Graham Stevenson – El Alamein – Normandy – Sherwood Rangers
Graham Stevenson joined when he was 16 and served in Africa, including El Alamein, from ages 17 – 19 with the Sherwood Rangers Tank Regiment. Along with tankmate Ken Ewing, Graham fought against Karl Friedrich Koenig at the Mareth Line, in Tunisia. After returning to England, the Sherwood Rangers Tank Regiment trained in the Sherman DD swimming tanks for the invasion of Normandy. Graham came in on Gold Beach and was seriously wounded in hedgerow fighting on his first day in Normandy. He was evacuated back to England, and after a long time in recovery, was demobilized.
Ken Ewing and Karl Friedrich Koenig became friends in the 1990’s and both connected with Graham in the 2000’s. They all remained close until Ken passed away in 2010, and Charley passed in September 2020.
Graham passed away on January 3, 2021. We shall never forget him, and remember him with fondness always.
Charley Koenig – 21st Panzer Division – Africa Corps
Charley Koenig and Paratrooper Thomas Blakey at the National World War II Museum in New Orleans
Karl Friedrich Koenig was 19 when he entered combat as an officer candidate in 1943. After arriving in Africa, he fought against both the British and the Americans as a part of the 21st Panzer Division, Regiment 5. Six weeks after he arrived, the Germans surrendered. Karl Friedrich was taken as a POW by the Americans, and transported to the United States. Actively working to improve his English skills and pick up Americanisms, he became a translator and soon went by the name Charley.
After spending over two years in camps in Arkansas, Louisiana and Oklahoma, Charley and many POW’s were sent back to Europe in 1946. Expecting to return home, they were instead diverted to POW camps in Belgium, and then on to England. Finally, in 1947, Charley returned to Germany where he had a successful career in business, raising four children.
He has been an invaluable partner, sharing his wisdom in regards to peace, healing and reconciliation, as well as gaining the trust of German veterans we have interviewed.
