Stearns County Veterans with Luxembourg Ancestry - WWI & WWII
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Stearns County Veterans with Luxembourg Ancestry - WWI & WWII
 gleisen_1
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Posted: 25 Jun 2008 7:13PM GMT |
Classification: Query
Rene Daubenfeld, the leader of several tours to the St. Cloud area for the past three years, has announced on his website a new project. Because so many Luxembourgers settled in the SE quadrant of Stearns COunty, I am posting this for your information.
The Luxembourgers are interested in stories about US Veterans of Luxembourg ancestry. In WWI and especially in WWII the American military is credited with liberating the small country of Luxembourg. For this reason the people of Luxembourg continue to have a strong respect for the USA and our strong sense of freedom. They are very grateful. They are requesting stories of veterans be sent to them. You can read more about this at Rene's website at http://www.haffren.lu/
The most famous American soldier of Luxembourg descent was actually from Sartell, Minnesota! His name was Phillip Weis, and he fought with George Patton's army in the Ardennes Mountains of northern Luxembourg in the winter of 1944-45 - the Battle of the Bulge. He became famous because he died in January 1945 in the battle to liberate the city of Wiltz. It was one of the last battles of the Battle of the Bulge. Phillip's body was not found until November 1945, as it was in the mountainous area, and for 7-8 months he was listed as MIA and presumed KIA. In November 1945 a local man came across the body of a US soldier, and found Phillip's dogtags. His parents were notified and he was buried in the US military cemetery in Hamm, Luxembourg, the same cemetery where Gen. George Patton is buried. For some reason, Phillip's dogtag was lost at the time his body was removed from the place of death.
In September 1977 a local Luxembourger, by the name of Ferdinand Weis, was walking through the forest and looking for artfacts of the big battleground when he came across a small bag using his metal detector. Inside were 2 dogtags, one with "Phillip Weis" on it and the other with "ASS 37555522" on it. Because of the same family name, Ferdinand contacted the US military cemetery in Hamm where Phillip was buried. He discovered the soldier was from Sartell, Minnesota and contacted the last of his family here. Through correspondence, it was discovered that Phillip's grandfather, Nicholas Weis, was born at Insenborn, a few miles south of Wiltz. Phillip died within 3 miles of his grandfather's birthplace! Eventually Phillip's Sartell relatives journeyed to Luxembourg and received a hearty welcome and honors from the locals.
Last year while visiting the Military Cemetery, the guide told the story of Phillip Weis to the group, as an example of a soldier of Luxembourg ancestry helping in the liberation of the land of his ancestors. Every year on 6 January, a red rose appears on his grave. No one knows who the person is who decorates Phillip's grave, but it is certain that it is done in gratitude for the supreme sacrifice that Phillip gave.
So, do you also have a story of a family veteran of WWII who is of Luxembourg heritage?
The Luxembourgers are interested in stories about US Veterans of Luxembourg ancestry. In WWI and especially in WWII the American military is credited with liberating the small country of Luxembourg. For this reason the people of Luxembourg continue to have a strong respect for the USA and our strong sense of freedom. They are very grateful. They are requesting stories of veterans be sent to them. You can read more about this at Rene's website at http://www.haffren.lu/
The most famous American soldier of Luxembourg descent was actually from Sartell, Minnesota! His name was Phillip Weis, and he fought with George Patton's army in the Ardennes Mountains of northern Luxembourg in the winter of 1944-45 - the Battle of the Bulge. He became famous because he died in January 1945 in the battle to liberate the city of Wiltz. It was one of the last battles of the Battle of the Bulge. Phillip's body was not found until November 1945, as it was in the mountainous area, and for 7-8 months he was listed as MIA and presumed KIA. In November 1945 a local man came across the body of a US soldier, and found Phillip's dogtags. His parents were notified and he was buried in the US military cemetery in Hamm, Luxembourg, the same cemetery where Gen. George Patton is buried. For some reason, Phillip's dogtag was lost at the time his body was removed from the place of death.
In September 1977 a local Luxembourger, by the name of Ferdinand Weis, was walking through the forest and looking for artfacts of the big battleground when he came across a small bag using his metal detector. Inside were 2 dogtags, one with "Phillip Weis" on it and the other with "ASS 37555522" on it. Because of the same family name, Ferdinand contacted the US military cemetery in Hamm where Phillip was buried. He discovered the soldier was from Sartell, Minnesota and contacted the last of his family here. Through correspondence, it was discovered that Phillip's grandfather, Nicholas Weis, was born at Insenborn, a few miles south of Wiltz. Phillip died within 3 miles of his grandfather's birthplace! Eventually Phillip's Sartell relatives journeyed to Luxembourg and received a hearty welcome and honors from the locals.
Last year while visiting the Military Cemetery, the guide told the story of Phillip Weis to the group, as an example of a soldier of Luxembourg ancestry helping in the liberation of the land of his ancestors. Every year on 6 January, a red rose appears on his grave. No one knows who the person is who decorates Phillip's grave, but it is certain that it is done in gratitude for the supreme sacrifice that Phillip gave.
So, do you also have a story of a family veteran of WWII who is of Luxembourg heritage?