Day to Day Blessings

I never dreamed a passion would arise in me like the one I have for studying Berga. Everyday I awake with a new excitement that today I will read/discover something new. Until now I never knew what people meant by, "Living the dream" but now I am certain I do. I never dreamed I would travel all over the United States just to meet total strangers and be ecstatic that I will have a chance to shake the hands of men whom gave so very much. I am truly honored. I pray a special blessing on the Fellman family, Anthony Acevado, the Iosso family, and the Vogel family, because of your sacrifices we live with our freedom. Thanks to your sacrifices we were blessed.

Traveling amongst Sacrifice

Today, was exactly what I needed. Reconfirmation that this is my passion for life and the renewed determination came from speaking to Anthony Acevedo regarding my trip to California in the Spring. Palm Springs here I come. I cannot wait to hold his diary he kept almost 60 years ago in my hands... ---Getting the goose bumps already...

I reconfirmed my plans to visit Norman Fellman and his lovely wife Bunny in New Jersey on Saturday the 11th of September. I cannot believe that I have the opportunity to meet and talk face to face with the men I am writting about. It is a true honor. I also spoke with Peter Iosso today and he and his wife will be joining us for lunch at the Old Mill Inn located in Jersey. A beautiful old Inn.. Here is a pic..


Last Monday, Mr. Vogel and his wife so kindly called me and invited me to stay in their beautiful downtown Boston home... So excited...I am sure I will enjoy my time speaking with them regarding Mr. Vogel's brother whom perished at the hands of Berga's guards sixty years ago.

Today was a momentous day!

First Morton Brooks called me and granted my wish for an interview.. I am so excited.

Then Wayne Drash from CNN called me and volunteered to give me all of his info used in his article on Berga.

Lastly, Norman Fellman and Peter Iosso agreed to meet me for lunch at a great family owned b&b and restaurant in New Jersey. So it is official on September 11th, I will meeting them both with my road warrior Sandy for lunch and an interview.

New News --Martin Vogel just called!

Martin Vogel, brother of Bernard Vogel just called and stated he found a copy of the silence pamphlets Berga survivors were forced to sign.. I have been looking for this for almost a year now... Can't wait to meet him in Sept.

8/8/2010 Phone Interview with Norman Fellman, Berga POW

Here is his story of recieving his metals for bravery as a POW 60 years later

Sixty-five years later Army honors WWII Vet Norman D. Fellman
January 25, 2010 posted by Bob Higgins

Jerry Herrmann of The Daily Courier

Sixty-five years after the Germans captured Norman D. Fellman of Prescott during World War II, the U.S. Army recognized him Wednesday as one of 350 U.S. soldiers who were held as slaves inside Nazi Germany at the Berga an der Elster camp.


Lt. Col. Jim Adams, who represented Peter Geren, secretary of the Army, presented Fellman with his medal at a ceremony at the Bob Stump Veterans Affairs Medical Center.

Fellman and other members of B Company, 275th Regiment of the Army’s 70th Division, in January 1945 were operating near Falkenberg Ridge, about 12 kilometers outside of Phillipsbourg, France, when they were ambushed by the Germans.

Adams said German tanks surrounded B Company, which was out of communication with other units or headquarters, as they moved through waist-deep snow.

In the book “Given Up for Dead” written by Flint Whitlock, Fellman said, “… We had scooped out holes the best we could in the rock, and we were pretty much out of ammo.

“The Germans came around with flame-throwing tanks at the base of the hill, but had evidently decided to bypass us initially and had gone around us and were cleaning up when they came back to get us.”

Fellman said his unit had three choices – “we could freeze to death, we could starve to death, or we could surrender.”

-After my interview with him on Sunday he stated, "I wish that the POW's whom died in the camp had been recoginized as well as us who were living and their families given their metals."