Posted on Jan 30, 2015
Event Overview: Harold W. Billow, United States Army, World War II Veteran, Malmedy Massacre Survivor
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Dear RallyPointers,
Last night I had the honor of being in the presence of Harold W. Billow, United States Army, World War II Veteran, Malmedy Massacre Survivor.
(Reference: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malmedy_massacre)
Harold is 92 years old, and sharp as a knife. He told an amazing story of his ordeal, and moved the crowd many times. He also managed to make us all smile and laugh. Quite an amazing guy.
Harold Billow was a member of Battery B, 285th Field Artillery Observation Battalion. He is one of only two remaining survivors of the infamous Malmedy Massacre known to still be alive. This massacre by the Germans during World War II was a war crime in which 87 American prisoners were killed in cold blood in the snow on December 17, 1944 at Baugnez crossroads near Malmedy, Belgium. The mass murder of American POWs came to be known as the greatest war atrocity committed against American soldiers on the Western front. German soldiers of Kampfgruppe Peiper (part of the 1st SS Panzer Division and a tough German combat unit led by the aggressive Lt. Col. Joachim Peiper) used pistol, tank and machine gun fire to kill the Americans. Harold buried himself under bodies and tried not to breathe heavily for fear of his breath being seen. Anyone showing signs of life was shot through the head.
After laying hours in a field of dead bodies, Harold and a few other soldiers found an opportunity to get up and RUN to a nearby cottage. As suspected, Harold realized that they were spotted. He tried getting his fellow brothers to leave the cottage, but they stayed. According to what I heard, Harold ran out the back door and hid far away in a hedgerow. He watched as the house was eventually surrounded by Germans who then doused the place in gasoline, and set it ablaze. As people ran out of the house to escape the smoke, heat and flames, the Germans opened fire and killed every one of them.
I took several photos, but haven't cropped or fixed them up yet. I will share what I have now, and will then share more once I do my work to them. I also captured some video of Harold recounting his story. I will share that too once it is uploaded to YouTube.
Thank you for your time, your interest, and for reading this.
God bless each of you, God bless America, and God bless Harold Billow.
Last night I had the honor of being in the presence of Harold W. Billow, United States Army, World War II Veteran, Malmedy Massacre Survivor.
(Reference: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malmedy_massacre)
Harold is 92 years old, and sharp as a knife. He told an amazing story of his ordeal, and moved the crowd many times. He also managed to make us all smile and laugh. Quite an amazing guy.
Harold Billow was a member of Battery B, 285th Field Artillery Observation Battalion. He is one of only two remaining survivors of the infamous Malmedy Massacre known to still be alive. This massacre by the Germans during World War II was a war crime in which 87 American prisoners were killed in cold blood in the snow on December 17, 1944 at Baugnez crossroads near Malmedy, Belgium. The mass murder of American POWs came to be known as the greatest war atrocity committed against American soldiers on the Western front. German soldiers of Kampfgruppe Peiper (part of the 1st SS Panzer Division and a tough German combat unit led by the aggressive Lt. Col. Joachim Peiper) used pistol, tank and machine gun fire to kill the Americans. Harold buried himself under bodies and tried not to breathe heavily for fear of his breath being seen. Anyone showing signs of life was shot through the head.
After laying hours in a field of dead bodies, Harold and a few other soldiers found an opportunity to get up and RUN to a nearby cottage. As suspected, Harold realized that they were spotted. He tried getting his fellow brothers to leave the cottage, but they stayed. According to what I heard, Harold ran out the back door and hid far away in a hedgerow. He watched as the house was eventually surrounded by Germans who then doused the place in gasoline, and set it ablaze. As people ran out of the house to escape the smoke, heat and flames, the Germans opened fire and killed every one of them.
I took several photos, but haven't cropped or fixed them up yet. I will share what I have now, and will then share more once I do my work to them. I also captured some video of Harold recounting his story. I will share that too once it is uploaded to YouTube.
Thank you for your time, your interest, and for reading this.
God bless each of you, God bless America, and God bless Harold Billow.
Posted in these groups: 
WWII World War Two
Heroes
WWII World War Two Heroes
Posted 11 y ago
Responses: 15
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Harold mentioned this book. Said it is a VERY good account of what happened, and he strongly recommended it. I plan to buy it this weekend:
http://www.amazon.com/Fatal-Crossroads-Untold-Malmedy-Massacre/dp/ [login to see]
On December 17, 1944, during the Battle of the Bulge, more than eighty unarmed American soldiers were shot down after having surrendered to an SS tank column near the small crossroads town of Malmédy, Belgium. In vivid prose with revealing details, Fatal Crossroads reconstructs the previously untold story of the largest single atrocity committed against American POWs on the Western front in World War II.
http://www.amazon.com/Fatal-Crossroads-Untold-Malmedy-Massacre/dp/ [login to see]
On December 17, 1944, during the Battle of the Bulge, more than eighty unarmed American soldiers were shot down after having surrendered to an SS tank column near the small crossroads town of Malmédy, Belgium. In vivid prose with revealing details, Fatal Crossroads reconstructs the previously untold story of the largest single atrocity committed against American POWs on the Western front in World War II.
Fatal Crossroads: The Untold Story of the Malmedy Massacre at the Battle of the Bulge: Danny S....
Fatal Crossroads: The Untold Story of the Malmedy Massacre at the Battle of the Bulge [Danny S. Parker] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. On December 17, 1944, during the Battle of the Bulge, more than eighty unarmedAmerican soldiers were shot down after having surrendered to an SS tank column near the small crossroads town of Malmédy
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Outstanding...I just sent in an uncut viideo of the trial, I'll try to resend it in here also...
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Yes, Thank you Cpl Anthony Pearson, Great read about a Great man, I envy your opportunity to meet him,
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Now that is what I call a real hero. GOD Bless you sir. Anthony thank you for sharing. Is there an archive where this type of story can be permanently stored on RP?
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