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WW II vet makes war come alive for ISMS history students |
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Monday, June 01 2009 |
By KELLEY SHEISS
for The Post & Mail
It’s not a made for TV movie or a film on the big screen. It’s real life, according to Bob Cassell, who recently shared his experiences as a soldier in World War II with eighth-grade students at Indian Springs Middle School.
For the past seven years, the Larwill resident has made history come alive for students. Cassell, who turns 85 in July, vividly recalls the unbelievable sights and smells of the war, sharing shocking experiences and recalling moments in history most of us have only read about or seen in a movie.
After joining the army at 18, Cassell spent a grueling two weeks at sea to join the war in Europe. His tour of duty took him through several countries and many battles. As a tank gunner, Cassell operated a Sherman tank, coined by the soldiers as “the flaming coffin.”
“It was an engineering disaster,” recalled Cassell. “It was under-armed and under-gunned. The armor was so thin a German shell would go right through it. Once it was hit, it burned.”
Cassell shared the story of one battle in Rheinberg, Germany that started with 120 U.S. soldiers and 18 tanks. By the time it all ended, 18 soldiers remained alive with only three tanks. A trained artillery mechanic, Cassell boasted he was a good shot.
“That’s why I’m alive today,” he said, smiling.
During the Battle of the Bulge, Cassell said he was never so cold in his life. The military-issued shoes he wore for his presentation were the same kind he had on in knee deep snow over 60 years ago. As students and teachers stood to get a better look at his footwear, Cassell added they would wrap their feet in the captured German’s wool blankets to keep them warm.
One of Cassell’s most memorable experiences from the war was the moment they entered the concentration camp Buchenwald. The retired soldier said it drives him insane when someone says the Holocaust never happened because he saw the devastation with his own eyes.
“Once you see and smell a concentration camp you never forget it,” Cassell said.
The soldiers had no idea of the death and despair that occurred in the camp until they approached the grand entrance and saw people who looked like walking skeletons coming down the road in striped uniforms.
By the time Cassell and the other troops arrived, the SS had taken off and their duty was to try and keep the prisoners contained and give them food.
When asked by a student if Cassell had ever seen Hitler, he replied no but he did take a shot at a high-ranking Nazi officer.
“I took a shot at him from a tank. Unfortunately, I missed him, but I tried,” Cassell said.
Not only did his stories captivate the audience, they provided a real-life learning experience for the kids and adults in attendance. In addition to sharing his wartime experiences, Cassell comes to the school in the fall dressed as a French fur-trader. His unique and fascinating way of making history come alive for students has made a significant impact.
Following Cassell’s presentation this week, several ISMS students spoke of their appreciation for Cassell and a video was made in his honor. U.S. history teachers Amy Shearer, Kelse Harris and Adam Loeffler presented Cassell with a shadow box to recognize his contributions to the education of the students.
“What he does fits right into our social studies curriculum,” said teacher Amy Shearer. “He has some great stories and loves to inform and educate the students.”
From the battlefields of World War II to right here in Whitley County, Bob Cassell is sharing a piece of history for young and old alike to learn from and remember.
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, June 02 2009 )
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