Battle of The Bulge / Hurtgen Forest Recollections 1 of 2

[@hopakera]

this wonderful man passed away 2/12/15 at the age of 97. he will be missed by many.

[@sartainja]

hopakera Amen. May he rest in peace.

[@FalseHoodx]

Jeff Sartain Amen

[@jackspizza8155]

hopakera Hero. It's that simple. Back with his buddy now.

[@jameslisk4154]

RIP mate..sounds like he was an amazing guy..

[@zerofriends5592]

I was doing the math. I would've enjoyed his company immensly. Asking him things about the war until he said 'I'm tired kid. Enough of the war, for now". Thnx for posting the date hopakers. We've lost just about all our WW2 veterans. Soon they'll all be gone. I'm deeply thankful we have archives. I extend you a posthumous SALUTE soldier. Rest well.

[@andyjohnson3146]

Mr. Kisse offers excellent insight to what soldiers experienced during those times. He is a wonderful story teller and so easy to listen to. So many veterans do not want to speak about what they saw and experienced because of the terrible memories. Thank you Sparky.

[@j.dunlop8295]

It's good but also important to remember, they're not allowed to order you to commit suicide, don't say "No!" they can shoot you! But you can explain it's not survivable! Uncle Olen, 82 nd airborne, all WW2! And don't bunch up, make small targets,!🤔

[@albertarthurparsnips5141]

My great - uncle was a POW of the Japanese. Australian Imperial Force, Portuguese Timor. Almost never mentioned this for the rest of his life.

[@williamkisse]

Many thanks for your courteous comments. I am tremendously proud of my Dad - especially as he returned from such awful experiences an emotionally whole and wonderful man. I have always been and always be tremendously proud to be his son!

[@73gmiller]

Thank you for your Dad's service. Both my Grandfathers fought and my grandma worked at Oak Ridge.

[@alainvosselman9960]

This video is very old. If this message should reach you i want you to know your dad is a great story teller and i could listen for hours to him speaking. He looks like a very kind and certainly brave man. It's an honor to have him be present in our country at one point in time. I'm Belgian and grateful !

[@frankotragesser1321]

Omg what a hero!!!!!!

[@joeymc5272]

@@alainvosselman9960 Like this for a little while but as soon as I start drinking water and I stop sweating it’s all coming back babe I’ve always been like this is some weight and then as soon as my body gets I wish it weren’t true but it is thank you yeah yeah well I feel energetic today because I slept in and got that extra sleep that was nice yeah oh man I was so happy when you said he’s not going to school today I was like thank the Lord I can kids his age like to sleep well kids just Etheridge they like to sleep in specially boys boys love sleep I used to sleep a lot when I was his age yeah I mean I can’t I don’t even know if I think I knew of one person at our age that didn’t like to sleep everybody else loved it hopefully in another day or two this thing will be backed up it’ll be you know sealed up and I can you know I think it’s gonna be more like four or five more days but whatever discard is it is it I know but I can’t rip the stuff off fertile open the cut back up I’m talking about the superglue babe I can’t rip it off my skin that’s got to fall off naturally no looks way nicer it’s just you know how I am I’m always expecting everything to look brand new again after I do it nothing you’re gonna do is make this house brand new looking again nothing nothing you do is it going to expectations I guarantee they’re thinking of coming back to a brand new home maybe not I mean Amarillo

[@philobetto5106]

boy! oh! boy! 'what a guy ... 'If had to be in some god-forsaken place, there's no other person I would want there with me. 'he's one of the great ones!

[@leo230643]

I was a twelve yr old kid for 6 months in the frontline between the Germans British Canadians an then was liberated by the 35th Santa Fe Division who landed in Normandy Omaha Beach clawed their way to St.Lo France then the Battle of the Bulge and the bridges at Remagen. On March 1st 1945 they freed us from the Germans One of the happiest days of my life. No more bombs and shelling and hunger, Thank you again and for allways US Infantry Army,.35th Division, This year we will hold a memorial 70 anniversary city of Venlo. Not far from my town is Cemetery Margraten more than 8000 GI's are burried there all the graves are adopted by Dutch families. There is a waitinglist now to adopt a grave. So AMERICA you still live on in our hearts, Thanks again.

