THEY SAVED FRIEND AND FOE | The D Day Church Still Stained With Blood | Normandy WW2

[@stephanieredden8861]

I was blessed to have met Medics Ken Moore, Bob Wright, Joseph "Mother" Madigan, and David Tuel. You see, my father passed away in 83 and he was 101st and this was his war too. He was gravely injured on January 10th, by a tree burst during the Battle of the Bulge. The Nazis had captured the aid station. I won't get into the specs of his facial injuries as they were gnarly and these medics saved his life. I met these wonderful men in Atlanta Ga, at a 501/101st Airborne reunion. I had no clue but they were waiting for me on top of Stone Mtn. What a nice surprise. Medic Tuel gave me photos of my father and I was so very thankful to be able to tell them thank you for saving my fathers life and basically giving my siblings and I life. He wasn't expected to make it and he spent over a year in hospital. I met them two more times, at other reunions, and I communicated with Moore and Tuel through email. I think of them often and am saddened that they have all passed away. Blue skies gentlemen.

[@thehistoryexplorer]

Oh wow! What a lovely surprise it was to read your comment. What a small world and to think someone with a connection to this story saw my little video. You must be so proud of your father. Thank you for your comment

[@Praise___YaH]

Here is our Savior YaH The Heavenly FATHER (Genesis 1) HIMSELF was Who they Crucified/Pierced for our sins and “HERE IS THE PROOF” From the Ancient Semitic: "Yad He Vav He" is what Moshe (Moses) wrote, when Moses asked YaH His Name (Exodus 3) Ancient Semitic Direct Translation Yad - "Behold The Hand" He - "Behold the Breath" Vav - "Behold The NAIL"

[@Wackedout]

My Birthday is January 10. It is a day to remember how blessed I am. To your father, my Great grandfather and Grandpa. Thank you kind Gentlemen for your sacrifices!

[@jugghead-1975]

WOW! What a blessing to know and get to spend time with those kinda people! Thank you for sharing your unbelievable story...God bless 🙏

[@jonathannixon8652]

You Ma'am are such a treasure and I am Very grateful to you and your dear father. † I Salute your Father, You, and the whole family. I'm a United States Army 🪖 Veteran 🇺🇲🪔🇮🇱 “Thank You Sir for your Selfless service” May God bless you and your entire prescious Family in Yeshua, Ha'maschiach. † Amen and Shalom 🙏♥️

[@ToddSauve]

The informal ceasefire for the medics to carry a man to the church reminds me of another one. In the fierce fighting inside of Caen the Canadians and British were battling across one of the city's squares. Suddenly a small child ran out into the open square, followed shorty by his frantic mother to retrieve him. Both sides stopped firing when this happened, until the mother and child were safely back inside their building. As one of the Canadians present said, "World war two stopped for a moment, and then when they were out of the crossfire, the war started again." 🤔🤨🤷‍♂ I remember Paul covering this on his channel. 👌

[@thehistoryexplorer]

I’ve never heard that but it sounds brilliant. Thank you 👍

[@91Redmist]

Thomas Jefferson once said, "Peace is that glorious moment when both sides are reloading." Was reminded of this by the Canadian soldier's comment about WW2 having stopped for a few moments...

[@thehistoryexplorer]

@@91Redmist brilliant comment 👍

[@ToddSauve]

