The 11th Armored Division was activated on August 15, 1942 at Camp Polk, Louisiana. After much training and preparation, the troops deployed to continental Europe. Around the time of their arrival, Hitler took his last stand. Within a week’s time, the men found themselves in the Battle of the Bulge.

The men fought long and hard. Those who survived the battles soon found themselves "spearheading" through Germany. So swift was the advance that the enemy was completely disorganized.

On April 26th, Thunderbolt patrols crossed the border into Austria, and some task force units patrolled northeasterly into Czechoslovakia. The Division forced surrender of Linz on May 4th, overcoming resistance, blown bridges and roadblocks. But for many, it’s May 5th, 1945 that stands out so clearly in their minds. That is the day the division liberated the Mauthausen and Gusen concentration camps.

"My goodness. We didn’t expect anything like this. This was horrible," says John Slatton, one of the first liberators. "Prisoners everywhere."

"You would never believe those people, skin and bones. They tried to walk," adds LeRoy Woychik, another liberator. "We saw where they were forced to work, there was a big gravel pit."

To the great surprise of their commanders, the first patrol returned with 1,800 German prisoners. And over the coming weeks, the soldiers did what they could to bring order to the camps, to provide medical assistance to the starving inmates, and to provide for burial of thousands of victims of Nazi brutality.

Today these veterans are in their late 70s and early 80s, yet the bonds they forged on the frontline are strong. Many still get together every year at the 11th Armored Division’s annual reunion to see each other and to remember.

Theirs is a story of true heroes and true sacrifice. A story that should not be forgotten.