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Many thanks to my Canadian friend, Rosetta Neeson, for sponsoring this brave man's memorial. You're a special angel, Rosetta.
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Gen. Bachenheimer was in the 82nd Airborne 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, HQ 1st Battalion. KIA Oct. 19, 1944, Qatar.

THANK YOU TO ERIC ACKERMAN FOR THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION ON THEODORE BACHENHEIMER. I AM PROUD TO HONOR THIS SOLDIER WHO GAVE HIS LIFE FOR OUR FREEDOM.


San Antonio, Texas, SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS, Monday Morning, September 25, 1944, Page 8

U.S. PRIVATE BECOMES A GENERAL WITH DUTCH ARMY OF HIS OWN

By Associated Press

WITH U.S. AIR-BORNE TROOPS IN HOLLAND, Sept. 22 --(Delayed) --Overnight Pvt. Theodore Bachenheimer became a general and leader of an army of 300 Dutch Partisans.

German-speaking Bachenheimer of Fullerton, Calif., parachuted into Holland and wandered into a town near the German border on a personal reconnaissance.

The Nazis held the town when he entered and continued their hold on it during most of the next day, but Bachenheimer quickly made friends with the Dutch and organized his own army which was armed with captured German weapons.

OPENS HEADQUARTERS
The army called itself "The Free Netherland Army" and insisted on dubbing Private Bachenheimer "Kommandant." He set up headquarters in a steel factory which is patrolled by sentries with Dutch Army helmets and orange brassards--almost like the War Department in Washington.

Down one corridor in a glassed-in room pretty girls of high school age type rosters of the Dutch volunteers and keep records. There is an enlistment office for volunteers and a large room where scores of Quislings and other dubious sympathies are kept under guard.

The floor of the buildings are spotless and the typewriters click constantly. Records are neatly filed away and the whole place is run with smooth efficiency.

In Bachenheimer's headquarters he has a situation map showing where bands of Dutch Patriots are engaging the enemy. He knows the names and addresses of local collaborators, and the location of explosives stored by the enemy.

Girls on Bachenheimer's staff drive cars on official business and to transport the wounded. They also prepare and distribute meals. Under his supervision new German bicycles are given to citizens needing transportation.

So important is his work that another parachute trooper has been assigned to maintain communications between Bachenheimer's headquarters and a U.S. regimental command post. High ranking American quarters and British officers seeking information or guides are frequent callers.

Bachenheimer was born in Germany 21 years ago but was naturalized 10 years ago and has been killing Germans in Sicily and Italy. He fought at Anzio.

Burial Place: Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California, USA.

PARACHUTIST'S CREED

I volunteered as a parachutist fully realizing the hazards of my chosen service and by my thoughts and by my actions will always uphold the prestige, honor and high esprit-de-corpe of the only volunteer branch of the army.

I realize that a parachutist is not merely a soldier who arrives by parachute to fight, but is an elite shocktrooper and that his country expects him to march farther and faster, to fight harder, to be more self-reliant and to soldier better than any other soldier. Parachutists of all allied Armies belong to this great brotherhood.

I shall never fail my fellow comrades by shirking any duty or training, but will always keep myself mentally and physically fit and shoulder my full share of the task, whatever it may be.

I shall always accord my superiors fullest loyalty and I will always bear in mind the sacred trust I have in the lives of the men I will lead into battle.

I shall show other soldiers by my military courtesy to my superior officers and non-commissioned officers, by my neatness of dress, by my care of my weapons and equipment that I am a picked and well trained soldier.

I shall endeavor, always by my soldierly appearance, military bearing and behavior, reflect the high standards of training and morale of parachute troops.

I shall respect the abilities of my enemies, I will fight fairly and with all my might. SURRENDER is not in my creed.

I shall display a higher degree of initiative than is required of other troops and will fight on to my objective and mission, though I be the lone survivor.

I shall prove my ability as a fighting man against the enemy on the field of battle, not by quarreling with my comrades in arms or by bragging about my deeds, thus needlessly arousing jealousy and resentment against parachute troops.

I shall always realize that battles are won by an army fighting as a team, that I fight first and blaze the path into battle for others to follow and to carry the battle on.

I belong to the finest fighting unit in the Army. By my appearance, actions and battlefield deeds alone, I speak for my fighting ability. I will strive to uphold the honor and prestige of my outfit, making my country proud of me and to the unit to which I belong.

UNITED STATES ARMY PARATROOPER

Your country is proud of you, Gen Bachenheimer. RIP. You have given all. Thank you.