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Emerging from history

Updated Nov. 7, 2013, 5:20 p.m. ET
Wereth, Belgium is a tiny hamlet near the German border where, in 1944, during the Battle of the Bugle, 11 black American soldiers were captured by German troops. The story of the 11 men would probably have remained buried in a dusty file in the National Archives if not for the efforts of a Belgian man who was a 12-year-old boy when he saw the 11 Americans marched out of the tiny hamlet by a handful of SS soldiers.
Wereth, Belgium is a tiny hamlet near the German border where, in 1944, during the Battle of the Bugle, 11 black American soldiers were captured by German troops. The story of the 11 men would probably have remained buried in a dusty file in the National Archives if not for the efforts of a Belgian man who was a 12-year-old boy when he saw the 11 Americans marched out of the tiny hamlet by a handful of SS soldiers.
Natalie Hill For USA TODAY
Tina Heinrichs-Langer was 17 years old in 1944 when her family sheltered a group of 11 black American soldiers in Wereth, Belgium.
Tina Heinrichs-Langer was 17 years old in 1944 when her family sheltered a group of 11 black American soldiers in Wereth, Belgium.
Natalie Hill For USA TODAY
Tina's father, Mathias Langer, didn't hesitate to offer help the American soldiers. He invited the men into his home, seating them at the family's rustic kitchen table, where he gave the grateful men hot coffee and bread.
Tina's father, Mathias Langer, didn't hesitate to offer help the American soldiers. He invited the men into his home, seating them at the family's rustic kitchen table, where he gave the grateful men hot coffee and bread.
Natalie Hill For USA TODAY
Memorabilia of the Wereth 11hangs on the wall of the Langer house. A photograph of Tina Heinrichs-Langer's brother Hermann, who was instrumental in creating the memorial, can be seen on the right.
Memorabilia of the Wereth 11hangs on the wall of the Langer house. A photograph of Tina Heinrichs-Langer's brother Hermann, who was instrumental in creating the memorial, can be seen on the right.
Natalie Hill For USA TODAY
A virgin Mary statue is displayed outside of the Langer home on the spot where the 11 Americans were to sit on ground after being discovered by German troops.
A virgin Mary statue is displayed outside of the Langer home on the spot where the 11 Americans were to sit on ground after being discovered by German troops.
Natalie Hill For USA TODAY
In 1994, more than 50 years after the killing, Hermann Langer quietly placed a cross at the site of the massacre, a cow pasture, and sought the names of the 11 Americans.
In 1994, more than 50 years after the killing, Hermann Langer quietly placed a cross at the site of the massacre, a cow pasture, and sought the names of the 11 Americans.
Natalie Hill For USA TODAY
In 2001, Norman Lichtenfeld, whose father was a Battle of the Bulge veteran, helped a small group of Belgians from the area raise funds to purchase the property and build a larger memorial.
In 2001, Norman Lichtenfeld, whose father was a Battle of the Bulge veteran, helped a small group of Belgians from the area raise funds to purchase the property and build a larger memorial.
Natalie Hill For USA TODAY
The names of the Wereth 11 are engraved on the memorial on the site.
The names of the Wereth 11 are engraved on the memorial on the site.
Natalie Hill For USA TODAY
Flowers are displayed on the memorial site.
Flowers are displayed on the memorial site.
Natalie Hill For USA TODAY
There is a ceremony each year at the site honoring the men, attracting American, Belgian and Germans to the memorial.
There is a ceremony each year at the site honoring the men, attracting American, Belgian and Germans to the memorial.
Natalie Hill For USA TODAY
"These 11 guys deserve to be remembered," said Regina Benjamin, the former U.S. surgeon general, whose uncle was a member of the same battalion and was captured by the Germans at the Battle of the Bulge.
"These 11 guys deserve to be remembered," said Regina Benjamin, the former U.S. surgeon general, whose uncle was a member of the same battalion and was captured by the Germans at the Battle of the Bulge.
Natalie Hill For USA TODAY
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