Ping
Might get flamed for this, but the Bulge wouldn't have happened if Bradley and Eisenhower hadn't ignored the German buildup. Or assuming they paid attention to it and the attack happened anyway, the supply problem wouldn't have existed if it hadn't been for J.C.H. Lee and his hotel takeovers.
The anniversary of the start of the battle is this Thursday.
My Dad fought and was wounded, saving several men's lives, in that horrible battle. He was a Sgt in Yankee Division, Army Corps of Engineers. German sniper took him down after he'd carried 3 wounded men to safety. To this day, he doesn't want to talk about what he did.
Yes, but when did the American media concede? Surely the imbeds were livid about the poor planning by the American Commanders. I'll bet the newspapers and the radio shows were filled with angry Senators and Congressman demanding Roosevelt's head for presiding over this needless tragedy.
As to the past, to the men of Bastogne and Gen McAuliffe, may their example forever be remembered!
NUTS! Damn, don't you just love it!
The commander of that unit was Col Arthur C. Parker. When the attack came toward that town from three directions, Col. Parker had only four field artillery guns to use against the German tanks. He had the gunners lower their barrels to horizontal, and fire down the roads to stop the tanks.
Col. Parker was wounded on the first day. He refused to evacuate. For three days that ill-equipped, undermanned unit held that crossroads against all of the German attacks. On the fourth day, the Americans reinforced and relieved them.
I know that story not from my Uncle Arthur, because he never spoke of those events. I know it from the history books that describe the defense of that town.
Arthur Parker was a dirt farmer in Alabama until the war began and he enlisted. After the war, he returned to Alabama and became a dirt farmer once again. On the shoulders of such men, in every era in our history, the strength and greatness of America is built.
Congressman Billybob
Ping
Beautiful song and an interesting anecdote. If competent writers and directors ever take to Hollywood again, this would make an interesting scene in the reenactment of those 'last 10 days'.
My dad did recon (then referred to as scouting) for the battle. When I asked him what he remembers he says "cold."
The Germans nearly made it. Patton and the American soldier saved the day. Germany was still going down even if took another year, but it was a great strategic play on the part of the Germans.
....''We were exhausted and we'd had no time to refurbish. We had no winter equipment. We were still in the same torn uniforms, short of food, ammo and everything else." .......
Yeah, like Rummy says, "Ya gotta go with the Army ya got!"
No time to complain that you don't have enough armor on your Jeep!