[@leo230643]

I am 82 now

[@namafarm]

+Ethernetist I agree, God let's them live to tell us the story... that we might learn.. Amen

[@eclay432]

leo Simon u

[@richbutler7828]

My Grandfather also served with the 35th Santa Fe Infantry Division in a Anti Tank Co. 320th Inf. Reg. of the 35th Inf. Div. he ran a mine sweeper. fought from the Normandy breakout all the way to the end of the war in Germany. he once told me that he never thought about home because he did not think he would ever see home. he did make it back in one piece and raised a family and lived a good long life. he's gone now but will never be forgotten. I have all his Military records and his metals. plus a pistol, cap badge & coins he took from a Luftwaffe officer. after they over ran a German airbase. R.I.P. Grandpa i will always miss you!

[@lauraj8389]

Thank you for remembering and caring for our lost men, and for your kind words. Xo

[@zthetha]

I watched this last night and find myself playing it again today. This old soldier reminds me very much of my beloved uncle Ed - who died too young as a result of damaged health from the war. He was in tank recovery with the 8th army against Rommel and told stories very similar to Sparky's. He was a powerful and fiercely truthful man whose fiery temper scared his brothers and sisters - but not me. I never felt safer or more loved than when I was with him. A beautiful man.

[@williamkisse]

Yes, it is and absolutely true. My Dad was one of six survivors out of 167 in a battle in Vossenak, Germany. I was able to find four of the remaining five and got them all together with my Dad for a reunion about six years ago. I never had my doubts, but my Dad's buddies all confirmed his stories and it was a pleasure to make five great vets happy. Warmest Regards. Bill Kisse

[@michaeljohnchristophet3949]

Truth, Justice, and the American Way ! I love it !

[@phillamoore157]

Wow….I’d have loved to have been a fly on the wall on that reunion. But, I digress…. I wanted you to know that every after 17yrs, you’re still getting views of this amazing interview! The world needs this history lesson more now, than ever. The horrifying reality is that we’re horrifyingly close to repeating the exact same ideology this man fought to defeat. I’m sure 17yrs ago when you posted this, you never would’ve thought in a million years, America would be in the broken state that it’s in as of this comment. 60million people fought and died along side amazing men like this man, and we’re one horrible, corrupt decision away from doing it all over again, but we’ll be fighting the corrupt, fascist, globalist, western leaders (with America leading the way) this time. It’s such a disgusting slap in the face to these soldiers.

[@j.dunlop8295]

It's good but also important to remember, they're not allowed to order you to commit suicide, don't say "No!" they can shoot you! But you can explain it's not survivable! Uncle Olen, 82 nd airborne, all WW2! And don't bunch up, make small targets,!🤔 🇺🇦🩵

[@ravok23]

An honor to hear this gentleman talk and hear his accounts.. I wish the interviewers didn't interrupt him so much.

[@mountainnewsnow1832]

Sam I agree I just wrote the same thing in different words!!!!!!

[@ocularpressure4558]

I felt the same exact way

[@theway3058]

This video is amazing. I’m so glad it was produced. My grandmothers are both over 100 and I constantly think of my grandfathers lately. One grand pa was in the pacific an got real banged up. The war was over for him and my other grandfather was in Italy. When I watch this vid make me feel so much emotion. They never really spoke of the war with us so hearing this great American tell about his life experiences in the war somehow brings me back to sitting with my grandfathers. What a Great Generation.

[@Jamestele1]

Rest in peace Alexander "Sparky" Kisse: My grandfather was a Navy vet of WW2, after surviving the Great Depression- like most of the young men of this era. Many of these men were very stoic about the war and poverty. True citizen soldiers.

[@worldhistoryteacher]

I am showing this interview to my World History class today in honor of Veterans Day. Our Veterans Day assembly is this afternoon. I teach in Owasso, Oklahoma north of Tulsa.

