‘'This is undoubtedly the greatest American battle o f the w a r and will,

I believe, be regarded as an ever-fanious American Victory.

SIR WINSTON CHURCHILL - Addressing the House of Comm ons following the Battle of the Bulge, WWII.

THE O FFICIAL PUBLICATION • VETERANS OF THE BATTLE OF TH E BULGE, INC.

VOLUME XII NUMBER 4 TH E ARDENNES CAMPAIGN NOVEMBER 1993

Lessons of the Bulge

This story is reprinted from the 99th Division’s newsletter, The CHECKERBOARD, August, 1993. It was submitted by
past president Sid Salins, who served in combat alongside author Joe Doherty in H/393. Doherty has retired after a
distinguished professional career with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and currently is a consultant on urban renewal
questions. The article printed here was written about 15 years ago. Doherty may develop it into a full book on the
Battle of the Bulge.

A N ew L ook a t an
OLD BATTLE
erman cannons and rocket launchers opened up along
By Joe Doherty

a 60-mile front in eastern Belgium and Luxembourg,

astonishing the American troops across the line and
touching off the Battle of the Bulge, which one historian has
callcd the "greatest pitched battle of World War II on the
Western Front."
The Bulge legend is, of course, widely known. For six
weeks—from December 16, 1944, to nearly the end of
January, 1945—the battle engaged some two million
American, British, and German combat and support troops
fighting over 2,500 square miles of a region called the
Ardennes. The Americans suffered an estimated 76,000
casualties; the Germans, 100,000. Hitler and his generals put
13 infantry and seven Panzer (armored divisions into the first
strike against a sector of the Allied line held by only four
U.S. infantry divisions and a few mechanized cavalry units.
The Germans were grouped into three armies: Sixth Panzer 1/14/45. Follow ing all n ig h t a tta c k in woods n e a r W iltz
on the north. Fifth Panzer in the center, and Seventh L uxem bourg in fa n try m e n o f th e 104th R egim ent, 26th
Infantry in the south for flank protection. Fifth Panzer Divison re tu rn to th e ir ow n positions.
U.S. Signal Photo, National Archives
broke through, destroying one U.S. division and reaching 60
miles west to the banks of the Meuse River. However, the begin a massive counter attack. In five weeks they
Germans were unable to overcome the Americans at drove the Germans back east to the positions they
Bastogne, Belgium, near the center of the breakthrough occupied December 15th when they jumped off.The
area. At the end of December, Allied ground and air forces Bulge had been eliminated. (Continued on Page i i )
 •F L O R ID A * •PEN N SY LV A N IA *
VETERANS OF THE C h a irm a n , F in a n c e C o m m it­
UtLAW AHE VALUCT C H A PT ER (iV*)
C t N T H A L h L U K l D A C H A P i f c H (XViii)
BATTLE OF THE BULGE. te e: G e o r g e N. K a r a m b e la s Tom M cF ad d en S ta n le y A. W ojtusik, Sr.
INCX 8 4 th Infantry Division 1217 B u c c a n e e r Ave. 9 6 3 9 W issinom ing St.
P.O. Box 11129 N a ti o n a l D i r e c t o r , P u b li c D ettona, FL 32725 P h ila d e lp h ia , PA 19114
Arlington, Virginia 22210-2129 4 07-860-1720 215-637-4191
R e l a t i o n s : N a n c y C. M o n so n
703-528-4058 7 0 3 -5 28-40 58 •M ARYLAND- SU SQ U EH A N N A CH A PTER (XIX)
C h ap lain : D iS T R iC T O F COLUM BIA* Ms. C lara G ustin
M A RYLAND/D.C. C H A PT ER (lii) 2 3 0 Crow n Ave.
THE BU L G E B U G L E is t h e M sgr.William F. 0 ‘Donnell S c ra n to n , PA 18505-2016
E dw ard R. R adzw ich
official p u b lic a tio n of th e 8 7th Infantry Division 12414 S to n e h a v e n Ln. 717-342-8496
V e te r a n s of t h e B attle of t h e L ia is o n O ffic e r, I n t e r n a t i o n a l Bowie, MD 20715
410-464-1767 W ESTER N PENNSYLVANIA CHA PTER
B u lge, a n d is is s u e d fo u r t i m e s A ffa irs: R o b ert F. Phillips
(XIV)
yearly. 2 8th Infantry Division *M A SSACHU SETTS* Leroy D. S ^haller
C h a irm a n , 5 0 th A n n iv e rs a ry CENTRAL M A SSA C H U SETTS R.R. # 1 . B ox #341
TH E B U L G E B U G L E STA F F: C H A PT ER pOCII) Bolivar, PA 15923
A c tiv itie s : William P. T a y m a n
J o h n E. McAuiiffe 412-238-2297
P u b l i s h e r / C h i e f E d ito r: 8 7th Infantry Division 4 2 5 P le a s a n t St.
G eorge C hekan C h a i r m a n , 1 9 9 4 V BOB R e ­ W o rcester. MA 0 1 609 •R H O D E ISLAND^
9th Infantry Division u n i o n : R o b e rt J . V a n H o u te n 508-754-7183 RHO DE ISLAND C H A PT ER pOCIV)
C o n trib u tin g E ditors: W illiam G ay n o r
16th R e id Artillery C .G . PAUL NEWGARDEN CH A PTER 1357 W a m p a n o a g Trail, # 1 2 5
Roy G o rd o n O b s e r v a tio n Battalion (VIII) (serving M a ssac h u se tts) E ast P ro v id e n ce , Rl 0 2 915
9th Infantry Division M atthew F e m in o 4 01-437-1297
R o b e rt P Phillips t %< ifa» u/t.
28 th Infantry Division P o rtsm o u th , NH 03801 •S O U T H CA RO LIN A ^
H ISTO R IC A L FOUNDATION: 603-436-2571 SO U T H CAROLINA CH A PTER (VII)
H isto rical R e s e a r c h : T h o m a s W. S m ettzer
J o h n D. B ow en P r e s id e n t:W illia m T. Greenville
•M IC H IG A N * P .O . Box 21852.
A s s o c ia te M e m b e r 8 6th C h e m ic a l M ortar B attalion W EST MICHIGAN C H A PT ER (XXlll) C o lu m b ia , SC 29221
M aurice C. C ole 8 03-781-3687
6 14 F e n to n St. {Box 64)
K ingsley. Ml 49649 •T E X A S ^
VBOB O F F I C E R S - E L E G T E D : V BOB P A S T P R E S ID E N T S : 6 16-263-7222 G REATER H O U ST O N C H A PT ER (XXVII)
C ly d e D. B o d e n * 1981-84 J a m e s C. B urtner
P r e s i d e n t : William R. H em ph ill
GREAT LAKES C H A PT ER (XXI) 10312 Briar F o re st Dr.
3rd A rm o re d Division R o b e rt J . V a n H o u te n 1984-86 {Upper M ichigan-W isconsin) H o u sto n , TX 77042-2407
7 0 3 -9 7 9 -5 2 7 0 G eorge C hekan 1986-88 G reg o ry C . W alker 7 1 3-783-6149
E x e c u t i v e V ice William T. G reenville 1988-90 5 23 T errace Ave.
M arinette, Wl 5 4143 •V E R M O N T -
P r e s i d e n t : W i l l i a m P. l a y m a n Darrell Kuhn 1990-92
715-732-2957 NEW H A M PSH IRE-M A IN E^
8 7 th Infantry Division ‘ D eceased T R I-S T A T E -V E R M O N T , NEW
wjgd p f s s l d s r i t fo r r«^crr<bcr- *M IS S O U R I* H A M P S H I R F , M A IN F C H A P T F R (XVII)
GATEWAY C H A PT ER (XXV) R o g e r D esjardins
sh ip : G ro v e r 0 . Tw iner W. Kent S te p h e n s 4 F o re st P ark Est.
3 0th Infantry Division V B O B C H A P T E R P R E S ID E N T S 107 Biuffview L ane Jaffrey, NH 0 3452
r.T)llin<\/illA II
7
618-344-1616
A ffairs: P e te r G. D o u n is •ViRGiNIA^
7 5 th Infantry Division •A LA BA M A * *N EW JE R S E Y * N O RTH ERN VIRGINIA CH A PTER (XV)
G EN . G EO RG E S . PA TTO N , JR . NEW JE R S E Y C H A PT ER (XII) H. D e a n Fravel
Vice P r e s i d e n t fo r C h a p t e r C H A PT ER (XI) A nthony W. A ndriola 3 2 1 8 N ealo n Dr.
C o o rd in atio n : W ardlaw M. W atso n 33 Clover St. F alls C h u rc h , VA 2 2 042
S ta n l e y A. W ojtusik, Sr. 9 3 3 R ockford R o a d Nuttey, N J 0 7 110 7 03-573-5718
B irm ingham , AL 3 5 222 201-667-9363
106th Infantry Division
2 05-595-3640 •W A S H IN G T O N ^
T reasurer: P e t e r F. Leslie N O R TH W E ST C H A PT ER (VI)
5 1 1 th E n g i n e e r Light •A R IZ O N A * • NEW YORK* G aslm er P o m ia n e k
AnSZGNA C H A PT ER O r V B C B (XXVi) CENTRAL NEW YORK C H A PT ER (II) 6 2 3 2 53rd St.
P o n to n C o m p a n y
K en F tisc h m a n A lexander F. N oce. Sr. S e a ttle. WA 9 8115
C o rre sp o n d in g S ecretary : 31 S 9 5th St C h a m p io n M obile H o m es. Lot 16 2 06-523-0055
G e o r g e C. Linthicum M esa, A rizona 8 5 208 F ldrldge, NY 13060
6 02 -9 8 6 -1 0 5 5 315-689-3457 •W IS C O N S IN ^
2 6th Infantry Division
N O R TH ER N W ISC O N SIN C H A PT ER (I)
H e co rd in g S e c re ta ry :
MOHAWK VALLEY C H A PT ER (XXVUI) W allace Abitz
B ev erle y V a n H o u te n A. W. A dam s 1201 S. 7th Ave.
A s s o c ia te M e m b e r •C A U F O R N IA ^ 5501 F la n a g a n R oad W a u s a u , Wl 5 4401-6026
F R E S N O C H A PT ER (V) M arcy, New York 13403 7 15-842-4915
K e n n eth H o h m a n n 3 1 5-732-G251
4111 N. S h e rm a n St.
F re sn o , CA 9 3726 If th e re ’s a c h a p te r n e a r y o u , give their
A d m i n i s t r a t i v e D ir e c to r :
2 09 -2 2 7 -5 2 3 2 •N O R T H CA RO LIN A ^ p re sid e n t a call. Y ou u n d o u b te d ly wilt
N a n c y C. M o n s o n NORTH CAROLINA C H A PT ER (IX) e n jo y th eir activities. Y ou m ay e n c o u n te r
G EN . G E O R G E S . PA TT O N . J R .
7 0 3 -5 2 8 -4 0 5 8 C H A PT ER # 1 3 (XIII) William Rot>en Strickland s o m e o ld frien d s a n d y o u su rely will m ak e
G e o rg e W aldron R.D. # 3 , Box # 5 1 4 s o m e new o n e s . If th e re is r>o c h a p te r
3801 S o q u e l Dr. D unn, NC 28334 n e a r y o u , w e c o u ld u s e y o u r h e lp in
S o q u e l, CA 9 5073 919-897-8295 d e v e lo p in g o n e . W rite u s for inform ation.
A P P O IN T E D : 4 08 -4 7 5 -3 9 8 9
•••••
• NORTH DAKOTA^
C h a irm a n , B u d g e t C o m m ittee: G O LD EN GATE C H A PT ER (X) N O RTH DAKOTA C H A PT ER (XX)
E m e r y B. A n to n u cc i E rn est G. F igueira, Jr. G e o rg e K. P e te rso n if you have information
7 5 th Infantry Division 1808 L ynw ood Or.
C o n c o rd . CA 945 1 9 -1 1 2 6
R.R. 2. B ox 107
M cClusky, ND 58463-9592
you would lil<e pub­
H e a l th A ffa irs O ffic e r:
415-676-7016 701-363-2488 lished in The Bulge
D o ro th y S. Davis
5 7th R e i d H osp ital SO U T H E R N CALIFORNIA C H A PT ER • O H IO ^
Bugle, please submit it
L i a i s o n O ff ic e r, M ilitary U n its: (XVI) BUCKEYE C H A PT ER (XXIX) to VBOB at least six (6)
E u g e n e G. Drouillard
G odfrey R. Harris
4 ^ 9 A b b in g to n Ct.
W alter E. G e e s e
1256 M onterey Blvd., NW
weeks before publica­
7 5 th Infantry Division W estlake Village.CA 9 1361-4504 North C a n to n , OH 44720-1850 tion dates which are:
7 0 3 -3 5 6 -5 7 0 8 8 18-889-3323 216-499-0294
February, May, August
and November.

THE BULGE BUGLE November 1993

 F U N D -D R IV E U P D A T E P R E S ID E N T ’S M E S S A G E
Last year VBOB H eadquarters was accused of not listening
FO R VBOB M ONUM ENT to the members. This year we have made an effort to be
W ith slightly more than a year to go until the Fiftieth m ore responsive to your wishes. It has worked!! At
Anniversary, The fund raising drive to build a Battle of the Bismarck the slate of officers was elected by acclamation.
Bulge monument near historic Valley Forge is moving into The Bylaws were am ended to assure that every member has
high gear. a change to vote next year. C hapter representatives
Veterans o f the Battle of the Bulge from the Delaware consulted one with another. Questions were asked,
Valley Chapter have raised more than $75,000 toward the discussed and answers were provided.
$200,000 goal for the memorial to be built on the grounds of G eorge Peterson; his wife, Sybil;
Valley Forge Military Academy & College near the historic daughters Connie and Susan; son
site where Washington’s troops spent the bitter winter of 1777 T erry and his wife, Teresa; and
-78. m em bers of the entire North
Stanley Wojtusik, VBOB vice president for Chapter Coor­
D akota Chapter are to be
dination, president of the Delaware Valley Chapter, is calling
congratulated on the fine reunion.
on all Bulge veterans to help close the financial gap, just as
they joined to erase the Bulge in the Ardennes forty-nine years P lan s w ere d ev elo p ed and
ago. contingencies were planned for. In
Wojusik emphasized that the fund drive is being conducted my opinion it was the best reunion
by VBOB members, with no outside fund-raisers. All dona­ we have had.
tions go directly to the memorial, and are tax deductible. D uring my ten u re VBOB
All contributing will have their names inscribed in a book of established a H eadquarters Office. The Executive Council
honor, and receive a certificate of participation. We urge you to has developed and approved an Administrative Plan which
join the drive by sending your contribution to: defines the duties and responsibilities of each officer. We
V eterans of the Battle of the Bulge are in the process of contracting with an A dm inistrator to
Delaware Valley C hapter staff the VBOB H eadquarters on a daily basis. The
d o George L inthicum com puter program has been updated for both the
2605 O rch ard Drive membership and financial records. A centralized filing plan
Broomall, PA 19008 is being put in place and VBOB’s historical records will be
safeguarded. Phew—quite a list and I’m proud to have been
a part of a team effort.
I have worked closely with the incoming president, Bill
Tayman, and to the best of our abilities I’m sure the change
over to the new Executive Council and A dm inistrator will be
smooth.
Time M arches On. Age is continuing the process of
reducing our zip and slowing our activities. W e must
D elaw are V alley C h a p te r
V eteran s o f the continue to stress our recruitm ent of new m em bers and the
B attle o f th e Bulge revival of lapsed memberships. Those who are no longer
active are our most available prospects-w e have their
addresses. May we all exert a little m ore effort to reach the
goal of 15,000 m em bers by the date of the 50th Anniversary
of the Battle of the Bulge.
Bill Hemphill

IN D IA N A
CHAPTER
F O R M A T IO N
PLANNED
Stewart McDonnell is planning
to form a VBOB chapter in
the State of Indiana. If you
would be interested in
joining, please write to
Stewart at:
315 South Woodland Ave.,
Michigan City, Indiana 46360.
A t a re c e n t m e e tin g o f T ri-S ta te C h a p te r , fo u r C h a p te r P resid e n ts
a tte n d e d f o r g o o d fe llo w s h ip . L. to R . J o h n M ac A u liffe, C e n tra l
M assachusetts C h a p te r: R o g er D e sjard in s, T ri-S tate C h a p te r; M atthew A R E YOUR
Fem ino, C. G . P a u l N ew -g ard en C h a p te r; S ta n W ojtusik, D elaw are Valley
C hapter. DUES DUE?
IN THIS IS S U E
3. Chapter Development
4. Letters to Editor
6. 50th Anniversary Information
8. Historical Foundation
Events
11. Members Speak Out
13. New Look at Old Battle
15 Bismarck Reunion
18 Holiday Remembrances
31 VBOB Deceased
33 Flood Relief Funds
St. Louis Chapter
34. Items For Sale
35. Bulge Reenactment

