UBB.threads Forums General Militaria United States Militaria X-MAS from the 1st Division 1945

My father, Calvin J. Wetzel entered active service on May 28, 1945 and was trained for operation's Olympic & Coronet, the invasion of Japan. The defeat of Japan changed the plans and Calvin departed USA, on Nov. 8, 1945, arrived ETO, Nov. 27, 1945, as a truck driver in the Army of Occupation, European Theater of Operations, 1945-1946 with the 1st Engineer Combat Battalion (The Big Red One) and departed from ETO on May 19, 1946 and arrived USA on May 27, 1946, date of separation, June 1, 1946. Clarence L. Brain, enlisted, March 30, 1943, released, Nov. 23, 1945. He served in the 115th AAA, 50 caliber machine gun crew. "History of the 115th AAA": "Arrived off Omaha beach Normandy, France, June 10, 1944 (D-day+4) and landed June 13, 1944 (D-day+7) and also served with Gen. Patton." Merry Christmas to all.

What a great story, and items to go with it, outstanding.
Ed

Here are some more 1st Division items from my father, Calvin James Wetzel Sr.-20610 (1918-1997).

I found this picture postcard with my father's things and thought this would be of some interest. Kenneth Peter Broers Sr., my father's 1st cousin, served with the Hundred and 1st Airborne Division and earned the Combat Infantryman's Badge near Bastogne, Belgium where he spent his Christmas of 1944. Kenneth P. Broers Sr., son of Peter S. Broers & Rebecca Nora (Wetzel)-20622 Broers, enlisted Feb. 26, 1944 and just passed away on Aug. 24, 2022 at the age of 96.

Here is my father's, Calvin J. Wetzel, "Army of the United States", "Separation Qualification Record". Note that he was a Pvt for 4 months and then was a Tec-5 for 8 months. My father also "Drove at night over all kinds of terrain averaging 300 miles per day". My father was a driver for officers, Lt. O'Neil and Lt. White who were buying land for war monuments, according to my father. My father drove from Normandy, France through Heye, Belgium and then to Furth, Germany. My father also said he was stopped at the Czech boarder by the Russians when the officers were trying to buy some colored cut glass. My father told me his side kick was called "Frenchie" from Louisiana and spoke French. One night they went into General Montgomery's camp undetected and was questioned about how they got there in the morning.

Really cool! Great photos too

BARRACKS AT BERCHTESGADEN, my father, Calvin J. Wetzel (1918-1997) was stationed during occupation, while driving through Germany, in the same barracks that were occupied by the 101st or General Patton's 3rd army.

He found 15 negatives, and a Walther p38. He left the Walther and returned with the negatives.

One was a negative of the Eagles Nest, so I put that one in a plain white envelope and lost it in the April 1984 flood of Wayne Twp. Passaic Co. N. J.

Tonight, I scanned 5 negatives that he found, maybe I will scan the other 9 and someone will identify one of the negatives.

what great stuff to have.. [I have a lot of my families items too]...

Well we thank him for his service.. The ash tray, awards, booklets, hat, dog tags are great to have for the families history... Yes please scan what photos you have. I'm pretty sure on your photo editor can turn the negatives into the photo..

Here are five more negatives, first is Hotel Westernacher, Bavaria.

The others show some building (Negative # 7) in the mountains that look very familiar to me.

The negative with the truck has some damage. Four more to go.

Here are the last four negatives.

The first negative is very dark of chairs on a balcony, maybe the hotel.

The last picture is a wool Bavarian women's "Edelweiss und Hearts" belt my father brought back for my mother. The moths got some of the belt too.

One military collector put the belt over his shoulder thinking it was for the German mountain troops.

I sent Volker Lobner of Frankfurt, Deutschland the first 7 negatives: Here are two of his replies:

The first is about negative (7).

"Now I have it.

This was a hotel in the area of the Obersalzberg, Hotel called Zum Türken.

Bormann bought it and it was used as security Departement. RSD ReichsSicherheitsDienst.

Naturally from there the bunker-system started. Now it was sold at Sothebys.


Yours Volker"

"Dear Calvin,

I think they were made in Bavaria. Nürnberg? or Munich (München)

The staircase inside I think is Schloß Neuschwanstein, King Ludwig built it.

