Subject:  Story of my father: Anthony 'Andy' Waskie, Sr., Catawissa, PA
Date:        2 Dec 2008
By:           by Andy Waskie, Jr.

Dear Mr. Taylor,

See the story below. This was prompted by a message from fellow 8th Armored Division veteran: who recently wrote me about my father, (Mr. Vernon Miller, 130-Hq). I thought you might wish to put this report on the web site or in the newsletter, if of interest. I will send photos of Blankenburg later.
    Regards,
    Andy Waskie
    Philadelphia, PA.

Schloss Blankenberg

My father served as a 1st Lt (later promoted to Captain) in the 8th A.D. in the Medical Administrative Corps and assigned to the HQ Company of the 130th Ordinance Maintenance Battalion. He passed away at 87 on September 11, 2006 and is buried in Bloomsburg, PA.

Growing up, my father always regaled us with stories of his war time service, most of them funny anecdotes and pleasant memories of his service. Before he passed away, I joined the 8th Armored Division Association and also purchased a membership for my father. Although he never (to my knowledge) attended any veterans' reunions, nevertheless, he enjoyed receiving the newsletter and learning about reunion activities. I had hoped to take him to the dedication of the Washington D.C. WWII Memorial on Memorial Day, 2004, and had even secured tickets and lodgings, but he became too weak to attend, so I attended for him and it was a real thrill!

In 2007, I attended the Division reunion in Valley Forge/Philadelphia Suburbs area and met a number of the veterans there, but no one seemed to remember my father. I have posted a number of photos of him on the Division web site and plan to add more that I have found among his things. I spent June serving as a 'guest professor' at the University of Leipzig in Eastern Germany, and was delighted to be able to visit a town where the 8th Armored served at the end of the war and where my father was: Blankenburg (Harz Mountains).

My father always used to tell us an amusing story. It turned out that his birthday was April 20th - the same day as Hitler. On his birthday he would inevitably end up relating this story:

He and his unit was entering a town in Germany (he never mentioned the name) on April 20, 1945. There had been some fighting and he was ordered to help set up a field hospital in a large building somewhere in the unknown town. As he entered the building, and scouted out the premises, he ended up in the wine cellar. There he found many bottles of wine. He decided to open a bottle and toast himself on his birthday.

Suddenly, an older man appeared, the owner of the house who spoke perfect English. He had been evicted from the house and was going into the town to stay and wanted to request that he be allowed to take some bedding and other personal belongings with him. He spied my father drinking the wine and asked why. My father then explained that this was his birthday. Then the man told him: Today is also 'der Fuehrer's' birthday. In bemused shock, my father replied: "..then I'll drink to Hitler on his birthday, in case we lose the war"!

Apparently, the owner was not amused and scurried off after that remark.

We hear this story and its variations for many years and it stuck in my mind. As a professor of German, I was interested in trying to find where my father was stationed during the war, and recalled the anecdote. I did a little research into the history of the 8th Armored Division and learned that it was stationed in Blankenburg beginning on April 20, 1945 and remained there for several weeks until transferred in May after the German Surrender to Pilsen, Czechoslovakia (now the Czech Republic).

At the end of June this summer (2008), I had the opportunity to visit Blankenburg. A German friend of mine has relatives there and he arranged the visit. Upon arrival, I was introduced to the family and the Blankenburg town historian. He was quite anxious to meet me because he is researching the end of WWII in the area and plans on writing a book about the final days of the war in Blankenburg. In fact, he gave me a CD containing his research, press accounts and photos of the period in question. He also took me on an extensive tour of the beautiful old medieval town.

I told him about my father, his story and the 8th Armored Division and referred him to the Division web site. I also asked him if he knew where the field hospital could have been located. He did not know, but promised to find out.Later that day, I was conducted up the mountain on which stands the castle of Blankenburg, or das Schloss, or Schloss Blankenberg

I had a very extensive tour of the site and learned from the historians there that the American hospital at the end of the war was located at the castle! and was set up on April 20, 1945! In fact, they placed a large Red Cross flag in the court yard of the castle to alert aircraft of the hospital location. They also have a large wine cellar in the castle! At this time, the castle was owned an lived in by Duke Ernest August of Brunswick who was related to the kings of England. He spoke perfect English and was ca. 60 years old in 1945. Suddenly, I realized that my father had been speaking with Duke Ernest August of Brunswick!

I explained this story to the castle historians who were all very excited and asked me write down all the details. The German people of Blankenburg lived for 50 years under the Communists in Old East Germany, and are now trying to restore their beautiful old town to its former glory. They have no anger or ill will to any American and are very friendly and hospitable. Most of the WWII generation are gone or in old age.

I thought perhaps you would find this story of interest. Were any other men of the 8th Armored also in Blankenburg? If so, does anyone have any recollections of the town, the region, the hospital or of my father's role there?

I hope that I can continue to remain in contact and share reminiscences of WWII service in the 8th Armored Division.

    Regards & Respects
    Anthony 'Andy' Waskie, Jr.
    Philadelphia, PA
    215-204-5452

From:
Vernon Miller, 1409 John Wesley Dr, Birmingham, AL 35210
Phone 205-951-0265
Vernsdarkroom@aol.com
PFC HQ 130th Ordnance Battalion

Andy: Did you ever locate anyone who knew your father? I was a PFC truck driver (actually battalion supply clerk with Hq, 130th Ordnance Battalion) so, as a PFC had little social contact with the officers of our outfit.

I do remember seeing Capt Waskie, though I'd swear he was Lt. Waskie when I saw him. At any rate, if you have made contact and can pin down certain locations or dates, I possibly could give you some general information that would give you a feel for the times. For instance, I remember being at Zweckel (in northern Germany) when we liberated a bunch of slave laborers from Hungary who were working in the coal mine. This was on Easter Sunday -- towards the end of the war.

I do not recall that your father was with Hq of the 130th and I don't recall that he was with Hq Company. Was he perhaps with C company of the 130th? I was in C Company for awhile, and they were with us at Zweckel and a few other places.

One of our medics, with Hq, was Dr. Bella Donna. I do not find him on any of the rosters and have often wondered if that was an assumed name. He did speak with a non-English accent.