Lt. Edwin D. Cooke, Los Angeles, Calif., 70th Div., Wingen, France, lay with the dead for 18 hours during a German counterattack in this territory of France. At one time a Nazi rolled him over to cut off his wrist watch and failed to notice he was still alive. Here, Lt. Cooke demonstrates the position he took to escape detection. The other soldiers in the background, one a medic, are dead. The area was, again, taken over by the Allies after an all night battle. 7 January, 1945. National Archives #111-SC-198832. Signs have been deleted by area censor prior to release.

Billowing clouds of black smoke rise from an oil refinery on the outskirts of Saarbrucken which was blasted first by artillery then by dive bombers. In foreground is village of Brebach. Mar 1945. Photo: Keystone

Line of German prisoners captured in outskirts of Saarbrucken by men of 3rd Bn, 274th Inf Reg. 20 Mar 1945. Photo: Signal Corps

Medic and an infantryman take shelter against a pile of rubble as German artillery shells newly captured Behren. 274th Infantry Regiment, Behren, France, 17 Feb, 1945. Signal Corps Photo.

Two soldiers take timeout, even though only yards from the enemy, to look at pinup girls in Yank magazine. These infantrymen are manning trenches on the outskirts of Spicheren to cover elements in the town. 274th Infantry, Spicheren, France, 22 Feb., 1945. Signal Corps Photo.

Rhine Regatta on the Rhine River. Pfc Raymond Unger comes well-prepared with four beers. 4 July 1945: Photo: Life magazine.

Charlie Pence (front row, 2nd from left) recovering from wounds with other GIs. Date and location of photo is unknown. Photo: via Jim Lankford.

SS America date and location of photo is unknown.

L to R: Jack Kidder, Jerry Boyea, 'Doo' Clifford, Charles B. Eblen, Fred J. Cassidy, ‘Navy Field’(?), Wiesbaden, 4 July 1945. Photo from Jay Heiser.