[@YouT00ber]

Kids will remember this interview. One of the best I came across

[@j.dunlop8295]

It's good but also important to remember, they're not allowed to order you to commit suicide, don't say "No!" they can shoot you! But you can explain it's not survivable! Uncle Olen, 82 nd airborne, all WW2! And don't bunch up, make small targets,!🤔 🇺🇦🩵🇺🇲

[@kansaspatriot2051]

It still amazes me to see how some things never change. My grandfather was a veteran of WWII and Korea, my Dad and Uncle are Vietnam Vets, I was in the Marine Corps in the late 80's and my son is in the Marine Corps now. When we're all together we all have 'war' stories and its amazing how much the life of a frontline serviceman is the same throughout history. This would have been a GREAT interview if they would have told that lady to "shut up" and let the guy talk.

[@patrickq6062]

I agree, when you interview a veteran you should NEVER ever interrupt… and if there is silence you wait, don't rush them or move on to the next question because they may have a memory that they are getting together to share.

[@theygaveitallofficial]

Patrick Q AGREED

[@arthurengelbert788]

I agree, the interviewers were idiots. Completely disorganized, and constantly interrupted him.

[@jackspizza8155]

She was very monotone and comes across as rude and uncaring to me. Very disrespectful in my opinion.

i know war stories from my grandparents. there is nothing amazing about it. just shocking! there seems to be something inherently wrong with your family and its love of war. seems like americans seriously need a real war in their own country with your cities and civillians bombed to ashes and and enemy soldiers raping and pillaging the land. but i guess a kansas partiot would even be amazed by his grandmothers stories about how her mother was ripped to pieces by carpet bombing in front of her eyes or about little children having to watch their mothers getting gang raped and having her head smashed in afterwards with a gun stock. how anyone can be proud of being a serviceman to war is beyond my imagination.

[@tarkwright6511]

I have to check back in with you. My Dad died this past year. He was also a replacement with the 28th, 109th Regiment. This video is so special for my family. Love your Dad. Recently it occurred to me that the song “I’ll be home for Christmas” holds a special meaning for our families. My Father got hit on Nov 11th around 10:45 AM during a push forward. He had to cut off what remained of his right arm with his bayonet after he got hit. It took almost 8 hours for him to get to the aid station. He didn’t make it home for Christmas as expected. Instead he was in so much agony he didn’t remember anything from the month of December. That was his “ home for Christmas” so I will never hear that song in the same way; he was in torture instead. God Bless those “boys.” Thank them for everything we have today.

[@robertwhathisname5676]

I sent for my old man war record it shows he was with the German parachute regiment , and actually fought in this battle , this was when he got injured for the third time , and yet still tried to walk home to east Germany . Three months before the war ended his unit surrendered to the US troops

[@williamkisse]

On two of my trips to the Hurtgen I walked the forest and found foxholes with tents still intact covering them and many rounds of ammunition scattered about. Still many areas that can't be accessed due to unexploded munitions.

[@marthaarnold8432]

I watch this once a year. Everyone loves your dad. I bet he made you laugh. I love him calling her hon. Everybody gets aggravated at her, but she probably loves him too.

[@Huck-m7o]

This man is an American Jewell. This video is a gift.

[@tarkwright6511]

My Dad was there with your Dad. 28th Infantry, only he was with the 109th, not the 112th. Dad was also a replacement and joined in September. My Dad was just 19. He got hit in Huertgeon and lost his right arm. He is going on 94 and doing pretty well. I really enjoyed hearing your Dad talk. He connected a lot of the dots I have never been able to get out of my Dad. Thanks for putting this out!

[@billshooter6033]

My Dad was in the 109th Reg. as well. Came ashore in Normandy with the 28th in late July as a Pfc. 3 months later as a Sgt. injured on the 1st or 2nd day of the 28ths attack(11/2/44) in the forest. Lost a lung and his baseball career to mortar shrapnel. He thought he was lucky to miss the Battle of the Bulge.

[@williamkisse]

Part2 I sincerely appreciate you taking the time to contact me. During the three trips I took with my Dad to the areas he fought we also found a number of places that have been untouched since WW2. Let's pray that man can someday avoid this type of conflict. Your students are very lucky to have you as their teacher. Bill & Sparky

[@francisjohnification]

William Kiss

[@cappnzak]

I like this guy.He's the."every man". He's probably long gone now,though.Thank God for him and men like him.Thank you for the post.

