Vietnam War veterans walk in Zeeland’s Memorial Day parade on Monday.
By Greg Chandler
Zeeland Record
Army 2nd Lt. Emerson Marvin Visch lost his life on Nov. 22, 1944, during a battle with enemy forces in the German mining town of Goslar. Born in Zeeland, he had just celebrated his 29th birthday 11 days earlier.
A few days before he was killed, Visch took heroic action under severely adverse conditions against German troops. He had been sent back to the battlefield as a squad leader after having been wounded in July 1944, resulting in a three-month hospital stay in England.
Heavy rain had resulted in mud everywhere around Goslar. Water ponded up to the ankles of soldiers in the trenches. Guns jammed because of the mud and became single-shot weapons.
As German troops launched a counterattack on U.S. forces, Visch jumped into action. He had a submachine gun that was dry.
“He left the safety of a rain-drenched trench to go into an exposed position. He fired his submachine gun repeatedly,” Zeeland City Attorney Jim Donkersloot said.
Visch’s bold move terrified the 50 or so German troops on the other side so much that they called out “Kamerad” (German for “comrade”), dropped their weapons and surrendered.
“E.M., Emerson Visch, a Zeeland boy, was a real-life Rambo,” Donkersloot said.
Visch was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross posthumously for his heroism that day, according to the 116th Infantry Regiment Roll of Honor website. His remains were reburied at Zeeland Cemetery on Nov. 11, 1948, on what would have been his 33rd birthday, next to his mother, Carrie Riemersma Visch, who had died in 1936.
Donkersloot, a U.S. Army veteran, shared Visch’s story and sacrifice during Memorial Day services Monday at Second Reformed Church, as the Zeeland community gathered to remember those who paid the ultimate price for our freedoms.
The ceremony, which followed the annual Memorial Day parade, was moved to the church from its usual location at Zeeland Cemetery because of the Church Street reconstruction project. The project also forced organizers to change the parade route, having it conclude on Central Avenue at Maple Street instead of at the entrance to the cemetery.
Several thousand people lined the parade route, many dressed in red, white and blue. They stood and clapped in appreciation as veterans walked by or rode in classic cars, and enjoyed patriotic music from both Zeeland Public and Zeeland Christian school bands.
In addition to speaking about Emerson Visch, Donkersloot read the names of more than 700 soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines from the Zeeland community who are either buried at Zeeland Cemetery, Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, D.C., or in foreign lands where they were killed, or lost at sea.
“Emerson Marvin Visch, servicemen and women, we would love to hug you one last time,” Donkersloot said, his voice breaking with emotion as he finished his address. “Be assured, we have not forgotten you. We will not forget your bravery. We will not forget your sacrifice. You have blessed us – beyond measure. Today, America remains free.”
Zeeland Record
Army 2nd Lt. Emerson Marvin Visch lost his life on Nov. 22, 1944, during a battle with enemy forces in the German mining town of Goslar. Born in Zeeland, he had just celebrated his 29th birthday 11 days earlier.
A few days before he was killed, Visch took heroic action under severely adverse conditions against German troops. He had been sent back to the battlefield as a squad leader after having been wounded in July 1944, resulting in a three-month hospital stay in England.
Heavy rain had resulted in mud everywhere around Goslar. Water ponded up to the ankles of soldiers in the trenches. Guns jammed because of the mud and became single-shot weapons.
As German troops launched a counterattack on U.S. forces, Visch jumped into action. He had a submachine gun that was dry.
“He left the safety of a rain-drenched trench to go into an exposed position. He fired his submachine gun repeatedly,” Zeeland City Attorney Jim Donkersloot said.
Visch’s bold move terrified the 50 or so German troops on the other side so much that they called out “Kamerad” (German for “comrade”), dropped their weapons and surrendered.
“E.M., Emerson Visch, a Zeeland boy, was a real-life Rambo,” Donkersloot said.
Visch was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross posthumously for his heroism that day, according to the 116th Infantry Regiment Roll of Honor website. His remains were reburied at Zeeland Cemetery on Nov. 11, 1948, on what would have been his 33rd birthday, next to his mother, Carrie Riemersma Visch, who had died in 1936.
Donkersloot, a U.S. Army veteran, shared Visch’s story and sacrifice during Memorial Day services Monday at Second Reformed Church, as the Zeeland community gathered to remember those who paid the ultimate price for our freedoms.
The ceremony, which followed the annual Memorial Day parade, was moved to the church from its usual location at Zeeland Cemetery because of the Church Street reconstruction project. The project also forced organizers to change the parade route, having it conclude on Central Avenue at Maple Street instead of at the entrance to the cemetery.
Several thousand people lined the parade route, many dressed in red, white and blue. They stood and clapped in appreciation as veterans walked by or rode in classic cars, and enjoyed patriotic music from both Zeeland Public and Zeeland Christian school bands.
In addition to speaking about Emerson Visch, Donkersloot read the names of more than 700 soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines from the Zeeland community who are either buried at Zeeland Cemetery, Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, D.C., or in foreign lands where they were killed, or lost at sea.
“Emerson Marvin Visch, servicemen and women, we would love to hug you one last time,” Donkersloot said, his voice breaking with emotion as he finished his address. “Be assured, we have not forgotten you. We will not forget your bravery. We will not forget your sacrifice. You have blessed us – beyond measure. Today, America remains free.”
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