Hadley Twp.- For Max Broecker the war began in the spring of 1943.
Broecker was 19 when he was drafted by the United States Army in April. He grew up in Hadley Township on his family’s farm on Brigham Road. He also worked with tools and mechanics at a semi-production tool shop in Lapeer. His family life changed radically that spring.
‘My father was very restrictive. I guess I went to war because I wanted to fly on my own wings.?
Broecker was sent to Camp Custer in Battle Creek, for reassignment with other young men that looked as nervous as he did, not knowing their fate. Shortly after, he was transferred to Camp Wallace in Texas for basic training, then to Camp Miles Standish, Mass. for group training. Advanced combat training was a term he first became familiar with when he was transferred to Camp Campell in Ky.
‘After Camp Campbell, we went to Georgia and trained in the swamps. They wanted to be sure that we could fight in that environment in case we were shipped to the south seas. All the transfers were just a way to toughen us up. They woke us up many times for false alarms that we were shipping out, but wouldn’t. That was a constant activity.?
After months of rigorous training, 3 a.m. wake-up calls, and enough push up’s for ten men, Broecker was told that he was qualified for automatic weapons repair and armor mechanic. He would travel with the 9th Army, 16th core of the 571st Platoon in Company C and begin his connection with the war.
‘There were 127 men in my platoon. We left from a port in New Jersey where we could see the Statue of Liberty. We were on our way to Glasgow, Scotland on a Dutch ship named the New Amsterdam in which we didn’t have a convoy protecting us from the U-Boats.?
As 1943 quickly rolled into 1944, Broecker remembers a whirlwind of memories in foreign lands including Scotland, England, Belgium, Holland, France and Czechoslovakia. The men traveled through bombed out rolling green hills, deserted villages and towns. They were traveling on a half-track tank with four gunners shooting a 450 caliber machine guns.
‘We followed different infantries up and down the lines that were on foot and air protecting them from anti-aircraft, snipers and soldiers. We also had to protect ourselves at the same time.?
Over the course of 18 months, he battled the bitter cold in Germany, dog fights in the sky and the feeling of not wanting to turn his back to anything but the wind.
‘We would spend a week or two here and there. We slept in burnt buildings and just about anywhere else we could find safety. You didn’t sleep for more than two or three hours, that’s still my pattern to this day.?
While occupying a house on a hill that was representing a good lookout position, or waiting through a series of grenade attacks, Broecker wanted to go home. Civilians had seemed to disappear and all that was left were the men and the camaraderie they shared.
‘We weren’t professional soldiers. If they knew how scattered we were at times, they could have easily killed us. We would bury the rubber tracks on our tank, camouflage the top and just wait.?
Broecker received orders for Czechoslovakia in 1945 because of propaganda being dropped about a German stronghold. This, among other rumors, was not true.
‘Once we arrived, the soldiers marched right up to our half tracks, slung their rifles over their shoulders and gave up their lives. They knew they were out of food, tired and were beat. We wanted to help the civilians, but it became hard to trust anyone. A sergeant in our platoon handed a small boy a candy bar, walked away, and the boy shot him in the back. That was the kind of mentality we dealt with. I wanted to give them food, but we needed it too.?
During the war, he wanted to visit parts of Germany because of family he knew of living there, but could not. The Russians manned that territory and shot anyone who resembled like an outsider or spy. He recalls one night seeing 45 planes in 45 minutes all dropping bombs.
‘That division was ruthless. They were serious rebels. They took and did what they wanted. We liked to think that we were at least borrowing. In Germany, there were many different cultures occupying the land. Some were hardcore Nazi, but some were as big of Christians as you or I.?
Broecker stayed in Munich until he was shipped home to his two sisters, brother and parents, which was a hard transition to make. He went in a private, and came home a Tech. Sgt. Sleepless nights, lack of money, and missed friends made it hard for him to adjust. Sometimes Broecker, his cousin and brother, all WWII veterans, would gather, drink some whiskey, and relive memories from the war.
‘Your mind never seems to forget it. It just doesn’t leave you. I kinda miss those sessions with the boys, talking a little about what we each did and saw.?
Broecker married when he was 29, admitting he was somewhat unruly and just couldn’t seem to settle down. They had three children together, later giving him three grandchildren. He worked for Chevrolet on the assembly line for two years, then at General Motors for 20 years.
‘In my interview, the plant manager at the time was Ozzie Chris. He knew that I was qualified for a journeyman position, but the union man said I wasn’t. Ozzie looked down on my application seeing my war credentials, gave the union man a look and told him I was accepted and hired me right then and there.?
During his time served, his bravery and valor awarded him the Riflemen Medal, Good Conduct Medal, Efficiency, Honor and Fidelity Medal, the American Campaign Medal, Victory Medal, and the European-African-Middle Eastern Medal. In his possession, he has a picture of an original half track, and a discharge pin called the Eagle Walking, which he comically refers to as a ruptured duck.
‘I could still cut a stick from 200 yards in two.?
Today Broecker holds his head high on his 40 acres in Hadley Township where he enjoys his peace, watching the birds at the feeder, and the occasional stray cat that makes its way into his cozy home. He spends time at his church and has taken up woodworking making anything from toys for children, to antique stoves. He believes in doing things the old way, and is proud to celebrate the bittersweet memories Memorial Day brings.
‘I saw a bumper sticker last week that said, ‘If you love your country, hug a veteran. I really liked seeing that because it let me know people remember,? said Broecker.