Posted on 10/08/2009 5:18:58 PM PDT by SandRat
Tucson, Arizona | Published: 10.08.2009 advertisement Six decades after surviving a battle in which many soldiers froze to death, World War II veteran John Swett still dislikes the cold.
This week, he and scores of surviving comrades are basking in Tucson's warmth during the national reunion of Veterans of the Battle of the Bulge.
More than 100 of these 80- and 90-somethings, who were part of the biggest, bloodiest land fight in U.S. history, are in town for a week of sightseeing and remembrance ceremonies.
It's the first time their annual reunion has been held in the Old Pueblo, hosted by the group's Tucson arm.
"I'm hoping to see people I haven't seen in years," said Swett, 84, a southeast-side resident with the local chapter. The former soldier spent more than three months as a German prisoner of war, suffering frostbite and dropping from 180 to 105 pounds in captivity.
As old age claims more of these veterans, the reunions serve as reminders of what they achieved.
"We're going to be dying out pretty quick," said George McGee, 84, president of the Tucson chapter, which has seen membership dwindle from about 75 to 50 in the past five years. "When we're gone, we don't want people to forget what the battle was all about."
The historic showdown between Germany and America and its allies began nine days before Christmas 1944, when Hitler's troops mounted a massive surprise assault in Belgium and Luxembourg.
The Germans, shrouded in white camouflage to blend in with the snow, were aiming to break through the front line and capture the port city of Antwerp, Belgium, a major supply point for U.S. and Allied troops.
The Americans were not outfitted for winter warfare — few had heavy coats or snow boots. Nonetheless, they fought fiercely for weeks in frigid temperatures to repel the attack.
"Ohhhh it was cold," said former infantryman Buck Bloomer, 86, a midtown resident, who sustained nerve damage from frostbitten feet.
"Sometimes it got down to zero. It was almost always below freezing," he recalled.
At night, to keep from being killed by cold, soldiers huddled together for warmth. "Three of us usually slept together and switched off the center guy every 10 or 15 minutes," Bloomer said.
Initially, the Germans made some progress, forcing the front line to bulge back toward Antwerp, which gave the battle its name.
A month or so later, the Americans and Allies prevailed — but at huge cost.
About 19,000 U.S. personnel were killed — some by gunfire, others by the weather — and about 62,000 were wounded.
On Wednesday in Tucson, those lost in combat were remembered with a wreath-laying service at the Battle of the Bulge memorial at Presidio Park.
Officials from Belgium and Luxembourg flew to Tucson from their embassies in Washington, D.C., to be on hand for the ceremony.
Bloomer was among those who got choked up at the sight. "I still get tears in my eyes," he said. "It never leaves you."
Contact reporter Carol Ann Alaimo at calaimo@azstarnet.com or at 573-4138.
That is the patch of Patton’s 3rd Army
Believe that is 3rd army ensignia
My dad didn`t quite make the Battle of the Buldge,caught
a tree burst that left him with a scar from his right
shoulder to below his left hip
Dad would have been 100 in Feb
In terms of fatalities Bulge was second, Gettysburg fourth:
1 Battle of Meuse-Argonne World War I: 26,277
2 Battle of the Bulge (WW2) 19,276
3 Battle of Okinawa (WW2) 12,513
4 Battle of Gettysburg (Civil) 7,863
5 Battle of Guadalcanal (WW2) 7,099
6 Battle of Iwo Jima (WW2) 6,821
7 Antietam (Civil) 3,654
8 Battle of Shiloh (Civil) 3,482
9 Bull Run II (Civil) 3,000
10 Battle of Saipan (WW2) 2,949
No, that was the Third Army...Paton’s Own.
My dad was captured December 18th in Heurtgen Forest. He was 3rd Army. Spent 6 months in a German POW camp (most of that time loading and unloading barges outside of Dresden).
He witnessed the bombing of Dresden, and was liberated by the Russians.
The one thing Dad remembers the most is the intense cold. It was one of the coldest winters of the century in Europe.
Interesting, my daughter was born 40 years to the day after his capture.
Gee, my dad served under Patton, who knew. He made it a point never to talked about what he did during WWII. All I know about his service in WWII was that he was in Armored. During the Korean War, he became a medic. Retired after 26 years in the Army. He died in 2001.
Thanks for that correction...I thought G-burg was in the 50-60K range, and frankly hadn’t even thought the US suffered anything like that number of concentrated KIA in WWI at all.
If anyone is interested in a book dealing with the Bulge at the retail, grunt level I suggest:
Poorly organized and editted but this guy understands combat at the squad and platoon level. I can’t recommend it enough.
I would never have guessed World War I either, though we lost 100,000 KIA in a very short time there. Those numbers are all KIA, btw.
Thanks; just put in my request via Interlibrary Loan.
When you’re finished let me know what you think of it.
Amen. Amen. Amen.
God bless all your family members and thank them for their service. They are in a nice, warm place now with lots of their friends and families. They were and still are true heroes and deserve the very best.
About 19,000 U.S. personnel were killed -- some by gunfire, others by the weather -- and about 62,000 were wounded.
Same with my Unk. Miss him much. God got him now.
You’re welcome. My Dad was in CBI - China, India Burma.
God bless them all.
And God Bless our current military, who seem to be of the same caliber as or WWII military.
Out current military is outstanding. God bless them.
“I consider it no sacrifice to die for my country. In my mind, we came here to thank God that men like these have lived rather than to regret that they have died.”
General George S. Patton
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