"Soldiers of Today and Yesterday"
" Honor,Dignity & Hope "

To be brief for now, I will just say, 
I will write something to you from my 
memory after I put it on paper.

I had infantry basic training twice, 

once in Louisiana and then once in Ohio. 

After basic as a sharpshooter rifleman, 

I was with some Buddies going to be assigned 

to an infantry division at Fort Benning Ga. 

My civilian background was re-examined and I was 
interviewed before some officers, who questioned me 
at length and they decided because of dexterity 
and a background with tools etc., 
I would be transferred to the transportation corp. 
Much to my surprise, it did happen. 

I was transferred to a group with all new GI's and 
left from a camp in Boston to England. Across the 
Channel to LST's and into Normandy through Cherborgh 
etc, etc., and assigned to hospital trains made in 
England to pick up wounded from Mash Units to a Hospital.

We were continuously being strafed and also bombed. 
We lost four of our group and a few were 
hurt badly. We never got replacements. 
Our group was always moving and despite 
the Red Cross on our special trains, 
the enemy must have thought we may have 
been transporting ammo, etc.

We were all over France, Belgium, and 
the Ardennes at the Bulge picking up
GIs who were badly wounded, back and forth. 
Given new rifles and told to get off 
the trains and defend ourselves and shoot to kill. 
Good thing I had infantry training, came in handy. 
Prior to the Bulge, we crossed the Rhine and 
confronted Krauts while picking up wounded.
We were always close to or in the combat areas, 
because the GI's (who made it) had to be 
treated on the trains quickly, although 
very many died before we could arrive 
at our destination.

At the Bulge, 19,000 plus were killed 
and about 60,000 were wounded.

The result was I did not get hurt very bad, 
had much to do keeping the equipment aboard 
in working condition and help with the wounded 
transporting these kids as I was.

I ended up with being proud of how I helped 
and earned four battle stars being in and 
around the combat areas,

Our job was important but of course most 
people never truly realized, the GI's had to 
be taken care of once they were hurt. 
There were Just two groups like ours. 
We had to stop for water, food, medical supply, 
and fresh nurses and doctors, etc.

I could go on and on, however, 
we spent almost two years there and eventually, 
helicopters were brought in to help 
move the severely wounded.

I belong to a group here in south Florida called 
"The veterans of the battle of the bulge."


Respectfully,
Saul Reiter


Footnote. We are four generations in the US
Military, My Dad in the Cavalry, myself, 
our son in the Air Force and
also we have a grandson who is a Navy Pilot.