[@mechanicalturk5202]

Passed away in February this year, 97 years old. What a guy.

[@StewartNicolasBILLYCONNOLLY]

This man and millions like him are the genuine heroes of war, if there is such a thing. They all have one thing in common. When they talk about their experiences in the front line they are fine - until it comes to talking about the death of their buddy. There are many terms for buddy - colleague, friend, comrade etc etc but the real fighting men have this devastation in common. Nationality doesn't matter. If you have watched The History Channel, The World at War, or any of the hundreds of programmes made about War you will have seen, Americans, Russians, Japanese, Germans, French, Poles, Italians, Scots, Welsh Irish, English and every other nation's fighting men regretting the same thing, the loss of a buddy. My personal hero is a man called Harry Patch. At 111 years old Harry was the last surviving fighting man from the British Army of World War 1. His words were: "I felt then, as I feel now, that the politicians who took us to war should have been given the guns and told to settle their differences themselves, instead of organising nothing better than legalised mass murder."

[@j.dunlop8295]

It's good but also important to remember, they're not allowed to order you to commit suicide, don't say "No!" they can shoot you! But you can explain it's not survivable! Uncle Olen, 82 nd airborne, all WW2! And don't bunch up, make small targets,!🤔

[@ozzycheebo1]

I salute you Sparky! And i would also like to thank you so very much for your service! $14.00 a month to put your ass on the line for this country and to have suffered so much to me is a hell of a price you paid up for us! Thanks again and God bless you and all your buddies too! You are a true American!!

[@andyboog2010]

My grandfather served in Patons 10th armored division. And fought as a machinist of all things in Bastogne with the 101st airborne. Sorry for your loss. The world is a lesser place without these men to keep us in line for sure.

[@jmcf8404]

The greatest generation amaze me. I've read stories and watch documentaries on WWII and what these men have gone through is beyond comprehension. To go to hell and back and still be able to smile and laugh is truly inspirational. When i was in Iraq i thought of these men often and can say with out hesitation that men like Mr. Kisse are extraordinary. I have thoroughly enjoyed listening to your Father's stories and have found myself mesmerized by his personal courage and strength. Thank you.

[@jlpicardUSS1701e]

I am a scholar of WWII (particularly the later part in NW Europe) and any document can be important, especially when one is writing a book about the Battle of the Bulge, viewed from both sides of the fence. I am researching the life of the common soldier in the field, from Aachen to Remagen and an interview like this one is truly a rare treasure. This is exactly what I need to fill the gaps in my knowledge about those events. Thanks a bunch!

[@cronanmaxwell5315]

So grateful to have found this. Thank you Mr. Kisse and son. My dad fought in the Huertgen. Won 2 Bronze Stars along with a battlefield commission (seems all the original lieutenants were either killed or wounded in his sector). Post war he continued his career in the Army and than took his own life in 59' . Never really knew him (born in 1955) but will always honor his memory. War = insanity

[@johnyoung4747]

Thanks for this great interview, and thanks to your Dad for his candor. My Dad was in the Hurtgen, 83rd Infantry, 331st, and died in 2002 at age 90. He would talk some about Army experiences but never about actual combat. Your interview helps me understand what my Dad went through.

[@sr633]

Do you know how important this man's memory is so important to REAL WW2 history ? The real stuff.

[@cpd95]

My dad was in Co H, 112th. My dad died when I was 20 so I never got to hear his stories. I’m listening to this man and I imagine my dad talking.

[@GENOBURRITO1]

My grandfather served in the 109th 28th division in that battle. He died in Nov.1944. What a battle they had to endure. Your father was indeed a hero as was my grandfather. God bless them all.

[@maineoutdoorsman677]

I've watched this 3 times an this is my 4 th ,he reminds me of my father Maynard Sanborn Waldoboro ,Maine 4 plt comp A 68 th med tank 6 th armed divisions Korea

[@mrcannon44]

Dear Bill & Sparky WE, my sisters and I, have just learned that our Uncle died in the Battle Of Hurtgen Forest, Company B, 28th Infantry. I want to thank you both for posting this, I have tried to learn all about this battle, the Battle that almost no one knows about. The greatest generation are all hero's. We don't know how my uncle died, but know he never came back from a patrol just prior to Dec 1, 1944. Thanks again for this post.

