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WW2 original color photos
- Thread starter Kermit3D
- Start date
Micawber
Well-Known Member
That's Paul Chryst in the nose of Times A Wastin' of the 91st BG. Paul was a good, and much missed friend of mine. He was President of the 91st BGMA for some years and arranged their return tours for many years.
flyincowboy
Well-Known Member
M
most of the 909 pics are the replica from the Collings foundation.
Chandler
Well-Known Member
Call me a skeptic, but this looks more than a little posed to me.
"C'mere kids, have a Hershey bar."
Kermit3D
Well-Known Member
The pose may seem a bit artificial, but the ruins are unfortunately not.
These kids are not actors, their story is now known and they lost part of their family a few weeks earlier. Not sure if a chocolate bar will be enough to erase the trauma.
This is the city of Saint-Lô in August 1944.
The American bombing in June resulted in 352 civilian deaths. Followed by a German artillery shelling... the result is a city 90% destroyed. I am not putting the Americans on trial, especially since it was they who liberated the city (many young Americans died) and it was a necessary evil. But it is a fact that should not be neglected.
This video gives an idea of the extent of the damage.
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Chandler
Well-Known Member
Oh, in no way did I think a candy bar would erase any trauma -- the whole composition just looks rather pandering -- sort of taking advantage of the kids for a shot. Probably in a spot they'd never really be without "help."
And yes, I'm quite familiar with the war history of St. Lo and the "breakout." Some major SNAFUs all around.
Kermit3D
Well-Known Member
Of course I wasn't suggesting that you were saying that the chocolate bar would erase the trauma. Just a general comment that I made awkwardly. So sorry if it was misunderstood.
I was mainly referring to the story around this photo.
Chandler
Well-Known Member
Not at all -- and I hope I didn't sound as callous as I may have. I was sniping more at the photographer than the kids.
Kermit3D
Well-Known Member
No problem, we understood each other.
It is sometimes a problem for me to express things correctly in English.
