Leo G. Lauzen, Sr.

Submitted by Chris Lauzen, in honor of his father Leo G. Lauzen, Sr.

My father, Leo G. Lauzen, Sr., passed away years ago, but his story has never left me. I submit it here as a love letter to America because it is, at its core, exactly that: a young man of 19 who loved his country enough to cross an ocean, press through hedgerows, charge through German lines in the dead of night, and give everything he had so that the America he believed in would survive. His story is a love letter to America, written in his memory.

— Chris Lauzen

From the Hedgerows of Omaha Beach to the Gates of Berlin:

The Story of a 19 Year-old Combat Infantry Man

"Who controls the past, controls the future; who controls the present, controls the past."

— George Orwell on History

On June 6th, 1944, the allied forces launched an invasion of the French coast, the likes of which had never been witnessed by the annals of history. These men fought, sacrificed, and died in order to gain a foothold in the European Theater and to push back the oppressive reign of terror of the Nazis. One such man was the 19 year-old Squad Leader named Leo G. Lauzen, sr. He was but one of the courageous and dedicated Americans who continued to press on from the shores of Normandy until he reached the edge of Berlin. This is his story.

His division (83rd Combat Infantry) landed on Omaha Beach about two weeks after D-Day. The upper area beyond the beach was known as the Hedgerows, the sight of his first major battle. It was here that the Germans fired a kind of "gelatin" substance into advancing ranks. It must have been some form of acid or napalm, because it burned terribly. The man to his right and the man to his left were both hit; their screams and cries told him that they would not see the end of that night. It was not until later that night when they had stopped for the day that the emotions caught up with him. The question that kept running through his head was "Why was I saved?" And he kept remembering the fact that the average life span on the front lines was six weeks.

They moved across France, into Belgium, and into the death trap of the Hurtgen and the Ardennes Forest. In mid-December 1944, General Von Rumstedt began his counter offensive, later known as the "Battle of the Bulge." By the end of one day they had taken 75 percent casualties. There were about 50 GIs running out of ammunition, surrounded by the Germans. That night in his foxhole he overheard an argument between Captain Springer and Lt. Colonel White: "We've got to have someone to take in enough ammunition so that Company B could fight their way out." He got out of his foxhole and said, "Captain [Springer], I'll take in the remainder of my Squad. Give me an additional 12 strong guys and we'll carry in bandoleers of rifle ammunition." They made it through the German lines at 2:30 am and delivered the ammunition. He led the men out and they reached the allied position with only about two of his Squad killed.

For the second time he was offered a field promotion to become an officer. He turned the opportunity down, just as he had the previous time. He thought it better to be in charge of 12 men, as a Squad Leader, where he could lead by example: he never commanded a man to carry out an order unless they saw him do it first. For rescuing Company B, Lauzen received a Silver Battle Star, a Bronze Star Medal and a Purple Heart.

After victory was declared, he ended up having one of the best months of his life in Paris, before boarding a ship and coming home to the United States.

His experience in Europe would be impossible to match in today's wars of high technology. Instead, the American GIs had to be in top physical, mental and emotional condition in order to survive. The wealth of knowledge, honor, and courage offered by this age of men will not soon be forgotten.