[@shannoncrosby442]

My grandfather fought Omaha Beach and Hurtgen Forest. He was a Sgt in the Army Air Corps. Both events scarred him greatly, he had PTSD for the rest of his life. He passed away in 2006.

[@HereIsRick]

I'm begging you to buy Sparky a camera and let him turn it on and just talk. He has to be one of the most interesting men I've ever had the pleasure of hearing.

[@greggd2027]

What a great man! I wish i could have met him. Some years ago, I had the honor of meeting and talking at some lenth with a man who fought in the Battle of the Bulge. He was supposed to receive a Bronze Star, but it didn't happen due to some sort of mix up. In his nineties, he finally received the medal. I asked him what specific actions led to him earning the medal. He chuckled and said "I fought like hell". He also told me that he believed Patton is the reason we won the war.

[@marthastevens8030]

thank you so much for this. My Dad was a Staff Sgt., same Bloody Bucket , 28th Dv., Infantry,, captured behind enemy lines at Battle of Hurtgen Forest.... December 1944... no room left in the prison camps so they marched him during winter across Germany Luxembourg and back again... God Bless your father and mine and may they finally rest in peace.

[@lauraj8389]

Martha Stevens My grandfather was in L Company, 3rd Battalion, 112th Infantry, 28th Division. He was taken as POW at Schmidtt. God bless all these men!

[@sheriffjohn2498]

Oh my, My father was a staff sgt in the 28th too! captured, perhaps at the same time and stayed in prison camps for 8 months. I don't know where they put him right off, but they moved him as Germany shrunk. It was probably good that they were captured early in this battle. So many were killed in this battle. Note: After 8 months of being a prisoner, he was being prepped for the invasion of Japan. Personally, I'm glad the bomb was dropped, it probably saved my dad's life.

[@lizb8499]

Martha do you happen to know what camp your father ended up in? My grandfather was also in the 28th division. He was captured Dec 24/25, 1944, in this forest as well.

[@toolman1975]

my 10 year old son watched the whole video with me!! He just, Now went in the other room to tell his mother want a BRAVE man this guy on youtube was!! I hope this makes your dad PROUD. that young childern are proud of thier fore-fathers.......

[@simonwelch7899]

Beautifully eloquent and interesting. A joy to listen to ❤

[@steviegr36]

I salute you "Sparky"....Thank you for defending America..You and your fellow servicemen and women truly were a part of the "Greatest Generation"...

[@traker01mtp]

Both my grandfathers fought in world war 2.One for the Australian Imperial Forces in the jungles of papua new guinea on the infamous kokoda trail and the other as a filipino guerrilla freedom fighter in northern philippines both fighting the might of the japanese that was sweeping through asia at the time...I have the biggest respect for these brave warriors...Always in awe at the war stories.Lest we forget.

[@HPBrowningBoy]

Thank your grandfather for his service, Hurtgen is one of the hardest battles fought on the Western front. I live close to the Hurtgen Forest and have walked those fields and forests a lot of times, the landscape is still scarred and their are many remnants of the battle still lying around. This is truely a great video, we need more of these interviews with WWII veterans. Thank you for putting this up.

[@whackman5355]

Please please never take these videos down, so informative and entertaining.

[@frankotragesser1321]

I was born 1981 I remember my grand parents generation talking about WW2 !! I keep listing to your father what a great man !! I remember hearing about the German's when I was a little kid

[@sixpacknl]

This is better than any war movie I've ever seen, or will ever see. A gem of an interview. Thank you very much for posting it up here

[@coopersbullhorn]

What a character! Great story teller and tough as nails. His stories illustrate how many dumb decisions were made in combat that cost men their lives. Respect

[@magicmike6157]

This gentleman is a national treasure!

[@tarkwright6511]

Thanks for keeping this up. I still forward this to people & everyone really enjoys listening to your Dad. He was a great story teller and very likable.

