Meeting Our Heroes Wednesday, Nov 11 2009

Picture by John Reidy

As the sun reached the middle of the sky on Tuesday, September 15th, twelve students from College of the Ozarks flew out of Springfield Missouri to embark on an adventure of our lives. We flew from Springfield to Chicago, which is which is where we met up with our veterans. As students who love history, we were all extremely thrilled to meet our heroes who fought in World War II.

We were amazed to find out how quickly we connected with the veterans. Although we were greatly honored to be with the heroic veterans of World War II, we were also humbled to realize that they were equally excited to be with us. Our first reactions of meeting the men we had been dreaming about all summer were reactions of joy, astonishment, and wonder. All of the veterans were in great shape and ready to cross the ocean to revisit the battlefields of the past.

We arrived safely in Amsterdam, and we immediately headed to the American Embassy for our first adventure. As we entered the embassy, we were amazed at the cheering staff members. All of the veterans were held in great honor as people lined up to get the opportunity to simply speak with them. After a few hours of conversing with the staff members, we departed so our veterans could get some well needed rest.

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Remembering Our Past ~ Holland Tuesday, Nov 10 2009

Picture by John Reidy

Today we went to the American Cemetery in the Netherlands. I am paired with PFC Wilson “Bill” Colwell, 101st Airborne 502 Infantry Regiment, and I have had the amazing privilege of hearing so much of his experiences in World War II in just the two days I’ve been here.

Today was really special, though, because at the cemetery, I got a glimpse of the emotion behind the stories. As Mr. Colwell was talking, I was picturing each detail in my mind. How powerful it was standing in that cemetery, surrounded by crosses, knowing that every single cross did not just have a name, but that each cross represented a real life, a life that had stories just as real as the ones that Mr. Colwell had been sharing with me. Mr. Colwell got the chance to visit the grave of Lt. Colonel Robert E. Cole, medal of honor recipient, a man that he had great respect for. Mr. Colwell shared how he was standing right beside Lt. Col. Cole when he was shot.

The story of Col. Cole quickly led to a heart-breaking story about a friend named Donald McDonald who was shot helping Mr. Colwell reach a nearby farmhouse that would provide shelter. Mr. Colwell had been inj ured and McDonald was leading the way to the house when two Germans shot him, but did not see Mr. Colwell. Mr. Colwell was able to defend himself against the two Germans, and when he reached the house, was again confronted by two more Germans. The emotion began to creep up in his voice, and I could see that he was replaying each step in his mind. As he told us that he shot the two Germans at the house, he paused and said that after he shot them, he realized that they were wounded. He simply said, his voice full of sorrow, that he truly felt bad about that. In that moment, I saw how horrible war is, how it has an effect on people even 65 years later. I couldn’t speak. I just kept thinking silently, “Thank you.”

Later that day, we got to see a whole different type of emotion when we went to Eerde where they were celebrating the 65th Anniversary of the 501st paratroop drop. I could see the excitement on Mr. Colwell’s face when he saw the jeeps and the tents set up at the WWII reenactment that were so familiar to him years ago. To see how appreciative the people were was truly a blessing. There was a parade, and some of the children were proudly at the front, which brought joy to all the veterans. Knowing that people honestly appreciated these sacrifices that were made, makes all the difference. I am so blessed that I have the opportunity to witness these special moments, both the pain of loss and the joy of celebration.

-Written by Amy Ziler College of the Ozarks Student

-Trip provided by the Greatest Generations Foundation

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Remembering Lieutenant Colonel Robert G. Cole Monday, Nov 9 2009

Picture by John Reidy

Remembering Lieutenant Colonel Robert G. Cole
As I stood in the middle of the ceremony in memory of Col. Cole. I look to my right and see the Veterans taking their seats with many people taking pictures of them, shaking their hands, and some just staring in amazement at the bravery they had done by risking their lives. To my left arrived elite soldiers with badges of merit ranging from airborne trained troops to 10th mountain special forces. Children were once again present to see the faces of these heroes. Speeches were given and a presentation of the Dutch and American flags were revealed to show the bond that had been formed.

This was followed by a moving display with two fighter jets making multiple rounds overhead that brought back memories to the Veterans of the relief they felt whenever air support arrived. As the fighter planes flew overhead, you could have looked down from that plane and saw a great crowd gathered around one individual. That man was Bill Cowell. Everyone stood listening intently as this was the beginning of where he gave a detailed account for one of his battlegrounds.

I tried to make the people around me disappear and try to visualize a war zone as American troops came through the wood line to be immediately shot by enemy fire and their bodies falling limply to the ground but it was too difficult with the lush green trees and children playing in the field. But it happened and there was at least one veteran at the ceremony that could visualize what it looked like much better than I. That man is Bill Cowell.

No words can place the emotion that was made during this day. This can especially be said when Bill Cowell started reliving the battlegrounds that all of us gathered at for the ceremony. This is where Mr. Colwell took us all back for a quick glimpse into the memories that were left buried along with all of his fellow soldiers. The memories of the respected death of Col. Cole, the sniper fire from the enemy that came within inches over the top of his helmet, the artillery fire that took off the body limbs of a fellow comrade before his very own eyes, and I couldn’t even start to comprehend the pain and suffering that had to have caused him. Mr. Colwell then relived the account of the dreadful, yet necessary experience of killing his first German.

He distinctly remembered what the man looked like when he came around the hedge rose within point blank firing distance. There was still a vivid image that showed this German with sweat running down his face. The anguish he felt after killing this man was very great after the enemy lay lifeless on the ground in front of him. Mr. Colwell couldn’t help but think back to the life the other man might of had. He wondered about the type of family he had and that he will never be able to erase the image of the death for the rest of his life. He said these things with tears in his eyes.

This is just one account of the MILLIONS of Veterans that served during World War II. Dutch historians wanted to know his story. Some just wanted his autograph. But above all and most importantly, Mr. Colwell was able to find a sense of closure for a battleground that once haunted his dreams and had been infested with death, destruction, and violence.

-Written by College of the Ozarks student

Trip provided by the Greatest Generations Foundation

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