– a remarkable message considering that it was coming from a Jew. On the morning of May 3, 1945, the American 103rd Infantry Division of the Seventh Army was ordered to take Innsbruck. When the troops got closer to the city, they saw an approaching car with a white banner made out of a bed sheet. Major Bland West, an intelligence officer, saw a young man with a swollen face jumping out of the car. He introduced himself as Lt. Mayer of the OSS, and explained that he was going to take the major with him to accept the German surrender. Later on West found out that Mayer was a sergeant. Thus, the German troops in this area surrendered to an American sergeant, a Jewish emigrant from Germany. Awards Fred Mayer was awarded these medals and badges: Legion of Merit Purple Heart Good Conduct Medal Prisoner of War Medal American Campaign Medal European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with three Bronze Services Star Army of Occupation Medal World War II Victory Medal Honorable Service Lapel Button Parachutist Badge Later years A TV movie based on Operation Greenup, with Frederick Mayer and the other surviving agents and family members, titled The Real Inglorious Bastards (2012), premiered on History Television. In it, Wijnberg and Mayer are reconnected for a discussion via webcam chat. Hans Wijnberg died the day after his interview for the production. The movie specifies that Mayer, Weber, and Wijnberg "were all decorated for their role in Operation Greenup". Director Ernst Gossner acquired the life rights from Frederick Mayer and is currently working on a TV Mini-Series as well as a movie on Operation Greenup. In April 2013, Senator Jay Rockefeller from West Virginia wrote a letter to President Obama asking him to consider further recognizing Mayer's service to the United States. Rockefeller later presented a signed letter from Obama to Mayer thanking him for his service. On March 18, 2014, West Virginia Secretary of State Natalie Tennant called on President Obama to award Fred Mayer the Medal of Honor. Secretary Tennant also posted a 20-minute interview with him and presented him a special Certificate of Commendation from her office. Mayer lived in Charles Town, West Virginia, from 1977. He was a Meals on Wheels volunteer. Mayer died on April 15, 2016. References Bibliography Lichtblau, Eric (2019). Return to the Reich. Description & searchable preview. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. 1921 births 2016 deaths