tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-549963549429593969.post8607146751609520328..comments2024-01-20T06:51:58.729-08:00Comments on Echoes of Tattered Tongues: Memory Unfolded: November 11, 1918--The Day World War I EndedJohn Guzlowskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13052735138993479204noreply@blogger.comBlogger29125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-549963549429593969.post-37284672473885605412011-11-11T17:26:15.650-08:002011-11-11T17:26:15.650-08:00Your mother... what a pistol! Great post, John. Ev...Your mother... what a pistol! Great post, John. Everyone has a story, and no true story is to be discounted. There's gold in them there tales, so have at it!<br /><br />I love the poem that your daughter submitted as well.Stuart Vailhttp://www.thescreamonline.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-549963549429593969.post-16206555032520920552011-05-04T18:46:37.369-07:002011-05-04T18:46:37.369-07:00Thanks, Anonymous. I'm very much interested i...Thanks, Anonymous. I'm very much interested in the DP camps and will check out the two books you mentioned. I have photos of the camps and would be happy to pass them on to you.John Guzlowskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13052735138993479204noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-549963549429593969.post-19625703251369428372011-05-04T17:52:30.323-07:002011-05-04T17:52:30.323-07:00Hi Jon,
I was very happy to stumble upon your blog...Hi Jon,<br />I was very happy to stumble upon your blog. I am currently writing a history paper about displaced persons camps and was looking for pictures of them when I found you. I don't know how much you have read or are interested in the history of displaced persons' camps after World War II, but I would recommend reading "Jews, Germans, and Allies" by Atina Grossmann if you are. She discusses the significance of the high birth rate within the camps, which you might find particularly interesting. You might also like Lost Children: Reconstructing Europe's Families, which comes out this month.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-549963549429593969.post-72949291018282649222011-01-04T16:19:18.500-08:002011-01-04T16:19:18.500-08:00Hi,
Im in 7th grade... and this article and info ...Hi,<br /><br />Im in 7th grade... and this article and info helped me sooo much on my test that I'm taking tomorrow... I used this to study WWI and the time period of Eleanor Roosevelt!<br /><br />Thanks soooooo much!!!<br /><br />ANONYMOUS!!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-549963549429593969.post-30589908792921102352010-11-25T17:02:05.274-08:002010-11-25T17:02:05.274-08:00This comment has been removed by the author.John Guzlowskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13052735138993479204noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-549963549429593969.post-30439977190816916252010-11-25T17:01:12.952-08:002010-11-25T17:01:12.952-08:00My friend Sue Knight wrote me a letter about this ...My friend Sue Knight wrote me a letter about this blog that I am posting:<br /><br />Thanks very much for reminding me of this post John. And of all those traumatised young men. I see I did manage to comment on your blog, so I must try again. It must be possible. <br /><br />We were made to love each other, not to fight and kill each other. So when we do go to war, we not only damage the other, but we damage ourselves. And you are right to record that damage.<br /><br />There was a quote I read many years ago from a veteran of the trenches of WW1 - the horror of which I suspect we can barely begin to imagine. His description was so vivid that it stayed in my head. <br /><br />He said: "We cowered in our trenches as if angry demons were stamping overhead."<br /> <br />I couldn't forget those words, but it wasn't until years later when I began to study the Bible and came to understand the Book of Revelation that i realised how truly he described it. <br /><br />This is an extract from "The World", which, in 1914, was a leading newspaper in New York City:<br /><br />"The terrific war outbreak in Europe has fulfilled an extraordinary prophecy... 'Look out for 1914!' has been the cry of the hundreds of travelling evangelists, who representing this strange creed (associated with Russell), have gone up and down the country enunciating the doctrine that 'the Kingdom of God is at hand'" - The World Magazine, August 30th, 1914<br /><br />The people of the 'strange creed' were the Earnest Bible Students (sometimes known as Russellites), now known as Jehovah's Witnesses.<br /><br />1914 is a very significant date in Bible prophecy. And Revelation explains simply and clearly why it marks a time of terrible trouble for the world - and why that young soldier said what he did.