Sunday, April 25, 2010

Wounding!

This is coolbert:

Here is a listing of senior military commanders, soldiers of field grade rank of higher, leading from the front, exposing themselves to enemy fire in the manner of the lowliest private! Senior commanders, quite often sustaining wounding, repeatedly, surviving and continuing to command and lead again from the front, obviously men and leaders of the first order!!

1. Bernard Freyberg.

Outstanding soldier of the Great War [WW1], wounded NINE times while commanding an infantry battalion on the Western Front. Including twice wounded on the same day, TWO DAYS IN SUCCESSION!!

"Lieutenant-General Bernard Cyril Freyberg . . . VC, GCMG, KCB, KBE, DSO & Three Bars (21 March 1889 – 4 July 1963), was a British-born New Zealand Victoria Cross recipient and soldier"

"Freyberg received nine wounds during his service in France, and men who served with him later in his career said hardly a part of his body did not have scars."

Finally succumbing from aggravated injury even decades after the many wounding from the WW1 era:

2. Robert Frederick.

American WW2 commander of high repute. Wounded repeatedly while in command of the First Special Service Force [FSSF], the "Devil's Brigade"! Commanded at all times troops of the most elite type, always in the "thick of the action". An elite soldier in command of elite soldiers, given the most dangerous and difficult missions.

Suffered a total of EIGHT wounds during his service in the European theatre. Including twice wounded on the same day [sounds a lot like Bernard Freyberg, does it not?].

"Robert Tryon Frederick . . . was a highly decorated American combat commander during World War II, who commanded the 1st Special Service Force, the 1st Airborne Task Force and the 45th Infantry Division"

"he had been wounded eight times . . . at Anzio he was wounded a number of times, including two separate wounds on a single day.

3. Hyazinth von Strachwitz.

Senior German military commander of WW2. An expert practitioner of tank warfare and armored assault. Noted for leading from the front, exposing himself to enemy fire, in the "thick of the action" at all times!

Suffering no less than FOURTEEN wounds sustained during combat action in WW2. A man of noble birth who obviously believed in nobles behaving nobly on the battlefield.

"Hyazinth Graf Strachwitz von Groß-Zauche und Camminetz . . . was a German Army officer. Strachwitz saw action in World War I, but rose to fame for his command of armored forces in World War II."

4. Dr. Oskar Dirlewanger.

German combat soldier and commander from the era of both WW1 and WW2. An undeniably brave man who comported himself on the battlefield with undeniable great courage.

A man of learning, Dirlewanger could justifiably claim the academic title of "doctor" leading the troops under his command "up front", "in the thick of the action", seemingly heedless of danger.

Wounded TWELVE times from his considerable combat duty, both in WW1 and WW2.

"His military service was seen as exemplary by German authorities, as he was known for his near suicidal bravery in battle . . . and always led his troops from the front - - On February 15, 1945, he was seriously injured in combat for the 12th time and sent to the rear."

Oskar Dirlewanger also a man whose name lives in infamy. A rapist, an alcoholic, a perpetrator of atrocity on an enormous scale. A SS mann of opprobrium leading a SS unit entirely consisting of men of opprobrium.

"opprobrium: noun - 1.the disgrace or the reproach incurred by conduct considered outrageously shameful; infamy."

coolbert.




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