THE BULGE BUGLE N ovem ber 1993

 1

Letters To I
’
th e G er m a n flak sta r te d sh a k in g th e p la n e t h e y w e r e t o s s in g it o u t b y
th e d o u b le handsfuM
H o p e th is e a s e s y o u r m in d .
1
'

the Editor
R ic h a r d H. B y e r s
9 9 th In fa n tr y D iv is io n
[Incidentally, Richard c a m e through with M s. D avis’ re q u est in the
la st B ugle for a c o p y o f the p o s te r with the u p sid e d ow n helm et.
G O O D A D V IC E
He also s e n t the headquarters office a copy.]
...S o , h e r e it is [life m e m b e r s h ip ].
S e c o n d : W illiam R. H em p h ill d id all o f th e m e m b e r s a g r e a t se r v ic e
D y r u n n in g h is le n e r in ih e M a y e d itio n o f The Bugie. i w a s o n e of
t h o s e w h o th o u g h t It c o u ld n 't h a p p e n to m e . W ell, it d id , a n d I’m in
C la s s C, " In op erab le a n d in cu rab le," after lettin g it g o t o o lo n g . Tw o
C H A F F C O U L D B E TH E D IF F E R E N C E B E T W E E N LIFE A N D DEATH
d o c t o r s g a v e m e 10% [c h a n c e ] o f 10 y e a r s , o n e s a id 50% [c h a n c e ] for
T h e r e ’s n o q u e s tio n th a t th e A llied b o m b e r f o r c e s u s e d "chaff" (RAF:
5 [y e a r s] a n d th e o th er s a id 50% [ c h a n c e ] for tw o years* su rvival. T hat
"Window") d u rin g its b o m b in g m is s io n s in WWII. T h e RAF in tr o d u c e d
w a s a y e a r a g o . G o d w illin g , I’m g o in g to g e t m y m o n e y ’s w orth o u t
"w indow s" o n their first, o f four, in f a m o u s b o m b in g ra id s a g a in s t
o f t h is Life M e m b e r sh ip . B ut d o tell e v e r y b o d y --H e m p h iir s a d v ic e is
H a m b u r g . G er m a n y , b e g in n in g o n th e n ig h t o f J u ly 2 4 -2 5 , 1 9 4 3 . G roup
G O O D , a n d s h o u t it o u t from th e roof to p s !
C a p ta in D u d ley S a w a rd , O .B .E ., RAF (R et.) r e c a lls th e in tro d u ctio n of
B e s t w i s h e s from o n e o f t h e 15 8 th E n g in e e r s .
"window" (IMPACT, b o o k 6 , p , ix, c o l 1) a s fo llo w s: "...Lastly, a d e v ic e
J o h n G r e s s it t
w e c a lle d W in d o w ,’ w h ic h c o n s is t e d o f b u n d le s o f m e ta lliz e d str ip s of
1 5 8 E N G R C M B T BN A
p a p e r , s o c u t in le n g th th a t w h e n s c a tt e r e d in la rg e q u a n titie s w o u ld
’d r o w n ’ th e e n e m y 's radar su r v e illa n c e s y s t e m a n d m a k e it im p o s s ib le
to d e t e c t th e a p p r o a c h in g aircraft...."
W H AT A B O U T TH E A IR M E N ?
I w a s a c r e w m e m b e r o n se v e r a l "W indow m issio n s ." I a ls o h e lp e d
...I b e lie v e th a t th e V B O B is a fin e outfit, a n d p r a ise its fo u n d in g fa th e rs.
t o s s "window" o u t from o u t B -26 M arau d er’s aft b o m b -b a y . "Window,"
V^/hen 1 o r ig in a lly r e c e iv e d a m e m b e r s h ip a p p lic a tio n , I u n d e r s to o d it
or "Chaff," are str ip s o f tinfoil a s Mr. S h a p ir o d e s c r ib e d . T h e s e str ip s of
w a s o p e n to all w h o fo u g h t in th e B u lg e . It w a s w ith d is m a y th a t after
b u n d le d tinfoil w e r e fo u n d w ith p a p e r b a n d s . E ach c a rto n o f "chaff"
r e a d in g t h e m a n y i s s u e s o f The B B th a t 1 b e g a n to fe e l o th e r w ise .
c o n ta in e d a b o u t 2 4 s u c h b u n d le s o f tinfoil. 1 d o n ’t k n o w th e e x a c t
I h a v e a w a rm p la c e in m y h ea rt for th e 8 4 th D ivision "The
n u m b e r o f tinfoil p i e c e s c o n ta in e d in e a c h b u n d le , b u t I’d g u e s s se v e ra l
R ailsplitters." It w a s th e GIs a n d m e d i c s o f th is ou tfit th a t p ic k e d up
th o u s a n d str ip s. O n th e "W indow m ission s'* th a t I flew , th e aft b o m b
m o s t o f ou r b o m b e r c r e w o n C h r istm a s a fte r n o o n , after our B -26
b a y of th e B -2 6 M arau der h e ld a b o u t a d o z e n c a r to n s o f b u n d le d
b o m b e r w a s s h o t u p s o b a d o v e r St. Vith, w e w e r e fo r c e d to bail o u t.
"window."
S o m e o f u s w ith s e r io u s w o u n d s . T h e c o rd ia l tr e a tm e n t w e r e c e iv e d b y
T h e 9th B o m b a r d m e n t D ivision (9th AF) d e p lo y e d a th r e e p la n e
th e 8 4 th G Is, w h o s a w to ou r w o u n d s , a n d s e r v e d u s h o t tu rk ey d in n er
"W indow form ation " in a d v a n c e o f th e m a in b o m b in g fo r m a tio n . W h en
at th eir first-aid sta tio n , will a lw a y s b e r e m e m b e r e d .
th e p ilot tu r n e d o n th e I.P (initial P o in t h e n in n in n th e b o m b run), th e
Later, w e s a w th e in s id e s o f Vii C o r p s MG at th e C h a te a u d c B asG incs,
m e n a s s ig n e d to d is p e n s in g th e "window" w o u ld b e g in t o s s in g it ou t,
w h e r e w e g a v e w h a t little w e k n e w o f e n e m y d is p o s it io n s to their G -2.
te a rin g th e p a p e r b a n d s in th e p r o c e s s to a llo w th e airflow to d is p e r s e
At 9 th TAC H O in L ie g e , 1 w a s s e n t to th e 2 8 th G en er a l H o sp ita l, a n d
th e "vwinHow." Thp ni irnnQO w a s tn havfi thft tinfoil fa llin g in th e air w h ile
a lte r it w a s nit o y a d u z z D o m o i h a d m y w o u n d tr e a te d at th e o 6 ih
th e m a in b o m b e r fo r m a tio n m a d e th eir critical b o m b run.
G en er a l H o sp ita l. T h e n ig h t jo u r n e y from M arch e to L ie g e is still y e n /
1 b e lie v e th a t Mr. C h u rch ill’s s t a t e m e n t th a t "chaff" w a s p u t to g o o d
vivid in m y m in d .
u s e is c o rr ec t, b u t Mr. R alph V a r a b e d ia n ’s c o n c lu s io n th at, "Each s id e ,
O n m y p r e v io u s m is s io n d u rin g th e B u lg e , o n D e c e m b e r 2 3 , 1 9 4 4 ,
for e x a m p le , d is c o v e r e d th at radar s y s t e m s c o u ld b e d e f e a te d b y sm a ll
w h e n th e w e a th e r b r o k e , o u r fo r m a tio n c a m e u n d e r a tta ck b y 1 5 -2 0 ME-
str ip s o f ra d a r-reflectiv e m e ta l, later c a lle d c h a ff, d r o p p e d from an
1 0 9 s . T h e s e G er m a n fig h te r s s h o t d o w n fou r o f ou r g r o u p ’s b o m b e r s ,
a irp la n e. B u t n eith er sid e u s e d the idea, fe a r in g th e l o s s o f their o w n
a n d r id d le d s e v e r a l m o r e s o b a d th e y c r a s h -la n d e d o n retu rn in g to our
b a s e . M an y a ir m e n a ls o b le d a n d d ie d d u rin g th e B u lg e . M an n in g th e radar c a p a b ility if th e o p p o n e n t u s e d th e s a m e tactic," is e r r o n e o u s .
C h a ff w o u ld c a u s e s ta tic in te r fe r e n c e o n th e radar s c r e e n , sim ila r to
u u n u o s itio n o f a b o in b e i a t 1 0 .0 0 0 io 1 5 ,0 0 0 f e e t, w h e r e ih e winter
I w h a t y o u w o u ld v ie w from a w e a k TV sta tio n o n y o u r T v s e t . T his
te m p e r a t u r e s o fte n w e r e 4 0 d e g r e e s b e lo w z e r o , w a s n ’t a s c o m fy a s
s u d d e n in te r fe r e n c e w o u ld d isto r t th e rad ar's r e b o u n d in g s ig n a l g iv in g
s o m e G Is a p p a r e n tly b e lie v e .
th e g r o u n d o p e r a to r a c o n f u s e d r e a d in g o n h is radar s c r e e n . Later, it
...to v/rite th is letter to p o in t c u t th a t I h a v e n e v e r r ea d o n e a c c o u n t
b e c a m e v e ry a p p a r e n t to t h o s e at th e r e c e iv in g e n d o f G erm a n g r o u n d
fro m a n a irm a n in y o u r B ulge B ugle, w h ic h l e a d s m e to m y last
d e f e n s e s th a t e x p e r ie n c e d G er m a n radar o p e r a to r s d id a v ery g o o d jo b
q u e s tio n : Are w e w e l c o m e in t h e V e te r a n s o f th e B attle o f th e B u lg e ?
o f d is c e r n in g f a ls e from true b lip s o n their g u n co n tr o l s c r e e n s . O f th e
Vi^lliam J . T h o m p s o n , Jr.
a p p r o x im a te 1 1 ,0 0 0 p lu s aircraft th e USAAF lo s t to G er m a n air a n d
5 5 6 B M B S O D , 3 8 7 B M B G P (M ), 9 AF
[Yqu 3 5 w p /r o m fl in VRQR fl.s yo n w ere w h en w e heard your g r o u n d d e f e n s e s d u rin g 1 9 4 4 in th e ETO a n d MTO, a lm o s t half r e s u lte d
p la n e s c o m in g during that cold, c o ld p erio d o f 1944-45. We from G er m a n Flak (IMPACT, J u ly 1 9 4 5 , p. 15). In 1 9 4 5 , G er m a n g r o u n d
d e f e n s e s (Flak) a c c o u n t e d for tw ic e th e USAAF aircraft l o s s e s th a n did
w ould w e lc o m e a n y further inform ation regarding the airm en who
th e L uftw affe.
p ro v id ed s o m u c h during the Battle o f the Bulge. We try to include
"Window" aircraft p r e c e d e d m o s t o f th e b o m b in g fo r m a tio n s our
a little bit o f every a s p e c t o f the battle, b u t w e c a n 't if yo u d o n 't
b o m b e r g r o u p (3 8 7 th BG) fle w d u rin g m y tim e o f se r v ic e w ith th e unit:
provide it. Thanks, Bill.]
A u g u st, 1 9 4 4 -V -E D ay. I fle w 4 2 c o m b a t m is s io n s w ith th e 55 6 th
i B o m b . S q u a d r o n , 3 8 7 th B o m b . G rou p , a s a rad io o p e r a to r -g u n n e r . Our
m e d iu m b o m b g r o u p fle w B -26 Martin M a ra u d ers. T h e N inth Air
N O , M U R R A Y . Y O U W E R E N ’T D R E A M IN G
N o , y o u w e r e n ’t d r e a m in g ! T h e Air F o rc e w a s d r o p p in g "chaff" or F o r c e ’s 9th B o m b a r d m e n t D ivision c o n s i s t e d o f e le v e n b o m b g r o u p s .
O ur A -2 0 ’s , A -2 6 ’s a n d B -26 M arau der b o m b e r s w e r e part o f th e ta c tic a l
“w in d ow " b o th b e fo r e a n d d u rin g t h e B u lg e . A s e v id e n c e , h e r e is a
p i e c e th a t w a s a c tu a lly d r o p p e d o n th e 9 9 th Infantry D ivision aro u n d arm o f th e USAAF in th e ETO.
B u llin g e n , B e lg iu m , d u rin g la te N o v e m b e r or D e c e m b e r , 1 9 4 4 . D uring th e la te 1 9 6 0 ’s , I w a s d e e r h u n tin g in th e u p p e r p e n in s u la of
A m e m b e r o f th e 9 9 th p ic k e d u p a b u n c h o f it a n d s a v e d it all o f t h e s e M ic h ig a n , north o f N e w b er ry . T h e w e a th e r w a s c le a r a n d b a lm y . V\/hile
y e a r s . Frank K yser o f th e 3 2 4 th E n g in e e r s , 9 9 th Infantry D ivision , g a v e w a n d e r in g a b o u t in th e w o o d s , I fo u n d an a r e a e n tire ly c o v e r e d with
m e s o m e for o u r W ar R o o m M u s e u m . 1 g u e s s w e c a n s p a r e a p ie c e to "window," sim ilar to Mr. S h a p ir o ’s H u rtg en F o r e st e x p e r ie n c e of
e a s e y o u r a g g r a v a tio n w ith th e L os A n g e le s Tim es. S e p t e m b e r -N o v e m b e r 1 9 4 4 . T h e a r e a c o v e r e d w a s a b o u t four, or five,
In cid e n ta lly , all o f th e Air F o r c e g u y s I’v e e v e r ta lk e d to a b o u t It c a lle d a c r e s . Later in th e d a y , I w a s jo s tle d b y a s e r ie s o f s o n ic b o o m s
it "w indow ," n o t c h a ff. I r e m e m b e r o n e o f th e m te llin g m e a b o u t sittin g r e v e rb er a tin g from h ig h a b o v e . L ook in g sk y w a r d , I o b s e r v e d th e
o n a b a le o f it, id ly t o s s in g s tr a n d s o f it o u t o f th e w in d o w . But w h en c o n tr a ils o f a n aircraft b e in g (Continued on Page 5)

THE B U L G E B UG LE N ovem ber 1993

 L G ttO r S t o t h © E d i t o r (Continued from Page 4)
pursued by tw o o th ers-rem in iscen t of the "pursuit curve" taught aerial
gunners during WWll. Apparently, s o m e type of war ganne w as in
progress. I recogn ized the tinfoil and theorized that it w as also being
u sed to thwart th e radar sy stem in the cock pits of th ose m odern jet
fighters.
The ability to c o n fu se the e n e m y for just a few se c o n d s can m ean the
difference b etw een life and death. “Window" did that in WWll, and is
still being u sed for the sa m e p u rp oses. "Window” is a lso u sed by
tod ay’s Navy to c o n fu se the g u id an ce sy ste m s that are m ounted on
such d ead ly m issiles a s the French m ad e "Exorcet."
William J. T h om p son , Jr.
5 5 6 BMB SQ D, 3 8 7 BMB GP (M), 9 AF
CHAFF SEEN EVERYWHERE
Regarding "Aluminum Chaff": I served in six cam p aign s, Including
North Africa and on m any o c c a sio n s saw su ch chaff on the ground,
although never in quantity. The length of the alum inum strips in th ose
d ays w as roughly six in ch es or m ore, relative to the radar frequencies
at the tim e. T oday’s chaff is m uch, m uch shorter!
R an dolph E. Kerr
3 5 3 AAA BN C BTRY
CHAFF HAS A DUAL PURPO SE
I w as with the 75th Infantry Division. 289th Infantry, 2nd Battalion,
Headquarters and on Christm as Eve in a place near Briscol, Belgium ,
m y b u d d ies and I w ent to the am m o du m p to g e t a load of am m o. On
our w ay...w e were sto p p ed and had to wait. We were stop p ed on a hill
to wait for orders and while w e were there 1 looked up and saw two
children com in g dow n the hill with a Christm as tree. They were 8 to 12
years old. I told m y b u d d ies that I w as goin g to help them put up their
tree. We put the tree up but had no decorations to g o on it. So, I said
to them: let's g o and g e t so m e d ecorations to put on it. We had no
trouble in getting our d ecorations for chaff w as falling everywhere. We
got what w e wanted, went back into the h ou se, and put it on the tree.
J a m e s O. J o n e s
7 5 INFD 2 8 9 INF 2 BN HQ
VAST CLOUDS OF CHAFF
A day or two after Christm as, 1944, I joined our unit a s a "repple" on a
static front in Wecker, Luxem bourg. On the morning of D ecem ber 31,
a Sunday, I w a s attending services with other Gl’s in a small church in
town when a flight of B-17s c a m e over and dropped about 150 H.E.
and incendiary b om b s on the town. The chaplain continued leading us
in a hymn--we did n’t even pau se. The church w as not d am aged .
The next day w e were practicing for the up com ing crossing of the
Sauer River in very large john boats outsid e the town. After a spell of
m ake-believe p ad d lin g-th e b oats were sitting on the snow in a field -w e
got out and were m ock-storm ing so m e old bunkers on the side of the
hill when lo and behold out of the wild blue yonder c o m e s the air
cavalry to our aid. Twelve P-38s prom ptly joined in the battle and shot
up Wecker. I did n’t s e e the d a m a g e d o n e and d o n ’t recall whether
there w as any casualties c a u sed by th e se two incidents of what is now
called "friendly fire" (we called it screw -ups by the 8th and 9th Air
Forces). But according to our regim ental history, regim ental and
battalion CP's located in W ecker m oved to new quarters.
Getting on with the chaff b u sin ess, while w e were "paddling" in the
johnboats w ave upon w ave of B-17s p a sse d over us on their w ay to
their targets som ew h ere in Germany. We were grateful they saved their
e g g s for the right folks this tim e, but a s they approached Wecker they
put out vast clou d s of chaff, m uch of which floated dow n on us. We
didn’t know what it w as, but it looked just like Christmas tree icicles.
So anyone who sa y s it wasn't u sed is flat wrong.
The chaff didn't help our b o y s in the B-17s m uch over the German
positions across the Sauer, just a few m iles away. 'The weather w as
bright and sunny, and the B-17s were clearly visible. Ack-ack fire w as
intense and w e saw plane after plane hit and knocked out of the sky.
But m aybe it helped to con fu se the radar farther along their flight path.
THE BULGE BUGLE
Incidentally, not long afterwards w e m oved out at night and crossed
the Sauer River on a foot bridge, through h eavy m achine gun fire
thankfully p assin g overhead. The bridge w as cou rtesy of the com b at
en g in eers-th a n k s, gu ys! I don't know if Patton sw am the Sauer as
reputed, but w e were darned glad w e didn't have to!
Ralph J. W ien ek e
4 INFD a INF C
[Many other letters were received atx>ut Chaff, but we have
chosen to use the first few that arrived. The rest have been
forwarded to Murray Shapiro, whose inquiry generated this great
response, so that he may sleep beffer af night]
YEP. YOU READ THE STUFF
H eading your colu m n "Members S p eak Out," in the August issu e of The
Bulge Bugle, you ex p r ess concern w hether [this] colum n g en era tes
r esp o n se. The e n c lo se d letter to Mr. Watters, seek in g information
regarding his father’s unit, should answ er your qu estion to so m e extent.
I am p lea sed that I am in a position to a ssist in this c a se and will
pursue it further a s stated in the letter. I thou ght you would be
interested in learning your colum n served to answ er Mr. W atters’
qu estion and will probably furnish m ore of the information he se e k s at
a later date.
The Bulge Bugle is su ch an outstanding and informative m agazin e.
I enjoy each and every entry in it. You have m y thanks for your effort
in turning out su ch a su cc e ssfu l periodical.
J o s e p h G. R ahie
H istorian, The S o c ie ty o f th e Fifth D ivision
[Forgive us for shan)elessly using your last paragraph to toot our
own horn-we so seldom g et the opportunity. We thank you
sincerely for the lovely letter you wrote to Mr. Watters and your
promise to f/y to secure more information for him at your reunion.
I'm sure Mr. Watters is grateful.]
THANK GOD FOR THE BASTARD BATTALION
...know ye what you are saying at this late date. The Bastard Battalion
in every type unit w a s called upon to support a given operation. Also
know that non e of the credits is m entioned on any m onum ent, it’s all
credited to the division. I know of what I write sin ce I w as in a com bat
engineer battalion. We supported all divisions in the Third U.S. Arm y-
y es, arm ored, infantry, cavalry-and never did I e x p e ct this quibbling.
Let's sharpen up and, like you explain, you are not looking to discredit
other units.
I had this problem w hen on e of the armored division m em b ers told
m e he never heard of m y outfit sin ce tfc»ey had their own engineers.
You m ust rem em ber H eadquarters took care of supporting units and
m ost division m em b ers didn't know w ho w a s doing what.
So, I would like to state-th an k God for the Bastard Battalion, the
unsung h eroes of WW II. I'm sorry I w as driven to g e t into this
argum ent. Let's know the m ake up of the com b at com m an d . Many
tim es over other Bastard Battalions were called upon. Only th o se of
th e se Bastard Outfits know w here they were u sed . The Bastard
Battalion is never m entioned on any m onum ent. But rem em ber, we
know what w e took part in.
Rfty years later, w e are writing what w e recall. We are talking from a
point of view of o n e ’s own recall-not n ecessarily from com bat
com m an d records.
So, p le a se let us not quibble. We d o n ’t all s e e it today or even then
a s everyone e lse did.
M ichael L uciano
150th ENGR CMBT BN
RETRACTION. PLEASE.
...ch arges about the 106th Infantry Division, 592 Field Artillery Battalion,
C om pany C, that should not g o unansw ered. He claim s that 5 9 2 /C
replaced his battery (180th Field Artillery Battalion) at a place called
Wittring which apparently is in Northeastern France on the day of
D ecem ber 12th, 1944.
(Continued on Page JO)
November 1993
 SANTA & VBOB
WISH YOU
A HAPPY
NEW YEAR!
With the hoUdays upon us, tim e seem s to be at a
prem ium as w e squeeze in shopping, w rapping, greeting cards,
parties and fam ily visits into too few days! It's hard to think
ahead to the new year, and w e often put off w hat w e can,
thinking (hke Scarlett O'Hara), "I'll think about that tomorrow!"

