World War 2 Veteran
John Miller Apple
Prisoners in Auschwitz and other concentration camps were not the only people who struggled for survival during World War two; the daily lives of soldiers featured massive battles and the constant possibility of instant death. I always knew my great uncle John was in the military, but up until recently, I did not know he fought in World War two, much less one of the most famous battles of the war, "The Battle of the Bulge". The Battle of the Bulge started in December of 1944, and was Hitler's last attempt of fighting offensively near the end of the war. I spoke with John's son, Dwayne Apple, about John's experience fighting in WWII. The following is what I learned.
John was only 24 years old when he fought in the Battle of the Bulge. He was in the U.S. Army, 1st Infantry Division (Big Red One), and had just fought on Omaha Beach earlier in June of 1944. His division was sent to Germany in December of 1944. Unfortunately, in January of 1945, John was shot in the head by and S.S officer and war presumed dead. He fell into shallow water, and could not move. John was terrified that he would die by either loss of blood or from freezing to death. He was not found until a few hours later by a member of his divison, and consequently, his hearing was damaged for the rest of his life. He was sent home after being hospitalized, and became a life time member of the American Legion and the Disabled American Veterans. He was awarded several medals, and kept the same helmet he was wearing when he was shot.
I only remember meeting him once or twice with my grandmother, and he died in 2005 when I was only 9 . I had no idea at the time that I had been in the presence of a hero.
John Miller Apple
Prisoners in Auschwitz and other concentration camps were not the only people who struggled for survival during World War two; the daily lives of soldiers featured massive battles and the constant possibility of instant death. I always knew my great uncle John was in the military, but up until recently, I did not know he fought in World War two, much less one of the most famous battles of the war, "The Battle of the Bulge". The Battle of the Bulge started in December of 1944, and was Hitler's last attempt of fighting offensively near the end of the war. I spoke with John's son, Dwayne Apple, about John's experience fighting in WWII. The following is what I learned.
John was only 24 years old when he fought in the Battle of the Bulge. He was in the U.S. Army, 1st Infantry Division (Big Red One), and had just fought on Omaha Beach earlier in June of 1944. His division was sent to Germany in December of 1944. Unfortunately, in January of 1945, John was shot in the head by and S.S officer and war presumed dead. He fell into shallow water, and could not move. John was terrified that he would die by either loss of blood or from freezing to death. He was not found until a few hours later by a member of his divison, and consequently, his hearing was damaged for the rest of his life. He was sent home after being hospitalized, and became a life time member of the American Legion and the Disabled American Veterans. He was awarded several medals, and kept the same helmet he was wearing when he was shot.
I only remember meeting him once or twice with my grandmother, and he died in 2005 when I was only 9 . I had no idea at the time that I had been in the presence of a hero.
This song "Why We Fight" is featured on a World War Two soundtrack. I thought it was fitting for this particular page.