Post GR 09 hosts World War II veteran
Myron Roker is greeted by Post Commander Jerry Aman at the Ulm Bahnhof (train station).

Post GR 09 hosts World War II veteran

On 23 April 1945, Pvt. Myron Roker of the 324th Infantry Regiment, 44th Infantry Division entered the city of Ulm after 203 days of combat in France and Germany. As he stood in front of and marveled at the majestic Ulm Munster, which was barely damaged by the relentless bombing, he could never have imagined that 70 years later to the day he would again be standing in front of the cathedral, but this time as a guest of William D. Nelson Post GR 09, Department of France.
In December 2014 GR 09’s post commander was contacted by Ms. Karen Howl, a former resident of Ulm now living in the United States, who asked if the post had any activities planned to commemorate the 70-year anniversary of the U.S. Army’s advance into Ulm. At that time there were none, but Howl was determined that something should be done to acknowledge this feat, and after extensive research located the Historical Society of the 44th Infantry Division, which confirmed that its 324th Regiment was the first unit to enter Ulm and that there were three survivors still alive – of which one, Myron Roker, 91 and living in Glenwood, Iowa, would be able to travel. Howl “picked up the ball” and together with her husband, a pilot for United Airlines, arranged for United to fly Roker and his 90-year-old wife Viola to Germany.
On 17 April, Post Commander Jerry Aman greeted Roker at the Ulm Bahnhof (train station), and for the next seven days escorted him on a whirlwind tour arranged by Post GR 09. There was barely a spare minute for the “celebrity” as he moved from radio to TV to newspaper interviews and numerous meetings with city officials and an official welcome by Ulm’s lord mayor.
On Roker’s last night in Ulm, Post GR 09 hosted a banquet in his honor at the German Army Officer’s Club. Of the over 60 attendees, there was a mixture of German and American active-duty military personnel, retired German and American military, German military reservists and GR 09 members with wives. Culminating the evening’s events, Roker recounted some of his experiences with a slideshow. Throughout his presentation he was visibly moved when recalling his war experiences and the loss of his best friend, but delighted in telling how his unit got a break in the fighting and were moved to a rear area where they received a surprise visit by Marlene Dietrich. At that time Roker made a promise to himself that if he got back to America alive he would name his first daughter Marlene; and after the war a Marlene Roker was born.
During his visit Roker frequently expressed his gratitude to Post GR 09 for bringing him back to Ulm, and Post GR 09 thanked him for the honor of being able to host a member of “the greatest generation” and now a national treasure.

http://www.legion.org/fodpal/photos/227170/post-gr-09-hosts-world-war-ii...