For those of u s already registered on our VBOB G olden A nniversary Battle o f the Bulge
Tour, it w ill be a H ap p y N e w Year, as w e look forward to a nostalgic trip through Belgium ,
Luxem bourg and France...reliving those days of our youth w ith heightened aw areness of our
effect on the w ar and the world! We know w e'll make m em ories to last a lifetim e and that
1994 w ill be a highlighted year in our ow n personal memoirs!

It can still be a H appy N e w Year for can giv e your fam ily m ore im portant than
all VBOB m em bers, IF you act quickly! a real k now ledge of w hat happened in 1944
G uaranteed 1993 prices are still available and w h y it m ust never happen again!
for reservations received before the new
year begins! Sim ply by planning ahead, Make it a H appy N e w Year in your
you can sa v e up to $400 per couple ott of home: A dd your nam e(s) to the list ui
1994 prices! PLUS, you and your deposits participants below . King in the N e w Year
w ill be covered by a special, com prehensive w ith anticipation of a once-in-a-lifetim e trip
travel insurance protection package! You dow'n m em ory lane! A s Father tim e arrives
can plan for a H appy N e w Year w ith peace on January 1, 1994, and the year 1993
of mind! expires, so do our discounted tour prices!
So don't delay another m inute! Call Alison
M any of us prefer not to count the D odge at Galaxy Tours today, toll-free, at
passing years...but the on ly w a y to keep our 1-800-523-7287!
youthful outlook is b y having som ething to Make it a H appy 1993 and 1994!
look forvv'ard to! W ith our VBOB 30th
A n n iv e rsa r y T our, y ou can have VBOB M em bers H avin g a H app y N e w Year!
anticipation and m em ories all w rapped up BECK, Ray & Foye LEOPOLD, Bill & Phyllis
BECK, W oody MARINE, Danny & Josephine
in one great adventure! BOWEN, John & M ary Ann McALlSTER, Jim
GREEDEN, Ted & M arjorie McAULIFE, Mac
BRETH, John McELHENNY, John
A N D - if you're still looking for a BRIGGS, Ralph & M uriel MILNE, Bill Sr. & Bill Jr.
special holiday gift for your spouse, your BRIGGS, Bob & Betty OLSEN, Dot
BROWNER, Fred & Shirley POWELL, Fred
children, your grandchildren. t h e gift of CAPS, Jim & Grace REED, Bob
traveling together. S how your family first CHARBONNEAU, STANISH, Tom
I larvey & Betty SWOPE, BiU & Betty
hand, through your eyes, w hat the Battle of CROSBY, Everett & Cathy TAYMAN, BUI
the Bulge w as all about. Let them see and CROSS, Vick THRUSTCffvJ, W arren
CUPINA, John VANCURA, Johnnie
understand your part in saving the w orld's DALBKE, Dick & Leverne VAUSE, Ed
freedom 50 years ago! There is no gift you LEGGETT, Mack WOLFE, Roy & Edna

THE BULGE BUGLE November 1993

 * VBOB 50TH ANNIVERSARY SOUVENIR PROGRAM BOOK *

We a r e p l a n n i n g t o p u b l i s h a " 5 0 t h A n n i v e r s a r y BoB
C o m m e m o r a t i o n S o u v e n i r P r o g r a m Boo k" t h a t w i l l b e g i v e n t o
e a c h p a r t i c i p a n t o f t h e 5 0 t h A n n i v e r s a r y Commemoration i n
S t . L o u i s , December 1 5 - 1 8 , 1 99 4 .

We w i s h t o i n c o r p o r a t e a profile and p h o t o o f many me mb e r s in

t h is souvenir book.

The w r i t e - u p s and p h o t o s we w a n t a r e s i n c e y o u w e r e
d i s c h a r g e d , we do n o t w a n t "war s t o r i e s . " T e l l us o f your
l i f e a f t e r you l e f t t h e s e r v i c e - e d u c a t i o n , m a r r i a g e ,
c h i l d r e n , wher e you wo r ke d, h o b b i e s , c o a c h i n g , c h u r c h
activities - r e m e m b e r , "A j o y t h a t ' s s h a r e d i s a j o y made
double." THE WWII G I ' s A m e r i c a n d r e a m ! L o v e t o r e a d s ome
good o l e farm s t o r y w r i t e - u p s .

We r e q u e s t t h e s e p i c t u r e s and s h o r t w r i t e - u p s b e s u b m i t t e d
b y Mar c h 1 , 1 9 9 4 t o my home a d d r e s s ( WPT) . All m aterials
w i l l b e r e t u r n e d when t h e i r u s e i s c o m p l e t e d .

P l e a s e , l e t us h e a r from you s o o n - - r e m e m b e r , t h i s is a
o n c e -in -a -life tim e observance.

W i l l i a m P. Tayman
Chai rman
VBOB 5 0 t h A n n i v e r s a r y C o m m i t t e e

2 4 0 2 B l a c k Cap L a n e
R e s t o n , VA 2 2 0 9 1 - 3 0 0 2

R e c e n t l y e v e r y o n e r e c e i v e d a b r o c h u r e from T ur ne r P u b l i s h i n g
Company r e q u e s t i n g p e r s o n a l b i o s w i t h war t i m e e x p e r i e n c e s .
L e t me make t h i s f a c t c l e a r - - t h e r e i s n o c o n n e c t i o n t o
T u r n e r ' s 5 0 t h b o o k and " o u r VBOB 5 0 t h A n n i v e r s a r y S o u v e n i r
B o o k ."

THE BULGE BUGLE N ovem ber 1993

 A REMINDER...
BATTLE OF THE BULGE
Commemorative Events
DECEMBER 15 and 16, 1933

Sp ecial com m em orative e v e n ts will again b e held in the W ashington, D.C. area, on W ed n esd ay,
D e ce m b e r 15 and Thursday. D ecem b er 16, 1993. It will b e a tim e for the V eterans of the Battle of
th e Bulge and their friends, to pay h o m a g e to th o s e w h o never c a m e h om e, to enjoy the o c c a s io n
and to sh a re in the preservation of the history of the Battle of the Bulge.

T he Historicai F oundation will h o st the C om m em orative Banquet, 6:30 p.m ., W ed n esd a y , D ecem b er
15, 1993, at th e Sheraton Hotel, Colum bia Pike and W ashington Blvd., Arlington, Virginia.

T he sp ea k er for this even t will b e G eneral William A. Knowlton, USA, Ret. During the Battle of the
Bulge, he serv ed with the 87th Cavalry R e co n n a issa n c e Squadron (M echanized), 7th Armored
Division. He c a m e into the Bulge from a hospital in Liege and r ea ssu m e d the position of Adjutant
to sort out the tro o p s w h o had m ad e it back through lines. On N ew Y ears Eve, 1944, he took
co m m a n d of "B" Troop and rem ained with that unit for the rem ainder of the war.

Other highlights of this o c c a s io n will include the 3rd Infantry Color Guard; and the presentation to
e a c h World War 11 veteran the newiy-m inted 50th Anniversary co p y of the Lapel D ischarge Buiion
(fondly called the "Ruptured Duck").

A rran gem ents have b e e n m ad e with the Sheraton Hotel (which is located only a few m inutes from
Arlington C em etery and Fort Myer), for a red u ced room rate of $59 .0 0 , sin gle or dou ble o c cu p a n c y .
This rate is available for any night(s) b etw een D ecem b er 13 and D ecem b er 17. You m ay call for
room reservation s, Sheraton National Hotel, Colum bia Pike & W ashington Blvd., Arlington, Virginia--
T e le p h o n e # 8 0 0 -4 6 8 -9 0 9 0 , by D ecem b er 1, 1993. (Mention that you are attending the Battle of the
Bulge B anquet and ev en ts.)

On Thursday, D ecem b er 16, the im pressive wreath-laying cerem on y at the Tom b of the Unknown
Soldier and the V eterans of the Battle of the Bulge Memorial, Arlington C em etery will be held at
1 1 :00 a.m . After th e s e m oving c er em o n ie s a reception buffet will b e h o sted by the V eterans of the
Battle of the B ulge at the O fficers’ Club, Fort Myer, Virginia.

R eservation form for the C om m em orative Banquet and the D ecem b er 16 e v en ts is on the following
p a g e , p le a se co m p lete and return by D ecem b er 7 to;
Battle of the Bulge Historical Foundation
P.O. Box 2516
K ensington, MD 2 0 8 9 5-0818
For m ore information on the C om m em orative B anquet call:
D orothy Davis, T elep h o n e # 3 0 1 -8 8 1 -0 3 5 6
For m ore information on the D ecem b er 16 even ts, call:
Peter D ounis, T elep h o n e # 3 0 1 -5 8 9 -6 7 3 0
For Sh eraton Hotel R esen /ation s call:
T elep h o n e # 8 0 0 -4 6 8 -9 0 9 0

THE BULGE BUGLE November 1993

 RESERVATION FORM

Commemorative Banquet
W E D NESD A Y, DECEM BER 15, 1993
SH E R A T O N N ATIO N A L H O TEL, A R LIN G TO N , V IR G IN IA
DECEMBER 7, 1993, to:
r e t u r n fo r m b y
BATTLE OF THE BULGE HISTORICAL FOUNDATION
P.O. Box 2516, Kensington, MD 20891-0818 Telephone: 301-881-0356
Please make ch eck s payable to BoBHF GALA

N a m e;_________________________________ T elep h o n e________________________________

A d d re ss:__________________________________________________________________________

Unit:

Spouse / G u e st:.

Number of R eservations:_____ Total C o st @ $42.00 p e r P e rs o n ,

Dress: B usiness suit/blacl< tie / military dress uniform (miniature m etals encouraged).

Table assignm ent for the Banquet will be on your nam e card. If you wish to be se a te d with friends,
please include their nam es with this form.
THE AGENDA

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 1993

COMMEMORATIVE BANQUET
Hosted by
Battle of the Bulge Historical Foundation

1 8 3 0 hours R ecep tion / C ash Bar

DINNER MENU
1 9 3 0 hours S e a te d for Dinner
P osting of C olors ... 3rd Infantry Color Guard p„ji, M edley in P ineapple Boat
P le d g e of A llegian ce E squire S alad with Choice of D ressing
Invocation ....... Msgr. William O'Donnell B reast of C hicken P iccata with Lemon C ap e r S au ce
T o a sts R ed Bliss R oasted P o tato es
G reen B ea n s Almondine a nd Julienne C arrots
2 1 0 0 hours Introduction of G u est a nd Butter
S p ea k er . G en . William V. Knowlton S haved Chocolate
C offee o r T ea
U SA Ret
Wtne — Taylor White

2 1 3 0 hours Entertainment

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 1 6 ,1 9 9 3

1 1 0 0 hours W reath laying C erem on ies, V eterans of th e Battle of th e B ulge at th e

Tom b of the Unknown Soldier, Arlington National C em etery, Arlington, VA

1 1 3 0 hours V eteran s of th e Battle of the Bulge M onument C e rem o n ies

P osting of th e C o lo r s ................................Color Guard
P lacing of a Wreath
Brief Program

1 2 0 0 hours R eception , O fficers’ Club, Fort Myer, Virginia

Buffet / C ash Bar
C o m m e n t s .......................................... President of VBOB

THE BULGE BUGLE 0 November 1993

L g H g re tn ^hp E d ito r (Continued from Page 5)
[The] 5 9 2 /C m o v e d into its first c o m b a t lo c atio n o n D e c e m b e r 10th,
E a s t of St. Vith, a t a p la c e c alle d L a u d e sfeld , w hich is o n th e fringe of
G e rm a n y . O u r division artillery re p la c e d th e 12th a n d 15th R eid
Artillery B attalio n s of th e 2 n d Infantry Division. W e s ta y e d a t th a t
lo c atio n for a p p ro x im a te ly s e v e n d a y s . W e n e v er re p la c e d a n y 3rd
A rmy Division! T he id e a [of reco v erin g ] ...o n e of o u r h o w itzers with th e
B reech full of c o sm o lin e is lu d ic ro u s. [A nyone] ...sh o u ld know th a t you
n e v e r m o v e into a c o m b a t p o sitio n u n le s s y o u r h o w itzers a re in a s ta te
of re a d in e s s for firing.
I tried to find o u t w h o re p la c e d h is u n it o n th e d a te in q u e stio n b u t th e
m a jo r w o rk s b y C o le a n d M cD onald fail to sh o w a n y listing of th e 180th
H eld Artillery B attalion. This is u n d e rs ta n d a b le sin c e th e A lsace-L oraine
w a s b elo w L u x e m b o u rg -3 rd Army territory, h a rd ly B ulge territory.
...C learly a re tra c tio n sh o u ld b e m a d e .
Victor C. Rauch
106 INFD 592 FA BN C
M urray S h a p iro , w ho w ro te to s e e if o th e rs knew a n y th in g a b o u t
"Chaff" w rites to th a n k all of you w h o r e s p o n d e d to his re q u e s t
for m o re in fo rm atio n o n th e s u b je c t, M urray h a d g re a t re s p o n s e .
You V B O B ers a re g re a t In re s p o n d in g to in q u iries. T h a n k s to
e a c h of y ou.
THE SILENT GERMAN
[The following story was sent in by R O D N E Y
H ESTERM AN , 5T H IN F A N T R Y DIVISION, 50 FIELD
A R T IL L E R Y B A TT A LIO N , C O M PAN Y A ]
...wc were setting up just about dusk when the Germans
fired a shell right where we were going to put the gun. We
put it there anyway because shells never hit the same place
twice.
Ljne nigni inc man on guaiu woke nic up. lie suid a
G erm an was standing behind the gun pit.
I took my carbine and gave him a good whack with the
stock.
Turned out it was a raincoat, one of ours, hanging on the
camouflage net.
Do you have a funny story with respect to your being
involved in the Battle o f the Bulge? I f so, send it along-
please keep it as brief as possible. The shorter the better
and probably the quicker it will be used.
GEN. RIDGVVAY DIES
One o f the nation's foremost military commanders, Gen. Matthew B.
I^dgway, 98. passed away on July 26, 1993, at his hom e in Fox Chapel,
Pennsylvania. D uiin g WW II, he organized the country’s new airborne
forces and led the 82nd "All American" Airborne Division in the invasions
o f Sicily and mainland Italy before jumping into Normandy at the start of
the D -U ay Campaign and the Battle o f the Bulge.
In A Time for Trumpets: The Untold Story o f the Battle o f the Bulge, the
author Charles B. M acDonald, said o f Ridgway:
"Matthew Bunker Ridgway..., was born into an army family, and the
U.S. Army had been his life. Me was a man o f great personal
courage (he wore a harness with a hand grenade attached to each of
the front straps, not, he maintained, because he wanted to create a
distinctive image but bccause he might need them). Ilis airborne
troops...admired his toughness and called him "'I'he Eagle." He
drove him self relentlessly and saw no reason not to drive others the
same way. You won wars, in Ridgeway’s view, not by giving ground
but by taking it and holding it."
He served in World Wars I and II and the Korean Conflict, ending his
c z t z '" ' '''' r 'u .n f in In n j* n f
THE BULGE BUGLE
ORDNANCE MUSEUM
ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND
IN MARYLAND
DALE E. WOOMERT, 78TH INFANTRY DIVISION,303RD
ENGINEER BATTALION, writes to tell us about the A rm /s
Ordnance Museum at The A berdeen Proving G round in
Maryland. It includes both weapons and vehicles of both
U.S. and foreign armies a great many of which are opera­
tional. The mission of the museum is to collect, preserve
and account for historically significant property that relates
to the history of the U.S. Army O rdnance Corps and the
evolution and development of A m erican military ordnance
materiel from the colonial period in Am erican history to the
present.
The museum is open Tuesday through Friday from 12:00
Noon to 4:45 p.m. and on Saturday and Sunday from 10:00
a.m. to 4:45 p.m. It is closed on Mondays, National
Holidays, A rm ed Forces Day, Independence Day, Memorial
Day and Veterans Day. The museum is off of U.S. Route
40 about half way between Baltimore, Maryland, and
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (There are direction signs
posted at all Route 40 turn-off points.)
If you plan to visit, write to Dale at 2208 Titan Terrace,
Havre de Grace, Maryland 21078. H e will be happy to
meet you and show you around the area.
Dale also advises us that many of the Army’s M ateriel
Command Bases also have museums: Transportation
Museum at Ft. FiiStice, Virginia and the F.ngineer Miiscurr!
at Ft. Belvoir, Virginia. An excellent collection of tanks may
also be found at Ft. Knox, Kentucky. In England there is a
trem endous collection of tanks and weapons at Bovington in
southern E ngland-not too far from Christ Church.
[Thanks, Dale, fo r the infonnation. Bet our members
nm your legs o ff taking you up on your offer.]
OUR APOLOGIES TO LUXEMBOURG
The August, 1993, issue of The Bulge Bugle contained a very
serious error. We entitled an article "An Invitation for You
From Belgium." it should have read "An Invitation for You
From Luxembourg." The title was written bel'ore the article
arrived so that we would be sure to have space for it. We
were remiss in not having noticed this obvious mistake.
Many of you wiutc to let us know of this mistake and ’a c
thank you.
COMBAT INFANTRYM EN’S
ASSOCIATION FORM ED
An association has been formed for those who have been
awarded the Combat Infantryman’s Badge as certified to by
official notation on the applicant’s DO-214. If you are
interested in membership in this organization please contact:
Combat Infantrymen’s Association, Inc., 138 Locust Avenue,
New Rochelle, New York 10805.
We played remote bases, the kind of bases where guys went to
bed witli Uieir rifles by tlieir sides; not for safety, but for
companionship.
BOB HOPI-
10 N ovem ber 1993

