Those are original color photos alright. Color photos of the Second World War really brings it home in a away black and white just doesn’t. I’ve seen a few of these photos before. I’ve had the honor of getting to know a number of men who survived the Bulge and they all said to a man how God awful bloody cold it was. One vet I knew(he passed away some years ago) had a buddy in his outfit moved to Florida just so he’d never have to be so cold again. Can you believe that!?!
I keep hearing how cold it was (and certainly that it was cold is not in dispute). But how cold was it? And for how long? I’m wondering about the stats . . . anyone have them?
My dad flew air support for the Battle of the Bulge and spent that winter sleeping in a tent in the snow of northern France. He hated cold till the day he died.
As hellish hot as Texas gets in the summer, he never minded the heat, but winter cold bothered him the rest of his life.
He and his men won a Presidential Unit Citation for their efforts. They and their buddies came home and left the horrors and hardship behind, never demanded the respect they were due and often didn’t talk about what they did.
I miss him every day.