Brothers Learn Of War Coincidence Over Dinner

It was an ordinary day.  Reading a story in my Lancaster Newspaper's "I Know A Story" section.  It was submitted by Mr. Randy Flahart and was about Pop Flahart, who served in the 301st Signal Operation Battalion which was attached to Patton's 3rd Army during World War II.  Story began with Randy talking about his brother, Smokeym who was inn an armored unit, also serving in the 3rd Army.  But they did't have contact wutg each Iger during the war.  During the Battle of the Bulge, the 3rd Army turned north to attack the remain flank in an attempt to break the siege at Bastogne.  On Christmas Eve 1944, Pop's unit was in Luxembourg City.  Pop and his buddies found an empty building across the street from headquarters, thinking hey could sleep indoors for the first time in a long time.  Just as they were settling in, a sergeant came and told them they had to move.   Their Jeeps were adding to the traffic problem and crating a target.  They told him they had orders to stay there so they could be found when needed.  The sergeant left but it wasn't long before an officer came and made them move to the green (town park) down the street.  Looked like they were sleeping outside again.  When they arrived, there was a tank parked on the other side of the green.  They settled in, but the ink kept starting its engine on the hour token its batteries charged.  Just before daylight, the tank started its engines and left the green.  When Pop's group went back to headquarters, they saw that the building they're planning on staying in had taken a direct hit from a German shell during the night and caved in completely.  It turned out to be good that the officer made them leave.   You might have even called it a Christmas miracle.  The rest of the story came years later, while the family was sitting around the table after Christmas dinner.  The were talking about places they had been on Christmas.  Smokey started talking about Christmas Eve 1944, spent on the green in Luxembourg.  The Germans had been shelling the town from a rail car gun during the night.  Just before sunup, he got orders to late the gun and try to stop it.  They started their engine and left the green.  They found the tunnel the rail gun was hiding in and fired at it just as it was coming out to fire again, putting it out of service.  Pop and his brother had spent Christmas Eve together on the green in Luxembourg.  And they never even knew it until years later.  The author of this story lives in nearby Quarryville, Pennsylvania.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.