. My uncle was an officer in the Czechoslovakian army and in 1938 when the Germans entered Czechoslovakia he was ordered to lock up all the weapons in the barracks. It was very hard for the Czechs and my uncle told me that the Germans were afraid of the Czech army because they were very well equipped. And as you would know other countries' sold us out (Not naming any but you have a good idea which) Love your videos great work. P.S. I love the book that I bought from you "Walther Pistols" a great book. Cheers Tom
Fascinating story of this heroes service. My father also wrote down his experience in WW2. He manned a 20 MM gun on a liberty ship. I wasn't interested to read it until Band of Brothers series. He had many experiences back and forth to England. He was proud of his service. Every time he would visit after the divorce we would go to our local airport to see and sit on a 20 MM gun that was in the parking lot. His brother was a combat veteran in France and Germany but never talked about it.
Worked with a guy, pretty young - probably early 20's - told me he inherited his grandad's Luger that he took off of an German officer. This was around 2006 or 2007. It sounded pretty interesting. I told him I'd like to see it sometime. He came back in 5 minutes. He had it with him! And he was NOT lying it was the real deal P08. Had the swastika stampings on it. Curiously, it was in a black leather p-38 holster which I'm told would not be that unusual. It even had the German ammo in the mag. But the most crazy part of all; It still had the dried mud on it from WWII. His grandad had never cleaned it! It hadn't been. Shot since the war! I'm not sure whatever happened to him. He left a few months later.
I had several great uncles involved in the war one was a paratrooper from the 101 501st i am not sure if he was partook in d day but I do know he was killed in Holland during market garden. He is buried in Holland. My other uncle was in an artillery unit that was part of the battle of the bulge. He never talked of the war. I am very sorry I never found out more. After I was older I found out these things and became interested but by then uncle George had passed. I believe they were and still are the greatest generation for the huge obstacles they overcame not knowing they gave us the life we enjoy. Thanks for the no holds barred reminder to always remember the people the who gave all.
