Medal of Honor Monday: Leonard A. Funk

Leonard Alfred Funk

"He distinguished himself by gallant, intrepid actions against the enemy.   After advancing 15 miles in a driving snowstorm, the American force prepared to attack through waist-deep drifts.  The company executive officer became a casualty, and 1st Sgt. Funk immediately assumed his duties, forming headquarters soldiers into a combat unit for an assault in the face of direct artillery shelling and harassing fire from the right flank.  Under his skillful and courageous leadership, this miscellaneous group and the 3d Platoon attacked 15 houses, cleared them, and took 30 prisoners without suffering a casualty.  The fierce drive of Company C quickly overran Holzheim, netting some 80 prisoners, who were placed under a 4-man guard, all that could be spared, while the rest of the under-strength unit went about mopping up isolated points of resistance.  An enemy patrol, by means of a ruse, succeeded in capturing the guards and freeing the prisoners, and had begun preparations to attack Company C from the rear when 1st Sgt. Funk walked around the building and into their midst.  He was ordered to surrender by a German officer who pushed a machine pistol into his stomach.  Although overwhelmingly outnumbered and facing almost certain death, 1st Sgt. Funk, pretending to comply with the order, began slowly to un-sling his sub-machine gun from his shoulder and then, with lightning motion, brought the muzzle into line and riddled the German officer.  He turned upon the other Germans, firing and shouting to the other Americans to seize the enemy's weapons.  In the ensuing fight 21 Germans were killed, many wounded, and the remainder captured.  1st Sgt. Funk's bold action and heroic disregard for his own safety were directly responsible for the recapture of a vastly superior enemy force, which, if allowed to remain free, could have taken the widespread units of Company C by surprise and endangered the entire attack plan."

From 1st Sgt Funk's Medal of Honor citation, awarded on September 5, 1945.

Thank you for your service and may you be at peace,

Brian & Melonie

"Ashes in the Snow"

A Lithuanian family has been sent to a prisoner work camp in Siberia during the Stalin's reign of terror in Eastern Europe.  Can they survive or succumb to the weather of Siberian Russia or the brutality of the Soviet jackboot?  This is a rough flick to watch but it is about an often forgotten chapter in history.  Give it a once over and never forget those lost to the madness and ideology of Stalin's Russia,

Worth a viewing,
Brian & Melonie

"Nine Lives" & "The 12th Man"

Jan Baalsrud is on the run from the occupying Nazis in Norway during WWII.  He is the only one of his commando team to escape a secret mission but in the frigid environment of Norway it is likely he will not survive.  Can Jan make it through the bleakness of Norway's winter with the help of his countrymen or will he succumb to the weather or from the perusing Germans at his feet?!  These two flicks tell the amazing tale of Jan's escape from Norway to Sweden in WWII.  They are both great films to illustrate the bravery of both Jan and his countrymen during those dark days in WWI.

Both are amazing stories so give them a try!
Brian & Melonie

Nine Lives (full movie)

Medal of Honor Monday: Elmer E. Fryar

Elmer E. Fryar

"For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty.  Pvt. Fryar's battalion encountered the enemy strongly entrenched in a position supported by mortars and automatic weapons.  The battalion attacked, but in spite of repeated efforts was unable to take the position.  Pvt. Fryar's company was ordered to cover the battalion's withdrawal to a more suitable point from which to attack, but the enemy launched a strong counterattack which threatened to cut off the company.  Seeing an enemy platoon moving to outflank his company, he moved to higher ground and opened heavy and accurate fire.  He was hit, and wounded, but continuing his attack he drove the enemy back with a loss of 27 killed.  While withdrawing to overtake his squad, he found a seriously wounded comrade, helped him to the rear, and soon overtook his platoon leader, who was assisting another wounded.  While these 4 were moving to rejoin their platoon, an enemy sniper appeared and aimed his weapon at the platoon leader.  Pvt. Fryar instantly sprang forward, received the full burst of automatic fire in his own body and fell mortally wounded.  With his remaining strength he threw a hand grenade and killed the sniper.  Pvt. Fryar's indomitable fighting spirit and extraordinary gallantry above and beyond the call of duty contributed outstandingly to the success of the battalion's withdrawal and its subsequent attack and defeat of the enemy.  His heroic action in unhesitatingly giving his own life for his comrade in arms exemplifies the highest tradition of the U.S. Armed Forces."

From Pvt. Fryar's Medal of Honor citation, awarded on May 9, 1945.

 

 Fryar Drop Zone at the US Army Airborne School at Ft. Benning, GA

Fryar Stadium in Fort Campbell, KY

 

Elmer E. Fryar US Army Reserve Center Denver, CO 

 

 Fryar Circle in Stadtberge, Germany

May you be at peace,

Brian & Melonie

"The Captain"

Here we just have a quick bit of milf porn with a WWII slant so take a gander and see what's under the Captain's uniform!

Just more mindless trash,
Brian & Melonie

"Australia"

An English widow finds herself in Australia taking over her dead husband's ranch in the early days of WWII.  It is here that she finds love and purpose with the rough locals and a drover in this barren land all the while they fight off locals bent on taking what's hers by any means and the raiding Japs on their conquest of empire.  Can they survive or will all those against them take everything they  have?  This is really a great flick!  It's a great love, western and war flick all rolled into one and is totally worth a viewing.

Check out the trailer and see what you think,
Brian & Melonie

"Back to Bataan"

This is the classic war-time flick of the Battle of the Philippines.  It tells the Hollywoodized version of the entire war on this front, from the Japs initial occupation to its ultimate defeat by conventional and unconventional combat of the Americans and Filipinos.  Its a product of the time so it is jingoistic to the extreme and the dialog is full of patriotic fervor but its still pretty good.  See the trailer and see what you think.

You gotta see it if for just to see the Duke fighting the Japs,
Brian & Melonie

"Allied"

A Canadian intelligence officer marries a fellow agent only to discover that his handlers believe that she may be a double agent working for the Germans.  Will he prove his wife's innocence or will he discover that she is in fact one of the enemy?  This is a pretty good espionage flick and worth a once over.  Nothing too rememberable here but might be a way to get your woman to watch something WWII with ya.  Check out the trailer below and see what you think.

Good for a single viewing,
Brian & Melonie

"Happy New Year's, Y'All"

We want to wish all you a happy, healthy and profitable new year!

Now go get drunk and kick the world in the throat!
Brian & Melonie

"Periscope Quarterback!"

Check out a great Russ Heath WWII story, "Periscope Quarterback!"

Great stuff!
Brian & Melonie

Merry X-Mas

All of us at Weird WWII wish you a kick ass Christmas!  May your day be full of family, food and fun!

the Cottrells

"Iron Hat"

A great Russ Heath WWII comic, Iron Hat!

Great stuff!
Brian & Melonie