The Oeting Raid: George White stands on the ground where the Oeting Raid was held and tells of his capture. There were four former POWs along on the 2001 Pilgrimage Tour. Photo: Pam Briola.

Members of the Lorraine Auto Club, which restores World War II vintage vehicles, and whose members reenact battles from World War II, decked out in era-uniforms, escorted the bus carrying the 70th Infantry Division Association members from town to town. The "convoy" was led by the jeeps, followed by the tour bus, which had a large 70th Infantry Division placard with a color rendition of the patch in the front window, and two American flags in the back window. Photo: Pam Briola.

Scars from fighting - Pock marks mar the masonry on the back of the Catholic church in Wingern-sur-Moder. The damage to the church's tower has bee repaired, but the bullet holes remain. The Germans held about 285 captured American soldiers in the basement of this church for two days before the 276th liberated them.Photo: Pam Briola.

Liberation Place. In the village of Alsting, a special area has been set aside for a monument and named: the place of liberation, 20 February 1945.Photo: Pam Briola.

Shrapnel shreds prayer book - This is Ed Cloonan's prayer book. He used it as a diary, too, during the war. He kept track of where he was, when, by writing inthe margins of the pages. He kept his prayer book in his knapsack, on his back. One day he took it out and noticed that shrapnel had blown away the bottom of the book. He had not even felt it.Photo: Pam Briola.

This is the monument to the 70th Infantry Division in Forbach. Just before the ceremony began, Andy McMahon, who fought in Forbach, shared with me that behind this building there once was a cave where 2,000 French had hidden during the fighting.Photo: Pam Briola.

Spicheren Heights monument with men. Photo: Dale Bowlin.

Spicheren Heights monument with women. Photo: Dale Bowlin.

Malleck family - Lixing. Photo: Dale Bowlin.

Robert Malleck with niece translating story of Feb 17, '45. Photo: Dale Bowlin.

Former 6th SS Nord men who met for dinner in Saarbrucken (Seeliger, Adams and Wassmuth with Bowlin.

St Avold wreath ceremony. German adversaries at the ceremony as they laid a wreath: "We from the 6th SS - Mountain Division have come here to pay our deep respect to the brave soldiers of our former American adversaries, especially to their fallen soldiers. May they rest in peace, and may there be peace between our two peoples forever."