An Ordinary Hero

An Ordinary Hero"An Ordinary Hero: A Story of War, Family, Courage, and Survival" offers readers a glimpse at heroes of "The Greatest Generation" during World War II. Bud Barish tells the story of his experiences leading up to, during and after his time serving in the infantry. After spending nine months in the sought after ASTP (Army Specialized Training Program), the program was cancelled. Barish and all the students in school with him were sent back into training

"An Ordinary Hero: A Story of War, Family, Courage, and Survival" offers readers a glimpse at heroes of "The Greatest Generation" during World War II. Bud Barish tells the story of his experiences leading up to, during and after his time serving in the infantry.

After spending nine months in the sought after ASTP (Army Specialized Training Program), the program was cancelled. Barish and all the students in school with him were sent back into training to serve in the 103rd Cactus Division. Lacking experience and skills, these "students" were expected to serve in roles such as policing of European cities. Instead, they were thrown into some of the most difficult, challenging and bloodiest battles of the war and proved to surpass all expectations. They were the first army in history to cross the impregnable Vosges Mountains and the first company to cross the German border. On December 31, 1944, Operation Northwind (often called the "Other" Battle of the Bulge) began. It was to be the last major German offensive of WWII and was orchestrated by Hitler himself who announced that the objective of the attack was to exterminate the enemy forces. The Battle at Sessenheim would become Barish's last battle. All of the American tanks in the battle were destroyed and 80% of the men in his company were lost. Barish tells how he and other injured men hid from SS troops in the basement of the then Nazi occupied town of Sessenheim and of the incredible hero who risked his life over and over to save them. For 51 years, Barish searched to find him to say "thank you".