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US soldiers unsticking a Jeep, Germany, October 1944.
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Double amputee WW2 veteran Ralph Neppel being kissed by fiancee Jean Moore after receiving the Medal of Honor from President Truman - August 23, 1945
On December 14, 1944, Neppel was serving as a sergeant in Company M, 329th Infantry Regiment, 83rd Infantry Division near Birgel, Germany
Sergeant Neppel's official Medal of Honor citation reads as follows:
He was leader of a machinegun squad defending an approach to the village of Birgel, Germany, on 14 December 1944, when an enemy tank, supported by 20 infantrymen, counterattacked. He held his fire until the Germans were within 100 yards and then raked the foot soldiers beside the tank killing several of them. The enemy armor continued to press forward and, at the pointblank range of 30 yards, fired a high-velocity shell into the American emplacement, wounding the entire squad. Sgt. Neppel, blown 10 yards from his gun, had 1 leg severed below the knee and suffered other wounds. Despite his injuries and the danger from the onrushing tank and infantry, he dragged himself back to his position on his elbows, remounted his gun and killed the remaining enemy riflemen. Stripped of its infantry protection, the tank was forced to withdraw. By his superb courage and indomitable fighting spirit, Sgt. Neppel inflicted heavy casualties on the enemy and broke a determined counterattack.
Ralph Neppel passed away on January 27, 1987, he was 63
LIFE Magazine Archives - George Skadding Photographer
On December 14, 1944, Neppel was serving as a sergeant in Company M, 329th Infantry Regiment, 83rd Infantry Division near Birgel, Germany
Sergeant Neppel's official Medal of Honor citation reads as follows:
He was leader of a machinegun squad defending an approach to the village of Birgel, Germany, on 14 December 1944, when an enemy tank, supported by 20 infantrymen, counterattacked. He held his fire until the Germans were within 100 yards and then raked the foot soldiers beside the tank killing several of them. The enemy armor continued to press forward and, at the pointblank range of 30 yards, fired a high-velocity shell into the American emplacement, wounding the entire squad. Sgt. Neppel, blown 10 yards from his gun, had 1 leg severed below the knee and suffered other wounds. Despite his injuries and the danger from the onrushing tank and infantry, he dragged himself back to his position on his elbows, remounted his gun and killed the remaining enemy riflemen. Stripped of its infantry protection, the tank was forced to withdraw. By his superb courage and indomitable fighting spirit, Sgt. Neppel inflicted heavy casualties on the enemy and broke a determined counterattack.
Ralph Neppel passed away on January 27, 1987, he was 63
LIFE Magazine Archives - George Skadding Photographer
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The King and Queen arrive in Belfast Northern Ireland on HMS Phoebe (43) to visit US Forces - June 24, 1942
LIFE Magazine Archives - David Scherman Photographer
LIFE Magazine Archives - David Scherman Photographer
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Combat during the liberation of Metz France - November 1944
LIFE Magazine Archives - Ralph Morse Photographer
LIFE Magazine Archives - Ralph Morse Photographer
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A modified litter Jeep drives through a shell-damaged German town in the path of the American advance into Germany, circa 1945.
The driver seems to have adopted a somewhat "elevated" driving position?
(LIFE / Vandivert)
The driver seems to have adopted a somewhat "elevated" driving position?
(LIFE / Vandivert)
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M36 Tank Destroyer (90 mm Gun Motor Carriage, M36) near Düren Germany - February 1945
LIFE Magazine Archives - William Vandivert Photographer
LIFE Magazine Archives - William Vandivert Photographer
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Landing craft from USS Lyon AP-71 carrying members of the 47th Infantry Regiment, 9th Infantry Division, head towards the beach near Safi Morocco during the Operation Torch / Operation Blackstone Landings - November 8, 1942
Picture taken from USS Philadelphia CL-41
LIFE Magazine Archives - Eliot Elisofon Photographer
Picture taken from USS Philadelphia CL-41
LIFE Magazine Archives - Eliot Elisofon Photographer
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Martha Gellhorn was the estranged wife of firebrand writer Ernest Hemingway.
She was a distinguished writer in her own right with most of her output being published by "Collier's" magazine.
