Hide Article Text (OCR)
bulldozer and much of its time was put to use burying dead Americans in what is now called the American Cemetery that overlooks Omaha Beach.When McMunn was pushing out grave sites in June 1944. there were no manicured green lawns and matching white crosses standing in perfect alignment. It was a wet. grizzly place where many of Americas finest young men were buried in the mud.Paris was liberated in August1944. and American armies pushed east toward Germany. McMunn’s outfit had constructeda bridge in Belgium during some of the coldest weather in Europe in 50 years. They had no sleeping bags, only two wool blankets and a shelter.I'd roll up in the blankets and scoop snow over me to keep warm,” he said.Some people said the war would be over by Christmas. But it was only wishful thinking. The Germans launched a counteroffensive, now called the Battle of the Bulge, in late December.“We just dug in and held tight. said McMunn, whose outfit spent most of its time with the 2nd Armored Division. “We were in the foxholes the whole time we were in France and Germany, except when we could find an unoccupied farmhouse”That's when his feet froze. They froze and turned vellow -J mfjellv looking - while I was walk-ing,” he said. They wanted totake 'em off. but I asked 'em notto”From the time McMunn left home in December 1942. untilnear the end of the war in early1945. he had no furlough. “Theythought I was cracking up. I reckon.” said McMunn, “so they gave me two days and I got transportation to Paris.”When Germany surrendered on May 8, 1945. Buck Sgt. McMunn was about 50 miles west of ETerlin.lt;But the war wasn’t over for him.
Newspaper Details
Athens News Courier
Athens, Alabama, US
Sun, Feb 18, 2001
Page 44
Full Page
Clipped by
Deborah S.
USA 27 Dec 2022
Other Publications Near Athens, Alabama
Athens Post
Athens Limestone County Shopper
Athens Limestone Democrat
Athens News Courier
Athens Alabama Courier
