It always seems ironic to tell a story of war that occurred on November 11. November 11 was to have represented the end of the war to end all wars. But, of course, war did not end. On November 11, 1943, Allied forces were fighting a desperate, if nearly forgotten, battle with German troops in the mountains of Italy.
Check out our new community for fans and supporters! https://thehistoryguyguild.locals.com/
This is original content based on research by The History Guy. Images in the Public Domain are carefully selected and provide illustration. As very few images of the actual event are available in the Public Domain, images of similar objects and events are used for illustration.
You can purchase the bow tie worn in this episode at The Tie Bar:
https://www.thetiebar.com/?utm_campaign=BowtieLove&utm_medium=YouTube&utm_source=LanceGeiger
All events are portrayed in historical context and for educational purposes. No images or content are primarily intended to shock and disgust. Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it. Non censuram.
Find The History Guy at:
New community!: https://thehistoryguyguild.locals.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheHistoryGuyYT/
Please send suggestions for future episodes: [email protected]
The History Guy: History Deserves to Be Remembered is the place to find short snippets of forgotten history from five to fifteen minutes long. If you like history too, this is the channel for you.
Subscribe for more forgotten history: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4sEmXUuWIFlxRIFBRV6VXQ?sub_confirmation=1.
Awesome The History Guy merchandise is available at:
https://teespring.com/stores/the-history-guy
Script by THG
#history #thehistoryguy #WWII
source
Your the best!
This is a little bit painful for me, because my uncle, William Edward boatman of the 36th division, was fighting in the same area at the same time that Lindstrom was there. He himself was later in northeastern France near a village called Biffontain, and his unit was cut off in what was known as the Lost Battalion of world war ii. The 414th Regiment of the 36th division. He was in company D.
They gave him one of their five 30 caliber machine guns when they set up a perimeter to defend themselves. It was the worst winter on record, and the Germans were so close that when they tried to cut down trees using hatchets or saws, the German snipers would take them out based on the sound. So they switched to using knives and wrapping the branches of the trees and using blankets to soften the sound when they would fall.
After artillery shells with supplies in them and airdrops of supplies started falling into German hands, the waffen SS who surrounded my uncle's unit realized that they had encircled them. They then decided to destroy this unit before the Americans could relieve them. In fact, it was discovered after the war that Adolf Hitler had been informed of this and gave a direct order that this unit be liquidated so as to be a great propaganda value.
My uncle was at the point of assault at which the Germans decided to pour in and destroy this unit.
His citation for the Silver Star reads,
" His Sergeant had placed him on the reverse slope of the hill in good cover. Realizing the danger it would place his fellow soldiers in if the Germans crested the hill, private William F boatman, on his own initiative, picked up his machine gun and boxes of ammunition and carried them to the forward slope of the hill. He then camouflaged his emplacement so as to make it nearly impossible for the enemy to detect it upon advance.
As they proceeded to advance upon the hill in their assault, PFC Boatman commenced firing in short bursts at the enemy, killing Great numbers of them and halting their advance. Despite repeated assaults, He continued to operate the gun alone, reloading as each box of ammunition was exhausted, until the enemy pinpointed his position, attacking with small arms fire, hand grenades, and mortar fire until they silenced his gun.
William F boatman's action permitted his fellow soldiers to gather forces and repulse the attack and save the position."
For this action, my Uncle received the Silver Star. When the Box arrived in 1948 that contained his body, the funeral director told my grandmother, "You don't want to look in there. It's best to remember him as he was."
He died two days after his 20th birthday, and my Uncle Bill had been very popular before he left to go off and fight in the war.
The Commanding General of the 36th division at that time had replaced him under orders of General mark clark, because the prior Commanding General was unwilling to sacrifice his men at the Rapido River. He correctly saw the attempt at the Rapido as forordained to failure. The original Commander was a World War I combat veteran who had been with the division since World War I, General dahlquist had been a buddy of Eisenhower's who had only been a staff officer during World War I and had never commanded anything greater than a company strength Force before that.
Dahlquist was deeply incompetent. Eisenhower let him know personally that he would be in major trouble if he did not pull this unit out of the hole that he had himself put them in. You see, Scouts had come back and told him "the woods are crawling with Germans." His response was, "aw, you guys are crazy. There's no one out there, so tell those — to get moving."
It is my firm belief that if dahlquist had not been in hot water for this and trying to cover his own failings, that this action would have merited the Medal of Honor. Instead, they gave him the Silver Star.
Bill never had a chance to have any family, and they didn't name any streets or schools or anything after him.
Dahlquist was born the same year as my grandmother. 1896. He died the same year she did. 1989. He is buried in Arlington Cemetery, an honor he did not deserve.
Who remembers me with dignity but THG.
