Posted on 08/04/2023 4:51:24 AM PDT by where's_the_Outrage?
During the intense fighting at Bastogne in 1944, Vincent Speranza went to visit a fellow 101st Airborne Division paratrooper in a makeshift hospital. Speranza asked the man what he could do to help, and the man asked for a drink. Speranza set out to find something for his friend and came across a bombed-out tavern that, improbably enough, still had a functioning beer tap.
He filled up his helmet with some Belgian ale and returned to the field hospital.
Not surprisingly, other wounded GIs asked Speranza to bring another round, and he continued tending bar for the wounded soldiers, running to refill his helmet until a doctor put a stop to it.
The combat beer run became a legend in the 101st Airborne, and — to Speranza’s shock later in life — in the town of Bastogne. On a return trip to the town decades later, he discovered that his beer had inspired a local brand of ale, “Airborne Beer.” Its label depicted an American paratrooper carrying a helmet full of beer. In local bars, it was often served in a miniature helmet.
(Excerpt) Read more at msn.com ...
Earlier FR Post: An Army veteran didn’t know his epic beer run was World War II legend for 65 years
My Hero!!
Adding my username and tagline to this thread!
I want to buy Airborne Beer. Hard to find though
We’re the battling bastards of Bastogne. Oh, wait a minute, that might have been a different place. 😆😊😁
R.I.P. and farewell to a legendary hero of WWII. He perfectly represented the members of his generation, to whom we owe so much. We shall not see their like again.
RIP, Vincent...
Another of the few remaining great American heroes leaves us....
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