ORLANDO, Florida (CNN) -- Samuel Fahrer and Sidney Lipson shake hands and smile. It's the first time the men have seen each other in 64 years. They were U.S. soldiers back on a forced death march in Nazi Germany in April 1945.



Sidney Lispson, left, and Samuel Fahrer meet for the first time in 64 years. They were in a Nazi slave labor camp.



"How you doing?" Fahrer says.



It's a subdued moment for the two men. There are no tears, no pats on the back. The men have endured years of contained emotions from what happened six decades ago when they were prisoners of war and held as slaves inside Germany.



They have come to a hotel in Orlando to be honored by the Army this weekend for the first time.  Watch slave camp survivors reunite »



Fahrer and Lipson were among 350 soldiers held at the slave labor camp called Berga an der Elster, a largely forgotten legacy of the war and a subcamp of Buchenwald where soldiers were beaten, starved and forced to work in tunnels to hide German equipment.



More than 100 soldiers died at the camp and on the death march. Buchenwald was one of the largest and first concentration camps on German soil.  See photos inside Berga »



The Berga soldiers are being honored thanks in part to CNN.com users, who demanded the Army recognize the men, all in their 80s, after a series of reports late last year. The Army then conducted a months-long review of Berga at the urgings of Rep. Joe Baca, D-California, and Rep. Spencer Bachus, R-Alabama.



"These soldiers endured extreme hardships of forced labor, beatings, poor living conditions, and ultimately a forced march of over 250 kilometers [about 155 miles] prior to liberation by advancing U.S. Armed Forces," Army Secretary Peter Geren said at the conclusion of the review.



"The survivors of Berga certainly deserve both our thanks and recognition for their service and sacrifice."



Geren is sending Maj. Gen. Vincent Boles to honor the survivors on Saturday. Six of the 22 Berga survivors will be at the event; most of those still living could not make it because of declining health.



Those here look forward to what the general has to say. They want desperately to know why the U.S. government commuted the death sentences of the two Berga commanders, Erwin Metz and his superior, Hauptmann Ludwig Merz.



Both were tried for war crimes and initially sentenced to die by hanging until their commutations in 1948.



"I'm very happy the Army is sending a general to see us," Fahrer says. "But they should've sent the general to see us a long time ago when some of the fellas were still alive. We're only 20 fellas left."



Fahrer was one of the primary survivors after the war who fought to get the government to carry out the death sentences for Metz and Merz.



In a letter to survivors in January 1949, he wrote, "Things are beginning to break our way. A little enthusiasm, a little more cooperation, a little more action, will accomplish a great, great deal now." Now, 60 years later, he may finally get some answers.



"Let's see what the general has to say when he gets here," Fahrer says.



His comrade, Morton Brooks, says, "I never wanted revenge, but I did think retribution would be proper. And I think they should've suffered a little bit longer for what they did. ... They wouldn't kick a dog, but they did that to us."  Watch Morton Brooks describe the Germans' "work to death" program »



The two men finally hugged. "I'm glad to see you," Fahrer says.



Some of the Berga soldiers were killed in cold blood, such as Morton Goldstein, shot through the head and then machine-gunned. His bullet-riddled body was placed in front of the barracks for all to see.



Bernard Vogel and Izzy Cohen were forced to stand without food and water
ORLANDO , Florida ( CNN ) -- Samuel Fahrer and Sidney Lipson shake hands and smile . It 's the first time the men have seen each other in 64 years . They were U.S. soldiers back on a forced death march in Nazi Germany in April 1945 . Sidney Lispson , left , and Samuel Fahrer meet for the first time in 64 years . They were in a Nazi slave labor camp . " How you doing ? " Fahrer says . It 's a subdued moment for the two men . There are no tears , no pats on the back . The men have endured years of contained emotions from what happened six decades ago when they were prisoners of war and held as slaves inside Germany . They have come to a hotel in Orlando to be honored by the Army this weekend for the first time . Watch slave camp survivors reunite » Fahrer and Lipson were among 350 soldiers held at the slave labor camp called Berga an der Elster , a largely forgotten legacy of the war and a subcamp of Buchenwald where soldiers were beaten , starved and forced to work in tunnels to hide German equipment . More than 100 soldiers died at the camp and on the death march . Buchenwald was one of the largest and first concentration camps on German soil . See photos inside Berga » The Berga soldiers are being honored thanks in part to CNN.com users , who demanded the Army recognize the men , all in their 80s , after a series of reports late last year . The Army then conducted a months - long review of Berga at the urgings of Rep. Joe Baca , D - California , and Rep. Spencer Bachus , R - Alabama . " These soldiers endured extreme hardships of forced labor , beatings , poor living conditions , and ultimately a forced march of over 250 kilometers [ about 155 miles ] prior to liberation by advancing U.S. Armed Forces , " Army Secretary Peter Geren said at the conclusion of the review . " The survivors of Berga certainly deserve both our thanks and recognition for their service and sacrifice . " Geren is sending Maj . Gen. Vincent Boles to honor the survivors on Saturday . Six of the 22 Berga survivors will be at the event ; most of those still living could not make it because of declining health . Those here look forward to what the general has to say . They want desperately to know why the U.S. government commuted the death sentences of the two Berga commanders , Erwin Metz and his superior , Hauptmann Ludwig Merz . Both were tried for war crimes and initially sentenced to die by hanging until their commutations in 1948 . " I 'm very happy the Army is sending a general to see us , " Fahrer says . " But they should 've sent the general to see us a long time ago when some of the fellas were still alive . We 're only 20 fellas left . " Fahrer was one of the primary survivors after the war who fought to get the government to carry out the death sentences for Metz and Merz . In a letter to survivors in January 1949 , he wrote , " Things are beginning to break our way . A little enthusiasm , a little more cooperation , a little more action , will accomplish a great , great deal now . " Now , 60 years later , he may finally get some answers . " Let 's see what the general has to say when he gets here , " Fahrer says . His comrade , Morton Brooks , says , " I never wanted revenge , but I did think retribution would be proper . And I think they should 've suffered a little bit longer for what they did . ... They would n't kick a dog , but they did that to us . " Watch Morton Brooks describe the Germans ' " work to death " program » The two men finally hugged . " I 'm glad to see you , " Fahrer says . Some of the Berga soldiers were killed in cold blood , such as Morton Goldstein , shot through the head and then machine - gunned . His bullet - riddled body was placed in front of the barracks for all to see . Bernard Vogel and Izzy Cohen were forced to stand without food and water
What did prisoners endure?
What did prisoners endure ?
"These soldiers endured extreme hardships of forced labor, beatings, poor living conditions, and ultimately a forced march of over 250 kilometers [about 155 miles] prior to liberation by advancing U.S. Armed Forces,"
"These soldiers endured extreme hardships of forced labor, beatings, poor living conditions, and ultimately a forced march of over 250 kilometers [about 155 miles] prior to liberation by advancing U.S. Armed Forces,"