Thanks so much for keeping the story of these Heroes alive! We owe them so much and their stories are truly amazing! God Bless America !🇺🇸
Hopefully the teachers at Lindstrom Elementary play this video for the students there.
THG, I always greatly appreciate the work you do to bring history like this to the fore. You should look in to Joseph Thomas Kaeble, or Paul Triquet…WWI and WWII, respectively, and both Canadian Victoria Cross recipients. Canada contributed significantly to both wars and her heros deserve to be recognized, and there are many. The battle or Ortona, otherwise known as "little Stalingrad" is a very significant and integral part of the overall Italian campaign.
What this man did was incredible and. Thanks for reminding us of this man's great deeds and his humble nature when given the chance, he still stayed with his fellow soldiers at the front line!
Today we call many people heroes in today's world… Sports players, musicians and such are common.. But I think today we miss the fact that many of the people who were called heroes 60+ years ago were just average men and women who were just doing what was expected of them in extraordinary circumstances in thier daily lives and many would never have called themselves a hero. They just did what they thought was the right thing to do at the time and were singled out for recognition for that action. Today I hear many people who are called heros but they go out of thier way just for the label and forget about what makes a hero… Some unknown person who happened to be in the right place and did what was right time to help others at thier own risk who who truly needed it. There are many heroes who never recive the recognition they deserve and they still go on with thier daily lives from day to day. Thank you to all those men and women who never recive the recognition they deserve and never hear about!! You matter and are appreciated!!! A disabled US Army Veteran
Back in a time when the word "hero" really meant hero. When those heros actually did something outstanding.
So a man is born into poverty, never meets his father and yet becomes a determined, hard working, immensely loyal and brave person? He didn't turn to crime and approach life with a chip on his shoulder for all the wrongs the world had done to him. So, does anyone now want to disagree that the cultural shifts that have taken place since Floyd Lindstrom's time have not brought us to a better place?
What a wonderful story of an amazing person who we should all try to emulate!
Wonderful presentation. Thank you
That's better you should get 2
Again, well done.
My old man was at Monte Camino, with his Basuts.
THG is an amazing storyteller. Real history, impeccable research and wonderfully delivered.
What an amazing man. Hes up there with Doss and Benavidez.
You now have the high ground Floyd, be safe. 🇺🇸
A selfless hero of a man thinking more of his men than himself, Sad to see what the youth of America are like today self involved entitled self absorbed children who all think their celebrities because they post a shitty video to their social media nobody watches
A hero from my hometown. There are many in the service that have come from there and way too many are forgotten.
Well done Sir, well done!
This brings a tear to my eye. To hear a story forgotten by most about a man that we all owe our thanks to. My father fought north through Italy in the 5th army in an armored unit. He never spoke about the war except the funny things. After he passed I wanted to find out more about his service. The records were involved in a fire and lost as were many others. sad that we are losing this history to time.
Thanks History Guy!
Wonderful…..
what about july 11,1943….wolyn.
My Uncle, Pvt. Nick DelGrosso was injured in this action on Nov 14, near Mt. Rotondo, 30th Infantry, Company E. He also was later killed at Anzio on Feb 22, 1944. His body was also returned in 1948 to our hometown in Belleville, NJ
Algorithm
a helluva man…
Watched this one with more than a small tear. How many? One never knows.
I love your channel, especially these types of stories about forgotten heroes.
Beautiful story of a real man committed to doing the honorable thing. Unlike today's living in mommy's basement.
80 years ago a message to the enemy was, "Go to hell" These days the message is, "Russian warship, go F*** yourself"
"The Day of Battle" by Pulitzer Prize winner Rick Atkinson is an excellent telling of the frustrating Italian campaign.
George Floyd even more famous for the wrong reasons
Thank you for remembering our heroes and role models.
We can thank Churchill for all the attacks in Italy. He considered it the soft underbelly and way to Germany. So, hooked on Italy, Churchill wanted to push back OPERATION OVERLORD.
At the end of the war, a German General offered some suggestions: Mainly don't try going up the mountains of Italy. It led to unnecessary deaths and the destruction of Monte Cassino Monastery which was a loss to humanity.
Thank you. I will be giving a program in January on Phelps County, Nebraska, in WWII. Lindstrom was either born here, or lived his earliest years here, or both, so we do claim him. I knew some of the story because the research library at our local museum has a lot of information. Today, thanks to THG, I know a whole lot more. There were 1400 Phelps County WWII veterans, out of a population of around 7,000. At least 42 never made it home.
why was he buried next to his mom when his wife died young? where she at
I visit the grave of a US airman shto down in his ariplane over Holland in 1944. Graves of them who fought for freedom should be visited by them who enjoy freedom.
Brilliant, as ever.