HomeMy WebLinkAboutKarl J.Koenig, Brazos Valley Heroes
One in a series of tributes to members of ''The Greatest
Generation" who served our country during World War II
By Bill Young kin
Special to The Eagle
I wi/I never forget.
"Bommel and those German Panzers really knew what
Karl J. Koenig has lectured students for more than 40 theywere doing. We continued to give ground grudgingly,
ye-ars as a professor of geology at Texas A&M University. passing through Kasserine Pass, relinquishing it to the
.But it was a lecture he received at an officers' call in Germans. We were relieved by the British. As we pulled
North Africa in World War II - and trying to follow that over to the side to let their tanks pass through, a British
, lecture - that almost got him killed. lieutenant called out to me, 'What's the matter Yank?
, Jerry give you a bit of a go? We'll fix his,clock.'
"The lecture was one delivered by General Patton to.
. our armored unit, which was located near Sidi bou Zid "I was never so glad to pull out of a situation like the
inTunisia," he recalled. "The statement he made, with one we had been through. Here itwas the afternoon of
the eXPletives deleted, was: 'Gentlemen, a tank attack February 19th and I had not had any restor sleep to
is like a piece of spaghetti. You can't push it, you must speak of since the morning, of February 14th. .1 spread
pull it.' Which, to me, was telling his officers, 'Officers out my sleeping bag and literally crClshed unti/l 0 am the
- get in front.' It was an instruction I followed until the ne1(t morning."
war ended for me outside Rome in June 1944." Koenig's unit was refitted Clnd they were soon back to
Karl Koenig was born in MilWaukee, Wisconsin, in" FaidPass, where it all ~egan a month earlier. "I was given
January 1920, but his family soon moved to Chicago. the mission of reconnoitering the mountains to find a way
"I gradu~ted from high school in 1937 and enrolled through. With only my Jeep and driver, we found a way
without any resistance. We crossed over the mountains
at the University of Illinois in geology, graduating in
June 1941. Illinois; like A&M, was a land grant school and were now in enemy territory. While on a road on
the enemy side, we nln into a German motorcycle. We
and participation in ROTC was compulsory your first and the German both turned around and headed back
two years. I applied and was accepted into advanced .,
ROTC and received my commission upon graduation. I immediately.
wanted to be in the horse cavalry bilt was assigned to "I told my colonel about what we found, so the next
the 1 st Armored Division, 1 st Armored Regiment of the day he an~ I returned. We spotted what looked like an
7th Calvary. . Italian armored car parked on the opposite side of the
"I went on active duty immediately and was assigned pass. He and I !lttempted to go on foot to attempt to take
to Ft. Knox, Kentucky. We' were 'always training. On out the armored car. We were getting near the armored
December 7, 1941, we. pad just returned to Ft. Knox car when a couple of local Arabs spotted us and alerted
from a three-month training exercise. I went to shower the Germans. The colonelliad a rifle and I held a grenade
and on my ~ay to the shower at the Baa, I heard the in both hands. When spotted; the Germans directed
announcement of the Dombing of Pearl Harbor. The machine mmfire at us, raking the,area in front of us: We
war started for me that day. My one'-year active duty both agreed we needed to retreat, which we did.
commitment hal;! just been extended indefinitely. "It was then I noticed blood all over the front of my
'!AII leaves were. cancelled and training began in combat jaCket. I still had those grenades tightly clutched
earnest. We traveled overland to Ft. Dix, New Jersey, in in . my hands and realized., that the machine gun had
February.1942 and on Memorial Day 1942 we sailed ' grazed the upper parts of the fingers on .both hands.
for Ireland, landing June 18, 1942. We trained, there for Thank God I didn't have the pins pulled or.else that might
awhile and then went to England. In January .1943 we have been the end of the war for both the colonel and
shipped to Oran, North Africa, where we offloaded and me. The medic bandaged my fingers and I didn't miss
soon headed toward the position~held by the Germans any duty time."
near Faid Pass in the Atlas Mountains. That is. where I I Those wounds would result in the first of two purple
heard and saw my first shots exchanged in the war. . hearts Koenig. was to receive during the war.' By May
"In February, our reconnaissance ilnit captured a 18th, 1943, Mother's Day, the Axis .Force unconditionally
German warrant officer that we brought through our surrendered in North Africa. The rumors started that they
lines. When he did, he was heard to remark about our would be heading home. They were just rumor.g.
lack of depth in our defense: He escaped the" next night
and on the morning of February 14, 1943, the German Next week: the invasion of Italy.
General Hommel sent three Panzer units into our lines. Karl,J. Kllenig's nameca... be found on the Brazos
On the morning of the 14th our unit had 54 tanks. At the ' Valley Veterans Memorial. "
end of t~e day, two were left.. The next day we received For more information, to make a contribution, or if'
54 tanks from the 3rd Battalion and by the end of the you know a World War II Veteran whose story needs to '
seco~d day only four tanks remained aut of 108. The be told, contactthe BVVM.at www.veteransmemorial.
sight of all those burning tanks in the desert is something org or BiIIYoungkin at (979) 260-7030.
.' . Ih~.1~~~le .