Members
Speak Out
M ICHAEL (M IK E ) K LEM IC K , 87TH RECONNAISSANCE SQUADRON,
HEADQUARTERS COMPANY, would like to locate (CAJE) LEGUNE (he
was from Louisiana). Mike states that he and Caje had planned a trip to
Caje’s home, but M ike’s pass was cancelled. T here was an o th er fellow
from Louisiana with whom they rem ained close until they were shipped
overseas. W rite to Mike at: R ural R oute 1, Box 585, Elysburg,
Pennsylvania 17824.
Robin N eillands is w ritting a book regarding the last five m onths of the
war in Europe. H e would like personal accounts of the w ar starting from
the Battle o f the Bulge on New Y ears’ D ay onward. T he m ore personal
the recollections, the better, i.e., m eeting G erm an civilians, Russians, seeing
o r hearing about concentration camps, etc. W rite to Robin at: P.O. Box
345, Bourne End, Bucks, SL8 5N H England.
EDWARD A. H ILTO N , 90TH INFANTRY DIVISION, 3S7TH INFANTRY,
COMPANY C would like to locate anyone who helped take Doncols on
January 11, 1945--particularly his unit. H e would like to also locate the
am bulance driver who drove him to the Barley D uke H ospital. Ed has
never been able to locate anyone who was with him in Doncols. I le hopes
he wasn’t the only survivor. Can you help him locate som eone? W rite to
Ed at: P.O. Box 265, A ltm ar, New Y ork 13302-0265.
LIO N EL J. ROTHBARD, 587TH AMBULANCE COMPANY, writes to give
praise to the soldiers who fought in the Bulge and to call attention to the
support given by the "medics who carried out their mission to conserve the
fighting strength o f the Army." [We have carried se^>eral "medic'* stories in
t/ie "Memorable Bulge Incidents" section; however, i f any one has a story you
think would be interesting, please send it to VBOB.J
REGGIE R. O SBORNE, 106TH INFANTRY DIVISION, 424TH
INFANTRY, COMPANY F, who was wounded in the Battle o f the Bulge
on January 15,1945, would like to h ear from o th e r paraplegic veterans who
served in the Battle of the Bulge. Reggie rem em bers waking in a field
hospital with blood running from a dead G erm an soldier’s arm via
intravenous feeding into his arm. W rite to Reggie at: P.O. Box 74,
Jefferson, N orth Carolina 28640.
G ary M aloney would like to have literature or inform ation on the Aachen
region during the Battle of the Bulge. W rite to him at: 18 Nick V edder
Road, Buzzards Bay, M assachusetts 02531.
STAN C. BELLENS, from Belgium, has w ritten to say that he is ready to
drive any veteran coming back to the Liege area of Belgium this year or
next. H e states; T il do my best for each of you wanting to visit some
places w here you have fought." W rite to Stan at: 209, Rue Resistance;
B4351 Reim court; Belgium.
Bertha D ering would like to hear from anyone who can verify the
w ounding o f her husband ALBERT J. DERING, TRAFFIC REGULATING
COMPANY, during the Battle o f the Bulge. Please contact her at: P.O.
Box 10932, Lancaster, Pennsylvania 17605. B ertha asked that we run this
item again—she had no response to her first inquiry. Surely som eone can
help her o r knows where she can find help.
The son of BILLIE J. COLLINS, 17TH AIRBORNE DIVISION, would like
to locate two close friends o f his father’s: BILL FO STER and BILL
BULLOCK, 82ND AIRBORNE DIVISION. If you can help him locate
them, write to: Bobby J. Collins, P.O. Box 1 ^ 1 , H illsborough, N orth
Carolina 27278.
JAM ES H. BURKE, 299TH COM BAT EN GIN EER BATTALION, is trying
to locate all of the privates and PFCs that were captured with him at
M artelange, Belgium, on D ecem ber 21, 1944. H e has located the officers
and most of the non-coms but few of the privates and PFCs. T he battalion
THE B ULG E BUGLE
holds annual reunions and because POW s w ere not carried on the final
roster, it has not been possible to contact m ost o f them . Y our form er
buddies would like to h ear about you and possibly get you to atten d a
reunion. Contact Jam es at: 54 E ast E lizabeth Street, Skaneateles, New
Y ork 13152.
H elen M. (W ilson) Lawson w rites in response to o u r recent press release
to let us know that she would love to hear from anyone who rem em bers
h er husband W ILLIAM W ILSON, lO lST AIRBORN, 502 PARACHUTE
INFANTRY, HEADQUARTERS COMPAiNY. D ro p H elen a note at: 716
Tyler A venue, Peru, Indiana 46970.
R obert Knauff w rites to see if any m em ber o f the 84TH INFANTRY
DIVISION rem em bers his father RO B ER T E, KNAUFF, who was killed in
BoB action January 4, 1945, in D eren tare (D eventave?), Belgium. His
uncle JU LIU S E. M IE LK E , 78TH INFANTRY DIVISION, 309TH
INFANTRY, was killed in the Bulge on D ecem ber 14, 1944, and he would
like to hear from anyone who rem em bers him. W rite to R obert at: 2842
Bason Road, M ebane, N orth C arolina 27304.
DAVID E. BROWN, 4TH INFANTRY DIVISION, 12TH INFANTRY,
COMPAN*Y G, would like to hear from anyone in his old outfit. David was
captured D ecem ber 16, 1944, at E chtem ach, Luxem bourg, and was carried
to Luckenwalde Stalag A3. W rite to David at: 8324 Scottingham Drive,
Richmond, Virginia 23236.
LEO HUM PHREY, 99TH INFANTRY DIVISION, 395TH INFANTRY, 3RD
BATTALION, I COMPANT, would like to know if anyone can give him
inform ation about H ERBERT BREITMAN o r his family. H erbert was in
the same com pany as Leo. H erb ert was originally from som ew here in New
Y ork. W rite to Leo at: R.R. 2, Box 415, Cynthiana, Kentucky 41031-9547.
W e received a letter from Alice M. Sturgis, who would like to know the
w hereabouts o f a man w ho served in the Battle of the Bulge. His nam e
was WILLIAM CROSS and in 1947-48 he lived in G reenfield, M assachu­
setts, and, for a short while, worked at the New England Box Com pany
there. A fter 1948 he retu rn ed to G erm any to work in the "Graves
Registration" detail w here he reinjured a leg (previously hurt in the BoB)
getting off o f a train in H am burg. Can anyone help? W rite to Alice at:
Willey Road, Milton Mills, New H am pshire 03852.
CATHERINE KREM ER, who recently joined as an A ssociate M em ber,
w rites to say she would like to hear from SGT. FRANK E. IVANCSIOS,
BAITERY A, 482. C atherine and h er family entertained A m erican soldiers
in Weiswampach, Luxem bourg, on many occasions. They had the only well
w ater in town, often providing 50 gallon barrels a t one time. C atherine and
her sister also did washing and ironing for some o f the GIs. A s her home
was only 4 kilom eters from the G erm an b o rder, often the soldiers who
stopped by did not know if they w ere in G erm any o r not. O ne bitterly cold
day, while soldiers w ere out in front of h er house, the family prepared a
huge pot of coffee, but the soldiers w ere afraid to drink it until C atherine
drank a cup. If anyone rem em bers any of this, C atherine would like to
hear from you. H er address is: 1454 Burham A venue, Calum et City,
Illinois 60409.
Elaine E. T atro would like to h ear from anyone with the 329TH
INFANTRY a n d /o r anyone who might rem em ber h er b ro th er SGT,
MELVIN GIBBS TH O M PSO N , W rite to Elaine at: 6303 S.W. 25th
Avenue, Portland, O regon 97201. [Also provide VBOB with the address for
the 329th association, i f there is one.]
V ernon R eim er had two uncles who w ere killed in the Battle o f the Bulge.
V ernon would like to know the nam es o f the cem eteries w here his uncles
are buried. T he uncles’ nam es are CHARLIE A, R E IM E R and H O M E R
F. R EIM ER. Can som eone o u t there help him? W rite to V ernon at: Box
245, T hom dale, Texas 76577.
M ICHAEL LUCIANO, 150TH EN G IN EER COM BAT BATTALION, writes
to ..."let you know what a great jo b you are doing. I contacted Fred
M orabito, who w rote looking fo r inform ation on the Bridgehead at
Oppenheim . T h at was the Rhine operation. I w rote to Fred and let him
know what I knew since my
(Continued on Page 12)
II N ovem ber 1993
M em bers Speak Out (C om inued fro m PaQe 11)
outfit built two bridges on the Rhine (Treadw ay) floating type. Fred was
looking for infantry assault inform ation. Fred w rote me and thanked me
for what I conveyed. Y ou can’t know it all. T his was [in] The Bulge Bugle,
May issue. I can’t tell you how pleased I am that you print these bits and
pieces for us to keep in touch."
CLARK A RCHER, 517TH PARVCHUTE INFANTRY, 1ST BATTALION,
U COMPAN'Y, needs some help with the folluwing. A silver bracelet was
found in a house used as a 517th medical aid station in the Bergeval,
Belgium, area. It was engraved as follows: "JO H N L. M IL LE R —5327."
H e would also like inform ation on any o f the following men o f the 517th
Parachute Infantry regim ent who w ere killed in action in o r near Epinal,
France: Pvt. DEAN E. KAIL (39214184 W A 1 A p r 45); P FC JO E B. OLEA
(39858193 A Z 26 Jun 45); and Pvt. M ERID ITH WINSTEAD (06849650 NC
22 M ay 45). If you can help Clark with eith er item, w rite to him at: 525
N orth Halifax A venue # 6 , D aytona Beach, Florida 32118^066.
Mike Jackson would like to h ear from anyone who rem em bers his father,
NAPOLEON "JACK" JACKSON, a sergeant v.-ith the FIELD
ARTILLERY. W rite to Mike at: 5502 E nsenada, A tascadero, California
9M22.
William J. Reilly is looking for som eone who rem em bers his father,
W ILLIAM J . REILLY, 39TII INFANTRY, COM PANT K, who was killed
in the B attle of the Bulge and is buried at H enri Chappelle M ilitary
Cem etery, w 'rite to W'iiiiain ai; 115 A rm strong A venue, Staten Island,
New Y ork 10308.
Paul L. Ferguson would like to hear from som eone who knew his uncle,
FRANKLIN "FRANK" FERGUSON, from Iowa. (N o unit given.) He was
baptised January 26, 1945, in Belgium, by Chaplain A rth u r F. Fleming. If
you can help, w rite to Paul: 124-1/2 South 2nd Street, #203, Knoxville,
iuwd 5U138.
Ruby Van DisKen is the grandm other o f ERVIN PRICE, 3RD ARMORED
UlVlSlUiN(?), w no was killed in the Baiiic o f ihc Bulge. Ruu^ wOuld love
to hear from anyone v/ho may rem em ber her grandson Ruby sends the
follow-ing washes to all w ho served in the BoB- "God bless everyone o f you
w onderful people who fought for us and o u r country so th at we might live.
We love you all." W rite to her at: 5621 South H arrison, F ort Wayne,
Indiana 46807.
R O IA N D DUSCHECK, 3RD A RM ORED DIVISION, 36TH AIR,
tXlM PANV C, wani& you to know that a time was had by all who
attended th eir recent reunion. If you would like to know more, write to
Roland at; P.O. Box 311, M arkesan, W isconsin 53946.
MANUEL P. (TEX) HERRERA, 26TH INFANTRY DIVISION, 39TH
SIGNAL COMPANY W IRE PLATOON, (Sgt. C hester D u n n ’s Team ),
would like to hear from anyone he knew. W rite to Tex: P.O. Box 2244,
Shingle Springs, California 95682.
Gayle M ellcher would like to know if anyone rem em bers HAROLD
DUNKIN, 79TH INFANTRY DIVISION. H arold was a jeep driver who
was killed in the Bulge on D ecem ber 19, 1944. H e is buried at St. Avoid,
France. If you can help, write to Gayle at: 622 3rd Avenue, S.W.,
Pipestone, M innesota 56164.
D erek S. G ould would like to hear from anyone who knew his uncle,
JA M ES P. GOULD. Jam es was a tank radio o p erato r in the 5TH
A RM ORED DIVISION. H e was taken prisoner in the BoB. Please contact
D erek at; College o f St. Joseph, Box 83, Rutland, V erm ont 05701.
D eborah Bolton-C lark would like to know if anyone rem em bers her uncle,
CARL ASEL AYLESWORTH, who was killed in the Bulge. He was with
the 106TH INFANTRY DIVISION, 422ND INFANTRY, COMPANY H.
W rite to D eborah at: 37 G arfield Street, Cortland, New York 13045.
REYBURN F. CR O CK ER is trying to locate and correspond with every
living m em ber o f the 401ST F IG H TER SQUADRON, 370TH FIG H TER
THE BULGE BUGLE
GROUP. H e will welcome any inform ation. W rite to him at: 1701 Dinuba
I Avenue #136. Selma. California. |
I
GLEN HENDERSON, 1306TH R EG IM EN T, ARM^' ENGINEERS, would
like to hear from any o f his old gang. W rite to him at: 212 W est Spencer,
Box 734, St. Francis. Kansas 67756.
Bill Lawrence would like to locate anyone w ho can give him inform aton
regarding his b ro th er’s death in the BoB. His b ro th er’s nam e was
T RIM BELL D. LAWRENCE. H e was with 359TH INFANTRY, COMPANT
C. If you can help, write to Bill: 1614 S.W. 41st, O klahom a City,
Oklahom a 73119-3320.
JoA nn Langmaid would like to hear from anyone w ho knew her uncle,
LESLIE JACK FARR, 467TH ANTI-AIRCRAFT ARTILLERY
AUTOMATIC WTAPONS. Please write to h er at: P.O. Box 209, Birch
Run, Michigan 48415.
John C. A usland announces the publication o f his book Letters Home: A
War Memoir. It begins with the 4th Infantry Division landing on U tah
Beach on June 6, 1944. It ends, nearly a year later, south o f Munich. In
between were the breakout from the beachhcad (O peration Cobra), the
Liberation of Paris, the H urtgen Forest, the Battle o f the Bulge, and the
final offensive across the Rhine. It’s available from Sidney K ram er Books,
il910-U Parklawn Drive, Rockville, M aryland 20852. Cost $3330.
W'alt Johnes would appreciate hearing from any veteran who served with
his brother, H ERBERT E. (ED) JO H N E S, who was with 329TH
INFANTRY, 3RD BATTALION, HEADQUARTERS COMPANY, (possibly
attached to the 3RD ARMY). Ed was killed on January 9th in B elgium -
after being wounded earlier in France on July 6, 1944. W alt would
appreciate hearing from anyone who can shed inform ation on E d ’s
activities during this period. W rite to W alt at; Box 363 0 9928 Hiway 150,
Greenville, Indiana 47124-0363.
Royce Lewis would like to hear from anyone who knew his father, JO H N 1
B. LEWIS, 29TH INFANTRY DIVISION, 19 CO RPS ARTILLERY, 459
AAA, i'fiM PA N Y A. W rite I n Rovre at 1704 .South Pine. Rradv. Texas
76825. "
MUSTARD GAS
WERE YOU EXPOSED?
You may be eligible for benefits now from the Veterans
Administration if vou were exposed to mustard gas during
held and chamber tests while in military service. At the time
of these tests, those persons in such testing were sworn by
pledges of absolute secrecy not to reveal their participation.
This is no longer true.
The following medical conditions can be caused by poison
gas: respiratory cancers; skin cancer, obstructive pulmonary
disease; non-lymphocytic leukemia; chronic laryngitis;
bronchitis; emphysema and asthma; chronic conjunctivitis;
keratitis, and clouded vision.
Chamber tests were conducted at: Great Lakes Naval
Training Center, Illinois; Naval Research Lab, Washington,
D.C.; Edgewood Arsenal, Maryland; Bainbridge, Maryland;
Camp Lejeune, North Carolina; and Camp Sebert, Alabama.
Field tests were conducted at: Dugway Proving Ground,
Utah; Edgewood Arsenal, Maryland; Bushnell, Florida; and
San Jose Island, Panama Canal Zone.
Survivors of exposed veterans may also be eligible and
should contact the VA for additional information. For
further information, call the U.S. Department of Veterans
AITairs-1-800-827-1000 (toll free).
Three-quarters o f a soldier’s life is spent in iiimlessly waiting
about.
EUGEN ROSENSTOCK-HUSSY
12 November 1993
 (Continued from Page I )
A New Look at
an Old Battle
This legendary account of the battle is accurate as far as it
goes. But it leaves out some important parts of the story
that over the distance of years have pretty well been for­
gotten, or were never known by anybody except the partici­
pants themselves and a few historians. For one, at the time
of the G erm an attack the Am erican ground forces were
being punished much m ore severely than is now recognized.
For another, contrary to legend, U.S. and British intelli­
gence officers in the days preceding D ecem ber 16 had con­
siderable information that the G erm ans were up to some­
thing big across the line. For a third, the Battle of the Bulge
was not settled at Bastogne at all, but around an obscure
and isolated area of woods and villages 30 miles southeast of
Liege, Belgium, in the first week of the G erm an attack. In
short, as often happens with great battles in history, the
legend has blotted out much of the reality.
Things were not going well for the Allies on the W estern
Front in the fall of 1944. Following the breakthrough in
France and the race across Belgium and the Netherlands to
Germany, the Allied drive bogged down. Long supply lines
caused a shortage of essentials, i.e., gasoline, ammunition,
replacement parts, etc. The disorganized G erm an forma­
tions had escaped into their West Wall fortifications and
assembly areas. This system of bunkers, mine fields, and
tank obstacles stretching from Nijemegen in the Netherlands
to Basel in Switzerland greatly expanded the number of
Germ an fighting effectives, as the military call them. Weak
troops could man the fortifications, while mobile fighters
moved in front, behind, and around as needed.
General O m ar Bradley, who commanded the American
12th Army Group (First and Third Armies) under General
Dwight D. Eisenhower, wrote in his memoirs A Soldier’s
Story, "between early Septem ber and mid-December (the
enemy) had tripled his forces on the W estern Front to 70
divisions. O f his 15 Panzer divisions, eight were refitted with
Panther and Tiger Tanks." In December 1944, the number
of G erm an troops along the front rose from 420,000 to
1,323,000, due in great part to the Nazis’ stripping rear
echelon and Luftwaffe (air force) units of men, retraining
them, and moving them west to face the British and
Americans.
The remarkable, albeit temporary, recovery on the German
side was having its effect on the Allies even before the
Bulge. In late Septem ber 1944, a joint British-American
parachute attem pt to jum p the Rhine at Arnhem,
Netherlands, failed. Throughout November General George
Patton’s Third U.S. Army suffered heavy losses in its drive
on Germany’s Saar Valley. G eneral Courtney Hodges’ U.S.
First Army had finally captured Aachen, Germany, after a
bloody fight, but had seen four of its divisions decimated in
the grim Hurtgen Forest battle south of Aachen. (A U.S.
infantry division in World W ar II had about 14,500 men.) In
the five weeks preceding the Battle of the Bulge, American
ground force casualties totaled 64,000 in 12th Army Group
alone. By mid-December, the two U.S. armies that made up
this group were short 17,000 rifiemen, i.e., the men who bore
the brunt of combat in W orld W ar II.
THE BULGE BUGLE
To assemble troops and arm or for the large and costly
attacks being made by Patton and Hodges, the 60-mile
A rdennes sector in the center of the U.S. front was stripped
to a force sufficient only to defend against light, localized
enemy attacks. None of the four U.S. Divisions holding the
A rdennes hne was in fighting trim. Two, the 99th and 106th,
were without any previous combat experience. The other
two divisions, the 4th and 28th, had been cut up badly in the
H urtgen Forest and were still being rebuilt. Scattered
among these units or on their flanks were a few mechanized
cavalry and arm ored forces.
This neglect of the "ghost front" in the hilly, wooded
Belgian Ardennes by U.S. com manders was due in no small
part to the failure of their Intelligence staffs in the weeks
preceding the G erm an attack on D ecem ber 16. Contrary to
much that has been written over the years about the Bulge,
American and British Intelligence were picking up hints that
the enemy along the W est Wall was planning a major
operation. Allied intelligence knew of the existence and
arming of the G erm an Sixth Panzer Army. Knew its
com mander was H itler’s old Nazi crony, Sepp Dietrich.
Knew it was located to the southwest of Cologne, Germany,
and included a strange spy and saboteur type formation.
Captured W ehrmacht prisoners and friendly civilians did
inform front line U.S. Intelligence officers of the German
build-up. Allied bom ber pilots spotted an unusual amount
of traffic along the G erm an rail lines leading over the Rhine
toward eastern Belgium.
Tragically, most of the Allied Intelligence officers behind
the front lines in higher headquarters simply couldn’t bring
themselves to believe what the reports trickling in seemed to
show. They were convinced the enemy was nearly beaten,
that at best he would wage only defensive war until the end,
which couldn’t be far off. John Eisenhower has written,
"Caught up in the tide of buoyant optimism engendered by
the dash across France, Allied Intelligence at all echelons
contributed a chorus of happy news." The Intelligence
officers were misled by other developments as well. Gerd
von Rundstedt, a cautious W ehrmacht man of the old school
was supposed to be in charge of the W estern Front for the
Germans, a man unlikely to order any wild counter attacks.
But von Rundstedt was not in charge of the operation.
Hitler was personally running things through W alter
Model, another professional soldier but a younger one with
definite Nazi sympathies. Also, the rem arkable "Ultra"
information gathering system the Allies used throughout the
war to tap into G erm an communications was not turning up
anything on a planned counter attack. The reason was sim­
ple. H itler confined knowledge of the big A rdennes attack
to a few of his highest generals. H e also forbade any radio
transmission of orders. "Ultra" had nothing to work on.
W hatever the reasons for the U.S. Intelligence failure in
the late fall of 1944 regarding G erm an preparations, it
blinded U.S. commanders to the true peril their forces were
facing. G eneral Bradley writes that the American
com manders took a calculated risk in thinning out the
Am erican forces in the A rdennes in order to make men and
arm or available elsewhere on the front.
"In accepting (this risk) we counted heavily on the speed
with which we could fling (our) mechanized strength against
the flank of the G erm an attack." he writes. However, in the
(Continued on Page 14) ''
13 N ovem ber 1993
 (Continued from Page 13)
A New Look at
an Old Battle
A rdennes this strategy depended on the G erm ans putting in
a weak attack that the badly stretched and inexperienced
American troops could contain until such "mechanized
strength" was brought up. As it turned out, the German
A rdennes attack was neither weak nor localized. It came
down on the thin American line in December 1944, like a
tidal wave.
At no other place along the 60-mile A rdennes front were
the Americans so vulnerable as in the forests and villages 30
miles southeast of Liege, Belgium. H ere the American
position lay in front of a line of hills five miles long called
ELsenborn Ridge and across a main highway to the south of
the ridge. This was the north corner of the great (rtl-miie
attack area, as planned by Hitler, the "door post" his
com m anders called it. The position to the east of Elsenborn
Ridge facing the G erm ans was held by only five battalions of
the green U.S. 99th Division (about 4,000 men). The main
highway to the south was covered, loosely, by a mechanized
cavalry group of some 3,000 troopers in light tanks and
arm ored cars. Against this weak infantry and light arm ored
force, the G erm ans through the spearhead of the entire
A rdennes counter attack, First SS Panzer Corps.
This corps was made up of two veteran Panzer divisions
armed wish the best and heavief.t of the new G erm an tanks,
plus two Volksgrenadier and one parachute division, all
backed by artillery and mobile assault guns. First Panzer
Corps was the main striking force of Dietrich’s Sixth Panzer
Army, which Hitler assigned the critical role in the assault.
To the east of Elsenborn Ridge on the cold, foggy December
day the G erm ans attacked, the Americans were out­
num bered seven to one in men and outgunned even more.
Before the attack was 36 hours old, a Kampfgruppe (task
force) of G erm an tanks, m echani/ed infantry, and parachute
troops under command of the notorious Jochiam Peiper
broke through the U.S. cavalrymen and scattered rear
echelon units of the 99th along the highway south of the
ridge. (Kampfgruppe Peiper v/as responsible for the m.urdcr
of American prisoners at Malmedy, Belgium, a few miles
from Elsenborn Ridge.)
However, the rest of the First SS Panzer Corps was
blocked, its infantry ran into rougher terrain than expected-
hilly, wooded, heavily mined, and shrouded in fog. Even
though shocked and battered, the 4,000 infantrymen of the
99th Division directly in the path of the attack fought a
murderous delaying action during the first few hours after
First Panzer Corps hit them.
Sheer luck saved the day for the Americans. By chance
two veteran U.S. units, the 1st and 2nd Infantry Divisions
were within striking distance. The former in a rest area 15
miles to the northwest; the latter trying to take a dam 15
miles to the northeast. By the afternoon of December 16,
infantrymen of the 2nd Division were mixing in the fight in
front of Elsenborn Ridge; and by the next day a combat
team of the 1st Division.
Between D ecem ber 17-25, the men and tanks of First SS
Panzer Corps tried again and again to get through the
THE BULGE BUGLE
Americans and capture the ridge. They fought a running,
seesaw battle with the A m erican infant!^’, now hacked by j
tanks and tank destroyers. Their tanks baitereu ihcii way
into a few villages, but still couldn’t get up on the ridge. By
Christmas, Dietrich and his 6th Panzer Army generals gave
up. They shifted First Panzer Corps far to the south to
reinforce the G erm an breakthrough now swirling around
Bastogne.
It was all too late. Sixth Panzer Army’s failure at
Elsenborn Ridge was fatal, for the position was the key to
H itler’s strategy as well as to the Am erican defense tactics
across the entire north shoulder of the Bulge.
Peiper’s Kampfgruppe would have reached the Meuse
River near Liege if the rest of First Panzer Corps had gotten
over the ridge and protected his flank. The U.S. 7th
A rm ored Division could not have been brought down to
defend St. Vith, Belgium, a vital road network center 10
miles to the south, if the G erm ans had struck beyond
Elsenborn. With the ridge gone, Peiper racing west, and St.
Vith indefensible, the axis of the great A rdennes counter­
offensive would have moved to the northwest, as Hiller
intended, toward the vital Allied centers of supply and
communication, Verviers and Liege in Belgium, and
M astricht in the Netherlands.
Instead, H itler’s generals were forced to concentrate their
divisions far to the south over terrain of little strategic value,
toward a distant river 65 miles away, and in space highly
vulnerable to counter attack by Patton’s powerful Third
Army.
A m erican In ran try m e n o f the 2nd In fa n try D ivision advance thro u g h fog
in to to w n o f S chena.ssiffen,G rnnany p a st enem y a n ti-c ra ft gu n a b an -
iioiieu -A'hcn C c rm a n s re tre a te d .
U.S. Signal Photo, National Archives
John Eisenhower is one of the few historians of the
Aideuiies countcr-offcnsivc to acknowledge the importance
of the El.senborn Ridge battle. H e writes in TJie Bitter
Woods, "To avoid disaster (there) it has been necessary for
two divisions to make enormous sacrifices. The 99th
Division alone lost 2,200 men. But the action of the 2nd and
99th U.S. divisions on the northern shoulder could well be
considered the most decisive of the A rdennes campaign." (It
should be rem em bered the 99th’s losses were concentrated
among five battalions of infantry, i.e., 4,000 men, in a 48-
hour period.)
It was all a long time ago. Nevertheless, the lessons of the
Bulge may still have some relevance: Underestimating the
enemy can be dangerous. Tolerating poor intelligence,
foolish. And dismissing the factor of individual character
and courage in winning battles, plain stupid. In a skeptical
age, a nation’s survival still depends of a few commonplace
verities.
14 Novem ber 1993
 Hospitality Reigned
Supreme at
North Dakota Reunion
George Peterson, President of the North Dakota Chapter,
members of the North Dakota Chapter, and the family of
George Peterson provided the 127 members of VBOB and
their families with a most memorable trip to Bismarck,
North Dakota. No detail was left unturned in seeing that
those in attendance enjoyed the flavor and the sights of the
area. They had even coaxed the weatherman into providing
some absolutely gorgeous days for us to enjoy the outdoor
activities they had arranged.
ON THE SOCIAL SIDE:
On Wednesday evening we enjoyed a ride on the Lewis and
Clark River Boai—traversing down the Missouri River where
Lewis and Clark had made their memorable trip so many
years ago (1804-1806).
a Q
Executive Vice President Bill T aym an and President Bill Hemphill,
perhaps discussing the change at the VBOB helm, aboard the riverboat.
Thursday, the ladies were entertained at a style show/
luncheon featuring 1870’s period clothing and demonstrating
Victorian social graces. This gave the ladies a real feel for
the history of the area. (Not to mention a brief thought or
two about the washing and ironing that had to be done.)
Know what a "pitchfork steak fondue" is? Well, many of us
didn’t either, until we arrived at one on Friday evening.
Slabs of steak are placed on a pitchfork (which looked brand
new, thank goodness) and cooked in boiling kettles of hot
grease. The outside sears so quickly that the flavor is sealed
in and the grease does not penetrate the meat as it cooks.
Needless to say, it was delicious.
The entertainment provided during the evening gave many
of us the opportunity to see Indians and their authentic
dances for the first time. Members of the Hidatsa/Sioux
Tribe told us stories behind the different dances performed
and the significance of the brilliant feathers adorning their
costumes. We also received a museum trip which further
enlightened us regarding Indian times and culture.
The evening was topped off with a trip to Ft. Lincoln and
THE BULGE BUGLE
15
the home (rebuilt after a fire) occupied by George Custer
and his wife, Elizabeth, at the time he went off to the Battle
of the Little Big Horn (June, 1876). Our lovely guides
through the home (portraying themselves as maids to the
Custers), provided us with many insights into the lives of an
army officer during the 1870’s. Many corner stones mark
the sites of the fort’s original buildings.
Saturday found us at the State Capitol, where we learned
much about the state’s history.
The reunion banquet was delightful. Prior to a succulent
meal of pheasant, we were entertained by a Western singing
group and enjoyed dancing to ’40’s music played by the 188th
Army Band, North Dakota Army National Guard.
ON THE BUSINESS SIDE:
Thursday morning we were briefed by Bill Tayman,
Chairman of the VBOB 50th Anniversary Commemoration
activities, regarding the many functions planned for this
event in St. Louis, Missouri. Bill explained that the Post
Office will sell a Battle of the Bulge stamp at the St. Louis
meeting which can be affixed to a provided first day cover
(envelope) which can be stamped with a pictorial December
16, 1994, cancellation in the hotel lobby.
Nancy Monson, VBOB Administrative Director, introduced
VBOB’s new "Education Kit," which was designed to assist
members in telling students about the Battle of the Bulge.
(These are available to all members.)
Information was presented on how VBOB’S National
Office can be instrumental in assisting members with the
formation of chapters and/or provide assistance in increasing
the membership of existing chapters. (Write if you need
assistance with either of these projects.)
Friday morning found us attending the General Business
Sessions, where former Lt. Governor of North Dakota Ernie
Sands told us of his experiences during WWII. A
contraband radio brought he and the prisoners in his camp
the news about the commencement of the Battle of the
Bulge. The spirits of the prisoners were greatly up-lifted
upon learning that the U.S. Army was pushing the Germans
back in this battle.
Grover Twiner, Vice President for Membership, reported
an increase of over 1,200 members since this time last year.
He also reported on other activities of his office.
Peter Leslie, VBOB Treasurer, reported plans to electron­
ically connect VBOB officers and the National Office.
President Hemphill encouraged members to attend the
ceremonies to be held at Arlington National Cemetery on
December 15th and 16th, 1993. (Further information
elsewhere in this newsletter.)
Past President and Bugle Editor George Chekan urged
members to send in their "Memorable Bulge Incidents."
Dorothy Davis reported that the Historical Foundation has
made arrangements for a conference table to be made of
Ardennes wood for placement in the Battle of the Bulge
Conference Room at Fort Meade, Maryland. Several
members will travel to Belgium next April to receive the
table and dedication will take place in July 1994.
Chapter representatives reported on the activities of the
various chapters.
VBOB 1993-94 Executive Council Officers year were
elected as presented and the Bylaws amendments were
approved. (Continued on Page 16)
November 1993
 M tM U R lA L SERVICES:
G eorge Peterson conducted the ceremonies to honor those
who passed away during the Battle of the Bulge and those
veterans who have passed away since that time.
M em bers of the N orth Dakota Chapter presented the
colors and the Roll of Bulge Participating Units was read.
Monsignor O ’Donnell, VBOB Chaplain, offered words of
prayer for our departed com rades and the list of VBOB
mem bers who passed away in the last year was read. (This
list appears elsewhere in this issue.)
Taps echoed through the room, the representatives for the
units returned to their chairs and the colors were leiiieu.
The attendees filed from the room in silence as they I
remembered their com rades and times so long ago.
DEPARTURE:
Sunday morning found everyone rising early to catch
planes for their connections home. Many new friends had
been made at this reunion and many old friends were
reunited. Memories of a grand reunion will last in our
minds for many years, THANKS TO OUR GOOD FRIENDS
AND GRACIOUS HOSTS IN NORTH DAKOTA.

