I've been to Germany only once. Stationed at Ramstien. Went to the American cemetery at Luxembourg, Have you been there? Took the photo of the cross of the father of a high school classmate who was killed during the battle. 501st Para. Rgt. He'd never seen it nor his widowed mother. It was an emotional moment when our AFSF team presented it to her.
After Luxembourg, went to the German cemetery of Sandweiler. Where the American cemetery is open, Sandweiller is very Tuetonic, massive granite and oak trees. Built like a fortress. Soldiers are buried 4 to the cross and most of them unknown. Not speaking German, I introduced myself to the groundskeeper based on the words on the German headstones. "Ein American Soldaten". Hell, by our accent he already knew that. Seemed to work okay, so we tried that everywhere. Some greeted us as if I was saying we were dead American soldiers. That may have explained their happiness. But whether or not it was an odd feeling for them for American troops should be moving through their hamlet such as Sembach or Kaiserslautern, though we had bases there, it was weird to us once we learned the backstory.
We were there during an anniversary of the Battle and oddly enough, the locals took us kindly especially when ordering food. And beer. Got some great local tours but nothing like Berlin.
I have a portrait of my uncle, a member of the Alabama National Guard, painted on canvas by a German POW. In Alaska. His daughter gave it to me ... because we grew up rabbit hunting.
Another uncle trained USAF out of Courtland. He's 90 Saturday/tomorrow. My last living connection.
It was just a way of life. Or to them, just the way it was.
Glad your daddy made it back. You wrote how he lived off of horsemeat.
Your uncle: He worked at a munitions plant 12/5,10, 8.
What does that mean ... the numbers?
Back to Germany for a moment. For those who have been there. Comment on personal hygene. They don't bathe and their waste water treatment ... is there one beyond biodegradable beneath the city streets?