World War II P.O.W. Herman Blumenschein passes away- a unique story

This past Monday, January 30th, World War II veteran Herman Blumenschein passed away.  Herman lived in my hometown of Marysville, Ohio, and made it to age 93.  He was a very humble and kind man, as well as quiet.  You would not know by meeting him that he was a former German Prisoner of War, but he was for 7 months.  Herman's obituary explains his plight in brief (I will work on getting his full story on this site soon):

"Herman served his country in the US Army during World War II attaining the rank of corporal and was a former POW with captivity lasting from September 30, 1944 to May 5, 1945.  He was a Purple Heart recipient and also received the Bronze Star Presidential Unit Citation and Glider Badge."

The middle school where I teach was honored to have Herman at our Veterans Day assembly this past November, and he led the Pledge of Allegiance.  After the assembly he signed his "autograph" to over 200 middle school students.  Wow.  I currently have his great-great nephew Adam in class.

I learned one very interesting thing the other day at Herman's funeral.  Major General Oscar Decker (U.S. Army, retired) a friend of mine and pillar in our community shared his unique connection with Herman.  During World War II, Major General Decker was a Sergeant in the 20th Tank Batallion.  In Germany near Munich on May 5, 1945, his unit came upon groups of American Prisoners of War who were being held in boxcars. 

Flash forward 40 years......

Oscar did not move to Marysville until around 1984 (after 40+ years in the Army!) and told me he has known Herman about 25 years until his passing Monday.  However, it was not until Herman's health began failing that the two talked in detail about Herman's liberation.  After sharing the date, the place and the circumstances, they are 99% certain that it was Oscar's tank batallion who found Herman and the others and got them help.  It really is a small world.

May God bless all those surviving Prisoners of War and their families, and may all those servicemembers listed as Missing as Action be fully accounted for someday soon.

Rest in Peace, Herman.

 

Tags: Herman Blumenschein

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Claudia Bartow on March 30, 2012 at 8:36am
Margaret, did you see the new discussion Darrin started yesterday? He tells a lot of the questions then Herman's answers.
Permalink Reply by Darrin Mason on March 30, 2012 at 11:44am

Margaret,

I would be happy to share the questioner I sent to your uncle Herman. I incorporated just about all the questions in the new Discussion I started yesterday titled "Herman Blumenschein WW2 Story". But I will still share the questioner with you if you like.

Thanks,

Darrin

Permalink Reply by Margaret Emma Blumenschein Rietm on March 31, 2012 at 1:45pm

I just read the new discussion "Herman Blumenschein WW2 Story"  and I thank you for starting the new discussion. I would appreciate you sharing the questioner. It has helped me understand more the man Uncle Herman was. This is a legacy I can pass down to my children, and grandson, and I thank you for that.

Thanks,

Margaret

Permalink Reply by Margaret Emma Blumenschein Rietm on March 31, 2012 at 1:40pm

I  have just read Darrin's new discussion, and it brings Uncle Herman's time in the army during WW2 to life.

Permalink Reply by Darrin Mason on April 5, 2012 at 2:52pm

Margaret,

If you accept me as a friend on your profile page I  will send you Hermans questionier

Thanks

Darrin

Permalink Reply by Darrin Mason on April 13, 2012 at 12:48pm

Margaret,

I just sent the questionier to you.

 

Thanks,

Darrin

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