NewsA Veterans Voice

Actions

A Veteran's Voice: E.T. Roberts

A Veteran's Voice: E.T. Roberts
Posted
and last updated

It was 75 years ago that Nazi Germany surrendered to Allied Forces, bringing the war in Europe to an end. 96-year-old veteran E.T. Roberts was in Holland on that day. It's one he'll never forget.

Through all the death and destruction he witnessed first hand, he said he still wasn't ready to leave. He was still watching for the enemy.

"Kept my eyes going side other, didn't want them comin' out behind wall," Roberts said.

Slowly, the news began to sink in. When his unit finally realized it was over, they started pulling off their uniforms.

"Pull patches off, badges, let's forget it now and live," said Roberts.

As soldiers began rotating back to the states, Roberts volunteered for MP duty in Germany, even though he was at the front of the line to leave.

"I had more points, 178 days in combat, ask me, 'Hey would you mind, let guys come home that had families."

It was because of that he got the chance to get to know the real German people.

"We got ready to come home, Germans filled streets, hugging necks, thanks for the job we had done, we didn't want this more than you did."

For E.T. Roberts, Germany surrendered on May 8, 1945. But it was six more weeks before he said goodbye to Europe for a three-day cruise back to the U.S. on an old German boat.

,

Weather

Daily Forecast

View Hourly Forecast

Day

Conditions

HI / LO

Precip

Thursday

09/18/2025

Heavy Rain

-° / 68°

99%

Friday

09/19/2025

Partly Cloudy

84° / 70°

15%

Saturday

09/20/2025

Clear

89° / 69°

3%

Sunday

09/21/2025

Clear

90° / 68°

2%

Monday

09/22/2025

Mostly Clear

93° / 72°

6%

Tuesday

09/23/2025

Mostly Clear

95° / 72°

5%

Wednesday

09/24/2025

Clear

89° / 68°

3%

Thursday

09/25/2025

Clear

89° / 68°

2%