How a nice Jewish Boy from Baltimore made it this far. The trials and tribulations, not to mention the fun and frolics of every day life.

Thursday, October 20, 2005

My Dad the WWII Vet


I just wanted to say a couple of things about my father, Morty Spitz and what he did in WWII. Before my father passed away, of a sudden heart attack, in 1965, I can remember sitting on the front lawn on many a Sunday afternoon with my father, my brother Dave and many of the men of the neighborhood. The men would start talking about what many of them did in WWII. My father would also tell of the time he spent with Battery A, of the 143rd AAA Gun Battalion in the Battle of the Bulge. My bother and I would be enthralled by the stories he would tell. Though his battery didn't have any direct confrontations with German troops the stories were very exciting. In later years, my brother has made a tremendous effort to find out more, at which he's been very successful. He's contacted many of our Dad's companions in the Battalion and through his efforts, we both had the chance to go to the unit's reunion in 2004 and have met many of them. We've found out that our dad was a quiet sort of guy with a good sense of humor, who sure knew how to play ping pong. He was like so many of the young men who went off to war to free Europe and to stop the Nazi menace. He left his new bride of two weeks and didn't see her again for 2 years. But he did his duty and will always be my hero. Dad I salute you.

Thursday, October 13, 2005

Panzerlied Song From The Battle of the Bulge Movie


Okay, so I've gotten into the obscure songs from great war movies syndrome. To give me my fix, I provide for you the Panzerlied Song, from the movie Battle of the Bulge. Surely you remember the scene: Colonel Hessler (Robert Shaw) giving a briefing to all of his tank commanders and suddenly they break into song. Well it's an authenticl song , with real words. The place to go to see and to hear the song is: http://ingeb.org/Lieder/obssturm.html

There are five verses to the song, though only the first one is used in the movie, repeated a dozen times. The site provides all five verses with translation, as well as three MP3 versions to listen to. The first contains all five verses and the third is how it sounded in the movie. Enjoy

Thursday, October 06, 2005

Men of Harlech


Finally after over 40 years of searching I have found the words to the song "Men of Harlech" first heard by me in the movie ZULU. Even with the soundtrack to the movie being played over and over I never could get all of the words. Now here they are:

Special words created for the film Zulu in 1964

Men of Harlech stop your dreaming
Can't you see their spear points gleaming
See their warrior's pennants streaming
To this battle field

Men of Harlech stand ye steady
It cannot be ever said ye
For the battle were not ready
Stand and never yield

Form the hills rebounding
Let this war cry sounding
Summon all at Cambria's call
The mighty force surrounding

Men of Harlech onto glory
This shall ever be your story
Keep these fighting words before ye
Cambria (Welshmen never) will not yield

Military History comes to life for me.


Well, how neat is this. In my studies in Military history I have always admired the Black Watch Regiment of the British Army. Well, recently I joined 4 different computer wargaming clubs and in the WWII club I have finished my training game and have been given a command within the Commonwealth Forces. Lo and behold I now have the honor and pleasure of being appoionted the commanding officer of the 1st Battalion Black Watch, of the 154th Highland Brigade of the 51st Highland Division. It may not mean anything to most people, but in the role playing aspect of the club it means the world to me.