My father during World War II

Two (2) photographs of my father, Paul H. Madden, Jr. taken during his time in Europe during World War II (WWII). There are also his notes on the back of the photos which I transcribe. He was nineteen (19) years old at the time.

1. Saarlautern, Germany Jan. 1945 (Note gas mask and top button of jacket is buttoned. Two means of I.D. for American soldiers during Battle of the the Bulge.

[During the Battle of the Bulge, German infiltrators dressed in American uniforms were a problem. So, gas masks, which had not been needed, were issued to all U.S. soldiers in the area and their were instructed also to button the top button of their tunics/jackets. These two actions would help distinguish the true G.I.s from German imitators.

He is carrying an M-3 submachine gun AKA "grease gun"; it was not his issued weapon, M-1 Garand, but it looked cool.]

2. April 1945 (On Pass from "Reppel-Deppel")

["Reppel-Deppel" was shorthand for Replacement Depot or Repo Depot.]