Ep 670: The Fog of War and Humanity with Richard Acritelli and guest Leah Freeberg P2 on hmTv

Send us Fan MailThe Fog of War and Humanity | Ep. 670: The Hidden Medals of a WWII POW (Part 2) | HMTCJerome L. Frankel was only 19 when he was wounded, captured during the Battle of the Bulge, forced to march through freezing conditions, transported in a cattle car, and imprisoned at Stalag IV-B. He survived, returned home, raised a family, and rarely spoke about what he had endured.In Episode 670 of The Fog of War and Humanity, host Richard Acritelli continues his conversation with Jerome’s daughter, Leah Freeberg, about the medals, military records, physical injuries, and memories her father kept hidden for decades.Jerome served as a radio operator with the 423rd Infantry Regiment of the 106th Infantry Division, known as the Golden Lions. Positioned directly in the path of the German advance, the young and inexperienced division suffered catastrophic losses during the Battle of the Bulge.Leah shares the Purple Heart her father received for a shrapnel wound to his wrist and severe trench foot. The damage to his feet remained visible throughout his life, and cold, wet weather frequently brought the pain back. Although the physical wounds never disappeared, Jerome rarely complained or explained their origin to his daughters.In 2019, Leah and her husband traveled through Belgium and Germany to retrace part of Jerome’s wartime journey. They visited Schönberg, where his regiment was captured, the Bulge Relics Museum, the 106th Infantry Division memorial at St. Vith, and the concrete “dragon’s teeth” of the Siegfried Line.Leah also reflects on the forced march from Schönberg to the railway station at Gerolstein. Thousands of American prisoners walked more than 20 miles through bitter cold before being packed into cattle cars and transported to Stalag IV-B. Jerome endured the journey while suffering from frozen feet, a shrapnel wound, hunger, and exhaustion.After her father’s death, Leah discovered a green metal container filled with original military documents. Because many government Army records had been destroyed in a fire, Jerome’s personal collection provided the evidence needed for Leah to obtain his Prisoner of War Medal posthumously.Among the records was a letter Jerome had written to his congressman requesting the Purple Heart, a commendation, and other recognition that had not been properly entered into his military record. His appeal reveals that veterans sometimes had to fight long after returning home to receive the honors they had earned.Jerome Frankel was more than a soldier or prisoner of war. He was a survivor who endured combat, captivity, starvation, injury, and silence. He returned home, built a career, raised a family, embraced his faith, and created a life that the war had nearly taken from him.The Fog of War and Humanity on hmTv | Host: Richard Acritelli | Guest: Leah FreebergExecutive Producer and Director: Bernie FurshpanA production of the Holocaust Memorial and Tolerance Center of Nassau County🌐 hmtcli.org🎙 buzzsprout.com/2449781▶️ youtube.com/@hmTv-hmtc─── CHAPTERS ───0:00 Opening0:19 Welcome and Part 1 recap1:55 The Golden Lions of the 106th Infantry Division2:09 An inexperienced division faces catastrophe3:00 The Purple Heart Jerome’s family never knew about3:30 Shrapnel wounds and severe trench foot4:13 The lifelong physical effects of war5:09 Veterans waiting decades for recognition6:06 A 19-year-old soldier enters combat7:14 Seeing her father as a young man7:34 A Jewish prayer book and a dangerous identity8:25 Retracing Jerome’s journey in 20199:06 Visiting the Bulge Relics Museum10:15 Traveling through Belgium with a private guide11:15 The 106th Infantry Division memorial at St. Vith12:27 The forced march from Schönberg to Gerolstein13:44 The Malmedy massacre and a church along the route14:12 Discovering Jerome’s meticulous military records14:50 The dragon’s teeth of the Siegfried Line15:34 Experiencing the bitter cold of the Ardennes16:06 Why Leah did not visit Stalag IV-B16:45 Starvation and intercepted Red Cross parcels17:40 Understanding the burden of a field radio18:37 A radio operator’s front-line responsibility19:20 Original records and the posthumous POW Medal20:09 Veterans and Holocaust survivors on Long Island21:32 Liberation and the advancing Soviet Army22:04 Jerome’s letter requesting recognition23:07 Finally receiving the Purple Heart23:47 A complete timeline of his military journey24:14 Surviving combat, captivity, and starvation25:02 Rebuilding a life after war25:40 hmTv outro──────────────────#FogOfWarAndHumanity #LeahFreeberg #JeromeFrankel #BattleOfTheBulge #WorldWarII #PrisonerOfWar #PurpleHeart #POWMedal #106thInfantryDivision #JewishAmericanVeteran #VeteranStories #HMTCSupport the show