From the front lines of WWII to a life well lived in Wabasha: Edwin Albrecht reflects on sacrifice, family, and receiving France's highest honor

Edwin Albrecht was born in Robinsdale, Minnesota in 1925, and grew up in a typical household. When he was 18 years old, one month after graduating from high school, he was drafted into World War II. “We were all subject to the draft,” Albrecht recalled. “Some went into the navy, some went into the marines, I went into the army.” By 1943, he was in uniform, moving through a series of training camps across the United States.After excelling on his en-trance tests, Edwin was sent to Fargo for pre-engineering courses. As a younger recruit, he repeated the barracks train-ing twice. The army delayed sending younger men to the front until they were consid-ered ready. By the time he turned 19, he was needed, and Edwin and his comrades were on the journey to France.Edwin’s troop, the 42nd Rainbow Division, prepared for departure at Camp Kilmer, New Jersey, and on Thanks-giving Day 1944, they set out for France by ship. “The trip there didn’t bother me,” he said, “I was ready, and I was ‘going with the flow.’” After two weeks at sea, they landed in France and continued by train to the front lines. There, Edwin dug a foxhole where he would live and fight, “that was our home,” he said. Peri-odically, Edwin and his fellow soldiers were rotated from the front to clean up, receive new equipment, and get new shoes.During a family trip to France in 2009, Edwin and his daugh-ters visited the site where he had fought. He was able to point out the woods where his unit was and they locat-ed a commemorative bench honoring the 42nd Rainbow Division.By March 1945, the 42nd Rainbow Division was in-volved in one of the final Allied attacks against the German lines called Operation Nordwind, south of where the Battle of the Bulge was occurring. “We were told it would be ‘the last big push,’” Edwin remembered. He was fighting on the front lines when a piece of shrapnel struck him. He described the moment: a tremendous blow to his back, smoke everywhere, and fire at his feet. The injury caused him to lose consciousness, but not before he managed to move himself into a safer position, hoping the medics would find him. When help arrived, he was taken to a field hospital for treatment. “That was the end of the war for me,” he said.Life for combat medics during battles was dangerous. Medics were often under enemy fire, carrying only basic supplies marked with the Red Cross. Their job was to stop bleeding, treat shock, and stabilize wounds before removing the injured. When possible, they used stretchers, but they often had to drag or carry wounded soldiers through forests, mud, and snow. The winter of 1944–45 made conditions challenging, with freezing temperatures de-laying evacuations for hours. Once at an aid station, doctors provided further care before sending the wounded on to field hospitals, sometimes by ambulance or even aircraft.Operation Nordwind got to Hatten, France, just as the Battle of the Bulge was winding down. The fighting there was said to be brutal, with American and German troops battling house to house throughout the villages. With help from the 42nd Rainbow Division and allied troops, the Germans didn’t get any farther into eastern France. The Battle of the Bulge itself was the last major German of-fensive on the Western Front, fought in the Ardennes region of Belgium, Luxembourg, and near France. German forces launched a surprise attack, aim-ing to split the Allied armies. This created a massive bulge in the Allied lines and resulted in intense fighting during one of the coldest winters of the war. The American 101st Air-borne famously held Bastogne, Belgium, despite being sur-rounded. By January 1945, the Allies had pushed the Germans back, ending Germany’s final major attack. The battle was one of the deadliest for U.S. forces, with more than 75,000 Americans killed, wounded, or missing, while the Germans lost 100,000 men as well as irreplaceable equipment and fuel and too much fuel and equipment to recoup. The war came to an end in May 1945. Today, the sacrifices of those who fought are remembered through memorials and cer-emonies across France, Bel-gium, and Luxembourg.Following his injury on the front lines, Edwin was moved to a hospital in Dijon, France, where he had surgery. He was later transported by hospital ship to Charleston, South Carolina, and then to Spokane, Washington, where he re-ceived additional treatment for chest injuries. After recovering for three months in Minnesota, he was called back to duty and reassigned to Hatch, New Mexico, where he served as a guard for German prisoners. He was finally discharged in March 1946.Returning home to Minneso-ta, Edwin was eager, like many of his peers, to move forward with his life. “We quickly put the war behind us,” he said, “and got busy living.” Taking advantage of the G.I. Bill, he enrolled in optometry school in Chicago in 1947, and com-pleted a four-year degree in just three years. He set his sights on owning a private practice and eventually moved to Wabasha. By that time, he had met his wife through mutual friends, and together, they began to build a life in pursuit of the American dream. “I was mo-tivated to get through school and get out into the working world,” he said. Many other veterans shared that drive to “catch up on their life and get out into the world.” Over the years, Edwin remained in touch with his company commander, and they reunited several times in Iowa during the 1950s. He believes that his wartime experiences did not diminish his ability to live his life to the fullest.On the anniversary of D-Day, June 6th, Albrecht was among some of the remaining World War II veterans who ventured on to a special return trip to Normandy, France. The trip was organized by the Best Defense Foundation, a nonprofit devoted to honor-ing veterans and preserving their stories. Founded by former NFL linebacker Don-nie Edwards, the foundation sponsors “Battlefield Return” trips for veterans to revisit the places where they served. Albrecht’s participation in the return to Normandy reflects not only his own service, but the contributions of an entire generation often called “The Greatest Generation.” These trips allow families and stu-dents to hear directly from those who witnessed history.On the return trip this year, Edwin was one of the WWII veterans who received a French Legion of Honor Award which is a prestigious recognition for those who fought in combat. “It was a highlight of the trip,” he said. The visit included a parade, with crowds lining the streets to greet and celebrate the vet-erans. “They were extremely grateful for us and treated us really well,” Edwin said.Now, at 101, Edwin says he’s “feeling great,” surrounded by his three daughters, whom he affectionately calls his “queens.” When asked for his secret to a long life, he replied, “walk every day.” In Wabasha, he was known for walking everywhere, includ-ing to his optometry practice. He believes staying active is essential for longevity. He looks forward to celebrating the 250th 4th of July with his family and good music, “it’s a good thing to celebrate our country,” he said. Edwin hopes his community continues to honor the American flag and finds ways to serve the country. The flag, he says, is a symbol of the sacrifices made to preserve freedom. Of the 16.4 million Amer-icans who served in World War II, less than half a percent are still alive today, most be-tween 98 and 105 years old. Edwin Albrecht is not only remembered for his wartime service, but also for his years of compassionate care as the community’s optometrist. As the nation reflects on its 250th anniversary, hearing stories like his reminds us of the values of freedom that shape our country