The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

WARTIME POLITICAL STORY-VARIANT

THE INFORMANT, A VETERAN OF WWII, IS A BROTHER OF A CLOSE
FRIEND OF MINE. DURING THE SUMMER OF 1947 I WAS INVITED
TO HIS HOME FOR DINNER. DURING A DAY LONG RECITAL OF HIS
MILITARY EXPERIENCES, HE TOLD THIS STORY:
A G.I. RETURNING TO HIS GROUP IN THE GERMAN THEATRE DURING
WWII. HE WAS IN TERRIBLE CONDITION. HIS UNIFORM WAS
PRACTICALLY GONE, HIS ARMS AND LEGS WERE BLOODY, HIS FACE
COVERED WITH MUD AND BLOOD. WHEN FIRST SEEN, HE GAVE
THE APPEARANCE OF HAVING BEEN IN A TERRIFIC BATTLE WITH THE
GERMANS. HE WAS RETICENT ABOUT WHAT HAD HAPPENED AND IT
WAS ASSUMED HE WAS JUST MODEST. HE RECEIVED SEVERAL MEDALS
AND WAS DISCHARGED AFTER THE WAR AS ONE OF THE MOST DECORATED
HEROES.
UPON HIS DISCHARGE, HE CONFIDED TO HIS FRIENDS ABOUT WHAT
REALLY HAPPENED ON THAT FATEFUL DAY.
HE BECAME SEPARATED FROM HIS PLATOON AND WAS HIDING IN A
DITCH. HE NOTICED A GERMAN HIDING IN A DITCH ON THE OTHER
SIDE OF THE ROAD. HE SHOUTED, "THE HELL WITH HITLER!"
HOPING TO GET A RISE OUT OF THE GERMAN. THE GERMAN
SHOUTED, "THE HELL WITH ROOSEVELT!" WHEREUPON, BOTH
SOLDIERS WALKED TO THE CENTER OF THE ROAD AND SHOOK HANDS.
WHILE THEY WERE STANDING THERE, THEY WERE BOTH RUN OVER
BY A TANK.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT