WWII Veteran Recalls The Horrific Moment Of Discovering A Nazi Concentration Camp | Remember WWII

This is the story of Bill Kongable who served in the 89th Infantry Division as a member of the anti-tank company. He went to war at 18 years of age and saw things that no one should ever see. His unit made an assault river crossing across the Rhine River in March of 1945. The Rhine River is the border of Germany and the Germans were determined to oppose and push back the Allies but thank GOD the Germans were defeated. Mr. Kongable took part in the liberation of the concentration camp Ohrdruf which was the first camp liberated by the Allies in the West in April 1945. Ohrdruf is a subcamp of the Buchenwald complex and used forces laborers to keep the German war machine going.

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GOD BLESS THE VETERANS

[clarissapullen]

Every year after WW2 my grandfather received a Christmas card written in Hebrew. He kept them in a box in his closet. I found the box one year while looking for a place to hide Christmas presents. When I asked him about them he told me he was part of an Army unit that found one of the concentration camps. The cards were from a woman who was rescued from the camp as a child. She sent one to each man from his unit for the rest of their lives.

[rebeccasjodal]

In an interview with a Jewish woman who were 17 at the time of her liberation, she said that she laid dying on the side of the road from one of the death marches when she was discovered and rescued by an african-american plutoon I think it was. They nursed her back to life and when she moved to the US later, she joined the Civil rights movement and marched together with Martin Luther King❤ That was her way of paying back and thanking them for what they had done for her and her people❤

[BSG]

My partner’s father was in 2 concentration camps & he said the US troops were like angels from the sky when they liberated the camps. Makes me proud to be an American. Thank you for your service…

[Joyfully]

This decorated veteran is very intelligent and full of wisdom! 97 years old and barely has a wrinkle on his face. Thank you Sir for your service to our country.

[UVJ_Scott]

This Man IS a Hero not only for his WWII service but also for his timely warnings to us regarding politicians.

[ashxf]

My father in law was 97 when he passed from COVID, also a WW2 veteran who saw the camps. I will fight anyone who calls him a liar by saying it didn't happen. My grandfathers were also soldiers in WW2. We owe these people a debt we can never repay for what they did to combat that evil.

[stevezehler]

My amazing father was in the D-Day Invasion and then the Battle of the Bulge. The men got off the landing craft wearing wool uniforms and carrying 40 lbs. of equipment. Many just sank in the cold North Atlantic waters. It wasn't until after his death that I understood why he disliked Christmas so much. The weather during the Battle of the Bulge was so severe no supplies could be flown in. They were low on everything from food to medical supplies and ammunition and just plain cold. He was wounded in Belgium and spent the better part of a year in a military hospital in Texas. He was a 22-year-old sergeant that year and was told he would never walk again. When he returned to college, he changed his major from premed to prelaw and retired as a judge. He regained full use of his legs and lived to be 93. He talked very little about his war experiences until he was in his 80's. My brothers and I recorded his account of these pivotal battles. The experiences were still vivid and disturbing. We must remember these stories. They put a face on war.

[Twodadslol]

A real American hero. 19 years old going to war. Literally unimaginable. What humans have gone through in our lifetime is insane.

[mllodewijks]

My grandfather was liberated from Dachau in april 1945. He stayed behind to die, and then the Americans came. On behalf of our family: Thank you, you're in our hearts forever ❤

[dwyerjones]

My father-in-law, with the 104th Infantry Division, was a liberator of the Dora-Mittelbau slave labor camp near Nordhausen, Germany. Three thousand corpses, as at Ohrdruf, as this gentleman indicates. My father-in-law never forgot the horrors he witnessed. He never forgot what he saw and was also an angry witness to the effects of the Holocaust.

[margaretdavis]

This gentleman's testimony should be made compulsory to be shown in every school, college, university, and media world wide. God bless him.🙏

[bigal]

So long ago but his memory is still vivid. Think about having to live with what you have seen and went through for so long. God bless this men and all those who fought in that war.

[Kalhenwrath]

I used to have a substitute teacher that would share his stories every time he would teach. It never mattered which subject he was subbing, it turned into history class. There wasn't a single student that would disrespect that man, and it was an honor to have him share with us.

[kellyburnett]

I met a veteran of WW2 at a veterinary clinic I worked at, he told me how they just came and took you out of school and enlisted you. I asked him, ,, “Weren’t you terrified ?” His response was that you didn’t have time to be terrified. He was a lovely man. I am forever proud and thankful to our military.

[WhatAWonderfulNameItIs]

He’s got to be one of the best looking 97 year olds. Clear mind. Good memory. Thank you for your service, Sir. 🇺🇸

[tinahale]

Much respect to you and all the men who didn't come home. God bless you.

[libertygiveme]

Thank-You Sir!!!! For ALL those that say there was NO HOLOCAUST, let them watch this. My father was in WWII. He was Navy. I have his Flag, and Cherish it.

[jackidezell]

He’s a hero, and looks so handsome in his uniform. I hope he sees this. Thank you sir!

[ghita]

Each year, in May, I travel from Europe to the USA -Arlington-, to pay my respects to all those brave men who sacrificed their lives to free us from the nazis.
Eternally grateful for the US military.
Thank you for your service, Sir! ❤