Private Trip

11/12/2024

No filters, no photo shop.... Just a simple photo from a side street in "Chartres" at the end of a three day tour ❤️ France 🇲🇫

01/12/2024

What a beautiful day in Normandy again

27/10/2024

Who can tell me - "why there is always someone walking into your picture" ?!?

21/10/2024

🌤 Good morning from Champagne 🍾🥂

26/09/2024

What an awesome day ! We traced the steps of Dan Burdin following the news paper article. Yet, "Dan's" story was more complicated....

He was one of the first paratrooper units to enter the Chef du Pont village. His objective - à simple bridge. Unfortunately the unexpected German resistance in the village cost the unit many casualties. And the numbers kept on rising as the Germans kept favorable positions.

At the moment that one side of the bridge is secured, Gen. Gavin (securing the no.1 bridge at La Fiere) asked for immediate support.

This decision left a group of 150 paratroopers down to 34 fighting men.

German couter attacs were violent. They gave all to re-capture the bridge - yet failed, due to the heroic action of handful of man (only 20 men capable of fighting at the end)

At the moment things look better, the unit is replaced by Glider PIR and gets direct orders to join the action at La Fière bridge, which is missing experienced units.

ELDEN DAN BURDIN fights in the two most violent battles for Saint Mere Eglise.

Renita Menyhert (US army journalist) interviewed many men from those battles for Saint mere Eglise....

Theyr stories are the same....

"I dont remember eating, neither pi***ng. It was only - loading, shooting, re-loading... repeat.... changing position, loading, shooting, rer-loading...."

07/09/2024

From the roof of Château Amboise. Place where several kings of France were born, raised and died. The chapel on the top is the final resting place of Leonardo da Vinci. Great destination for a day tour from Paris.

06/09/2024

I just simply Love this place 🥰

04/09/2024

The grandfather of this family landed on Omaha Beach on D-Day. He was a young private in the 1st Div, 16th reg, 2nd Battalion. His unit went through hell on the 6th of June and he was heavily injured. On photograph the family stands at the same point, where him and many others were given the medical attention. Because the more serious casualties were evacuated as priority towards the ships, he stayed under the cliffs of the German strongpoint WN60 the whole night until he was evacuated by next day. He recovered and later was injured for the second time at the insane battle of Aachen !! Here, he would light up a cigarette in the dark and a sniper shot would go through his cheek and ear.

15/08/2024

Amazing time with the two I love 😘

10/07/2024

How pictures are taken 🤣

09/07/2024

AND WHAT WOULD YOU DO ????

- John (US Marine Corps Vietman veteran that served during the most hardest years for the Marines in the war 1966 to 1970) comes to the Belleau Wood cemetery "1918" and shouts loud " Didnt know I died Fuc🤬ing 106 years ago" !!! Without searching for it, John was standing in front of a cross of an US Doughboy with the same name that died in the area of Belleau Wood where Marines got their nick name "The Devil Dogs"

John also said:

"when I die, burry me face down, so the whole world can kiss my ass" "and my friends can stop for a "cold one"

(stupid Marines joke.....problem is is , they got plenty of those)

29/06/2024

Morning run 🏃 to Mont St Michel was definitely wort it !!

21/06/2024

The majestic remparts of Château Vitré (Brittany, France). This medieval forteresse dating back to XI century served as the seat of barons, became an refuge to The Parlement of Brittany, for some years a Huguenot stronghold (protestants), than prison, barracs for the army and in 1820 it was finally purchased by the town of Vitré for 8500 Francs - equivalent +/- 35.000 Euros today money 🤪. It was one of the first French castles to be classified "Historical Monument"

#🇨🇵

16/06/2024

Another US Marine veteran successfully touring Belleau Wood battlefield

16/06/2024

Normandy 80st anniversary part 3/3. Wonderful weather, police not blocking the roads, great people stoping at our stand, column of ww2 military vehicles & reenactors 4.2km (2.5mile) long !

Big "Merci" to Hervé which created amazing ww2 tank vestes for each of us. And even a bigger "Merci" to family Lebrec that accommodated us at their amazing chateau !!!

15/06/2024

Normandy part 2/3 - should be the bussiest day of the whole comemoration.

All was ready ! our great jackets hand made by #1942 retrodesign. Military collection sold by . Stationed at the famous Calvados place between and

Unfortunately due to the visit of on the 7th, the entire sector of US landing sites was locked off... including us. We were heavily guarded by the French special police (which was very polite and friendy) but did not allow anyone from outside to come to our stand, neither to the Calvados tasting or the restaurant

We were all very, very angry that all our businesses were stoped for the day, but than..... we realized what a beautiful day we had spent together.

Bernard (Calvados producer) tells me "Jozef, I cannot remember when was the last time I took à whole day off like today.... And I cannot remember when was the last time I laughed so much"

14/06/2024

27/05/2024

Great Memorial day at Belleau Wood where our guide Jozef got to meet many US Marines including the commandig officer General Smith