Occupation, Rumors and Home - A Memorial Day Tribute - Eugene H Kessler, Pvt. Co.C,377th Infantry Regiment, 95th "Victory" Infantry Division

Occupation

In April of 1945 with the war in Europe winding down, the 377th headquarters moves into the town of Werl.  Early in April, as the 95th is moving across Germany, element of the division come across a German forced labor camp in the city of Werl.  In the camp they find some 4,500 undernourished French officers and 800 enlisted men.  Due to the lack of available resources, the 95th provided food and supplies out of their own supplies.

As part of the occupation, the regiment would become the civilian government.  They would have to deal not only with the civilian population, also the displaced persons of war, which would prove to be a greater challenge.

Reassignment

Once Eugene returned to Europe, according to his family, he was reassigned to help clean up a concentration camp.  Now, which camp is unknown.  Logic would have, as the headquarters of the 377th was now in Werl, that this would be the camp that he would be assigned to.  One can only imagine what atrocities he would be exposed to while in that camp.  Again, images that I'm sure would haunt him throughout his life.

During the period of Occupation and into the 1960's, Werl Prison would be used to house German war criminals.

Returning home

As April turned to May, word spread of redeployment back to the States.  There were also rumors of redeployment to the Pacific Theatre.  On June 11th, Eugene and the 377th would be transported by train across the continent.  Well the journey home for the men would be pleasant, it would also be eventful.  Shortly after crossing the Rhine, the engine of the train transporting the 1st bn would derail and everyone would be thrown to the floor.  Fortunately, no one would be injured.

The men would detrain near Le Havre.  Col. Gaillard got word that a transport to the United States in 2 - 3 days and informed the men that if they could get their gear, supplies and paperwork completed, SOP was for these to be done in "several days", they could  embark on their trip home. In the next 3 days, the men of the 377th were packed, equipment inspected and checked off and money was converted to US currency.  On June 19th, the men boarded the USS William H Gordon, a Coast Guard transport, for the return trip across the pond and back to their families.  The trip would take 7 days.  In route, and as if Eugene and the men hadn't been through enough, the Gordon began to pitch and roll violently, they would pass through the edge of a hurricane.

On the 27th of June, the USS William H Gordon would be approach the Virginia coastline and make for port at Newport News. By 8:30 am on the 28th, Eugene and the troops of the 377th disembark the Gordon and travel to Camp Patrick Henry.  Here Eugene and the men would have steak dinner, cow's milk and ice cream.  They would enjoy a good night’s sleep and then board trains to their respective separation centers (Eugene's would be Fort Dix, NJ) and a 30 day furlough at home.

July 31st would find the men preparing to return to duty.  This time they would begin to muster at Camp Shelby, MS for further training and drilling in preparation for deployment in the Pacific.  Here they would begin to qualify on the firing range for their 2nd movement, watch training movies and be given lectures. At the end of August, the men began to petition the War Department. They felt that they had done their time and should be allowed to muster out rather than be redeployed.  The orders were unchanged.  At Gen. MacArthur's request, the men of the 95th, would see action in the Pacific.  After August 9th, those orders would change.

Going Home.

With the use of the atomic bombs at Hiroshima and Nagasaki, a decision that would save 100's of thousands of lives, including Eugene's. No longer being redeployed, the men of the 377th would still continue their service. Men were needed for separation centers and special unit camps.  Personnel with less than 45 point and privates with 45-60 points would be transferred to these areas.  Eugene would be transferred to Fort Dix.  On October 15th, the 95th Infantry Division would be inactivated, 3 years and 3 months after it birth.

Eugene would end his service with the US Army on March 2nd 1946 and muster out with an honorable discharge at Fort Dix on April 21st, 1946.  So ends his military service.

In 1967, the US Army officially recognized the name that the 95th Infantry Division was given by the German Soldiers after the Battle of Metz, "The Iron Men of Metz" and this became their official title and moniker.  They would always and forever be known as The Iron Men of Metz.

Eugene would return home to his loving wife, Adelaide in Bethlehem PA.  He would return to work at Bethlehem Steel and spend his career there, working his way up the ladder.  He and Adelaide would start their family, having 2 beautiful daughters, Charmayne and Deb and live the "American Dream", but Eugene was a changed man.
As his nephew and the youngest of the nieces and nephew, my remembrances of Eugene are few.  I, like my brothers, knew Eugene to be a quiet and gentle man.  After reconnecting with his daughters and grandchildren I learned that Eugene, while quiet and gentle, a good father and fiercely loyal to his family, was haunted by his service. There was another side though, one that plagues soldiers and veterans to this day, PTSD.  According to this family, Eugene wouldn't speak of his service and there were times that he would cry, maybe for no apparent reason.  It wouldn't be until later in life that he would speak of his experiences and even then, it would be somewhat vague and it wasn't until his children and grandchildren married, and even then, the tales weren't general shared with his children, but to those whom they married.  Being every vigilant to protect his children from the horror he experienced.  He struggled with his experience, especially being the only member of his squad or platoon to survive, never full comprehending why, but God's plan is never fully known.  Maybe it was to bring his 2 daughters into the world.  Maybe it was the love and kindness he showed others.  Maybe it was because if we don't remember the past, we are doomed to repeat it and by sharing his experiences during the war, we can better appreciate what we have. 

Eugene may not have won many honors and medals during the war.  He may only be a footnote, but like soon many others who had served died and served and survived and those who have now passed, he is part of the Greatest Generation. He is a hero to those who love him and to those who know him and hopefully, though the blog series, I have been able to honor the man with whom I have to honor to share a name.

To Eugene, "May the Lord bless you and keep you, may the Lord make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious unto you.  The Lord lift his countenance upon you and give you peace."

Eugene Hubert Kessler, 9 August 1920 - 24 February 2007

To All who have served and are serving Thank You and have a Blessed Memorial Day.