Danbury man retraces dad’s WWII journey on 75th D-Day anniversary

Lee Teicholz has always been interested in his father’s World War II history, but when his son, Matthew contacted him and said “pack your bags, we’re going to Normandy,” Teicholz knew he could not let the opportunity pass. It was a trip he always wanted to take and being the 75th anniversary of D-Day would make it even more special.

Teicholz and his son Matthew of Mystic, spent a week visiting France and Belgium learning about the history of World War II and D-Day, the Allied Invasion to liberate Europe from Nazi Germany on June 6, 1944.

Teicholz’s father, William, fought with the 3rd Armored Division, 36th Armored Infantry Regiment. His unit landed on Omaha Beach D-Day plus 12, June 18th, on the eve of the great storm that destroyed the Mulberry harbor. The unit suffered its first casualty within a few days while they were coiled up in a small orchard awaiting the arrival of the remainder of their unit.

Teicholz stated that when he and his son visited Omaha Beach, it was an experience that they would never forget. “My eyes teared up as I was overcome with emotion. I closed my eyes and in my mind, I pictured the opening scene to the movie Saving Private Ryan.”

In a letter home to his sister, Teicholz’s dad wrote “I received the Purple Heart today for wounds in Normandy a few months ago. They were very slight and it wasn’t even necessary to leave the front. I’d rather not tell the folks anything about it as it would only increase their worrying. Normandy was the closest to hell all of us have been and we are certainly glad it is over.”

Teicholz said that when his dad was evacuated back to the United States after his second injury before the war’s end, he hitchhiked from New York to his sister’s house in Connecticut to recuperate there because he didn’t want his parents to see the condition that he was in.

Teicholz said his late father who was 69 years old when he died in 1987, didn’t talk much about the war as was the case with a majority of the WWII veterans. Teicholz stated his dad had opportunities to return to Normandy, but he said that he never wanted to go back there. Teicholz was eventually awarded a Bronze Star and two Purple Hearts which tell a story of bravery and sacrifice. “I have those medals displayed in my living room to this day,” Teicholz said.

In preparation for the trip, Teicholz’s son Matthew, began researching the route that the 36th Armored Infantry Regiment took while liberating France and Belgium. One location was a strategic battle that occurred at the Hotton Bridge in Bourdon, Leige, Belgium. As Teicholz stood on the bridge, he learned that on December 21, 1944, a Panzer Division surprised the American garrison at Hotton consisting of headquarters troops of the 36th Armored Infantry Regiment and almost captured the bridge. However, the American garrison rallied and the first Panther was knocked out. The Germans held a part of the town for some days, but finally abandoned it because they were threatened in their back by the American troops in Soy.

“Standing on this bridge knowing my dad was instrumental in defending it made me very proud of him,” Teicholz said. Although Teicholz’s dad is not here to confirm, he is certain the places he and his son went to are places his dad had been to during the war.

“Before the trip, I could only imagine what the places my dad had been to looked like, now I was standing in pretty much the same places,” Teicholz said.

Teicholz stated that after the trip was over, he had a greater respect for the “Greatest Generation.” Their sacrifice ultimately made the world and the United States a better place in which to live.

Although the 36th Armored Infantry Regiment continued through Germany and into Dessau, the week long trip brought Teicholz and his son only close to the German border. “If we had more time, we would have continued our trip into Germany. I guess that will be another trip we will be planning in the future,” he stated.