Royace T. McDanel, 32° 216 Travis Street Port Lavaca, Texas 77979–2646 Photos: Bro. McDanel's WW II rose cross bears a French inscription which says: "There is no peace without God."

In 1945, a rose cross saved my life. At the time, I did not know anything about the Freemasons or the Scottish Rite. After being discharged from the U.S. Army in 1946, I became a Mason in 1949 and a Master of the Royal Secret in 1985. Witnessing the 18°, I become familiar with the Rose Croix. I have often wondered if the cross I carried through the World War II and since is a Scottish Rite Rose Croix. This is the story of my rose cross.

Somewhere in Europe, I do not recall the name of the town, but the year was 1945, I was First Scout, Third Platoon Co. "C" First Battalion, 335th Regiment of the 84th Infantry Division. My company was advancing through a town. I was the lead man.

There were mortars, 88's, and small arms fire coming in very heavy. I had taken cover by the curb on a cobblestone street just waiting for the shellfire to ease up. As I was lying there, I heard a piece of metal zing past my helmet and hit the stone street. I thought it was shrapnel. As I got up to run, I saw that the piece of metal was a cross. I picked it up, put it in the pocket of my field jacket and, later, I hung it on my dog tags. The war went on for several months, and I became a squad leader (S/Sgt.) of the First Squad within the same platoon.

We were advancing toward the Elbe River and were told our next stop would be Berlin. The company had moved up to a canal bank, which went on for a couple of miles. Our C.O., Captain Woods, and my Lieutenant were looking across the canal with binoculars into the wooded area, a distance of about 700 yards of open ground from the canal bank.

To the left, about a half-mile away, a church steeple stood out above some trees. To the right, the canal went for about a half-mile and curved into the woods. My Lieutenant called me over, and Captain Woods said, "We've got to find out what's in those woods." I asked if I could take my patrol down the canal bank where it meets the woods. Captain Woods said, "We don't have that kind of time. We have to get in there right away!"

Looking down the canal, we could see a wrecked bridge. Captain Woods said, "See if you can get across where that bridge is." I told my squad we had to move out. There was some grumbling by the men like "Why is it always us?" I said, "Let's go!" We moved out and made it across the wrecked bridge. With open ground on our right and left for about a half-mile in either direction, we proceeded toward the woods.

As we approached the tree line, about a hundred yards or so ahead, we could see the legs of men below the tree foliage running back and forth. McMinn and Eagelson yelled, "Look in the woods!" I shouted, "I see them. We are committed, keep moving, stay spread out, don't move in a straight line, and stagger your steps."

I just knew I was going to die in that field. I wondered how bad it would hurt. Would I have to lie out there wounded for a long time, and where would I get hit? We were moving toward a little pocket in the woods. When we were just about 30 yards away, I turned to my left and yelled, "Hit the woods."

The author in 1945 U.S. Army uniform wearing his rose cross.

We ran for the trees, and I yelled, "McMinn, get that B.A.R. [Browning automatic rifle] down here. Cover the right flank, cover the left flank." There was some firing coming from my left. McMinn was on the ground. He yelled, "Mc, he's got you in his sights!" I yelled, "Shoot!" He said, "I can't, you're in the way!" I had been straining my eyes trying to see through the tree foliage in front of me. About the same instant, I realized what McMinn had said. I looked to my right, and a German soldier had his Mauser rifle aimed directly at me. He was no more than 20 feet away.

I immediately fell in a firing position. I was just about to shoot when he dropped his rifle and put his hands up. I yelled in German to keep his hands up and come out. As he moved forward, I stood up. He gave some orders to his men, and they came out of the woods, throwing their rifles in a pile.

As he came close to me, he reached out and placed his finger on the rose cross medal that was hanging out of my field jacket and said, in German, "You are a Christian, and you won't shoot us." He had seen the cross as we came near the woods. I didn't even know it was hanging out of my field jacket.

I believe that cross saved my life and possibly the lives of my men. This German soldier was an officer. I didn't know what rank. When he surrendered, his men did also, some 12 or so.

My cross is gold in color. I have enclosed a picture (see above). On the back is an inscription: "There Is No Peace Without God."

Royace T. McDanel was born in Indianapolis, Indiana, and grew up around Houston, Texas. Upon honorable discharge after WWII, he entered the University of Houston and submitted his request to be a Mason. After graduating in 1949, he joined the Aluminum Co. of American and transferred his Masonic membership from Melrose Lodge No. 1294 in Houston to Port Lavaca, No. 36 in Port Lavaca, Texas. In 1999, he received his 50-year pin. He is also a member of Knights Templar, Order of the Eastern Star, and a Life Member of the VFW. He has been a member of the Scottish Rite, Valley of Houston, Texas, since 1985.