@@thehistoryexplorer Now that I think about it, I believe I heard the story from an interview in "The Valour and the Horror" which is about the Canadians in Normandy and is available here on KZbin. I'm pretty sure it was General Jacques Dextraze of the Royal 22 regiment from Quebec, the famous _Van Doos._ Those were some _really_ tough guys from Quebec! The Normans liked them a lot because they spoke French and their ancestors had often gone from Normandy to North America hundreds of years earlier. Now they had come back to liberate them from the Nazis. However, Quebecois and Parisian French are a little bit different. Anyway, Jacques rose from private in 1940 to general during his career, and became the colonel commanding his regiment during WW2. Quite the intelligent guy and a courageous soldier. He died back in 1993 but the documentary has him talking a lot and you will be in awe of the stories these front line soldiers had to tell! General Sidney Radley-Walters, the top scoring tank ace among the western Allies with 18 or 19 kills, also tells some of his stories. It was his regiment, the Sherbrooke Fusiliers, who dispatched Michael Wittmann on August 8, 1944, and Radley-Walters witnessed the action from very close range in his Sherman! kzbin.info/www/bejne/bXrYkomEnLmeoq8& I must add that "The Valour and the Horror" was fiercely criticized by Canadian veterans who fought the Nazis. They were particularly upset that the Canadian national broadcaster, the CBC, had used many taxpayer dollars producing a documentary that they considered grossly inaccurate. They felt far too much time was spent criticizing the army and very little actually documenting their great victories. This has always been the bane of Canadian film makers. If they tell the stories of terrible mistakes they are soundly thrashed by the men who were there. Who to believe? Personally, I say the vets who were there and did the fighting and bleeding.

[@moobaz8675]

Amazing. Those guys are real heroes. The fact that both sides respected the Red Cross is testimony to its importance and the sanctuary it provided.

[@thehistoryexplorer]

I completely agree! Do you think the Red Cross is respected and protected in modern warfare we see around the world today?!

[@dennis2376]

Unlike the Japanese.

[@YukitoOnline]

@@dennis2376 And the Russians

[@genevievehugues]

C'était des ordres. De qui de quoi ? Bombarder la flotte de Mesel Kebir .....Ben voyons. Et ils l'on fait. Qui ?''' pas ceux qui sont allés rechercher les marins brulles encore vivants ...dans l'eau.

[@barryreeve5865]

What we owe too these young brave men, goes beyond belief, I was a very young kid at the time and I remember them driving off by the Lorry Load in our market square, in Loughborough, they had been stationed at a village nearby, they threw chewing gum packets too us , a great treat at that time during the war. Its still very clear in my 88 year . Bless them all. . The Yanks are coming as the song used too say.

[@thehistoryexplorer]

Wow what a story! Thank you for sharing!

[@johnelliott7375]

That German Army Machine Gunner was kept from firing and the Catholic cross on his chest was to show you that he couldn't and wouldn't fire on anyone in the Church. It has been seen and will be seen again in the annels of history. Had nothing to do with the Geneva Convention. Me and my 85 year old father are going to Church now and as Veterans of Foreign Wars we hold our heads up and high this morning after sharing this at our breakfast this morning! Thanks again and I wish you all a blessed and happy Sunday morning.😊

[@thehistoryexplorer]

Thank you my friend. Have a fantastic Sunday with your family. I’m so glad you enjoyed the video

[@johnelliott7375]

@@thehistoryexplorer thanks for the reply and the thought of you and your good will makes your work more enjoyable. God bless you.

[@midnightchannel111]

I have such respect for the French. They remember. They don't forget. Places like this, with the origonal blood stains, as well as gravesights, are tended by families who were liberated on DDay, with children, then grandchildren, inheriting the responsibility. My Uncle was with Patton. And my Dad was a bomber pilot with the Army Air Corp.

[@thehistoryexplorer]

Lovely comment. The French I’ve come across have been brilliant. They care for hundreds of memorials and markers to commemorate what happened there

[@uncleremus5046]

The French who sided with the Germans when they came to town! Cowards & you should tell the truth not modern day BS!!

[@markdidsbury3626]

My father was a WWII vet, landing in Normandy on June 6, 1944 'D Day' this generation deserved every right to be called The Greatest Generation and one we'll not see the likes of again.

[@thehistoryexplorer]

I think you’re right!

[@Jaffacall3251]

No sir, the majority of that age group support donald trump, who is fascist.

[@stephencox4224]

Ken Moore and Bob Wright are outstanding examples of Humanity may they inspire many more as they have touched and inspired me for the World needs so many more like them

[@thehistoryexplorer]

If only! What great and compassionate men

[@stephencox4224]

@@thehistoryexplorer There have been so many like them but they never get the recognition so richly deserved from all sides of any conflict

[@lutherpayne9957]

I visited that church on a D Day Battlefield tour back some years ago. The story of a young villager holding his father's hand and watching his father killed is bad enough, but we were told the story by the man that once was that little boy. That image still haunts me to this day.

