A Thunderbird and a Rainbow

A Thunderbird to the left and a Rainbowman to the right. Pinch me! 🤩

These days it’s quite literally a small miracle to have the opportunity to sit with a WWII combat veteran and hear their stories.

In this case it’s a whopper.

Dan Dougherty served in C Co of the 157th Infantry Regiment, 45th ‘Thunderbird’ Division.

Bud Gahs served in the A/T Co of the 222nd Infantry Regiment, 42nd ‘Rainbow’ Division.

These men and their regiments were famously a part of the liberating forces of Dachau.

This year Dan and Bud were the sole representatives of their respective divisions, and the only liberators who were able to attend the commemorations of the liberation.

We had the opportunity to spend an hour together one morning in Dachau, and Dan and Bud sat side by side and shared their stories with me.

Witnessing history such as this is always such an unspeakably huge honor. Those of us who have the opportunity to do so are, in a word, blessed!