RIP.
Posted on 01/13/2009 4:57:12 PM PST by GSP.FAN
NEW YORK - Retired Lt. Gen. Harry W.O. Kinnard, a paratroop officer who suggested the famously defiant answer "Nuts!" to a German demand for surrender during the 1944 Battle of the Bulge, has died. He was 93.
(Excerpt) Read more at msnbc.msn.com ...
RIP.
Now THAT is a real American.
‘A man so eloquent must be rescued.’
Lt. Gen. Harry W.O. Kinnard, RIP
That’s the kind of guy that you want to lead you into battle.
ping
I’ve never worn a uniform but that’s my kind of General.
Thank you, Sir, and may God Bless You.
Actually,General Anthony McAuliffe said it. Kinnard repeated it.
Actually,General Anthony McAuliffe said it. Kinnard repeated it.
God bless his family. One of the Greatest Generation, and another example of why they earned the name.
A true hero. Rest in peace my friend. You earned it.
Not only great fighting men, but willing to help bridge cultural gaps as well!
General, your generation will be sorely missed in the dark days ahead.
Brig. Gen. Anthony McAuliffe, the 101st’s artillery chief and acting division commander in the absence of Maj. Gen. Maxwell D. Taylor, laughed and remarked, “Us surrender? Aw, nuts,” and then wondered aloud how he should reply.
As recalled later by himself and other witnesses, Kinnard suggested that McAuliffe tell the Germans “what you just said ... nuts.”
In the summer of 1964, I got my dream job: lifeguard at the Ft. Benning Officer’s Club. But, my father’s transfer to Ft. Bragg put it all at risk. The Kinnard’s came to the rescue and I spent that summer as a house guest. MG Kinnard was then the CG of the 11th Air Assault Division and war was looming. If you have seen Mel Gibson’s movie “We Were Soldiers”, then you know the story.
General Kinnard played golf every Saturday morning and I often caddied when my lifeguard schedule permitted. The foursome was different every week and included other leaders of the division. I learned lots of great bawdy jokes, and also understood what the division was preparing to do. He trained a great division and led them into battle as the 1st Cavalry Division. Many of the things I later did in Vietnam as an aero rifle platoon leader, long range recon platoon leader and rifle company commander were techniques developed by General Kinnard and his 11th Air Assault Division.
He served his country well and I remember him fondly.
A few years ago, I saw an interview with the German commander who received the reply.
He said they didn’t know what he meant. He thought they were calling them nuts or crazy. Whatever, they knew the answer was not they were going to surrender.
Join George S. in the heavenly Officer's club and have a drink, and a prayer for US, will you. We need it. Dark times are once again at our shores, and your like are in short supply.
Rest easy, General. We’ll take the next watch.
God Bless you and keep you.
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