[@sleeperawake9818]

piss poor interview questions and direction but amazing stories from an obviously great man. Loved it! private first class was the highest you can go in the army and still have friends...Amen Sparky

[@miketaylor5212]

its not a proffesional interview he is telling his recollections of the war to his family.

[@VBL-]

31:00 He's talking about the Kall Trail, the path between Vossenack and Schmidt, two towns seperated by a huge valley. I was there recently, walking the trail. At one part there's still a tank belt embedded in the road.

[@hofnerbass2298]

Thank you for the movie. My Uncle Henry D. Rivas was in the 112th 28th Division, he was killed on November 8, 1944, somewhere in the Hurtgen Forrest. A great oral history!

[@uwieske]

Since you have published your dad's story I have been watching every year on May 5th (Liberation's day in Netherlands) this video as a tribute to your dad and all others who fought to liberate the world. Every time I am in the Ardennes region (Belgium, Luxemburg, Germany) I always think of your dad's story.

[@williamkisse]

Thank you for your comment! The horror of war should not be something that anyone should face. The heroes of these battles are both the men who lost their lives and those that became good citizens of their country and put these horrors behind them. Regards. Bill

[@warwolfii]

Thank you for this post. Thank you. It's great to see anything at all on the Hurtgen. Imagine a battle of that size and no one has ever heard of it! The battle of was one of the largest in the history of the US Army and no one ever talks of it. You have every reason to be proud of your father. I'm proud just to come from the same country.

[@bodunchar]

grandad one didnt want to talk about the war. Grandad two didnt want to talk about the war. I guess you are lucky to able to talk to this guy who is very entertaining. As close to war as you want to get. Big Thanks for this vid.

[@gvrtwpkwy]

Thanks for making this video. It's priceless. My mother's brother died in Phillipines, my dad served in Africa, his brother flew 51 missions with 15th USAAF in Italy and was shot down and survived and evaded capture. My dad died in 1985, his brother passed July 28, 2007

[@Fenrir133]

Please let him know there are so many of us "young" guys appreciate his sacrifice and try to understand as much as possible the hell he went through. I reenact American, German and Soviet and I could listen to veteran stories forever. Many thanks for uploading these! Wish I could speak with your father myself. Cheers

[@GrandPrixDecals]

“their doing it on paper and Scotch and we’re doing it on rifles and grenades” That’s the most sincere honest portrayal of combat I’ve ever seen. A fantastic insight! Very emotional, thanks guys, great interview but most of all... thanks Sparky!

[@mikefox4247]

I've come back and re-watched this interview several times over the past few years. It's an incredible look at what a common infantry soldier had to live through. Thanks for sharing it.

[@worldhistoryteacher]

This is an excellent interview. I am a world history teacher in Owasso, Oklahoma. I think kids need to see this. Students today have no clue of the sacrifices made during World War II by our "Greatest Generation." Thanks so much for posting this.

[@YouT00ber]

There’s a lot of wisdom in this interview

[@taj74va]

My Grandpa was a non-combatant, Grandpa always told me that it took ten nc's to support each combatant. Now I know what he was supporting. He always revered the combatants. Now I know something about the guys my grandpa was trying to help. Thanks for the post.

[@letsgostate87]

God Bless Your Dad! My Pop never opened up. He was a Marine, enlisted in '41. I recall his nightmares yrs. later.

[@harris1234100]

My Grandpa would fight the war in his sleep till the day he died.

[@albertarthurparsnips5141]

I can easily imagine that. My Grandfather ( AIF : mainland Greece & Crete, Syria, Lebanon, & Papua New Guinea ) & Great Uncle ( AIF : Portuguese Timor, POW of Japan ) were both left deeply scarred .

[@lessd685]

Great storyteller for sure. Thanks for his service and all the other from the greatest generation. He is the reason we live in freedom today.

[@timshull59]

William I have a father who served in the Pacific. You and I were blessed to be raised by such men.