V E T ER A N S OF THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE

12TH REUNION 1. Tour of General Custer’s Home
2. Indian Dance Hidatsa Tribe
B ism arck, North Dakota • Septem ber 15-19, 1993 3. Welcome Address
former Lt. Gov. Ernie Sands
Pictorial Highlights State of North Dakota
8th Air Force - POW
4. Reunion Chairman
George Peterson & Co. covers all
details for a successful
VBOB sojourn, Thanks, George
5. Memorial Service.-! for
Deceased Members
6. Pitchfork Fondue Dinner
7. Banquet Entertainment

THE BULGE BUGLE 16 N ovem ber 1993

 86TH CHEMICAL
MORTAR BATTALION
PASSING IN REVIEW
[The following is an edited version o f a speech given by Col. (Ret.)
James J. Doyle (who was Executixe Officer from activation until
November, 1945) at tl%e 86th Chemical Mortar Battalion Association's
reunion banquet May 15, 1993, celebrating the 50th anniversary o f their
activation.]
...Many o f you will rem em ber that big paycheck of 50 years ago—$21.00 per
month. Before I came to the reunion, I visited an arm y recruiting office
and found that the pay now is $725.00 p er month. A nyone want to enlist?
Speaking of mem ories, come with me in your m ind’s eye to the rolling
hills of Kentucky and a large arm y post there. We are on the side of a
large field, the post parade ground. A cross the way, troops are beginning
to form. T he tall slender soldier apart from the troops is their adjutant
who is to form the troops. H e has a great voice for it. T he problem is
that you never know w hether he is going to give the right com m and o r a
rendition of HThe Face on the B ar R oom Floor." W e are about to witness
a review of these troops so come join me in the reviewing stand.
"Who are these troops?" you ask. T hey are as fine a group o f men as you
will ever see. They are back from the w ar in E urope and this is their final
review before breaking for home and a new life. TTiey are the 86lh
Chemical M ortar Battalion! It is one o f the few special com bat units of
the chemical w arfare service. T he battalion was activated on 23 February,
1943, and the first troops arrived at the ta r p aper barracks on Wake Island
at Camp Swift, Texas, on 15 May, 1943. I was the first officer there and I
was really glad to get back to Texas. Tlie unit’s T able o f O rganization
called for some 600 officers and men and a H eadquarters, Medical
D etachm ent, and four letter companies. Each company was equipped with
twelve 4.2 inch m ortars, an accurate, rifled, muzzle loading weapon
designed for high angle fire with a range of up to 5,000 yards. T he weapon
was to be used to fire poison gas and smoke screen shells. Since there was
no need for poison gas, the 86th fired white phosphorous shells for smoke
screening and casualty effect and high explosive shells. A shell weighed 25
pounds and a m ortar crew could fire 20 shells per minute. It was a very
effective weapon for close support o f the infantry. M en and equipmenl
were transported in jeeps.
"What did the 86th do?" you inquire. T hey finally moved out of the tar
paper barracks to uptown w ooden ones at Camp Swift, com pleted their
rigorous training program , and shipped out to England in A pril, 1944.
While there, the entire battalion was billeted in private homes in the little
Village of Port Sunlight, near Liverpool, where they were treated like
heroes. Tliey landed on U tah Beach in Norm andy on 29 June, 1944, anc
imm ediately went into action not as a battalion unit but as separate
com panies attached to infantry divisions for close support of front line
units. O perating thusly, the com panies developed their own leadership and
strategies which enabled them to operate effectively and to face
courageously the many difficult situations they encountered. T he entire
battalion was in com bat 315 days out of 335 w ithout relief and traveled all
across France, Belgium, Germany, and Czechoslovakia. T he 86th
participated with distinction in all the five m ajor battles o f the E uropean
T h eater of O perations during which it was assigned to three different
armies, seven arm y corps, and provided close fire support for 27 different
divisions, firing 152,257 rounds of while phosphorous and high explosives.
O f the total o f 817 men that saw service with the unit, 40 were killed in
action, 336 wounded, and 198 decorations were awarded for bravery. W hat
a great outfit!
Looking across the field, you can see that the form ation has been
com pleted and the colors have been presented. H ere they come! First by
us is the post b an d -b o rro w ed for the occasion since the 86th doesn’t have
one. T hey will take their place beyond the reviewing stand and continue
to play. Next coming by us is the battalion staff led by Lt. Col. Hamilton.
T hey are a proud bunch and rightly so.
H ere come the colors! ...On the left of Old G lory is the b attalion’s flag
of cobalt blue and gold wiih five battle stream ers flying from the staff.
Always a beautiful and stirring sight.
Now coming by is H eadquarters Company led by A djutant John Deasy.
T hese are the cooks, bakers, clerks, drivers, mechanics, supply men,
THH BULGE BUGLE
com munications men, am m unition men; all necessary to a good operation.
T he M ortarm en called them the "R ear Echelon Commandos," but not so.
A m ong them are 17 who were wounded in action and ten decorated for
bravery. They will never forget a rough night on the grounds o f the
Chateau Champcey in N orm andy w here they camped am ong the long line
o f trees leading from the road to the Chateau. T hey w ere on the move;
this was a one night stand; th ere [was] no apparent action around so no
one dug in. G erm an planes found the area during the night, lit it up with
flares, and dropped bombs. T he ground shook mightily and we shook with
it but no one was injured and no dam age done.
This is the Medical D etachm ent passing by led by Captain Gross. Only
a few m en b u t very im portant ones. Some say they carry hypodermic
needles as big as rifles. T hey didn’t op erate as a unit but were split up
am ong the companies. T h eir individual courage was outstanding as they
continually exposed themselves to enem y fire to help save o ur wounded
and m inister to the dying. Fifteen w ere wounded and twelve decorated for
bravery. Thanks, men!
H ere comes A Com pany led by C aptains P itt and Palmer. We called
them P itt’s Bad Boys but they really were not th at bad. You asked why the
blank spaces in the ranks. T hey are the spaces for those who lost their
lives fighting for their country. A Com pany has nine blank spaces; had 95
wounded; and 51 decorated for bravery. O ne o f their toughest tim es came
in the H urtgen Forest in G erm any w hen for a period of seven weeks they
occupied the same frozen ground m o rtar positions while infantry divisions
came, fought, and were pulled out to rest. T he M ortarm en stayed on and
distinguished themselves many times over. A great unit.
Passing by is B Com pany led by C aptains O verbeck and Hinchcliffe.
T hey were probably o ur best garrison soldiers. See their small flag with
the crossed reto rts and benzene ring o f the Chemical W arfare Service and
the letter "B" on it. It’s called a G uidon and the stream er flying from it is
the highest decoration a unit can receive, the Presidential U nit Citation,
aw arded for exceptional perform ance in com bat. T h ere are twelve blank
spaces in B Com pany’s ranks. T hey also had 83 wounded and 34 decorated
for bravery. B Com pany was the first to suffer com bat death and
w ounded—when en ro u te from England to France their ship struck a mine
and had to be abandoned. T hey made a nam e at St. M alo with their white
phosphorous barrage which enabled the capture of the fortress there and
eventually the su rren d er o f Brest. T hey too had a very rough time in the
H urtgen Forest. B Com pany is special!
This is C Com pany going by; led by C aptains Rudd, Lynch, and Dalton.
See, their guidon also proudly flies the well deserved Presidential U nit
Citation stream er. W e called them o ur "teenagers" as they w ere always full
of fun and into something. T he tall lieutenant on this side was known as
the "Green H ornet" and was noted for directing fire from church steeples
until the K rauts caught on. Six blank spaces are in their ranks and they
had 85 wounded and 39 decorated for bravery. O ne of C Com pany’s
toughest times was in the Battle of the Bulge. T he situation was so fluid
that oft times C was com pletely cut off from the infantry it was supporting
and surrounding units bccam e dependent on them for leadership and
security. C Com pany’s m orale, efficiency, resourcefulness, and discipline
played a large p art in holding the very im portant "Hot Corner" near
Rocherath, Belgium. W hat a great group of courageous, fun-loving
soldiers!
D Company is now passing us led by C aptains Christiansen and Vigliotti.
T hey were o u r tough guys, taking nothing from anybody. T hirteen blank
spaces appear in their ranks and they had 47 wounded and there were 44
decorations for bravery. See that young lieutenant there! T h a t’s Joe
Terry, the most decorated m an in the 86th. He wears the D istinguished
Service Cross, Silver Star, Bronze Star, Purple H eart and received a
battlefield prom otion from sergeant to lieutenant. D Com pany will never
forget the intensive fighting around Vossenack in the H urtgen Forest.
Many times the m o rtar positions w ere heavily shelled but D stayed there
and fought back. D uring the Bulge, their re a r echelon was captured and
they were released m onths later when Leipzig was taken. These D tough
guys were really tough.
Well, there they go. I’ve only touched the tip of the iceberg of
courageous and m eritorious service the 86th perform ed. W hat a fine group
o f men from all walks o f life, all doing what they had to do and some a
great deal more. Because o f this, o u r w onderful, precious, erring,
troublesom e, old republic is free to go on being what it might be if given
half a chance.
17 N o vem ber 1993
 n I