One in a series of tributes to members of "The Greatest
Generation" who served our country during World War n
Second of Two Parts we made a turn in the road and heard the whine. ofa
. ' I' .
By Bill Youngkin high-velocity shell pass our vehicle. I ordered the ~ri"er
'Special to The Eagle to stop and go back behind the turn in the roa.d~We had
turned and were aboutto reach cover when ail armor-
With the surrender of the Axis Forces in North Africa,
piercing 20-mm shell hit my armored car aUhe turret
Karl Koenig and his men began to hear rumors they line.
might be going home. As the days passed and as they
started to receive new tanks and equipment, the rumor "The shell didn't create a large hole, but it caused
circulated that they would be heading to Italy. That rumor i pieces inside. the turret to break loose, hitting my
was correct. sergeant and me, breaking the bones in both of our:
"The first invasion was of Sicily and then Salerno and legs. We had been standing in the turret, so we caught
Paestum, ItalY, but we continued to train in North Africa," ourselves .on the. sides and the turret gun. I told the
he recalled. "Then it came our turn. We crossed in a sergeant, 'Let's get the hell outta here!' because'. I knew
British LST to the harbor ot Na~les. As we landed, Mt. we would get another shell soon.
Vesuvius, located just outside Naples, was erupting with "We got out by wriggling our bodies out of the turret
lava flowing down its flank. Jerry's bombers, coming into '. and falling over the side of the vehicle to the ground.
Naples harbor, had little trouble locating us. All they had As soon as we were on the ground, the car was hit by
to do was navigate tathe glow of lava on Mt. Vesuvius, another shell. My men came up and grabbed me under
"We met slight resistance initially as we moved. the shoulder~ and began1to pull me to a bar ditch. That
inland. We were supposed to make a dash for Rome and was the most pain I had ever felt in my life.As I was
moved 12 miles inland the first day. But we didn't have being dragged, I could see my feet bouncing every
enough men, tanks, artillery or air cover. By the end of which way because my feet were now attached by only
our second day, we had been pushed back six miles by a few tendons and muscles. Thankfully a medic quickly
the Germans. Jerry brought every man they could from shot me full of morphine."
Rome. We were now back to an expanded beachhead. . . The war was over for Koenig butthe long, long road to
"My reconnaissance company was assigned recovery had just ~egun. "
protective surveillance of the beach. The beach was "On my way to th/:l M.A.S.H. unit, the soldiers
heavily mined, and one of my men strayed from the lines advancing on either side of the road were members of
we had laid out for safe passage. He literally was blown the 'Nisei,' Japanese Americans. When we reach.ed the
in two. I didn't have any other men stray outside those oM.A.S.H. unit the doctor was a Japanese 'Nisei' doctor.
lines thereafter. He started to cut my brand new Oehner tank boots and I
"About 2 a..m. one night we captured some Italian I complained that I had just bought them, He told me I
saboteurs who landed on the beach in araft. When they wasn't going to need them for a~hile. He was right."
were discovered, they blew up their explosives before Koenig was sent by hospital ship to Charleston,S.C.
we captured them." "As we Were crossing the Atlantic, our ship was stopped
For his role in the capture of the saboteurs, Koenig . by a German U boat. 1 could see the sub out the porthole
would be awarded a Brooze qtar for vl:jlor. arid I remember hoping and praying they wduld let us
''While we were at Naples, Jerry brought all they pass, which they did." c .
cOiJld against us. They had a very large artillery piece Koenig arrived on'. July 4. 1944, l:jnd Underwent
which we found out later was mounted on a rail Icar. several, surgeries and treatment at various hospitals,
They would roll it out of a tUnl'lel at night and fire three including a transplant of a tendon from one foot to the
,rounds. Those rounds sounded like a box car tumbling other. In September 1945 Koenig was retired from the.
end over end. as it. passed over us. That gun was Army due to disability. He, re~entered the University of
nicknamed 'AnzioAnnie.' . Illinois and obtained his doctorate and in 1954 came to
"On May 22, 1944,we started an artillery barrage A&M as a professor in the geology department; where
starting at 4 a.m. and lasting over three hours. When he retired in 1998, . ..' . .'. ..... ...... . ..
it lifted we sent tanks and infantry into the area. The "I have a soft spot for those who serve.lresPectthem
barrage was very effective, because the Germans becllUse IknowwMtthey ~ave gonethrough,are~oing
offered very Iittleresistan~e. through, or may go through." . .' !..
"After we breached the. German lines we moved Karl J. Koenig's name can befollm1 Ohthe Bra~os
steadily toward Rome: Units' would leapfrog each other' Valley Veterans Memorial. For: more iilfimJJfl(ioti;tq
so we could keep pressing the attack. On June 4, 1944, make 'a contribution, or if you. know a WorlliWaf' 1I
we were on the outskirts of Rome when it was our turn Veteran whpse story needs tDoe tOld,contaCt '~hi!i3WM
to lead the column and probe the German defenses. at www.veteransmemorial.org or Bill Youngkinat (979)
"I was in the lead position in my armored car when 260-7030.