[@williamkisse]

My Dad is doing well, thank you! Sparky will be 95 on June 18! A little older, a little slower but still in good health (for a 95-year-old that is!), but still has a sharp mind and good disposition. Please send me a private email and i will return a link where you can download these files. Warmest Regards. Bill

[@arlenevandeveer2244]

What a wonderful soul. Thank you for your service. God Bless You 🙏❤️

[@SteveMontes1988]

Wow. I am filming a man named Luther Gordon who was in K Co, 75th Infantry Division. I watched this video for some insight. Amazing job. Thank you for preserving these stories for the generations to come. Steve

[@shauncurwen6850]

Thank you Sparky. May you rest in peace.

[@ritamalik]

Thank you so much for sharing this video with us. It is so great to be able to listen to the memories of these brave men who practically saved the world by risking so much! My respects and honor to your brave father and all of his fellow veterans!

[@liljgoneman]

this is an important historical document bill. your father has every reason to be as proud of you as we are of him. seems like despite the circumstances early in his life, he managed to do a helluva job with everything he laid hands on.

[@PaulMikolasuk-ue6gq]

My father served alongside you let me say thank you and all who did personally thank you for keeping the world free from tyranny thank you I'll do my best to keep it so don't think it would be that way if things went the other way again thank you

[@nickk332]

I have lost count of how many times I've watched these two videos. Never gets boring. "That son of a bitch is good"

[@nickk332]

Best part of the entire story other than look at that roll of money. Ive lost count as well

[@liljgoneman]

if your father is still with us, pass along my sincerest thanks. we owe him and his an un-payable debt of gratitude. i wish we were more like his generation. thank you sir for fighting and vanquishing the greatest evil this planet has ever known. john mann

[@TheOmnicell]

This was great... .My Dad served in the Hurtgen Forest. The Black Forests of Belgium in the Fall and Winter of 44. He Got hit by a tree burst and wounded.. He was left all day until picked up... Lots of snow... His troupe was shot up as well.. Out of 120 or 140 guys, only 20 made it... He was one of the wounded... He spend a year in the hospitals or recovery as well... My Father was ruined in the Battle of the bulge.. His mind!! It never left him.. He was not human any more..

[@hevnbound]

This is one of the best recounts I have seen. Honest, heartfelt, and informative. I pray that you have recovered from your surgery. Even in the midst of the horror of war, you retained a sense of decency, and I was impressed that you chose not to shoot the two young boys. God bless you......Ken John 3:16

[@subterfusion4005]

Thank you Mr. Kisse for serving and helping to protect our Freedom.

[@pR1mal.]

My Grandfather was in the Hurtgen, crewing an anti air Bofors gun on a halftrack. He talked about the bitter cold, the ground frozen so hard that mines wouldn't detonate, how you couldn't build a fire because it would give away your position. He said that there were no tree tops in the forest because of incoming artillery and mortar fire. I can't imagine being in a frozen fox hole with no form of heat except your own body heat, hungry, scared, and with no end in sight. That generation was as tough as they come.

[@Sabrejetsf86]

William, thank you for uploading these two wonderful conversations with your Dad. I knew two guys who were in the 28th and heard their recollections. It's easy to tell from listening to your Dad (and I have enjoyed multiple views of his interview) here that he was the real deal.

[@darrellbesser3606]

Great recollections! I could listen to this man for hours!

[@gasgasboy65]

Dear Mr. Kisse, Thank you for your service and thank you for sharing your experience with us!

[@davedavidson8208]

Thank you for sharing this. My Grandfather was a Member of the 8th division, 121st Infantry. He earned his second purple heart and lost his left foot during this battle, on the 25th of November. If i am not mistaken his division fought alongside your fathers as a replacement, though not a green troop, he had participated in 3 campaigns prior.

[@steveinnepa]

Great to hear those wartime stories in his own words. So many veterans can not bring themselves to talk about their WWII experiences. Their stories are lost forever. God Bless your father. He's a real treasure. I love his honesty ! Thank you for posting this video.

[@harryhouck]

My Dad got hit on Nov 6, 1944 at this battle, 28th Division, 109th. God Bless your dad.

[@Tark75ifty]

As a Frenchman, I know how indebted I am to American soldiers and especially to Sparky. I guess he is dead now. Rest in peace. Respect to all veterans. God bless you.