She was also a very strong-willed person who was determined to get the story.
Although not an accredited war reporter she even managed to wangle her way ashore in Normandy on June 6, 1944!
Later, she managed to make her way to Italy by "chatting up" an RAF pilot and persuading him to allow her to board his Italy-bound flight!
Here we see her chatting to some US Army tankers during her time in Italy.
A feisty and remarkable woman by any standards!
She was a distinguished writer in her own right with most of her output being published by "Collier's" magazine.
She was also a very strong-willed person who was determined to get the story.
Although not an accredited war reporter she even managed to wangle her way ashore in Normandy on June 6, 1944!
Later, she managed to make her way to Italy by "chatting up" an RAF pilot and persuading him to allow her to board his Italy-bound flight!
Here we see her chatting to some US Army tankers during her time in Italy.
A feisty and remarkable woman by any standards!
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Two T28E1 AA Halftracks in Safi Morocco after the Operation Torch Landings - November 1942
Note that the soldiers riding are armed with M1903 rifles instead of M1 Garands
The T28E1 Combination Gun Motor Carriage (CGMC) Halftrack had two water-cooled .50 cal machine guns and a M1 37mm cannon, only eighty T28E1's were made by the White Motor company, some were later converted into M3A1 Halftracks
This vehicle later evolved into the M15 with two air-cooled .50 cal machine guns with the 37mm cannon mounted on top of the machine guns rather than under them
Thanks to
Roy Chow
for help with the ID
LIFE Magazine Archives - Eliot Elisofon Photographer
Note that the soldiers riding are armed with M1903 rifles instead of M1 Garands
The T28E1 Combination Gun Motor Carriage (CGMC) Halftrack had two water-cooled .50 cal machine guns and a M1 37mm cannon, only eighty T28E1's were made by the White Motor company, some were later converted into M3A1 Halftracks
This vehicle later evolved into the M15 with two air-cooled .50 cal machine guns with the 37mm cannon mounted on top of the machine guns rather than under them
Thanks to
Roy Chow
for help with the ID
LIFE Magazine Archives - Eliot Elisofon Photographer
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19 November 1943-The First Special Service Force ("the Devils’ Brigade”) landed in Italy during the Second World War.
The First Special Service Force was a unique Second World War commando unit made up of both Canadian and American soldiers.
Specially trained in parachute jumping, mountain warfare, cross-country skiing, hand-to-hand combat and reconnaissance skills, this elite group saw heavy action in Italy and earned the nickname “the Devil’s Brigade” from the Germans due to their great stealth and skill.
Pictured are Devil’s Brigade members in Italy in 1944. #CanadaRemembers
Photo: Library and Archives Canada
The First Special Service Force was a unique Second World War commando unit made up of both Canadian and American soldiers.
Specially trained in parachute jumping, mountain warfare, cross-country skiing, hand-to-hand combat and reconnaissance skills, this elite group saw heavy action in Italy and earned the nickname “the Devil’s Brigade” from the Germans due to their great stealth and skill.
Pictured are Devil’s Brigade members in Italy in 1944. #CanadaRemembers
Photo: Library and Archives Canada
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US armor of the 2nd AD rolls through a German town in March 1945.
Although obsolete, M5 light tanks continued to be used in the reconnaissance role until the war's end.
Both the Shermans and M5s have additional protection on their glacis.
The depth of it can be discerned by the "tunnels" through which their bow-guns fire.
The additional protection appears to be provided by sand-bags although these cannot be seen on the M5s because of the tightly woven camouflage material which covers them...and their turrets too.
This kind of additional protection was typical of US 9th Army armor during the advance into Germany.
(LIFE / Vandivert)
Although obsolete, M5 light tanks continued to be used in the reconnaissance role until the war's end.
Both the Shermans and M5s have additional protection on their glacis.
The depth of it can be discerned by the "tunnels" through which their bow-guns fire.
The additional protection appears to be provided by sand-bags although these cannot be seen on the M5s because of the tightly woven camouflage material which covers them...and their turrets too.
This kind of additional protection was typical of US 9th Army armor during the advance into Germany.
(LIFE / Vandivert)
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