From Enemies to Brothers...

I'm sure some of you already know about this but I didn't and found it interesting.

This true story is about an American B17 pilot and German BF-109 Pilot. A synopsis is below.

In the Presence of My Enemy is the second in a series of three by John Shaw, which tell the story of the remarkable incident in December 1943, when Luftwaffe ace Franz Stigler encountered the mortally-wounded B-17 Ye Olde Pub, flown by Charles Brown. This scene depicts the moment when Brown, fighting to control his stricken bomber, first lays eyes on his German enemy flying alongside. Fearing the worst, Brown and his crew marveled that their foe did not shoot them down, but rather escorted them safely to the German coastline, where he then saluted them and allowed them to go home. That moment of mercy, depicted in Shaw’s 2009 painting A Higher Call, became a marvelously popular print, and the subject of A New York Times bestseller of the same title, by Adam Makos. These two men began a decade long search following World War II to find each other, and in the early 90s it came to pass! Brown and Stigler were to become very close friends throughout the remainder of their lives; so close that Stigler wrote a letter proclaiming that Charlie Brown replaced the beloved brother whom he’d lost at the beginning of the war.

Some neat depictions of the incident...

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awesome story!

Excellent example of how our enemies are people too, I love reading and hearing about stories like this.

The Christmas Truce of 1914-

Pope Benedict something or the other had requested a cease-fire on Christmas Day, however the warring Countries refused a "official' cease-fire.Someone forgot to tell the troops however. The Americans and Germans,separated by "No-man's land' sang to one another on Christmas eve. Carols and even a brass band was heard joining in! Christmas day,Unarmed German soldiers climbed from their trenches and called out in English "Merry Christmas" to their foes. American forces held back,then joined them on the no-mans land. Trading small presents,stories,and a game of soccer.

Personal story-
while patrolling a part of Baghdad whose name I don't remember,We were shocked at the destruction. We hadn't had much contact,but the place was leveled and rubbled for blocks around. In perfect,Cambridge English We heard "Perfect,You've arrived finally..I have much to say,but first,Tea!". A Iraqi civilian approached us and bid us to Him. A full 18man strong assault weapon armed to the teeth American Marine combat squad w/extras. We humored Him and followed Him to a pile of rubble..upon which sat a silver full tea set...a sattelite dish had been turned into a makeshift burner to set the pot upon to heat water.But otherwise,all that was missing were cucumber sandwiches and some light chamber music. We sat,had tea as told and listened as He told us of studying medicine in England,then Canada. We later used some of His 'other' information to take care of other business. Here,We,the invaders,they who brought the destruction of His clinic,His home,His place of work and worship...being treated as proper,expected,honored guests.

That Man now lives in the mid-west,is one HELL of a thoracic surgeon of what I hear,and all His kids are going to college---in Britain!

If you look hard enough around the brutality of war you will always find shining examples of the fundamental nature of human kindness.

True indeed Pnut

Apparently there is a book about it.