[@PepperWhite62]

These first hand memoirs are priceless. Thank you for posting.

[@williamkisse]

Mark: Many thanks for your kind words. I DID find out about the film and contacted the producer and one is on the way to my father. I am very pleased that you enjoyed my Dad's recollections and since I placed this on KZbin have received many positive comments.

[@williamkisse]

Enjoy the trip! This is beautiful country, and coupled with the history of WW2 a very pleasant walk. Not too hard to find "artifacts" in the forest, just look around. Bill

[@Steez51]

The greatest generation. I could listen to guys like your Dad all day. Just think of all the boys growing up (including myself) that "played Army". Your ole' man was the real thing that we were portraying. Great vid.

[@Sanford63]

Fantastic interview, Sparky is the real deal. It is so crucial that these guys tell their stories, I wish my uncle who served in Patton's army would have written down all of his stories. All gratitude and pride for you Sparky!

[@BeachBoysJanDean1]

This is all about my fathers generation. What my dad, his brothers, and all men from that generation accomplished is simply amazing. .

[@vivians9392]

My father's generation, too. Men were truly men back then and at an early age. I always believed it was due to the times they were born in; a lifelong strong faith in God, and growing up in the '30s depression era. You had to work for everything you got back then!

[@Caylus1578]

What a great character and what a great attitude...thanks for posting this gem

[@d.g.n9392]

Thank you for the testimony. And thank you all veterans and families for your sacrifices.

[@SunnyIlha]

This is among the best descriptions and explanations of what happened and how it happened in ground combat by a Second World War veteran ever recorded. Extremely revealing. The stark honesty and description of it.

[@Alexn1067]

God bless him....I am eternally grateful for his service and for what he endured for this country. Be sure to let him know how much we appreciate and respect him

[@therampanthamster]

thank you so much for sharing this. Very interesting. I'm sorry to hear of your father's passing

[@21usarmy21]

@williamkisse I JUST SPOKE TO YOUR FATHER FOR A COUPLE OF MINUTES AND I LITTERALLY ALMOST STARTED CRYING IT WAS TRULY AN HONOR TALKING TO HIM AND I TOLD HIM ABOUT MYSELF AND AFGHANISTAN AND ONE THING THAT HE PUT STRAIGHT WAS THAT NO BATTLES ARE EVER GOOD WHEN YOUR IN THEM AND NEVER THINK YOU DID MORE THAN ANYONE ELSE WOW SUCH POWERFUL WORDS FROM A TRUE VET I THANK YOUR FATHER AND HIS COMRADS FOR ALL HE DID FOR THIS COUNTRY THANK YOU SIR!!!!!!!!! AND THANK YOU MAM FOR ALLOWING US TO CALL HIM!

[@craigb4913]

The decency and bravery of Mr. Kisse and his comrades is inspiring. I'm not sure the generations that have followed his could have accomplished or endured as much as his.

[@Nato61]

Awesome interview of a lovely man. I enjoyed listening to him. My uncle was in the 29th 116th inf. I saw his souvenirs from the war,,, a Nazi flag, a dagger.. but he never talked about it. I suppose he would have had I known more at the time. My aunt told me his company was wiped out on D-Day , and he went to another company. His brother was killed in France. But all those stories I will never know. Anyway, thank you!

[@rikijett310]

Thank you endlessly for your service!! May God bless you always!! ✝️🇺🇸

[@mwg911hk]

Thank you to the people who made this interview possible. Im glad he was able to share his stories . Truly amazing

[@dbharcadia2]

If I could choose a buddy to be in combat with it would be Sparky. To have him as a Father, you are truly blessed. If he is still here send him my regards. Brad

[@cwilliams3567]

My Uncle was wounded there. Shot in the shoulder by a German sniper. He was awarded a Silver Stars for heroism and Valor in battle. I have that and his Purple Heart framed. It is one of my most cherished possesions. I heard first hand what these men went through and the utter stupidity and waste of fine American service men. I hope history remembers the valor and honor of the soldiers and shames the commanders who saw them as pawns instead of human beings.

[@queensofbattle]

Thank you for uploading. Great video and a great reminder of what this country is capable of.