Deutsche Reichsbahn Fork - Conrad “Dale” Ours
I thought fitting to share this story and piece of history. I got this piece for my Birthday recently. My Friend James has a knife he picked up also as well from the same entity as well.
The Deutsche Reichsbahn Fork in my collection was procured from Gorings Car #243 Salon / Back Up Dining Car. The Soldier Sgt. Conrad (Dale) Ours who was a member of F Company, 506 P.I.R. of the 101 Airborne Division. In a letter I show pictured with him below and the fork Dale (Conrad) Ours states: I was in World War II-101st airborne-506th Battalion Paratrooper-My platoon was 1st on Hitlers private train in tunnel at Berchtesgaden. He goes on to talk about several pieces of silverware & other items that he removed from the train. He had reached out to Mr. Wilson about value and sold the pieces to a well respected collector. Dale Conrad Ours was actually on Gorings Train Car 10-243. He was mistaken and it was not Hitlers Train. He didnt know at the time but Gorings Train was also in the tunnel.
I believe that in my studies Göring had two trains (Sonderzug- special train) at first they were called Asien I and II.
Wagon # Description Which Train
10 # 241 primary dining car Görings Train
10 # 242 primary dining car Hitlers Train
10 # 243 salon car / back up dining car Görings Train
10 # 244 salon car/back up dining car Hitlers Train
I have spent awhile doing research and making many calls to Brookfield, MO. Brookfield, MO residents knew him and collaborate who he was and his stories. Confirmed his address and his life. I hope to make a trip to his grave site this summer and salute him for his service and thank his memory for a little piece of history I have from him.
The book signed by author William True The Cow Spoke French I am currently reading. Many great stories already and some pictures of Ours with True & Tom Alley. I photographed from the book Trues recall about the prizes sought after in Berchtesgaden and the competition to get there first. A picture currently of the tunnel in 2013 is used to store city equipment.
Conrad Dale Ours (Went by Dale)
101st Airborne Div 506th Company F WWII
Born: May 22nd, 1924
Died: August 12th, 2000
Conrad Dale Ours was cremated and was buried on May 19th, 2001 at Rose Hill Cemetery in Brookfield, MO - Block 25 Lot 29 Site 07
Dale Conrad married his wife Esther (Gullick) Ours on February 24th, 1946. She passed away at 90 years old on November 2nd, 2012.
Dale lived in Brookfield, MO after WWII and had a car lot there. He was remembered fondly by the people of Brookfield. I spoke to LeeAnn from the VFW in Brookfield, MO and she remembers him when growing up in the community. Speaking with Kevin Devoy who lives in Brookfield and sells insurance today he told me that he worked for Dale Ours and Douglass Kennedy at their Auto Delaership. Douglass Kennedy was Conrad Dale Ours partner in Kennedy-Ours Motors, Brookfield, until his retirement. Mr. Kennedy was a Marine Corps veteran of World War II serving in the Amphibious Corp in the Pacific where he was awarded the Bronze Star. I also sent pictures of Conrad Dale to Kevin Devoy from the book The Cow Spoke French Kevin verified his image as that of Conrad Dale Ours. Kevin said Dale and Douglass would drag him to the Elks Club. Dale would show Kevin the proper position as a paratrooper on how to Jump while standing on the Elks Lodge table. Kevin said he was in awe to hang around with those guys and Dale was the best guy in the world to work for. Kevin will be talking to more vets who are still around who knew Conrad Dale Ours and getting me some more images and details of relationships. My hope is to buy them dinner & hear some stories while thanking them for their service.
In the end it is just a piece of Silverware from a Train. The story for all I know or care could be embellished or 100% true. Conrad Dale Ours has been fun researching & priceless either way.
Hope you enjoy! Thanks as well for the Birthday Wishes today! You guys are my family so I treasure you all!
Rossi
