9 Replies to “The Bulge [Dan Collins]”

1. serr8d says:

   December 16, 2008 at 7:50 am

   Jules mentioned General Guderian. Which brings immediately to mind, this.

2. BJTexs says:

   December 16, 2008 at 8:10 am

   By far the best retrospective on what it was like for the paratroopers in Bastogne is that part of “Band of Brothers,” which, IMHO, is the best mini series ever produced.

   The episodes “Bastogne” and “The Breaking Point” are two of the very best in the series and both are intensely emotional. That was one tough group of troopers.

3. DarthRove says:

   December 16, 2008 at 8:29 am

   With 450% the casualties of the entirety of the Iraq War in just over 1/25th the time. Amazing.

   While the blood cost may have gone down since the 1944, the value of freedom is just the same. Immeasurable.

4. JohnAnnArbor says:

   December 16, 2008 at 10:29 am

   “Nuts!”

5. Ron Burgundy says:

   December 16, 2008 at 12:55 pm

   Bjtxs, read the Ambrose book. If, after that, Richard Winters is not one of your heroes, then….well, I’d be baffled.

6. slackjawedyokel says:

   December 16, 2008 at 2:16 pm

   My uncle was an 18-year-old replacement in the 501st Parachute Infantry, which set in on the outskirts of Bastogne. On December 18, 1944, during an attack on his company’s line, a Panther tank ran over his foxhole and one of the follow-on Panzergrenadiers killed the other trooper in his hole with an MP40. The burst missed my uncle, because (his hands being nearly frozen) he had dropped his ammo clip while reloading his M1 and had bent over to retrieve it. My uncle straightened up, bayoneted the German in the chest, and pitched him over the side of the hole like a farmer stacking hay.

   He ended the day with a ruptured eardrum from a close 88 round, and with frostbite in both feet. He wasn’t evacuated because by this time the Germans had captured the 101st Division Aid Station. He finally left the line two days after Christmas.

   Thirty years later on a vacation trip to Europe, he found the site of his old foxhole. One of my proudest possessions, along with the epaulet that he cut from the dead Panzergrenadier’s uniform, is a picture of him standing at the site of his old foxhole, grinning and flipping the bird in the direction of the German lines.

   They were tough men. And good ones. We shouldn’t forget them.

7. BJTexs says:

   December 16, 2008 at 2:33 pm

   Ron: I read the book well before the mini-series was made and, yes, Richard Winters is most definitely one of my heroes. It was noted in the book that his planning and execution of the taking of the three 88’s is still taught at West Point. We was nominated for a con. Medal of Honor but ended up winning the next highest award (Dist. Service Cross?)

   Beyond that, one of the most moving parts of his story was the prayer he said that evening after the assault. He prayed that if God would see him through the war, he would go back to Pennsylvania, find a quiet plot of land and live in peace.

   amen.

8. BJTexs says:

   December 16, 2008 at 2:34 pm

   SlackJY: That is a fantastic story. What a blessing to have living history for a relative!

9. Bob Reed says:

   December 16, 2008 at 7:23 pm

   I’ve traveled extensively in Europe, doing what I called my Church, Castle, and Battlefield touring…

   One I especially remember was going through Belgium to many of the small towns and museums in the area where the Bulge was fought. In one small museum in Clerveaux, a town in the Luxembourg Ardennes, there were many testimonials by the local citizens; as well as art depicting the events of the battles…

   They were astounded by the bravery of the American troops. It was the coldest winter in 50 years, and while all of the natives were huddling indoors trying their best to stay warm the American troops were outdoors dug into foxholes taking on the best troops and hardware the Germans had avaialable, with only small arms, limited artillery, and no air support. While they suffered greatly through the course of the battle, they did their job and bought some time until the Air corps could come into play, and until Patton pulled off his stunning 100 mile dash headlong into the battle…

   Later, many of the Germans staff level generals confessed that it was “criminal” the way that heavy tank units and elite Panzer formations were taken from the eastern front; where they could have done a lot more on the defensive against the Russians than they ever did in their vainglorious trust at Antwerp. But, then again, virtually no one would even dream of standing up to Hitler-even when they were all aware that the regime was going down…

   Just another example from history of Brave american Liberators acquitting themselves bravely against a superiorly armed and trained opponent. Those paratroop units, and especially the veterans of those battles, that took part deserve their bragging rights in perpetuity…

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