[@thehistoryexplorer]

I never knew about that. It’s such a special church and just the most amazing place to visit. Thank you for sharing and I hope you enjoyed the video

[@lutherpayne9957]

@@thehistoryexplorer I enjoyed it very much. It brought back many memories. You should check out the memorial to the American Airborne on the grounds of the church. In France, the Government will not give land to erect memorials. The locals of that village where the church is, raised their own funds to buy the land, erect the memorial and maintain it as a tribute to the Airborne troops that fought to free them from the Germans. As thanks for the work of the paratroopers on that night, the church installed commemorative stained glass windows: one dedicated to the pair of medics, and one to the 101st Airborne Division parachutists. Robert Wright expressed his wish to be buried at the church, but bureaucratic red tape made this almost impossible. In the end, some of his ashes were smuggled into France to be buried in the churchyard. The unofficial headstone simply reads “R.E.W.”, Wright’s initials. Thank you for rekindling a memory of a wonderful trip I took to France many years ago.

[@margaretmaryyoung6991]

My father was a medic in WWII, from the 77th Evacuation Hospital out of West Michigan. I'm his daughter, a veteran of the USAF. 🇺🇸 My father died in 1999. 🙏

[@thehistoryexplorer]

You must be so very proud of his legacy. Thank you so much for sharing and I hope you enjoyed the video

[@fritula6200]

God bless all sweetheart ❤❤❤

[@willierobertson862]

Another great video Rob. I visited the church with Paul Woodadge of @WW2TV and a gentleman who contributed the stained glass windows either side of the entrance door. I found this location humbling and moving. This is such a wonderful story that needs to be distributed far and wide. I thoroughly recommend the book: Angels of Mercy by Paul Woodadge. Keep up the great work buddy. 👍

[@thehistoryexplorer]

Thank you Willie. It’s a lovely little location. Glad you enjoyed the video 👍

[@Stephen.C.]

A moving recollection, of one small event of so many from D Day. Still a powerful story, and well told. Thanks.

[@thehistoryexplorer]

Thank you. I love telling the stories of individuals rather than the big picture stories

[@donnalayton6876]

Thank you gentlemen for your blessed service. GOD bless you.

[@thehistoryexplorer]

Lovely comment 👍

[@Diglett_Dude]

I have been waiting for you to do an episode on this church. It was well worth the wait.

[@thehistoryexplorer]

Hello buddy! I hope you enjoyed it

[@Diglett_Dude]

@@thehistoryexplorer I certainly did enjoy the episode, shame that it was overcast but the photos attached really helped. Nice one dude 😃

[@terrywoodham8419]

Yet again a great film this is a very special place I have been there many times with Paul woodadge and every time I visit it always brings me to tears of the story of what men went through in and around this church .

[@thehistoryexplorer]

It’s one of my favourite sites to visit in Normandy. Glad you enjoyed it 👍

[@dougm5341]

I was fortunate enough about 15 years ago to walk through the church and see first hand the reminders of the war.

[@thehistoryexplorer]

Chillingly beautiful isn’t it

[@OliverMurrayYT]

Excellent, thanks. Fascinating how symbolically the church building, Red Cross flag, and the German machine-gunner’s own faith all ensured the rules were followed, and played their part. I wonder if it would differ today on the European continent in our post-Christian societies? I hope not. But I wonder.

[@thehistoryexplorer]

It’s a horrible thought isn’t it

[@megancrager4397]

Man 😢 These before & afters hit my heart every time 😭

[@creekdweller9662]

My father was 33 years old as he landed in Sicily, he was infantry. I’m proud to say my father was a soldier in that war. His brother was a POW in Stalag 11 B for two years. There were four of them fighting in ww-2. War is Hell. A terrible waste of humanity, as nations cannot find a more intelligent solution to problems that have to end in bloodshed. “Barbaric “

[@thehistoryexplorer]

You must be so proud of their legacy of service to the US. Heroes! I hope you enjoyed the video

[@fritula6200]

Agree creekdweller: may God bless you and your family ❤

[@shurikenstars]

Visited this church by chance in July whilst on my yearly Normandy visit. An amazing, humble and hard hitting experience. Another example of ordinary men doing extraordinary things in extreme circumstances.