_!!!~u~!ile n_. _.~
one in a series of tributes to nwinbcirs of - - hcc�reau °sl
Generation" who served our country during World War II
Second of Two Parts
By Bill Youngkin
Special to The Eagle
With the surrender of the Axis Forces in North Africa,
Karl Koenig and his men began to hear rumors they
might be going home. As the days passed and as they
started to receive new tanks and equipment, the rumor
circulated that they would be heading to Italy. That rumor
was correct.
"The first invasion was of Sicily and then Salerno and
Paestum, Italy, but we continued to train in North Africa,"
he recalled. "Then it came our turn. We crossed in a
British LST to the harbor of Naples. As we landed, Mt.
Vesuvius, located just outside Naples, was erupting with
lava flowing down its flank. Jerry's bombers, coming into
Naples harbor, had little trouble locating us. All they had
to do was navigate to the glow of lava on Mt. Vesuvius.
"We met slight resistance initially as we moved
inland. We were supposed to make a dash for Rome and
moved 12 miles inland the first day. But we didn't have
enough men, tanks, artillery or air cover. By the end of
our second day, we had been pushed back six miles by
the Germans. Jerry brought every man they could from
Rome. We were now back to an expanded beachhead.
"My reconnaissance company was assigned
protective surveillance of the beach. The beach was
heavily mined, and one of my men strayed from the lines
we had laid out for safe passage. He literally was blown
in two. I didn't have any other men stray outside those
lines thereafter.
"About 2 a.m. one night we captured some Italian
saboteurs who landed on the beach in a raft. When they
were discovered, they blew up their explosives before
we captured them."
For his role in the capture of the saboteurs, Koenig
would be awarded a Bronze Star for valor.
"While we were at Naples, Jerry brought all they
could against us. They had a very large artillery piece
which we found out later was mounted on a rail car.
They would roll it out of a tunnel at night and fire three
rounds. Those rounds sounded like a box car tumbling
end over end as it passed over us. That gun was
nicknamed 'Anzio Annie.'
"On May 22, 1944, we started an artillery barrage
starting at 4 a.m. and lasting over three hours. When
it lifted we sent tanks and infantry into the area. The
barrage was very effective, because the Germans
offered very little resistance.
"After we breached the German lines we moved
steadily toward Rome. Units would leapfrog each other
so we could keep pressing the attack. On June 4, 1944,
we were on the outskirts of Rome when it was our turn
to lead the column and probe the German defenses.
"I was in the lead position in my armored car when
we made a turn in the road and heard the whine of a
high - velocity shell pass our vehicle. I ordered the driver
to stop and go back behind the turn in the road. We had
turned and were about to reach cover when an armor -
piercing 20 -mm shell hit my armored car at the turret
line.
'The shell didn't create a large hole, but it caused
pieces inside the turret to break loose, hitting my
sergeant and me, breaking the bones in both of our
legs. We had been standing in the turret, so we caught
ourselves on the sides and the turret gun. I told the
sergeant, 'Let's get the hell outta here!' because I knew
we would get another shell soon.
"We got out by wriggling our bodies out of the turret
and falling over the side of the vehicle to the ground.
As soon as we were on the ground, the car was hit by
another shell. My men came up and grabbed me under
the shoulders and began to pull me to a bar ditch. That
Was the most pain I had ever felt in my life. As I was
being dragged, I could see my feet bouncing every
which way because my feet were now attached by only
a few tendons and muscles. Thankfully a medic quickly
shot me full of morphine."
The war was over for Koenig but the long, long road to
recovery had just begun.
"On my way to the M.A.S.H, unit, the soldiers
advancing on either side of the road were members of
the 'Nisei,' Japanese Americans. When we reached the
M.A.S.H. unit the doctor was a Japanese 'Nisei' doctor.
He started to cut my brand new Dehner tank boots and
I complained that I had just bought them. He told me I
wasn't going to need them for awhile. He was right,"
Koenig was sent by hospital ship to Charleston, S.C.
"As we were crossing the Atlantic, our ship was stopped
by a German U boat. I could see the sub out the porthole
and I remember hoping and praying they would let us
pass, which they did."
Koenig arrived on July 4, 1944, and underwent
several surgeries and treatment at various hospitals,
including a transplant of a tendon from one foot to the
other. In September 1945 Koenig was retired from the
Army due to disability. He re- entered the University of
Illinois and obtained his doctorate and in 1954 came to
A&M as a professor in the geology department, where
he retired in 1998.
"I have a soft spot for those who serve. I respect them
because I know what they have gone through, are going
through, or may go through."
Karl J. Koenig's name can be found on the Brazos
Valley Veterans Memorial For more information, to
make a contribution, or if you know a World War 11
Veteran whose story needs to be told, contact the BVVM
at www vetetansmemorialorg or Bill Youngkin at (979)
260 -7030.
The Eagle
Here when you need us.
WW II vet Arnold Foltermann will be the guest on "Vet-
erans of the Valley" this week on KAMU -TV. Veterans of the
Valley, hosted by WTAW's Tom Turbiville, can be seen Fridays at
8:30 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays at 6:30 p.m.
KWU [amuetlu
Channel 15k. cabl¢a