Jul 03 , 2020
WWII Soldier Captured and Escaped 7 Times, Reported Dead, Later Decorated by Two Armies
YOU THINK YOU’RE A TOUGH GUY...?
Take a look at this billy bad ass: 
US paratrooper Joseph Beyrle served with the 101st Airborne Division during World War II.
Prior to the start of the Normandy invasions, Beyrle jumped twice into occupied France to coordinate, provide arms, and money to several French resistance units.
He then jumped into France on D-Day, destroyed a enemy gun emplacement, was captured, escaped, and captured again.
He was beaten nearly to death, his uniform and dog tags were taken from him.
A German soldier attempted to infiltrate US lines dressed in Beyrle's uniform and was killed.
The US War Department believed Beyrle had been killed in combat and notified his parents. His mother refused to believe her son was dead and continued to ignore the calls from the family to accept his death.
Beyrle was taken into captivity at an German controlled POW camp.
He attempted to escape and was shot and wounded.
He survived on minimum food and medical attention.
Beyrle would be held in seven different POW camps and escaped again, this time the Gestapo was ready to shoot him, claiming he was a spy.
He escaped again and found his way to a Soviet armor brigade which was near the POW camp.
Beyrle having knowledge of engines and mechanical background assisted the Soviet tank unit which was equipped with American made M4 Shermans.
He served with armor unit commanded by a Soviet female officer and acted as a scout for the Russians against German positions.
He was wounded again when German dive bombers attacked the Russian armor column.
He was taken to a Soviet hospital where he met Soviet Marshall Zhukov who was curious on how this American paratrooper ended up in a Soviet hospital.
Zhukov was so impressed with Beryle's story he provided safe passage back to the US Embassy in Moscow.
Due to the US War Department believing Beyrle had been killed back in June 1944, the US government kept him under guard for several days until his dental records confirmed he was indeed Beyrle.
Beyrle served more combat time with the Soviets than the Americans and received both US and Soviet citations.
Beyrle returned home and married his sweetheart by the same priest who two years earlier had held his funeral when his family believed he was dead.
Here is SGT Joseph Beyrle's Prisoner of War picture after he was captured again by the Germans.
Related Posts
The Nazi SS Officer That Became a Green Beret, Died in combat, and is Buried at Arlington
THE REAPER: The 3rd Ranger Battalion’s Deadliest Sniper
A Paratrooper’s Legendary Beer Run during the Battle of Bastogne
12 Comments
Today it’s a Me world,
and Men with self-reliant confidence and trust in God’s help when doing what is right are far between.
I’m sure Joseph would not consider himself a hero. Men of integrity like Joseph truly believe in God, country and family. Never themselves as is the case with many, many people in America today. Demoncrats, Reproblicans and Indecent’s all suffer from selfishness and do so with great commitment. God help men be men in America before it’s to late. Integrity is the difference, thank you Joseph!
WOW
It’s men like this that gave his generation the moniker: “The Greatest Generation”. No, they were not all total bad-asses like this guy but most of them DID have love for America, basic Christian values and a backbone. Many of those things came from being taught right from wrong and learning facts about the horrors of communism in Public schools.
This is the kind of brave soldier American needs unfortunately he would be thrown out of service for refusing to be vaccinated, God bless you and Rest In Peace