[@mikelorimer7318]

I was at that church last September and the story of these two medics and the combatants is testament to the sacrifices made by these hero’s. It is a surreal experience and worth the side track from the main beaches.

[@thehistoryexplorer]

These stories are brilliant aren’t they

[@arthurlockwood8735]

God bless to all the soldiers. Who. Was. There. Thank you so much for freedom and thanksyou to all on d day 🙏❤️🇬🇧♠️🇱🇷

[@thehistoryexplorer]

Thank you Arthur. I hope you enjoyed the video

[@kingsroad2310]

stunning video! made me want to visit for myself. seemed so peaceful too

[@samuelnugraha1791]

Excellent documentary, God bless everyone...

[@samuelnugraha1791]

What I learn is... When human falls into temptation, they blame everyone, even God. Human's natural enemy is not people or even God, but "greed".

[@samuelnugraha1791]

I mean we all human, i am human too you know?

[@edwardh1591]

What an amazing story. Thankyou for sharing.

[@thehistoryexplorer]

It is my pleasure. Glad you enjoyed it!

[@ramonaausterman9620]

Your Medics sit at the right hand of God!

[@thehistoryexplorer]

Well said

[@narcanninja]

How have these two not received the Medal of Honor I’ll never understand.

[@thehistoryexplorer]

Yes it’s strange how some people are awarded medal if recognition and others aren’t

[@allencollins6031]

Amazing work. Your passion for what do is so bloody obvious. What a teacher you are.

[@thehistoryexplorer]

Thank you Allen. As always I really appreciate your feedback

[@allencollins6031]

@@thehistoryexplorer Yeah man. No problem. As someone who was on the receiving end of a completely watered-down and propagandist government education in New York, I feel compelled to comment when people like yourself work very hard to present truths.

[@thehistoryexplorer]

@@allencollins6031 ha! 😂 I really appreciate it

[@johnelliott7375]

Not luck, if you have ever been in combat and you can say and know that something is going to watch over you and protect you from all harm if you're a devout believer and not a last second convert. May God bless you all and your families. Great Sunday to you all.

[@thehistoryexplorer]

Thank you John. Much appreciated

[@jeffm9798]

Thank you for your work and this story.

[@thehistoryexplorer]

You are very welcome 🙏

[@BigRed0]

My grandfather PFC MORRIS WIDELITZ landed on June 6th in the 2nd wave. He said everyone was getting shot in front of him and he was scared to death. He said he hopped the side of the landing craft and ran to an iron anti tank X on the beach and just sat there for minutes contemplating weather he wanted to go die or not. Eventually him and his buddies charged the beach up to the small bunkers and started bunker busting. Thank you so much grandpa and the rest of our beautiful young soldiers for our freedom ! I love you guys! You are so appreciated. PFC Morris Widelitz, 3rd Army. 15th armored Division!

[@thehistoryexplorer]

Outstanding 🫡

[@mikeschillinger4427]

Wonderful informative video. Thank-you for taking the time to share it.

[@thehistoryexplorer]

My pleasure. Glad it was helpful!

[@starbucks2101]

so wheres the movie about this? we really needed this right now humanity is falling apart

[@thehistoryexplorer]

It would make an excellent movie!

[@FlatRangeOperator]

Wild story!

[@thehistoryexplorer]

It is!

[@darrelb4371]

The creator here really ought to cite the source of much of his audio and the video of Ken Moore and Bob Wright. I'm surprised he hasn't received a copyright violation. The video is from "Eagles of Mercy" produced in 2013 by the WWII Foundation.