The ruins are Hitlers Berchtesgaden. Eagle nest.


Yours Volker"

Volker Lobner's first reply was that WWII Negative (7) was the Eagle nest, at 4:30 pm and he later sent back the 2nd email: "Now I have it" that it was the "Hotel called Zum Turken" at 5;19pm.

I should have listed the replies in the correct order.

I just found out from my research, WWII Negatives # (12) & (13) are the outside of Schloss (Castle) Herrenchiemsee in Bavaria. Negative # (5) is the inside of the castle. Negative # (4) may also be the outside of the castle.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:

Herrenchiemsee is a complex of royal buildings on Herreninsel, the largest island in the Chiemsee lake, in southern Bavaria, Germany. Together with the neighbouring isle of Frauenchiemsee and the uninhabited Krautinsel, it forms the municipality of Chiemsee, located about 60 kilometres (37 mi) southeast of Munich.

The island, formerly the site of an Augustinian monastery, was purchased by King Ludwig II of Bavaria in 1873. The king had the premises converted into a residence, known as the Old Palace (Altes Schloss). From 1878 onwards, he had the New Herrenchiemsee Palace (Neues Schloss) erected, based on the model of Versailles. It was the largest, but also the last of his building projects, and remained incomplete. Today maintained by the Bavarian Administration of State-Owned Palaces, Gardens and Lakes, Herrenchiemsee is accessible to the public and a major tourist attraction.

Wetzel,

I think that is so neat that you have these things from your father.

Thought it looked familiar. Been there.

My father told me about finding the negatives with the Walther p38.

He said he did not take the Walther p38 because he did not have the paperwork to bring it home and was told his duffel bag would be searched before boarding the troop ship back to the States.

When he was about to board the ship, the command was: "Open duffel bag, close duffel bag", so they never did search for any contraband.

Too bad I lost the best negative of Hitler's Eagle Nest in the April 1984 flood along with a picture postcard of my granduncle in his WWI uniform, Pfc. Calvin H. Wetzel-20619 (1889-1959), 310 Ambulance Co., 78th Div. and 303rd Sanitation train. Engagements; St. Mihiel Offensive Sept. 22 -16, 1918 and Meuse - Argonne, Nov. 1918.

My thanks to Volker Lobner of Frankfurt, Germany for his help with the negatives.

Wetzel,

Sorry you lost those items in a flood would love to have seen them. I have been to the nest many times. Best!

I just found out the negative that was lost in the 1984 flood was not the "Eagle's nest" but was Hitler's Berghof (residence) with the large picture window. The Berghof was very close to and just below Hotel Zum Turken.

Kehlsteinhaus
Coordinates: 47°36′40″N 13°02′30″E
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Not to be confused with Berghof (residence).


The Kehlsteinhaus (known in English as the Eagle's Nest) is a Nazi-constructed building erected atop the summit of the Kehlstein, a rocky outcrop that rises above Obersalzberg near the southeast German town of Berchtesgaden. It was used exclusively by members of the Nazi Party for government and social meetings. It was visited on 14 documented instances by Adolf Hitler. Today, it is open seasonally as a restaurant, beer garden, and tourist site.

Wetzel,

To bad he didn't take that P38 but he was only following orders or what he was told. But yes I know the difference between the two and where they are ,been too both plus stayed in the hotels. Awesome stories to cherish and hand down..Best!

Good story. A salute to your Father's and families service.

--dj--Joe

Before WW2 Calvin J. Wetzel Sr.-20610 served with the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1935, at Wilma, Florida & Placerville, California.

Calvin served with the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1936, at Camp P-66, (Newfoundland P. O. which was 8 miles from the camp) also known as "Camp Greenwood", Greenwood Lake, New Jersey.

Calvin Wetzel was listed as a "tree surgeon" on his 1939 Paterson, N. J. directory.

Calvin joined the Masonic Lodge in 1966. He was Master of the Mountain View Masonic Lodge #252, Wayne, N.J. in 1974. Calvin was also the finance officer of the American Legion post #174, Wayne N.J.

The C.C.C. patch shown was issued July 1, 1937, and was purchased at the Wayne, N.J. P.A.L. flea market by Calvin James Wetzel Jr. and the other 2 patches were from Calvin J. Wetzel Sr.-20610.