W e thought you w ould find o f interest the exp erien ces o f your com rades as they celeb rated w hat was
for m any their first tim e away from h om e during the holiday sea so n o f 1944. W e asked for stories
from all m em bers (cath olic, protestant, Jew ish, etc.) concerning w hat they rem em b er o f th ese unusual
tim es.
This w as a tim e w hen no m atter w hat religion w e w ere, w e w ere all united in o n e c a u se -to le r a tin g the
hand that had b een dealt to us and su rv iv in g -so that our future holidays and th o se o f the on es w e held
dear cou ld b e celeb rated in p ea ce and harmony.
T lianks to all o f you w ho subm itted your stories and thanks to all o f you w ho gave so m uch to ensure
our future happiness and w elfare. MAY Y O U R H O LIDAYS BE B R IG H T .\N D TH E C O M IN G YEAR
FU L L O F C H E E R A N D G O O D HEALTH.

THERE MUST BE A TREE

CHRISTMAS 1993
T’w as d ays before Christmas in ‘44
and all through the w ood s.
Beautiful sn ow covered the ground,
m uch like a hood.
The lieutenant and I, and a
cou p le of other guys.
Wore sn u g in the hassm sr.t,
fog filled the skies.
d an ced in our head.
Dream s of a tim e,
when Hitler w a s dead.
When all of a su d d en , there
arose su ch a clatter.
I rushed outsid e, to se e
what w as the matter.
When what to m y wondering
e y e s did se e .
G erm ans were falling, like
leaves from a tree.
And even then, to my
great surprise.
Artillery sh ells did fill
the skies.
I hurried back to the b asem ent,
I did run.
To tell the gu ys, this is no Santa Claus,
this is the Hun.
The gifts they brought,
w e did not need .
So we returned them back,
with greatest of glee.
Now years have p a sse d
and m em ories linger on.
I wish you a Merry Christm as
on the day our Savior w as born.
It w as snow ing. Softly, dark. T hose sentim ental Gl's rem em bered it
w as Christmas. R em em bered; "there ought to b e a Christmas tree."
There alw ays had been o n e at hom e, a s far back as they could recall.
A Christm as tree; hey, there h as to b e ornam ents. O.K., so the Gl’s
YngKRV scrounged: they were g o o d at that. Tree cut from the surrounding
country sid e -n o w , the ornam ents. Cellars, attics, produced som e
ten sely things. Christmas Eve, softly snow ing. The tree stood straight
CHKTW AC and green in the dim ly lit headq uarters-th e lobby of Hotel Lebrun.
Com bat C om pany B. 10th Armored Division, had its headquarters here,
wnere that “unlimiteci capabilities" sm art...lieutenant of IPW # 1 1 2 had
put them six long d a y s ago. It w as M/SGT. Bean, who found the
tattered rag dolt and cerem on iou sly hung it on the tree.
m e drone. Airplanes, h o w could they tly tonight? I he crunch of the
500-pound bom.bs exp lod ed across the town, but tonight? They should
know it is Christm as Eve and snow ing! The bom b-crunch m arched
c lo ser -eh , on e landed very, very near by In the street, send in g its
shrapnel through the lobby window. One scream ing p iece w ent right
through the rag doll at ab d om en level. W ounded. Perhaps dead.
No, not d ead , for in the dim dawn the Sgt, appeared and pinned a
Purple Heart on the rag doll. Perhaps the doll would die, but not in
SPii^iT.
Lothar H. Miller
10 ARMDD 112 M-l
A TRUCE OF SO RTS
Four Americans lost and separated from their units on D ecem ber 16,
hAppy 1994, in the bitter cold, on Christm as Eve saw a Belgium farm hou se
with sm oking chim ney in the distan ce. Fu!! of terror that it w as German
N EW YEAR occu pied , they app roached hoping to obtain shelter for their frozen
lim bs. A Belgium w om an with broken English answ ered the door and
w elcom ed them to the com fort of the h om e with blazing fireplace and
invited them to share the m eager food available.
Within an hour a knock cam e upon the door and this tim e the
Belgium w om an w elcom ed to her h om e five German soldiers. Sternly,
first in German and then English, sh e proclaim ed, "Tonight there be
only p e a c e in this home."
Under her guid ance, com p lete con fid en ce, calm , and com radeship
took over to replace the initial terror. She created this by leading
Christm as carols, first in English, then in German. Finally, a biending
of v o ice s occurred a s the sa m e carol w as su n g in English and German.
After a night of warm sle ep , the G erm ans stated they were going to
m ove south and the Am ericans agreed they would m ove north.
After the G erm ans left, the Am ericans left and in tim e found their unit.
One wrote to tell m e of the m ost treasured m em ory of his life and how,
after the war, he returned with family to find the Belgium family
W arren B. W ilson proclaiming it w as their m ost treasured m em ory.
99 INFD 3 9 5 INF 3 BN I Ralph G. HIM, Jr.
o o iM Pn u n I

THE BULGE BUGLE November \

18
 W e w e r e losing th e k itch en o f th e e c c l e ar.d se r v e d a b c :jt 3 ,COG m e a ls *
p er d a y . I s h o u ld tell y o u at th is tim e th at th e B attle o f th e B u lg e w a s
MY VERY F IR S T W HITE C H R IS T M A S
our b i g g e s t p r o b le m . I sh o u ld a ls o s a y th at like y o u sa id in your b o x
From our f o x h o le s , d e s p it e t h e h orrib le w e a th e r , It w a s fa sc in a tin g to
[ a n n o u n c e m e n t b o x in The B ulge Bugle], i a m n ot a C hristian bu t am
g a z e at t h e w intry sc e n e r y ; th e s n o w w a s p retty d e e p a n d v ery w h ite.
J e w ish .
H o w ev er, b e in g a 1 9 -y e a r-o ld so ld ie r fronn so u th e r n M ex ico w h o h ad
D uring m y jo b th e r e I b e c a m e frien d ly w ith a c a th o lic c h a p la in
n e v e r s e e n s n o w b e fo r e , I w a s terrified b y th e th o u g h t o f fr e e z in g to
a s s ig n e d to th e p o s t. W e w e r e a n tic ip a tin g th e c o m in g C h ristm as
d e a th !
h o lid a y o f 1 9 4 4 . T o th e b e s t o f m y k n o w le d g e th is w a s k n ow n a s "The
O n S a tu rd a y , D e c e m b e r 2 4 th , w e le a r n e d th a t th e e n e m y h a d g iv e n
B lack C h ristm as." T h e G e r m a n s h a d tried to c u t th e "Red Ball" a n d our
th e d iv isio n a n u ltim a tu m to su rr e n d e r a n d th a t our g e n e r a l h a d sa id
s u p p ly lin e s. Their a rm y w a s in A ntw erp, B e lg iu m , a n d d ivid in g our
"N uts’' t o th e m ! T h e 1 0 1 s t A irborne D ivision a n d its a tta c h e d u n its w e re
lin e s in to tw o s e c to r s , north a n d so u th .
m a k in g h istory. T h is w a s a C h r istm a s E ve for all tim e s . At th is
C h r istm a s Eve th e c h a p la in a n d 1 a c id ed o n e s to p in our c h o w line.
im p o r ta n t road ju n ctio n in B e lg iu m , c iv ilia n s a n d fig h tin g m e n o n b oth
W h a tev er h e h ad in th e form o f Gl g ifts w e g a v e o u t to th e m e n w h o
s i d e s w e r e d e s t in e d to h a v e a real W hite C h ristm a s.
w e r e g o in g d o w n th e lin e. T here w e r e g lo v e s , sw e a te r s , s c a r v e s an d
I, in d e e d , h a d m y v e ry first W hite C h r istm a s in th a t sm a ll B e lg ia n
m a n y s u c h ite m s . E ach m a n o n th e lin e w a s thrilled with th e th o u g h t.
v illa g e , a n d s a w e n o u g h lig h ts to la st m e a life tim e .
W h en w e fin ish e d at a b o u t 9 :0 0 p .m ., th e c h a p la in in vited m e to his
E d w a rd A. P e n ic h e
o ffic e . T h ere w e h a d a drink a n d s a t c h a ttin g a n d w ish in g e a c h other
1 01 A B N D 81 A B N BN C
"H appy H olidays." T h en a s th e e v e n in g p r o g r e s s e d h e b r o u g h t from
h is s u p p lie s a w o o le n m uffler. H e to ld m e h e k n ew I w a s J e w ish but
h e w a n te d m e to h a v e th is h o lid a y gift. ! w a s o v e r w h e lm e d bu t very
than kfu l w ith h is th o u g h ts .
P A R IS HAD TO WAIT
R a lp h D e N a t
W e w e r e in th e R e isd o r f a n d B itten d orf a r e a w h e n th e B u lg e sta rted .
7 8 INFD 3 11 tN F C
W e w e r e o n lin e th a t m o r n in g a n d I w a s g e ttin g r e a d y to g o to P aris o n
R&R. All I h a d to d o w a s to g e t b a c k to C O o n th e c h o w je e p , b u t it
n e v e r g o t u p to u s.
W e w e r e hit v ery hard for th e n e x t fe w d a y s until w e sta r te d to pull
C L O S E G ALLS
b a c k . W e h a d o n ly a b o u t six left w h e n w e s t a n e d to puii b a c k . W e lo st
I w a s an a r m o re d in fan trym an in th e 10th A rm ored D ivision, a n d a
c o n ta c t w ith th e rest o f th e c o m p a n y . A s w e p u lle d b a c k , w e ran into
m e m b e r o f th e 3rd P la to o n , C o m p a n y B, 54th A rm ored Infantry
o th e r lin e m e n fro m th e D ivision . W e w o u ld s ta y o u t o f s ig h t d u rin g th e
B attalion .
d a y a n d m o v e o u t at dark. W e d id th is until D e c e m b e r 2 4 th .
O n D e c e m b e r 2 2 our ta n k e r s a n d a rm o re d infantry e n g a g e d th e
O n C h r istm a s E ve w e ran an a tta ck o n th e e n e m y . W e hit hard for a
G erm a n f o r c e s , m o s t ly their ta n k s. T his o c cu r r e d in s o m e o p e n fie ld s
w h ile a n d d id w h a t d a m a g e w e c o u ld a n d th e n g o t o u t to s o m e s a fe
th a t w e r e su rr o u n d e d b y r o w s o f m e d iu m -s iz e d s p r u c e tr e e s. I fe w m e n
ground.
frnm rr.y s q iia d o n d ! jijm p e u im o a yu!!y b e lo w t h e s e t i e e s j u i l a s
T his is w h a t I d id o n D e c e m b e r 2 4 , 1 9 4 4 .
G erm a n g u n s o p e n e d up . T he e n e m y m a c h in e g u n s b e g a n c h o p p in g
W a lte r M e r e n a
off th e t o p s o f t h e s e tr e e s. T h e to p s , a s w ell a s th e low er b r a n c h e s,
2 8 IN FD 1 0 9 INF L |
b o Q a u b O u n C in ^ On uuT M elm eiS m a k i n g a ll 16 uT I

m a c h in e -g u n b u rsts c a m e real c lo s e to u s . A c l o s e c a ll. W hile

ju m p in g into th is g u lly I tu rn ed m y a n k le a n d a ls o injured m y leg .
N O C H R IS T M A S F E A S T
W h en th is v ic io u s tank b a ttle s u b s id e d I w a s s e n t b a c k to B a sto g n e
O n D e c e m b e r 2 4 th , a sm a ll g r o u p o f u s w e r e p ic k e d to g o o n
a lo n g w ith our o th e r w o u n d e d b u d d ie s . W hy I w a s sp a r e d b e in g hit is
r e c o n n a is s a n c e . O ur m is s io n w a s to s e e k o u t th e e n e m y , d is c o v e r h is
a m ira c le ....
str e n g th , a n d b ring th e in fo r m a tio n b a c k to th e c o m p a n y . It s o u n d e d
W e w e r e b r o u g h t in to a d w e llin g th a t h a d b e e n c o n v e r te d into an aid
e a s y a n d w e w e r e to b e b a c k in a sh o rt tim e .
sta tio n , a n d w e s ta y e u h ere th e rest o f th e d a y . O n C h ristm a s Eve
A gain , p la n s d id n 't g o a s in te n d e d . W e g o t lo st in th e fo r e st, c a m e
a b o u t 2 0 o f u s w e r e r estin g in a n o th e r d w e llin g c lo s e by. V /e w ere
front to front w ith tn e G e r m a n s at th e e d g e o f a sm a ll B e lg ia n to w n that
sp r a w le d o u t on th e k itch en floor th ro w in g "the bull" a n d ro a stin g s o m e
w a s d u g in a n d h a d a T iger tank to p t o t e c l it.
p o t a t o e s o n th e s to v e . S u d d e n ly , aro u n d 1;3 0 a .m ., du rin g a rather
It w a s a lr e a d y n ig h t a n d t h e y s p r a y e d w ith rifle a n d m a c h in e g u n fire.
q u ie t e v e n in g , all H ell b r o k e l o o s e . S o m e o f u s th o u g h t it w a s
Luckily, o n ly o n e o f o u f m e n w a s hit a n d n o t se r io u sly . W e w ithd rew
G er m a n artillery, b u t w e w e r e g r e a tly m ista k e n . It tu rn ed o u t to b e
d e e p e r in to th e fo r e st, a lw a y s tr^^ing to find a w a y o u t a n d g e t b a c k to
G erm a n S tu k a d iv e b o m b e r s n o t artillery. B oy, w h a t a p o u n d in g th e y
our c o m p a n y . T h is c o n tin u e d d u rin g th e n ig h t a n d th e n e x t d a y with
u n le a s e d o n th is s e c tio n o f B a s to g n e . It s e e m e d th at th e G er m a n s
o th er e n c o u n t e r s w ith th e G e r m a n s .
k n ew th e 10th A rm ored ta n k s w e r e p a rk ed in th is vicinity, e v e n th o u g h
W e h a d ou r w e a p o n s , a m m u n itio n b e lts , tw o b a n d o lie r s, b a y o n e t,
th e v e h ic le s w e r e c o v e r e d with w h ite s h e e t s a n d c lo th . O n e o f th e
c a n te e n , h a n d g r e n a d e s , g a s m a s k , sh o v e ! a n d w h a te v e r e ls e a D c g
b o m b s la n d e d very c lo s e b y, a n d th e h o u s e w e w e r e sta y in g in b e g a n
F a c e m ig h t n e e d . T he o n e th in g w e la c k e d w a s fo o d a s w e w e r e to b e
to c o lla p s e . F ortu nately, w e g o t o u t o f th is d w ellin g w ith ou t further
b a c k early.
injuries to a n y o f th e g u y s . A n o th e r c l o s e c a ll.
A s I w a s w a lk in g u p a n d d o w n th e hills a n d in th e s n o w w ith all th is
W h en w e e m e r g e d o u t o n th e s tr e e t after th is aerial o n s la u g h t, th e
w e ig h t, a n d I k n e w it w a s C h r istm a s D ay, I c o u ld o n ly think o f th e fo lk s
a r e a lo o k e d like B r o a d w a y a n d 4 2 n d S treet. T he o n ly d iffe r e n c e b e in g
b a c k h o m e w h o m ig h t b e e a tin g g o o d i e s a n d d o in g th e th in g s th e y
th a t t h e s e w e r e b u rn in g b u ild in g s a n d fires, n o t e le ctr ic lig h ts. W e
like. I w a s g e ttin g h u n grier b y th e m in u te a n d c o u ld o n ly think , "Boy,
s tr u g g le d a n d cra w le d d o w n th e c o b b le - s t o n e d s tr e e ts in se a r c h o f a
w h a t a C h ristm as."
s a fe r p la c e . W e e n te r e d a n o th e r d w e llin g a n d h e a d e d stra ig h t for th e
W e fo u n d ou r w a y b a c k to th e A m e ric a n lin e s C h r istm a s n ig h t. B e in g
c ellar. W hile restin g h ere I su rp risin g ly ran Into a friend o f m in e from
w ith o u t f o o d for a b o u t 3 0 h o u r s is c er ta in ly n o rec o rd . But to m e it w a s
m y h o m e to w n -S c r a n to n , P e n n sy lv a n ia . H e h a p p e n e d to arrive in th is
a n e w w orld a n d e a c h C h r istm a s I think b a c k to t h o s e d a y s . I’v e h a d
cellar ju st an hou r or s o b e fo r e m e . W hat a c o in c id e n c e . H e w a s a
m a n y w o n d e r fu l C h r is t m a s e s s in c e t h o s e d a y s a n d a m v e ry than kfu l.
tan k er from th e 9th A rm ored D ivision a n d h e b e c a m e s e p a r a te d from
H a ro ld H arer
h is tan k w h e n hit b y a sh e ll. H is n a m e w a s Lou (Mtfrphy) R a u k a u k a s-
7 5 INFD
q u ite a p rize fig h ter b a c k in n o r th e a ste r n P e n n sy lv a n ia . T he first thing
h e s a id to m e , "Phil, th an k G o d , all I g o t is a p ie c e o f sh r a p n e l in m y
foot." For a s e c o n d , h e th o u g h t I w a s m y brother Pat, w h o h e a lso
IT’S TH E T H O U G H T THAT C O U N T S
k n ew b a c k h o m e .
[Mr. D e N a t h a d b e e n a s k e d to fill in a s R a tio n s S e r g e a n t, w ith o u t
Lou a n d I th e n w e n t to a g ir ls ’ s c h o o l b e in g u s e d a s a h o sp ita l. It w a s
th e str ip e .]
c a lle d N otre D a m e . F rom h e r e a n a m b u la n c e c o n v o y w a s s c h e d u le d
For th e n e x t w e e k s I filled th a t jo b . lea rn in g b y trial a n d error s y s t e m .
to h e a d s o u th o u t of B a s to g n e . B y a s tr a n a e c o in c id e n c e a fello w 10th !

