Elwood Loc: Florida

Jimbolai

I do not feel so comfortable glorifying the enemy. :XD:

alabuck Loc: Tennessee

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I read this story a coupLe of years ago and enjoyed it then, too. Having been in combat and a survivor of being shot down by the NVA, I find it very heartening to read about the "humanity" shown by this German pilot toward his American enemies.

There are many stories of enemies showing compassion towards one another during times of armed conflict. In another instance, I've read, during WW2, where a squad of German soldiers, entered a French church where the locals were holding service. The Germans set aside their arms and joined in the service. A few minutes later, a squad of Canadian soldiers came in and did the same thing. After the service, both sets of soldiers, picked up their weapons, exited the church and left in opposite directions, not firing a shot at each other.

During WW1, the German commandant at the POW camp in Magdeburg, central Germany, petitioned Kaiser Wilhelm himself asking for special dispensation for a Capt Campbell to visit his mother back in England.

It was a request that remarkably was granted on condition that he voluntarily return to Germany after a two-week visit. And in December, 1916, Capt Campbell went to see his sick mother on her deathbed in Gravesend. A fortnight later he kept his word and returned to Germany and incarceration.

Comfort came from a surprising quarter - the German commandant at the camp in Magdeburg, central Germany, whom Capt Campbell had got to know well. Even more surprisingly the commandant petitioned Kaiser Wilhelm himself asking for special dispensation for Capt Campbell to visit his mother back in England.

However for all the carnage, there remained a previously untold camaraderie between the British and Germans throughout the war. And stories such as Capt Campbell's showed that humanity could survive despite the circumstances.

Most famously, the Christmas Truce of 1914, saw men from the trenches on the Western Front venture into no man's land to share presents, sing carols and play football. Each other's trenches were inspected, stories swapped. But incredible as the unofficial truce was it was far from unique.

Sometimes living barely 150 yards from the enemy for months on end meant parts of everyday life had to be shared. Soldiers describe the banter heard across the Western Front - whether it was a simple "guten morgen Tommy" shouted over no man's land to teasing about poor shooting or passing on news from other battles.

Sometimes notice boards were put up over the parapet and again with some humour. "Today is BANK HOLIDAY Tommies. Do not fire - give us a rest," announced one.

Tacit agreement between the two sides to allow the carrying out of repairs, tend the wounded and deal with supplies undoubtedly existed at times, while a "live and let live" attitude from those on the front line could develop, even if it was despised by the generals.

The sense of honour among men was most poignant when soldiers were seriously injured or k**led. From the start of the war it was common where possible for enemy soldiers to bury the dead of their foes, often with full military honours. Corporal Walter Crookes of the 1st Cheshire Regiment describes his German captors, their swords drawn in salute, ordering a three-shot volley to be fired as his captain and drummer were buried in a roadside grave.

The fighter pilots above northern France were involved in a ferocious battle for aerial supremacy. Enemy fire or mechanical failure meant the death rate among pilots and observers was high. But the bravery needed - and the sense among the air forces that they were "gentlemen" fighting by the rules - meant that when planes fell to earth their enemy often made a point of landing nearby to pay their respects.

When German top gun Max Immelmann was k**led the British dropped a wreath with a black bow and a message of condolence on to his airfield. Those shot down over occupied territory who survived were often treated fantastically when captured. Wine and meat to eat, a bed in the officers' mess and unguarded freedom of movement were all common. Perhaps the bonhomie went a little beyond simply war rivals sharing stories however. The Germans were always keen to find out about squadron bases and numbers as their guests were "softened up".

Even in times of war, sometimes, humanity will win-out. This isn't "glorifying the enemy;" it's recognizing them as fellow human beings.

Jimbolai

Thanks for the lecture but I still do not feel so comfortable glorifying the enemy. There were far more arrogant once than fellow human beings. BTW the NVA had a much better reason to be at war than the Germans. Thank you for your service in Vietnam. I was there for 8 years, after the war.

alabuck Loc: Tennessee

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Well, welcome to the OPP, newbie! I'm sorry if you took my posting my opinion as a "lecture." I was only offering a few instances of where "enemies" showed each other some respect during times of very ferocious fighting. Additionally, those "enemies" are now our friends.

I watched my friend and pilot vaporized before my eyes when the SAM hit our F-4. I suppose I should have as good a reason as any to hold grudges. But, I choose not to. That's too much energy to waste remaining negative over events that happened so long ago. Besides, we have way too many "enemies" as it is; without h*****g onto the ones from years ago.

Jimbolai

Thanks for the lecture......NOT.

Elwood Loc: Florida

But this was an extraordinary event that happened only once in a lifetime so I have to take my hat off to the German pilot. :-D

alabuck Loc: Tennessee

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Ooo! I can see that you're going to have a hard time of it around here; being so thin-skinned and believing that yours is the only opinion that matters.

Let the games begin! 8-)

lindajoy Loc: right here with you....

WOWWWWWWWWWW~~talk about a tear jerker, El..A friend of mine sent this to me yesterday and all I could do was sit there with tears streaming over the beauty of "the enemy within"...

What a story for both men and humanity....Enemies they were and brothers they became..

I sent this to any number of people in my address book and the responses I have gotten are unreal.........

BRAVO~~~

Elwood Loc: Florida

Thanks Linda. It sure was an extraordinary story. :-D

boatbob2

Yeah,some of those stories were/are real tear jerkers,and probably happened,but in Vietnam,it was common to find dead americans with testicles and penis cut off,and put into their mouths,OR the vc,who k**led a pregnant woman,cut the baby from her stomach,then bayonetted the baby,or,the vc/nva who took over the Vietnamese hospital,and raped the catholic nuns,that worked there,then murdered them,the ONLY thing I liked about Vietnam,was K*****G those sorry bastards,I still grin thinking of those cocksuckers I k**led.

lindajoy Loc: right here with you....

Right there with you!! His act was not that of "the enemy"....... I see it as honor and dignity..Not a fair fight so to speak and he could not do it..I commend him and Thank him as well..

He stood by his moral principle in the face of the war and could have suffered greatly by not doing, yet, he choose not to.... :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

lindajoy Loc: right here with you....

Terrible, terrible, it was, such viciousness..

I THANK YOU and all of you whom served...You are all our hero's!!!!!!!

Elwood Loc: Florida

That was a terrible war and I commend you for your service to our country.

Shawn64

Class act all the way, Lindajoy!

Let me join you in Thanks as well. Nothing in war is good, but this story shows how human beings, rather than the monsters some are can give pause for the good in people.