Posted on 02/18/2008 8:54:00 PM PST by ButThreeLeftsDo
A Belgian man set out to trace one Minnesota soldier's story, from Minneapolis to the Battle of the Bulge.
How long has it been since anyone thought of Albert Cobb Martin?
Full of promise, the Army first lieutenant and Yale graduate from Minneapolis was 24 when he died in World War II. His mother and father died a few years later. Bert, as he was called, was an only child. Most of his classmates and all of his close relatives are gone.
But half a world away, the Vandeberg family of Belgium won't forget his sacrifice. They never knew Martin, but for years, Marthe Vandeberg faithfully put flowers and flags on the Minnesotan's grave twice a year. When she died in 2006, her son Vincent took over.
For Vincent, the cryptic words on the white marble cross marking Martin's grave in the Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery posed a mystery. The notation -- ALBERT C. MARTIN, 1 LT 590 FA BN 106 DIV, MINNESOTA DEC. 21 1944 -- wasn't enough. He needed to know more.
(Excerpt) Read more at startribune.com ...
Very nice find.
It seems America’s standing in the world is doing just fine among the people who matter.
Rest in peace and thanks for your service to freedom Lt. Martin.
That was great. Thanks.
Remarkable coincidence that Bert, the American whose grave the Belgian family was tending, was actually born in Belgium.
That’s why it’s important to read the whole story.
Thanks....
Wonderful story...Thank you for posting this...and Thank you Belgium...
ping
About the time you begin to think the entire world is going to hell in a hand-cart, something like this comes along.
Wonderful story about some special people on both sides of the Atlantic.
I was surprised to find, three years ago at my Grandmother's service, that buried just to her East was her cousin...a young woman who served as a WWI Nurse in France. She died of influenza just after returning to the States; she was twenty-one years old.
Her parents and family are long gone...my husband noticed the marker...thankfully, we were able to find out at least a little information about her before Grandpa passed away at 99 a few months later.
As a WWII collector myself, I have since run around our small community cemetery each Memorial Day planting posies on the "orphan" graves of those who have served. I know...they have the flags...but maybe we should start a small effort to do this for those whose families may be long gone...the Civil War Soldiers almost NEVER have flowers on their graves.
Obviously, it would be impractical to do it in a very large cemetery...but maybe this post will inspire someone to do the same in the smaller ones that exist in the rural areas.
The fact that Albert Cobb Martin’s biological father was Belgian is interesting. I wonder if Vincent Vandeberg has tried to trace Albert’s biological father.
I also wonder if there might be a connection between Albert and the Vandebergs that led to the care of his grave.
Is it me, or is there a strong resemblance between Albert Martin and Vincent Vandeberg?
but for years, Marthe Vandeberg faithfully put flowers and flags on the Minnesotan's grave twice a year.
Half-sister?
There is a wonderful story.
This heartwarming story brought tears to my eyes. Thank you for posting it.
When I saw the picture of the Vandenberg and of Bert, I thought they were the same man.
I thought it was going to turn out that Bert had fathered one of them. I think he looks just like Bert.
When I saw the picture of the Vandenberg and of Bert, I thought they were the same man.
I thought it was going to turn out that Bert had fathered one of them. I think he looks just like Bert.
Vincent (39) was born around 1968/1969. His mother (Marthe) could have been born around 1944/1945, about the same time or shortly after Bert was in that part of Belgium.
Bert’s Last name was MARTin, Vincent’s mother’s given name was MARThe.
Another interest point is that Vincent’s grandparents could have been born around 1920, which was the year Bert was born. Who was Helen’s Belgian husband? Did he remarry and have children? They could have been about the age of vincent’s grandparents.
Also, when did Vincent’s mother start putting flowers at the grave? Did anyone from the Vandeberg family place flowers there before his mother?
Interesting, then again, it could all be a coincidence.
p.s. Like you said they do look a lot alike!
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