During the Battle of the Bulge, fear and confusion spread across Allied lines as German soldiers disguised themselves as Americans during a covert mission known as Operation Greif.

For the men of the 99th Infantry Battalion (Separate) — a largely Norwegian-American unit with strong accents and an unfamiliar identity — that confusion created a dangerous new reality: they could be mistaken for the enemy by their own side.

In this chapter of Our WWII Dad, brothers Chris and Ken Cangilla explore the remarkable story of the 99th Infantry Battalion, often called the “Forrest Gump” unit of World War II because of the extraordinary number of historic moments they seemed to encounter throughout the war.

The episode also features a powerful conversation with Erik Brun, co-editor of The Viking Battalion, who shares the deeply personal story of his father, Christian Brun — including the emotional burden he carried after being separated from fellow soldiers during some of the war’s most difficult moments.

From Camp Hale and the 10th Mountain Division to the Battle of the Bulge, Merkers Mine, Buchenwald, and the King of Norway’s homecoming, this episode explores not only what these men accomplished during WWII, but who they became afterward.

Follow Our WWII Dad for cinematic WWII storytelling, battlefield journeys, family history, and untold stories from the Greatest Generation.

CHAPTERS

0:01 — Introduction
2:14 — Minneapolis–St. Paul: Birthplace of the 99th Battalion
3:33 — WWII Memorial and USS Ward Gun
5:39 — Fort Snelling and Memorial Chapel
7:36 — Camp Hale and the 10th Mountain Division
13:31 — WWII Round Table: The 99th Battalion
17:52 — New Discoveries About the 99th
19:04 — Operation Greif and Mistaken Identity
20:50 — The 474th Infantry Regiment
23:30 — Merkers Mine and Hidden Nazi Treasures
24:18 — The “Forrest Gump” Unit of WWII
24:50 — Defining Moments of the 99th
25:38 — First U.S. Unit to Secure a German City
26:00 — Protecting First Army Headquarters
26:28 — The Battle of the Bulge
27:04 — Merkers Mine and The Monuments Men
27:29 — Liberation of Buchenwald
28:01 — Honor Guard for the King of Norway
29:02 — Best Moments from the WWII Round Table
31:18 — Erik Brun and His WWII Dad
32:37 — Christian Brun Joins the 99th Battalion
34:41 — Camp Hale Training
36:47 — Selected for Headquarters Guard
40:05 — A Bittersweet Assignment
42:16 — Operation Greif’s Impact on the 99th
46:16 — Christian Brun’s Toughest Moments
50:52 — Return to Norway and the King’s Homecoming
53:52 — Christian’s Life After the War
55:57 — The Viking Battalion Book
57:14 — Erik Brun’s Most Cherished Memory
1:00:01 — What Defined Our WWII Dads