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Men of the 702nd “Red Devils” Tank Battalion, we have a memorial in Luxembourg!  On Saturday, 13 October, a beautiful Fall afternoon, there was a ceremony at Hosingen.  At the junction of “Skyline Drive”, the main route from Diekirch to the Belgian border, and the road from Hosingen to Bockholtz, over which the attacks of 27 January, 1945 jumped off.  The people of Hosingen have created a beautiful memorial park.  Viewed from the point of meeting of the two roads, one sees a triangular plot of grass, with a winding stone path leading to the three blocks of native granite upon which are three bronze placques.  The one closest to the point of intersection tells of the dedication of the park by the Grand Duke, ruler of Luxembourg.  This was done in 1989, the 150th year of Luxembourg’s independence.  Behind that stone is a new tree planted by the Grand Duke, symbolizing the future of the area and the country. 

Equidistant, making a triangle inside the grassy park triangle are two more stones with three flagpoles between the two.  The stone to the left carries a bronze plaque honoring the 17th Airborne Infantry Division for their role in liberating Hosingen.  Moving to the right, we find the three flagstaffs flying the Luxembourg flag on each side of the Stars and Stripes in the center.  To the right of them, is the stone and bronze placque honoring the men of the 702nd in general, and specifically Ralph Wardle and John Kelly of my tank crew.  The inscription reads, “Honoring Ralph R. Wardle and John Kelly, “D” Company, 702nd Tank Battalion, who gave their lives on 27 January, 1945 to liberate Hosingen-Erected by their comrades and Platoon Leader, Lieutenant Milton Still.” 

The last sentence was added by our friend, one of many, Mr. Jean Milmeister, who was instrumental in designing the placque and having it cast for us.  We also owe much to the Mayor of Hosingen, Michel Scharfenberger and his wife for their efforts in the design and construction of the memorial, and certainly to the people of Hosingen.  All the members of C.E.B.A. deserve our thanks for their help and encouragement,  My personal thanks must go to Mr. Frank Rockenbrod for first introducing me to Mayor Scharfenberger, to Mr. Faber the conductor of the band of Hosingen for the fine rendition of a special piece of music written for the ceremony by one Milton Still, entitled “Hymn For Hosingen”. 

And to name some of our very dear friends of the 702nd ..Camille Kohn, Tilly Kimmes, Madames Kohn and Milmeister and those who welcome us on each visit.  The Siebenaler family of Tadler, and the Hoffman family of Heiderschied, and many, many more.  All of these wonderful people have welcomed us, sustained us, and made us family of all the people of Luxembourg.  Without this support and acceptance of the wishes of one American soldier, that soldier’s oath made on 27 January, 1945 could not have been fulfilled.  Personally, and on behalf of all “Red Devils”, I will be eternally grateful.  I must thank Mr. Roland Gaul of the American Embassy also, and Mr. Rockenbrod of the Diekirch Museum, and Mr. Edward Junker, Mayor of Ettlebruck.  Many of these mentioned did much to make the dedication ceremony a grand event.  We must also thank, and I have, the men of the 17th A.I. Division for gracefully sharing the dedication ceremonies and events with us.  They numbered more than 50, and we were alone.  I will write of the actual ceremony at a later time, it too was much more than I had ever anticipated.  The people of the country of Luxembourg really do things properly!

Milton Still