[@thehistoryexplorer]

The credit is in the description and approval was sought to use the footage 👍 thank you for your comment though. I could have narrated the whole video but thought it more powerful to use the worlds of the man who was there

[@thenoworriesnomad]

Excellent video.. God Bless Them All

[@thehistoryexplorer]

Thank you so much buddy. Hope you enjoy the channel

[@thenoworriesnomad]

Yes mate, its very good

[@davidchristen5335]

Excellent documentary - thank you from 🇨🇦

[@thehistoryexplorer]

Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for the kind feedback 👍

[@CarlosHenriqueDutradaRocha]

O tempo passa, lugares ficam e pessoas vão. 😊😢

[@thehistoryexplorer]

Absolutely. Well said

[@kevinhensley4643]

Thank you for sharing. It's an excellent video

[@thehistoryexplorer]

Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for the feedback

[@Tootnscoot]

The Carnton Plantation in Franklin, Tn still has bloodstains in it also...from the civil war

[@thehistoryexplorer]

Is that true? Wow I would love to visit. I’m so keen to get back to the US

[@Tootnscoot]

@thehistoryexplorer absolutely true. In the upstairs room where amputations were done. They'd throw the limbs out the window and they piled up to the 2nd story. Check out the Carter House in Franklin as well. They have bullet holes in the house from the civil war still, the trenches still dug on either side of the front yard. North on one side south on the other fighting across their yard

[@MAB-y7o]

What luck? Luck had nothing to do with it. That was God’s mercy stopping the detonation of that mortar. This was after all Gods House and He took care of these men!

[@doraramos2930]

The soldiers were so young ❤

[@thehistoryexplorer]

There were indeed. We tend to forget that

[@waterpongo6975]

I bet there ar ehundreds of stories like this one just waiting to be told. I prefer these to stories about big armies and battles. More personal

[@thehistoryexplorer]

I hope so! I prefer to make videos on individual stories

[@91Redmist]

Heard this story before. It shows the humanity on both sides when it came to situations involving medics and the wounded. The Germans actually tried not to hurt any opposing medics. The Japanese? Not so much...

[@thehistoryexplorer]

Can you imagine that happening today, even though the rules governing the protection of medics and POWs has not changed?!

[@91Redmist]

@thehistoryexplorer Anything today would be hard to imagine. Society has fallen apart and lack of respect for formal agreements is part of the damage.

[@grandchatdaddy]

I can't imagine the misery of being a prisoner of the Nipponese.. the terror and torture some of these Women and Men suffered cannot be described.. The Men were SKIN and BONES and the Women were RAPED.

[@91Redmist]

@user-xy7pn9bb8m They were awful. And they did not discriminate.

[@taimurreza9511]

Thanks

[@user-ix3en1zd7n]

i know what song that is , but i wont say anything as i use it sometimes in my pathetic game clips :) thanks for sharing your visit to the church

[@thehistoryexplorer]

You are most welcome! I hope you enjoyed the video.

[@deangreenhall3762]

Incredible.

[@thehistoryexplorer]

It’s a brilliant story!

[@WW2_WhoWasWho]

Been waiting for this since the live stream.. LOL

[@thehistoryexplorer]

I hope you enjoy it! Let me know what you think

[@mareerogers364]

Thank you to all of the Black soldiers who liberated concentration camps,Red Ball Express,666th Black Postal Battalion, who delivered the mail in WWII. The music is perfect❤

[@brucecourchene8090]

Amazing, thank you.

[@thehistoryexplorer]

You are most welcome. I hope you enjoyed the video

[@ianhothersall3937]

Outstanding!

[@thehistoryexplorer]

Cheers! 🍻

[@napierlines6977]

Unbelievable. Thanls for sharing

[@thehistoryexplorer]

My pleasure! I hope you enjoyed it

[@eddielovell1538]

Wow real words , real blood , god pull the fuse out to protect the earth angels inside....

[@brucenlong]

wow, just wow.

[@thehistoryexplorer]

Thank you. I hope you enjoyed it

[@sosteve9113]

Almost exactly like my video,great that the story gets told

[@thehistoryexplorer]

Hey buddy, I haven’t seen your video but will check it out 👍

[@robertthomas3777]

Lest we forget. 🦘🇦🇺👍

[@thehistoryexplorer]

Absolutely mate. It’s a brilliant story

[@daltonmann4916]

WOW!