<br /><br />If you want to know John, obviously I am more than happy to tell you. <br /><br /><br /><br />all the best Sue<br /><br />My Blog: http://sueknight2000.blogspot.com/John Guzlowskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13052735138993479204noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-549963549429593969.post-90749764507157446812010-11-15T19:40:21.368-08:002010-11-15T19:40:21.368-08:00I want to add just this: I admire your mother for ...I want to add just this: I admire your mother for having fended off the drunk attackers who wanted to extort money from her. What a strong woman! I know she had her problems, but given what she'd survived, wow . . . I admire this woman, who reminds me of the strong women in my family, esp my grandmother who survived Auschwitz and was likewise a proverbial tower of strength. It's not a sweet personality, but certainly not a meek doormat.orianahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04209366167129773052noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-549963549429593969.post-47441697078467916392010-11-15T19:22:57.807-08:002010-11-15T19:22:57.807-08:00A fabulous post. I did not feel you belittled vete...A fabulous post. I did not feel you belittled veterans -- only showed their suffering to point out what war can do to the participants, disabling them for the rest of their lives. Ponchek was likely brain-damaged, as were probably quite a few of them. <br /><br />WWI also gave us the emergence of the Soviet Union. It's often called "Europe's suicide," and I can see why.<br /><br />Finally, I find the last stanza of "In Flanders Fields" simply revolting. It calls for the perpetuation of warfare. It goes back to the primitive belief that the ghosts call for revenge. An example of a poem that is lovely yet pernicious. Lyrical poison.orianahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04209366167129773052noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-549963549429593969.post-32141446013847043272010-11-13T04:45:13.396-08:002010-11-13T04:45:13.396-08:00Ron, thanks for your war story. I think what you ...Ron, thanks for your war story. I think what you point out is that we all are touched by war, the veterans and the now veterans.John Guzlowskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13052735138993479204noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-549963549429593969.post-66878168955751366392010-11-11T07:12:07.998-08:002010-11-11T07:12:07.998-08:00"Po tee weet." Did I ever tell you about..."Po tee weet." Did I ever tell you about the Vietnam veterans I meet and lived next to the summer after I graduated from high school? One would talk for hours by the lurid glow of a old antique lantern while swilling Early Times whiskey out of a gallon jug, and chased it with a can of Busch. Perhaps the most memorable moments of my life where listening to his war stories as the night wained, and the clock over the kitchen table slipped to its highest point, I would wander across the yard, to begin the night of debauchery with my age appropriate pals. Ironically I yearned for the next time I would hear Jimmie's stories and the look from his partner Paul Tennes, his eyes seemed to warp back to that time (he was in the same regiment as Jim) the difference was he could not speak about it; he would nod occasionally or shake his head, sometimes laugh, and most poignantly often tear up and look the other way as myself and my two buddies were enthralled to the point that he could not bear to look at us in his rawness.<br />thanks John for the post, awesome as always. Ron LybargerAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-549963549429593969.post-33121151046268636262010-05-24T20:40:25.580-07:002010-05-24T20:40:25.580-07:00Wow, John. That was really moving and powerful. It...Wow, John. That was really moving and powerful. It strikes how you point out how your mother was a veteran too, having fought and fighting her own war. Thank you for sharing this enlightened piece.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11132879480620433198noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-549963549429593969.post-53250445525064342952009-03-14T13:03:00.000-07:002009-03-14T13:03:00.000-07:00Hi, Zizou, thanks for the comment. Sounds like yo...Hi, Zizou, thanks for the comment. Sounds like you're a historian. Take a look at my entry about history and numbers.John Guzlowskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13052735138993479204noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-549963549429593969.post-75155951382605601322009-03-13T15:47:00.000-07:002009-03-13T15:47:00.000-07:00Flanders Field is not actually a particular place....Flanders Field is not actually a particular place. It refers in general to fields in Flanders, which is an area in the north of Belgium. This picture is from the Third Battle of Ypres (modern name Ieper) in 1917. The word Flanders means Drowned Lands - much of the are is actually below sea level, and drained by canals. The battlefield was reduced to appalling mud by the destruction of the drainage system by constant shelling and barrage.Zizou Alphonse Corder, PhDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06353000341283769987noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-549963549429593969.post-63622217767417188742009-03-13T15:46:00.000-07:002009-03-13T15:46:00.000-07:00Flanders Field is not actually a particular place....Flanders Field is not actually a particular place. It refers in general to fields in Flanders, which is an area in the north of Belgium. This picture is from the Third Battle of Ypres (modern name Ieper) in 1917. The word Flanders means Drowned Lands - much of the are is actually below sea level, and drained by canals. The battlefield was reduced to appalling mud by the destruction of the drainage system by constant shelling and barrage.Zizou Alphonse Corder, PhDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06353000341283769987noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-549963549429593969.post-86591415717160340522008-11-10T11:35:00.000-08:002008-11-10T11:35:00.000-08:00Hello John, Thanks for sharing this great post. I...Hello John, Thanks for sharing this great post. I don't agree with the other Chris...I think he/she missed the whole point. I don't usually comment on the blogs but do read and enjoy them. Keep them coming. Thank you.wnygrl585https://www.blogger.com/profile/17566431873577926059noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-549963549429593969.post-80125908053171593642008-01-29T09:14:00.000-08:002008-01-29T09:14:00.000-08:00Thank you very much!Thank you very much!