WWII Soldier Tells the Story of the Deadliest Night of His Life!

In this episode of the Urban Valor Podcast, we sit down with a World War II Army veteran who survived one of the deadliest moments of the European campaign...the Rhine River crossing! And later walked through a liberated Nazi death camp! At just 19 years old, Paul A. Groves was drafted into the U.S. Army and assigned as an infantry messenger with E Company, 89th Infantry Division under General Patton. In January 1945, he landed in France before pushing toward the Rhine River — one of the final and most dangerous barriers into Nazi Germany. At 2:00 AM, his unit loaded into boats under darkness. Halfway across, German machine guns opened fire. His company commander was killed. His first sergeant was killed. Then the boat exploded. Thrown into the freezing river under direct fire, Paul became the only Soldier from his boat to survive. As American forces advanced into Germany, he helped liberate a Nazi concentration camp — describing the smell of death before they ever saw it. After surviving the Rhine and witnessing the camps, Paul was told he would likely be sent to invade Japan. Then the atomic bomb was dropped. Now over 100 years old, he reflects on combat, fear, survival, and what General Patton meant when he said a Soldier must learn to hate the enemy. This is a firsthand WWII testimony from one of the last living soldiers of that generation. 👍 Like this video to support and show appreciation. 🗣️ Comment your support or ask any questions. Sometimes, our interviewees respond, and we at Urban Valor will do our best to respond as well! ✅ SUBSCRIBE to support Urban Valor and the courageous Veterans who tell their stories AND so you NEVER miss a weekly episode of our veteran stories. New stories every Sunday! Your engagement greatly supports our mission to share authentic and impactful veteran stories. Chapters: 00:00 – Landing in France at 10 Below Zero 02:00 – Drafted Into the Army in 1943 05:15 – Military Police Training & Infantry Assignment 15:20 – Shipping Out to Europe 17:49 – Frozen Boots at Camp Lucky Strike 21:50 – Preparing to Cross the Rhine River 23:12 – Boat Explosion & Becoming the Only Survivor 25:25 – Drifting Alone Under German Fire 31:03 – Liberating Ordorf Concentration Camp 33:37 – Facing the Russians in Vienna 46:54 – Coming Home After the War 50:31 – Nightmares & Life After Combat 53:24 – Politics, War & Truth 59:05 – Advice for Young Soldiers 1:00:59 – “You Have to Hate the Enemy” – Patton’s Words 1:01:29 – Secret to Living to 100 #military #warstories #urbanvalor #usarmy #warstories