From an article in Newsweek magazine dated 15 March 1948

AUSTRIA

By the Blue Danube

For weeks past, the Russian sentries on guard in front of the Soviet Headquarters, at the old Grand Hotel on the Ringstrasse in Vienna, have looked more and more trigger happy as they finger their guns when Americans passed by. The constant dinning of anti-American propaganda into their heads was apparently having the desired effect.

At 1 o’clock one morning last week 3 GI’s and their Austrian dates happened to stroll past the Grand Hotel. A Russian soldier darted out and cried, "Before the Russian Hotel let the Americans walk in the gutter." Then things happened fast. An 18-year-old Pfc, Jack Grunden from Portland Ore., tried to push past and was thrown to the ground. A second Russian ran up and apparently shot him in the back. Grunden’s companions dashed away to seek aid, while his date, a pretty 19 year old redhead Elfriede Elias bopped one of the Russians with a bottle.

Elfriede was dragged into the Grand Hotel. Grunden was left lying on the ground for 45 minutes until an ambulance arrived and took him to a hospital. He had been hit by a dumdum bullet (outlawed in 1890) that tore through his back and shattered his elbow. The Americans prepared an official protest. Elfriede was released from the Grand Hotel after sixteen hours. She rushed to Grunden’s side and announced that "he said he would marry me if I stay the way I am.

(Editors Note: Did Elfreida and Jack ever get married? If anyone knows of whereabouts of Jack Grunden please let us know through the Webmasters email address. He was last known to be in Ellensburg, WA.)