Uncle Don Long

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Donald R. Long (Uncle Donny) was in World War II in the European Theater in France and Germany late in the war. The 71st Infantry Division and XX Corps were under Lt. General George S. Patton's 3rd Army. William Westmoreland was a colonel in the division.

The date on the other side of the photo postcard on the right is written as "Nov 29, 1945" and mailed from Strassberg.

After the war, he married Elsie Long who taught "Good News Club" for many years.


71 Infantry Division XX Army Corps ribbons	Good Conduct medal Victory medal

My uncle Donny was in World War II in the European Theater in France and Germany late in the war.
The 71st Infantry Division was assigned to XX Corps an April 20, 1945.
He saw limited combat action, but had unforgettable memories, of which he rarely spoke.

71st Infantry Division details from Wikipedia: (as of 2022-11-05)

Activated: 15 July 1943 at Camp Carson, Colorado
Overseas: 26 January 1945.
Campaigns: Rhineland, Central-Europe
Days of combat: 62.
Returned to U.S.: 10 March 1946.
Inactivated: 12 March 1946 at Camp Kilmer, New Jersey

One commander: Col. William Westmoreland (February-June 1946) who would be a top commander in the Vietnam War.
One officer: Lt. John D. Eisenhower, General Dwight Eisenhower's son.

Uncle Donny saw limited combat action, but had unforgettable memories, of which he rarely spoke.
71st Infantry Division: Participated in the liberation of concentration camps including one in Austria called Gunskirchen Lager, a subcamp of Mauthausen, on 4 May. A pamphlet was produced by the US Army after they liberated the camp, called "The Seventy-First came to Gunskirchen Lager". The book recounts in detail, and with graphic photos, the tragedy they found in the camp. Wikipedia: (as of 2022-11-05)

How did uncle Donny take photos of the Americans and Russians together?

Wikipedia provides an answer: ... The 71st organized and occupied defensive positions along the Enns River and contacted Russian forces east of Linz, 8 May, the day before hostilities ceased, having gone further east than any other U.S. Army unit. … (as of 2022-11-05)

In high school, Uncle Donny gave me a German belt buckle from his service in World War II. The Nazi swastika is surrounded by the words "Gott mit uns", or "God with us", from the Luther Bible 400 years earlier. The verse is often read at Christmas.

Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. Matthew 1:23.
German: … Emanuel … Gott mit uns.
Russian: … Еммануил, … с нами Бог.
Latin: … Emmanuhel … Nobiscum Deus

Preserve me, O God: for in thee do I put my trust. Psalms 16:1
Discuss: What does it mean to put "In God we trust" on currency?

The Waffen SS used the motto "Meine Ehre heißt Treue" meaning "My honor is loyalty".

More: Abraham Lincoln

More: Romans 8: Battle cry separation for the love of Christ (part 1)

More: Gott mit uns

The 71st Division is also the formation in which Lt. John D. Eisenhower, General Dwight Eisenhower's son, served. Wikipedia (as of 2022-11-05)

In January 1946, Colonel William Westmoreland was appointed commander, and was responsible for leading the units that had not yet been deactivated back to the United States so they could be demobilized. Wikipedia (as of 2022-11-05)

71st Infantry Division casualties from Wikipedia: (as of 2022-11-05)

Total battle casualties: 1,114
Killed in action: 243
Wounded in action: 843
Missing in action: 9
Prisoner of war: 19

Here are some photos of the banner for Donald R. Long. It is at the intersection of College Avenue and Cherry Alley.

These photos are looking towards the end of College Avenue at South Market Street and the beginning of West Bainbridge Street.