THE BULGE BUGLE 19 November 1993


ARM DD In fan trym an ,
Elturino "Lucky" Loiacono, w as
o n e of th e w o u n d ed in this
convoy. I found this out in 1985
when ( bGcame a m em ber of the
10th V ets organization. He rec­
o g n iz e d my n a m e an d c o n ­
tacted m e. W e wrote to each
other recalling t h e s e e x p e ri­
e n c es. Real g o o se bump stu ff...
by the way th e se am bu lan ces
wore a m b u sh ed by the G er­
m ans who had just clo sed the
only road out o f B a sto g n e .
Sadly, the first two am bulances
were shot up, luckily, the rest of
the con voy v e h ic le s returned
sa fe ly to B a sto g n e . A nother
close call... S o this w a s how I
s p e n t m / C h ristm a s in the
dreary d ays of this D ecem ber of Phil G e n o v a
1944. However, I do vividly
recall a thrilling sight, when on Christmas day hundreds of C -47’s and
gliders flew over and dropped tons of supplies, rations and ammunitions
on the outskirts of B astogne. A couple of u s boarded a jeep, thanks to a
friendly medic, and se t out to retrieve som e supplies. We even took a
red parachute back with us. I still p o s s e s s a p iece of that chute.
Fortunately, the six day fog had lifted that allowed th ese planes to fly in.
Phil G e n o v a
10 ARMDD 5 4 AIB 8 (COB)
HOW DID WE GET INTO THIS M E SS?
The day before Christmas in 1944 w as sp en t reflecting on what had
taken place since the crack of dawn on D ecem ber 16. As my thoughts
progressed, there were d iscu ssion s am ong the hundred or more POW’s
with m e as we lay on the floor of a barracks previously occupied by
German soldiers. We had been in this building for three days with
nothing to do excep t to sw eat it out. The c o n se n su s of opinion was,
"How did we get into this mess?"
Christmas Eve w as approaching with the occasional singing of "Silent
Night" and other son gs. Suddenly a German guard cam e calling and
quickly got our attention. There w as an air raid so w e im m ediately fell
out to form a group in the open area near the barracks. Soon an
American fighter flew low to hit the railroad tracks nearby.
Som e quick thinking POW called out, "Let’s form the letters PW to let
the pilot know that we are American prisoners of war." This w e did as
the pilot dipped his w ings in recognition. It w as a very emotional
experience for m e b ecau se seein g that pilot a s a free American at less
than 200 feet, reminded m e of what we as POW’s had lost O ur
Freedom .
Christmas Eve we laid on the floor of a larger building b ecau se the
guards wanted to consolidate all the POW's together. We san g openly
becau se there w as a genuine p eace in our hearts even though we were
far from hom e. The one thing I rem em ber m ost w as my foot
m ovem ent. With my h eels clo se together, I kept sw inging m y boots in
and out as an expression of frustration.
On Christmas Day we were told to board box cars. As we were
walking to the train, I saw a small Christmas tree in the window of a
German house. In m y m em ory I can still se e the tree with all its
decorations.
Upon boarding the box cars we learned that a raid had destroyed the
tracks to our destination. We returned to our original barracks only to
be called out later In the afternoon to resum e our walking.
We soon p assed through a small village. The streets and store
windows were very beautiful with the falling snow . It w as approaching
midnight and the temperature se e m e d well below zero a s we kept
walking. I w as wearing a full dress uniform including a necktie, a
sweater and field jacket with an overcoat and still shivers ran up and
down my back. There were others with only a field jacket. Our walk
THE BULGE BUGLE
that evening en d ed an hour past m idnight with a rest in a farmer’s barn
several m iles dow n the road.
The sp ecific location of th e se even ts has faded with tim e. However,
I well rem em ber p assin g through su ch tow n s in Germ any a s Prum,
Gerolstein, and Mayen on the first day after capture near Shoenberg,
Belgium.
L eon J . S e tte r
106 INFD 2 BN HQ
HOSPITAL TREE ST IR S M EM O RIES
My m ost m em orable m om ent, profoundly felt and everlastingly
rem em bered, occurred in Christm as Eve, 1944, following the all-day
battle e n g a g e d in by m en of the 317th Infantry, 80th Division, to secure
a hill in the vicinity of Niederfelen, Luxem bourg, which they would
forever after rem em ber a s “Bloody Knob."
The 305th Medical Battalion Field Hospital hallway and waiting room
w as jam m ed with w ounded Gis, se a ted on chairs and laying on the
floor-anyw here room could be found for another litter c a se . Hours
later, after receiving treatm ent for m y frozen to e s, I w as a ssig n ed a cot
in the corner of a room facing a little, cheerfully decorated Christmas
tree that captivated m y em otion s com pletely. One look at that little tree
so sym b olic of the se a so n , triggered su ch a flood of tears and
em otion s I could do nothing but let them flow.
The thought of loved o n e s back hom e, recollections of the dead and
w ounded, assisting two of m y c lo sest statesid e b u dd ies (Slyvester
Perciabosco, from O m aha, Nebraska, and Dick Thorne, from Elizabeth,
New Jersey, both badly w ounded), off the Hill-through all that I
rem ained rational in control, but the sight of that twinkling little
Christmas tree...it w as incredible.
J o s e p h D ra sle r
80 INFD 3 1 7 INF
GLOOMY CHRISTM AS
D ecem ber 24 and 25, 1944, were for m e two of the w orse d ays of my
life. The 101st Airborne Division had b een surrounded at B astogne.
Belgium , sin ce the night of the 20th, w as short of am m unition and
su pp lies, had its hospital captured, and w as in danger of being overrun.
I w as an NCO rifle platoon leader in C om pany C, 401 GIR and my
com pany w as m anning roadblocks on the western perimeter of the
encircled city near Flamierge. We had repulsed attacks in our sector
on the 19th, 20th and 22nd. On the 23rd the G erm ans cam e again
early in the morning out of a heavy fog which hung over the bitter cold,
sn ow covered hills wearing sn ow su its and with tanks painted white.
They were from the 77th R egim ent of the 26th Volksgrenadier Division,
14 tanks with infantry.
Although the roadblock had a Sherm an, a TD, a half-track and a 37
m m antitank gun, a com bination of m isfortunes prevented their being
m uch u se. The Sherm an w as knocked out in the first burst of shelling,
the antitank gun w as frozen in the ground and cou ld n ’t be traversed to
fire on the en em y armor and the crew of the half-track vanished. There
w as little support from division artillery b e c a u se of an ammunition
shortage, but our 88 m m mortars were a big help. The division history
devoted two short paragraphs to the action, making it sound no more
than a patrol incident: nothing about the desperation, h o p e le ssn e ss
and dram a of the m en who fought and died there that day. I w as
w ounded about 1600 and put in a b a sem en t of a h ou se just behind the
MLR where the m ed ics had se t up an aid station. The roadblock fell
just after dark. All the w ou nd ed and m ed ics, the crew s of the armor
and a few m en from C om pany C were captured, all that rem ained of
the reinforced platoon that held the position.
The prisoners were thoroughly search ed , threatened with death, and
finally m arched to trucks which took them into St. Hubert for
interrogation. W hen that w as over they were put in the attic of a nearby
h ou se under the guard of youn g gefreiters with itchy trigger fingers.
We were hustled out of the h ou se early the next m orning to a
captured American w e a p o n s carrier with an attached trailer. A biting
wind blew over the chilling snow , piercing our inadequate clothing like
a knife. We were hungry, cold, and d ep ressed : hungry b e c a u se we
had been living off of o n e or two K rations a day for nearly a week:
cold b e c a u se m any of us did not have overcoats, oversh oes, g lo v es or
20 November 1993
 m u fflers: a n d d e p r e s s e d b e c a u s e after fig h tin g d e b ilita tin g c a n n p a ig n s
in N o r m a n d y a n d H olla n d w ith their h ig h c a s u a lty r a tes, th is o n e in
B e lg iu m th r e a te n e d to b e th e la st stra w to p u sh u s o v e r th e e d g e .
T he m e d ic s a n d w o u n d e d w e r e p u t in th e w e a p o n s carrier w ith a
g u a r d a n d driver, t h e rest s o m e h o w j a m m e d in th e trailer a n d w e
sta r ted d o w n th e m a in s tr e e t in a n o r th e a ste r ly d ir ec tio n . T he to w n w a s
f lo o d e d w ith G er m a n tr o o p s a n d ta n k s, all g o in g in th e d ir ec tio n of
B a s to g n e . P e r h a p s t h e y w e r e th e s a m e o n e s w h ic h w o u ld overrun
C o m p a n y C o n th a t v e ry n ig h t, lo s in g all 18 ta n k s a n d h u n d r e d s of
p a n z e r a n d V o iK sg r en a d ier s in a fu tile a tte m p t to ta k e tn e city. O n c e
w e left th e c ity w e c o u ld s e e th e c a r n a g e left b y th e G erm a n o ffe n siv e .
Burning v illa g e s , w r e c k e d a n d b u rn in g ta n k s, tru ck s a n d sm a lle r
v e h ic le s . C o r p s e s , A m e ric a n a n d G er m a n , b lo o d y , sp ra w le d
g r o t e s q u e ly in m a n y in s t a n c e s o n th e w h ip p e d s n o w , ig n o r e d b y sm a ll
b a n d s o f r e f u g e e s w h ic h w a n d e r e d a b o u t like lo st c h ild re n . In th e
d is ta n c e tow ard B a s t o g n e c o u ld b e h e a r d th e dull e x p lo s io n of c r a s h in g
sh ellfire a n d th e r u m b le o f G er m a n artillery. A s it w a s still o v e r c a s t a n d
f o g g y , a s it h a d b e e n e v e r s in c e w e g o t to B e lg iu m , th e r e w e r e n o
p la n e s in th is s e c to r . T h e w r e tc h e d ride to o k h o u rs w ith th e driver
n e w ly b e c o m in g lo s t d e s p it e h a v in g a m a p . T he sk y b e g a n to c le a r
a n d in th e d is t a n c e c o u ld b e h ea rd th e duil m urm u r of p la n e e n g in e s .
W e c a m e to a sm a ll v illa g e finally, o n e th at h a d b e e n r ec en tly
b o m b e d a n d str a fe d b y our fig h te r p la n e s . H o u s e s w e r e a b la z e , w a lls
k n o c k e d in b y b o m b s , G er m a n s o ld ie r s w ith terror-strick en f a c e s still lay
in r o a d s id e d itc h e s . R e s c u e r s w e r e g o in g th r o u g h th e h o u s e s
s e a r c h in g for v ic tim s.
T h e w o u n d e d v ;e re ta k e n from th e w e a p o n s carrier a n d into a field
h o sp ita l ju st a b o u t th e tim e ou r p la n e s c a m e b a c k . T he G e r m a n s
s h o u te d " Y a-b oes! Der T u efel! Der T u efel! E very a b le m a n r u sh ed
o u ts id e , firing e v e r y w e a p o n a v a ila b le at th e s c r e a m in g , d iv in g , b u llet
sp ittin g p la n e s . W e in th e o p e r a tin g r o o m h u d d le d o n th e floor a s
b u lle ts sp lin te r e d th e w a lls. H a p p y in o n e w a y th at th e w e a th e r h ad
c le a r e d b u t s a d in a n o th e r th a t o n e o f t h o s e .5 0 c a lib e r b u lle ts c o u ld kill
After b e in g tr e a te d , th e w o u n d e d w e r e ta k e n to a n e a r b y barn w h ic h
h e ld th e rest o f th e F O W s p lu s s o m e o th e r A m e r ic a n s w h o h a d b e e n
fjiu k e u d iu iiy liie w a y . Tl(c iSoOi' w aS afmSc d e e p i n Vvct, u rin e
s o a k e d straw a n d c o w m a n u r e . S o o n m o r e P O W s w e r e b r o u g h t in. air
c o r p s m e n w h o h a d ju st b e e n s h o t d o w n in s u p p ly ru n s o v e r B a s to g n e .
O n c e m o r e e v e r y o n e w a s in te r r o g a te d a n d retu rn ed to th e barn w h ich
b y n o w w a s s o c r o w d e d th at it lo o k e d like a T o k y o s u b w a y train. The
g u a r d s to o k se v e r a l m e n to a n e a r b y k itc h e n a n d th e y retu rn ed with
tw o k e ttle s o f s t e a m in g n o o d le s o u p . A s o n ly th e airb orn e g u y s h ad
a n y e a tin g u te n s ils , th e e v e r p r e s e n t s p o o n , t h e s e w e r e p a s s e d arou n d
a n d ever>'one g o t s o m e t h in g to e a t. T h en th e g u a r d s to ld u s th ro u g h
I o n e o f th e P O W s w h o s p o k e a little G er m a n th a t straw w a s a v a ila b le to
pu t o n th e floor for s le e p in g . T hat w a s im p o s s ib le . T here w a s hardly
r o o m to s ta n d w ith o u t b u m p in g in to s o m e o n e . M ost of u s s a t or s t o o d
all n igh t.
C h r istm a s D ay w a s d is m a l for all o f u s . C o ld , tired a n d h u n g r y w e
w e r e led from th e barn a n d lin ed u p in a c o lu m n o n th e road with five
G erm an g u a r d s to tin g m a c h in e p isto ls. W e w a lk e d all m o r n in g o n th e
ic y road , fr o sty b rea th p r e c e d in g u s . W e p a s s e d m ore w recked
v e h ic le s , o n e an a m b u la n c e full o f c o r p s e s a n d still o n fire. C ars
s o m e t i m e s littered th e road a n d th e P O W s w e r e m a d e to d r a g th e m to
th e d itc h e s . F e e lin g q u ite su p e rio r , s o m e o f th e g u a r d s m a d e th e
p r iso n e r s carry their b u lk y r u c k sa c k s .
A sto c k y , m id d le a g e d g u a r d w ith a b ro a d f a c e w a lk e d ju st b y m y
s id e . H e h a d g o tte n a ration o f fried c h ic k e n a n d a s h e w a lk e d a lo n g
h e w a v e d p i e c e s u n d e r m y n o s e s a y in g : "Das is g u t, Ja?" T h en h e
w o u ld ta k e a b ite . H is c o n te m p tfu l c o n d u c t d id n ’t la st lo n g . S u d d e n ly
th e s o u n d o f p la n e m o to r s c a m e o v e r n e a r b y tr e e s. "Y arboes," th e
g u a r d s s c r e a m e d . W e d o v e for th e d it c h e s , all b u t m y ta u n tin g g u a r d ,
a s th e P - 4 7 S s k im m e d th e tr e e t o p s o n th e right a n d c a m e barreling
tow ard u s w ith g u n s b la z in g . T h e d it c h e s w e r e sh a llo w , n o t d e e p
e n o u g h to h id e our b o d ie s . E ven th o u g h 1 b u ried m y s e lf in th e sn o w .
I c o u ld fo llo w th e p a th s o f th e .5 0 c a lib e r s h e lls a s th e y r a c e d a c r o s s
th e field a n d hit th e r o a d , s h o w e r in g u s w ith d e b r is a n d sp a r k s. The
p la n e s w e r e p a s t in an in sta n t, m a d e a w id e arc a n d w e r e b a c k a g a in .
A b rave m e d ic g o t to h is k n e e s a n d w a v e d h is a r m s a s m o r e b u lle ts
tore u p th e ro a d . It w o r k e d . T h e p la n e s le v e le d o ff a n d left.
I w a s sh a k in g all over. T he b u lle ts h a d b a r e ly m is s e d m y h e a d a s
THE BULGE BUGLE
th e y tr a ck ed a c r o s s th e road . T h e ta u n tin g g u a r d lay in a w id e n in g
p o o l ot D io o a , tn e c n ic k e n le g stiii g r a s p e a in h is h a n d . T / 3 y t oonriB i,
o n e o f th e m e d ic s w h o c a m e u p to h e lp th e w o u n d e d at our road b lock
w a s d o w n , a b u llet th r o u g h h is hip. ft w a s se r io u s. T he g u a r d s
r e o r g a n iz e d u s , th r e a te n in g u s with their m a c h in e p isto ls. Bringing th e
d e a d a n d w o u n d e d a lo n g , w e sta r ted off o n c e a g a in , b u t d id n 't g e t far.
A n oth er fligh t o f P -4 7 s s p o tte d u s a n d c a m e barreling for th e road. W e
s c a tte r e d like p in s in a b o w lin g a lley . T h e p la n e s m a d e tw o p a s s e s an d
left. P e r h a p s th e y r e c o g n iz e d our u n ifo r m s or w e re after b e tter ta r g ets.
W e sta r ted o ff a g a in , m o r e w ary th a n ever. S o o n a sm a ll v illa g e c a m e
in to sig h t.
T h e P O W s w e re ta k e n to a b u ild in g w h ic h m u s t h a v e b e e n th e
