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Titidexmes
Contributor Par Excellance
France
118 Posts |
 Posted - 05/05/2010 : 08:25:36
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A very sad piece of news :
Edward Gerbig talked generally about his experiences in World War II but spared his late wife and daughter details.
An Army captain in the 90th Infantry Division, Mr. Gerbig was in the second wave of landing crafts hitting Utah Beach during the invasion of Normandy. He fought in the Battle of the Bulge and helped to liberate a small concentration camp.
"He never mentioned the name of it," said his daughter, Cindy Gerbig of Deer Park.
Mr. Gerbig, 90, died Sunday. He had a recent history of heart disease, including congestive heart failure.
Born Sept. 27, 1919, in Norwood, Mr. Gerbig graduated from Norwood High School and studied for one year at the University of Cincinnati before enlisting in the Army.
He was a communications officer by the time he was sent to Europe. Previously he ran the mess hall at Fort Benning, Ga.
Cindy Gerbig, 50, said she was 8 or 9 years old when her father started talking a bit about his military experience.
"He said Normandy was the longest three days he ever spent in his life," she said.
Mr. Gerbig received the Bronze Star for his efforts at Normandy.
The Battle of the Bulge, fought for two months in the Ardennes Mountains of Belgium, took the lives of 19,000 U.S. troops and led to the wounding or capturing of another 56,000 Americans.
"He said the Battle of the Bulge was `like a thunderstorm that never stopped,'" she said. "All the time, (Germans and Americans) never stopped shooting and firing artillery. He said the trees were obliterated and used almost like shrapnel. He said he was lucky to survive without a wound."
Mr. Gerbig lived an active life when he returned home to Greater Cincinnati.
He retired in 1980 from Fifth Third Bank, where he had worked for 25 years as a trust officer. In retirement, he dabbled in woodworking, and he and his daughter took care of many animals.
"He was always bringing home stray dogs," Cindy Gerbig said. "He stayed busy and active. He would do odd jobs for people in the neighborhood. He taught me about plumbing and electrical work. We remodeled the kitchen.
His wife, Nina Gerbig, preceded him in death in 2004.
From : http://news.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/AB/20100504/NEWS0104/5050328/
Tristan
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Edward Gerbig