[@thehistoryexplorer]

I hope you enjoyed it!

[@davidrebelo1168]

WOW 😢!!!!!!

[@thehistoryexplorer]

I hope you enjoyed the video. Merry Christmas!

[@miketemple7686]

The only problem I have with this short documentary, is the segment where the mortar comes through the roof of the church. The gentleman narrating the video refers to the mortar, not detonating as luck. Twice he refers to it as luck. If you cannot acknowledge the blessing of God, you should be scared that you do not recognize the presence of God. Even the German soldier showed more respect than you. Good luck to you friend. 🙏✝️

[@listefanden860]

🙏🙏🙏

[@thehistoryexplorer]

Thank you very much

[@benelias3556]

Incredible story! Unfortunately the original commentator is confused when he said what luck how about praise God. Thank you for this post

[@richardirvin6155]

it's his story, not yours! let him tell it the way he wants! you weren't even there.

[@thehistoryexplorer]

Well said! Thank you for your kind feedback

[@benelias3556]

@@richardirvin6155 no I will not. You Godless people are pathetic. It was the hand of God who saved them

[@greighooper5295]

Again incredible work researching and making this, I've often wondered who the frenchman was who threw the petrol bomb into the open back truck full of germans from a window in Paris, its an iconic film reel ,

[@OfficeGrayDesk]

Maybe you’re confused to think you have the right to gatekeep this guy’s commentary. @benelias3556

[@dennis2376]

The paratroopers drown because they refused to wear the British jump equipment. The British equipment was simpler to get out of.

[@thehistoryexplorer]

I don’t know enough about that to comment I’m afraid

[@MrZeroFksGiven]

I’ve just come back from Normandy with my father and now going to watch all your uploads

[@thehistoryexplorer]

Amazing! I hope you enjoy them buddy. I bet you had the best time out there

[@MrZeroFksGiven]

@@thehistoryexplorer I’m 42 and it’s the first time I’ve been to another country and it’s the best thing I’ve ever done we seen so many things.I’ll be definitely going again if like is kind of

[@patricknoveski6409]

What idiot would even question that medic who talked of the blood stains? How dare you.

[@thehistoryexplorer]

Sorry I may have misunderstood but are you calling me an idiot?

[@thornjagger850]

❤🙏

[@thehistoryexplorer]

Thank you I hope you enjoyed it

[@Assdfgresa]

So interesting, I was thinking of you doing a story of this church and bam! You did. Awesome job and great detail. I do like your touch on how you approach stories.

[@thehistoryexplorer]

Thank you! So glad you enjoyed it. I love stories like this

[@Assdfgresa]

@thehistoryexplorer I do too

[@janiceduke1205]

💎❤

[@thehistoryexplorer]

Thank you

[@jpturner171]

🙏🏽🇺🇸❤️

[@thehistoryexplorer]

Thank you

[@chillonna]

can u touch the pews?

[@thehistoryexplorer]

You can but I did not

[@Михаил-ч7й2х]

Вы никогда не хотели мира с Россией его или что всё война

[@thehistoryexplorer]

Sure

[@farkasandras6443]

Magyar feliratot még véletlenül se rakjatok be, basszátok meg…

[@thehistoryexplorer]

you want me to? I can add Hungarian easy

[@farkasandras6443]

@@thehistoryexplorer igen, ha szerepelne a listában, akkor ki is tudnám jelölni.

[@BIBIWCICC]

You’ll find very similar churches in Gaza that are freshly stained by the Israeli genocide. Our ancestors fought so hard in that war and we now put up with a government that allows this to happen again, as if we learnt and fought for nothing.

[@thehistoryexplorer]

What on earth has that got to do with remembering those who fought on D Day?

[@megancrager4397]

It's awful that Hamas uses civilian buildings, and Palestinians, as bases and human shields 😢 If they didn't set up in churches, hospitals & schools, those sites would be standing today. It's too bad they have no care for the Geneva convention, let alone their own people.

[@rwbranger62]

Excellent video and story behind it . 👏

[@thehistoryexplorer]

Thank you so much buddy. Really appreciate the feedback