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-549963549429593969.post-7173658630430334282008-01-15T10:48:00.000-08:002008-01-15T10:48:00.000-08:00Sorry, it's WWI. The photo caption is "In Flander...Sorry, it's WWI. The photo caption is "In Flanders Field."<BR/><BR/>Flanders Field of course is a place fought over during the First World War.John Guzlowskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13052735138993479204noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-549963549429593969.post-78446800084052913332008-01-15T10:00:00.000-08:002008-01-15T10:00:00.000-08:00Okey, thanks! So you don't know what war the pictu...Okey, thanks! <BR/><BR/>So you don't know what war the picture is from then?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-549963549429593969.post-83221264044569381142008-01-14T10:30:00.000-08:002008-01-14T10:30:00.000-08:00Hi, Anonymous,I found the image on the web. It cam...Hi, Anonymous,<BR/><BR/>I found the image on the web. It came from http://www.stephentaylor.ca/archives/inflandersfields.jpgJohn Guzlowskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13052735138993479204noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-549963549429593969.post-71716121949618542232008-01-14T09:58:00.000-08:002008-01-14T09:58:00.000-08:00Hi, I was just wondering about the first picture, ...Hi, I was just wondering about the first picture, is it from the world war I, and where did you get it?<BR/><BR/>thanks.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-549963549429593969.post-74102650044695271692007-12-15T22:04:00.000-08:002007-12-15T22:04:00.000-08:00My Uncle never said anything about his service dur...My Uncle never said anything about his service during the war. In fact, upon his return, he forbade everyone to ever ask him about what he did while he was in the ETO. Only recently, as I searched for info on him did I find out anything. Bits and pieces really; but one thing struck me and stayed with me. My cousin says that about 10 years ago, as he was being xrayed for the spread of cancer, the doctors found a suspicious lump in his knee that they wanted to (I guess) do a biopsy of. he told them he'd save them the trouble, it was shrapnel from Bastogne. thats always struck me as the type of man he was. he carried that chunk of metal for almost 60 years, and never once complained about it.<BR/><BR/><BR/>Just felt like sharing.....Stevehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16394056957171485464noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-549963549429593969.post-30316301569368895502007-11-14T14:25:00.000-08:002007-11-14T14:25:00.000-08:00John,You have a new and devoted reader. Your skil...John,<BR/><BR/>You have a new and devoted reader. Your skill at painting a picture, even one so personal as this, is masterful. <BR/><BR/>Keith Olbermann commented on the over-politicization of Veterans Day on Monday night. He, (and this notion comes completely from the Flanders Field poem), along with Richard Wolffe of Newsweek, seemed to pine longingly for a rememberence in the style of Englands. Understated. Unspoken. A single poppy worn on the lapel to acknowldedge those that gave their lives in service to whichever nation they fought, whether through conscription or volunteer service.The Accidental Existentialisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13646706361986212651noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-549963549429593969.post-29013405196773634522007-11-14T09:37:00.000-08:002007-11-14T09:37:00.000-08:00John, I didn't see this as a belittling post at al...John, I didn't see this as a belittling post at all. I think you made these veterans and their sufferings vividly palpable, and I appreciate that.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-549963549429593969.post-20267568021052175052007-11-12T13:19:00.000-08:002007-11-12T13:19:00.000-08:00Hi, Chris, I didn't mean any disrespect to veteran...Hi, Chris, I didn't mean any disrespect to veterans. I was trying to write about the veterans I knew as a kid of 4 and 5 years. Veterans were scary people to me. When you're that age and you see someone without a leg or a hand, you don't know what to think.<BR/><BR/>I also tried to suggest that I learned something from my parents about how to see veterans and appreciate and respect them.John Guzlowskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13052735138993479204noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-549963549429593969.post-82766331671309944872007-11-12T10:45:00.000-08:002007-11-12T10:45:00.000-08:00What was the point of this missive? That all vete...What was the point of this missive? That all veterans are drunks, or crazy, or horribly disfigured, or some combination of these? <BR/><BR/>The shallowness of this post does nothing to illustrate the purported title. I fail to understand what any of these anecdotes have to do with Armistice Day, or Veterans Day, or indeed with anything at all.<BR/><BR/>This day was set aside to remember those who sacrificed, not denigrate and belittle them. I don't know what you set out to do, but that is what you have accomplished.Chrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03889681055577032812noreply@blogger.com