h e a d q u a r te r s for a N azi party unit, it w a s s o filled with p h o to s , fla g s and
o th er p r o p a g a n d a m aterial. Our m e d ic s im m e d ia te ly t e n d e d th e
w o u n d e d , b u t T /S g t B o n n er w a s b e y o n d their lim ited fa cilities. T h ey
b e g g e d th e g u a r d s to h a v e him r e m o v e d to a local h o sp ita l. The
g u a r d s r e fu s e d at first, b u t later r e c a n te d . W e w e re se r v e d a m e a l, a
b o x of d ried u p a p p le s , tw o per m a n . W e s a t q u ietly o n th e h ard w ood
flo o rin g , n ib b lin g at th e a p p le s a n d w a tc h in g B o n n er in h is a g o n y .
It w a s c lo s e to dark w h e n th e g u a r d s c a m e a n d to o k a w a y all th e
w o u n d e d . T h e h o sp ita l w a s a m a k e sh ift affair, a c o n v e n t w h ich had
b e e n c o n v e r te d to h a n d le w o u n d e d until t h e y c o u ld b e m o v e d to the
rear. Straw p e lle ts o n th e floor se r v e d a s b e d s a n d th e r e w e re gray
w o o le n b la n k e ts for c o v e r s . 1 w a s p u t in a ro o m with a d o z e n or so
G e r m a n s , all o f w h o m h a d b e e n o p e r a te d o n for fro stb ite a n d frozen
lim b s. M ost w e r e in g r e a t p ain . I w a s p u t b e tw e e n tw o W affen S S
tr o o p e r s w h o , at first, e y e d m e w ith h atred in their e y e s . H ow ever, after
a w h ile o n e b e c a m e frien d ly a n d e v e n o ffer e d m e a stu b of a cig a r ette
from a sm a ll m e ta l b o x h e carried in a shirt p o c k e t. H e s p o k e n o
E n g lish a n d I n o G erm an s o c o m m u n ic a tio n w a s ro u g h . I did learn that
h e w a s an an titank g u n n e r a n d d e s tr o y e d se v e r a l Ami ta n k s b e fo r e a
sh ell hit h is g u n a n d killed e v e r y o n e b u t him .
C a th o lic s is te r s a c te d a s n u r s e s , h e lp in g th e d o c to r s a n d servin g
m e a ls . O n C h ristm a s e v e n in g e v e r y o n e g o t a bow l of s te a m in g ste w
a n d iaicr th e siste r g a v e e v e r y o n e a p ie c e of c h c c o ia t s . S o m e w h e r e
d o w n th e hall, I c o u ld h ea r fe m in in e v o i c e s s in g in g C h ristm a s carols.
E ven th o u g h th e y w e r e in G er m a n , th e m u s ic w a s fam iliar. W hile th e y
* s a n g ih e b ea u tifu i s o n g s , T /S g t BorinoF d ie d . H e cuM ie iu ai
th e road b lo c k . H e d ie d in th e effort. P e r h a p s th e r e w a s s o m e
co rrela tio n b e tw e e n h is d e a th a n d th e C h ristm a s story.
R o b e r t M. B o w e n
1 0 1 A B N D 4 0 1 GLDR INF C
1 R EA DY TO ROLL
[ S o m e o f u s a tte n d e d m id n ig h t m a s s C h r istm a s E ve in a w r ec k e d
b u ild in g in S a a r - n o t su r e if it w a s a ch u r c h . In th e m o r n in g w e lo a d e d
u p to m o v e c u t. T h e c o m b a t tr o o p s h a d b e e n m o v in g . P er h a p s all
n ig h t? A b ou t 1 1 :0 0 a .m . o n C h r istm a s D ay. th e r e c o v e r y w reck er had
b r o g g h t in a je e p a n d u n lo a d e d it n e a r a n o th e r m o to r s e r g e a n t (Miller,
I think). H e lo o k e d at it a fe w s e c o n d s a n d s a id , “If w e c o u ld cu t th o s e
tw o w r e c k s apart, w e c o u ld m a k e a n o th e r jeep ." T h e C O sa id "No, w e
d id n ’t h a v e tim e . W e h a v e to p u ll o u t a n y tim e." S g t Miller sa id . "We
d o n ’t h a v e to u n lo a d a n y th in g . W e'll w ork from th e b a c k o f th e to o ls
truck a n d w e c a n le a v e a n y tim e." In a b o u t o n e h ou r th e y h ad a je e p
r e a d y to roll.
J a m e s A. A n d e r s o n
7 8 7 O RD
A LOVELY S H A D E O F GRAY
[W e arrived] at St. Vith, B e lg iu m a b o u t th e first w e e k o f D e c e m b e r ,
1 9 4 4 , a n d our outfit to o k u p p o s itio n in th e A r d e n n e s b e tw e e n St. Vith
a n d M alm ad y.
T h e B attle o f th e B u lg e sta r ted o n th e 16th o f D e c e m b e r , a n d a b o o k
c o u ld b e w ritten o n t h o s e fe w d a y s prior to D e c e m b e r 19th w h e n 1w a s
struck in th e b a c k o f th e h e a d b y a n e x p lo d in g h a n d g r e n a d e (while
w e a r in g m y s te e l h e lm e t a n d h e lm e t liner) w h ic h s a v e d m y life, but
r e n d e r e d m e u n c o n s c io u s a n d to ta lly b lin d .
T h e m e d ic m u s t h a v e k ep t m e p retty w ell s e d a t e d , I r e m e m b e r very
little until I w a s in P aris, F ran ce, o n C h r istm a s Eve. I r e m e m b e r b e in g
o n a str e tc h e r m o s t of th e tim e , but I w a s n o w in a b e d .
21 November 1993
 B e in g to ta lly blind I a s k e d for a c h a p la in to visit nne, w h ich h e d id (he
le a n e d o v e r a n d allov\/ed nne to fe e l th e c r o s s o n h is co lo r) a n d 1
ren nem ber a sk in g him to verify th a t all nny p arts s u c h a s th e a r m s a n d
l e g s w o rk ed , a s th e y (d o c to r s a s s u m e d ) w e r e te stin g m y s y s t e m ou t.
T he ch a p la in a s s u r e d m e th at e v er y th in g r e s p o n d e d properly, s o I
figu red th e Lord h a d b le s s e d m e a g a in .
I d is c o v e r e d C h ristm a s m o r n in g that th e Lord really h a d b le s s e d m e
a g a in , w h e n 1 w a s a b le to s e e g ra y o n o n e s id e o f th e r o o m in ste a d of
total d a r k n e s s (th e re b y in d ic a tin g w in d o w s a n d d a y lig h t).
F orty-eigh t y e a r s h a s n o t d im in ish e d th at fe e lin g o f s e e in g th e g ra y
that m o rn in g , after s e v e n d a y s of total d a r k n e s s.
R o b e r t L. S t e v e n s o n
1 0 6 INFD 81 EN G R C M B T BN HQ
THE PLANE R ID E R S
C h ristm a s w a s n ever th e s a m e after th e o n e w e e x p e r ie n c e d in C o o ,
B e lg iu m in 1 9 4 4 . Y ou w o u ld think e v e r y b o d y w o u ld ta k e th is d a y off
from th e war, bu t n o s u c h luck. T hat m o rn in g our p la to o n w a s o r d e re d
to run a c o m b a t patrol o n th e s id e o f th e m o u n ta in b e tw e e n our
c o m p a n y a n d an a d ja c e n t o n e . N o th in g ev en tfu l h a p p e n e d s o w e w e r e
lo o k in g fon/\/ard to our C h r istm a s d in n er w h ich w e h a d p la n n e d for that
a fter n o o n . W e h ad "liberated” a c o u p le o f B e lg ia n c h ic k e n s a n d Ernie
King w a s a p p o in te d th e c o o k . He h a d m a d e th e n e c e s s a r y
p r e p a r a tio n s to g e t th e c h ic k e n s into th e p o t a n d th e y w e r e sim m e r in g
w h ile w e w e re o u t o n th e m o r n in g ’s b u s in e s s . W e w e re in th e s a fe s t
part of th e h o u s e w e h a d c o m m a n d e e r e d , th e b a s e m e n t , a n d w e re ju st
a b o u t to sit d o w n to our C h ristm a s c h ic k e n d in n er w h e n our d e a r
fr ie n d s in th e Air C o r p s arrived to join u s in our c e le b r a tio n .
S in c e th is w a s to b e c a lle d "The B attle of th e Bulge" th ere w a s m u c h
c o n fu s io n a s to w h er e th e frien d ly lin e s e n d e d a n d w h er e th e e n e m y
w a s lo c a te d . Of all o f th e c o m b a t u n its in th is fr a c a s th e m o s t
c o n f u s e d w a s th e Air C o rp s. A fligh t of tw o P -3 8 's h a d s p o tte d a
c o u p le of our ta n k s p a rk ed o n th e o n ly str e e t o f th is to w n . T he ta n k s
w e re p lainly m ark ed with o r a n g e p a n e ls , bu t th is d id n 't s e e m to r eg ister
o n th e m in d s o f our ste a k e a tin g c o m r a d e s . B oth figh ter p ilo ts d e c id e d
to "kill" our S h er m a n ta n k s with 5 0 0 p o u n d b o m b s . F ortu n ately for th e
ta n k ers, "b uttoned-up" in their a r m o re d b o x e s , our p la n e riding h e r o e s
m is s e d their in te n d e d ta r g e ts. U n fortu n ately for our p la to o n th e
c o n c u s s io n of th e b o m b s sh a tte r e d th e c h a n d e lie r a b o v e th e d in in g
ta b le w h ere our C h ristm a s d in n er a w a ite d , sc a tte r in g s h a r d s of g l a s s
into our a n tic ip a te d fe a st.
W hen w e finally cra w le d o u t from u n d er th e ta b le , a n d o th er furniture
that w e th o u g h t w o u ld h e lp p r o te ct u s from th e b la st, for an in sta n t w e
c o u ld n 't p e r c e iv e w h at h a d h a p p e n e d to u s. W e s e n s e d th at n o o n e
h a d b e e n hurt, bu t w h e n w e lo o k e d at our C h ristm a s d in n er w e s a w th e
aw ful truth. B la sp h e m y b u rst forth, a c h o r u s o f o a th s a p p e a r e d that
h ad b e e n p o lis h e d a n d refin ed o v e r th e c o u r s e of m a n y m o n th s a n d
d a y s o f g ro u n d c o m b a t. If t h o s e P -3 8 ’s h a d retu rn ed for a n o th er p a s s
at th at m o m e n t w e w o u ld h a v e run o u ts id e a n d s h o t at th e m with our
M-1 rifles.
...After a lm o st 5 0 y e a r s I still d o a "slow burn" w h e n I r e m e m b e r
C h ristm a s 1944. W e a te o u t K -rations a g a in th at d a y a s our v isito rs
from th e sk y rod e their p la n e s b a c k to their b a s e s o m e w h e r e in F ran ce.
W e w e re certain w h en th e y retu rn ed , in s te a d o f th e m o n o to n y o f a
ste a k d in n er, th e y w o u ld d in e o n tu rkey b e fo r e g o in g to th e party at th e
o ffice rs clu b .
J o h n M. N o la n
3 0 INFD 1 1 9 INF 1 PLTN G
...H O T U P TH ERE, SO L D IE R ?
1 d o n ’t r e m e m b e r th e 2 4 th , but I d o r e m e m b e r C h ristm a s, 1 9 4 4 , very
w ell.
It w a s th e m o rn in g . I w a s k n o c k e d o u t of m y s e c o n d of th ree ta n k s
in th e A rd en n es.
W e w e re at th e p o in t o f th e o n ly five S h e r m a n s left in B C o m p a n y ,
3 1 s t Tank B attalion , in an ill-fated a ttack o n M an h ay, B e lg iu m .
All five w e re p ro m p tly k n o c k e d o u t. Our driver G e o r g e H aw kin s w a s
killed; th e rest of u s w e r e b u rn ed , e tc ., b u t g o t to a ditch b e fo r e th e
turret b lew off. After w e la y in th e d itch for a w h ile, w e c o u ld h ear Jerry
infantry c o m in g our w a y , s o it w a s tim e to le a v e .
THE BULGE BUGLE
I w a s th e first o n e u p a n d d o v e th r o u g h a h e d g e a n d p r o c e e d e d
tow ard th e rear a lo n e . T he o n ly p e r so n I e n c o u n t e r e d a lo n g th e w a y
w a s G en . B ru ce C larke, C C B C o m m a n d e r . H e s a id , "Pretty h o t u p
th e r e , sold ier?" T o w h ic h 1 r e p lie d , "Your d a m n e d right, sir," a n d k ep t
o n g o in g . 1 n e v e r s a w th e r e st o f th e c r e w a g a in (Lt. H. Clark, S g t. V
G u g lio tta ).
F inally g o t b a c k to th e p o in t w h e r e 1 st S g t A1 S p in a z z o la w a s p ic k in g
up su rvivors for tra n sp o rt to an aid sta tio n .
J o h n P. N a u lty
7 A R M D D 31 I K BN B
D EST IN A T IO N U N K N O W N
W e arrived in H a g u e n a u o n th e a fte r n o o n o f D e c e m b e r 2 3 , 1 9 4 4 , a n d
r e m a in e d in p la c e str a d d lin g a railroad track until th e la te e v e n in g of
D e c e m b e r 2 4 th . It w a s C h r istm a s e v e a n d th e w e a th e r w a s s e v e r e ...lo ts
o f s n o w h a n g in g from th e t r e e s a n d b u ild in g s a n d c o ld !
W ell after dark, w e w e r e to ld to q u ic k ly m o u n t u p a n d join oth er
c o n v o y s o f v e h ic le s th a t to m e s e e m e d to b e h e a d in g w e s t ...th e
d ir ec tio n th at w e h a d c o m e from tw o d a y s b e fo r e . W e w e r e s o o n on
th e m o v e , jo in in g h u n d r e d s o f v e h ic le s o f all t y p e s a n d w e r e s o o n
p a s s in g th r o u g h th e V o s g e s M o u n ta in s w ith th eir c o n ife r s a n d s t e e p
m o u n ta in s i d e s s o r e m in is c e n t o f h o m e .
T he m o u n ta in r o a d s a n d p a s s e s w e r e filled w ith v e h ic le s o f e v er y
d e sc r ip tio n a n d m e n o n fo o t, all m o v in g slo w ly in th e d a r k n e s s with
o n ly th e "cats e y e s " o n th e v e h ic le s s h o w in g a n y ligh t. I h a d n o id e a
w h e r e w e w e r e h e a d e d a n d m o r e im p o r ta n tly ...w h y ?
S ittin g in th e b a c k o f a G M C 6 x 6 truck, I s a w an A rm y s e d a n b a c k e d
u p a s id e road w ith a B rigad ier G e n e r a l’s star u n c o v e r e d o n th e front
b u m p e r a n d th e n r e a liz e d th at s o m e t h in g b ig w a s u n d e r w a y . For u s,
it w a s th e b e g in n in g o f th e B attle o f th e B u lg e , n o t k n o w in g th at it h ad
a c tu a lly sta r ted se v e r a l d a y s prior. (I d id n ’t k n o w th is until 5 0 y e a r s
later, I read it in The B ulge Bugle.]
W e tr a v e le d all n ig h t a n d a s I recall all o f th e n e x t d a y , h alf fr o z e n to
d e a th , still n o t k n o w in g or h a v in g th e s lig h t e s t id e a a s to w h e r e w e
w e r e g o in g or w h y .
After 5 0 y e a r s , I still d o n 't k n o w e x a c tly w h e r e w e e n d e d u p . I d o
recall th e d a y s a n d n ig h ts th a t fo llo w e d ; t h e s n o w a n d th e terrib le c o ld .
1 r e m e m b e r stu ffin g o ld n e w s p a p e r s in to m y r a g g e d o v e r c o a t for
w arm th; th e G er m a n infiltrators in Gl u n ifo r m s, th e s p r u c e fo r e s ts a n d
c o n s ta n tly b e in g o n th e m o v e , o fte n w ith p e o p le a n d u n its o th e r than
our o w n . 1 fr o ze m y fe e t, m y h a n d s a n d p a r ts o f m y f a c e b u t e s c a p e d
m o r e s e r io u s injury,
1 will n e v e r fo r g e t C h r istm a s E ve o f 1 9 4 4 a n d th e w e e k s th at fo llo w e d .
T hat p e r io d o f tim e is e t c h e d in m y so u l a n d I will carry it to th e e n d of
m y d a y s w h e r e h o p e fu lly I will e n te r a h e a v e n ly p la c e w h e r e th e r e is n o
w ar or p ain or te a r s.
R a n d y K err
3 5 3 AAA BN C BTRY
C H R IS T M A S IN E S C H D O R F
I w a s ju st o u ts id e E sc h d o r f th e m o r n in g o f D e c e m b e r 2 4 , 1 9 4 4 - a b o u t
1 / 4 o f a m ile from to w n , 1 g u e s s - d u g in in a field .
I s p e n t th e n ig h t th e r e , a n d o n th e 2 5 th o f D e c e m b e r , th e c o o k s
b r o u g h t u s a h o t tu rk ey d in n e r a n d se r v e d .
W e left after d in n e r a n d w e n t a r o u n d th r o u g h th e w o o d s c o m in g u p
o n th e T ow n o f E sc h d o r f C h r istm a s n ig h t. T h ere w e r e Jerry s still
s h e llin g u s w ith m a c h in e g u n a n d m ortar fire in th e n ig h t, b u t w e g o t
to th e to w n th e n ig h t o f th e 2 5th .
I w a s to ld th a t C a p t. W hite, ou r C o m m a n d in g O fficer, w a s s h o t in th e
fa c e th a t n ig h t b u t h e k e p t o n o p e r a tin g th e rad io. I d id n o t s e e him
after h e w a s hit.
I left th e m o r n in g o f th e 26 th o f D e c e m b e r w ith tr e n c h f o o t a n d b a c k
th r o u g h th e h o s p ita ls.
F ran k J . H e r n d o n
2 6 IN FD 1 0 4 INF A
F R U S T R A T IO N S R E L E A SE D
I w a s a m e d ic (su rg ic a l te c h n ic ia n ) d u rin g th e B attle o f th e B u lg e , a
m e m b e r o f th e 6 4 7 th M ed ica l C le a rin g C o m p a n y , a tta c h e d to th e 65th
22 N ovem ber 1993
 M ed ical R e g im e n t E v a c u a tio n H o sp ita l. [M etz, F ra n ce ]...O n C h ristm a s
E ve. a fe w o f m y c l o s e b u d d ie s a n d I fo u n d o u t a b o u t a C h r istm a s Eve
ch u r c h s e r v ic e b e in g h e ld o n th e o th e r s id e o f to w n It w a s a bitterly
c o ld n ig h t. W h en w e g o t b a c k to ou r b u ild in g , th e fe llo w s th a t sta y e d
b e h in d h a d b e e n drin k in g a n d g o t in to fig h ts , m a k in g a terrible m e s s
of th e p la c e . T h ere w a s n ’t m u c h s le e p in g d o n e a s their party c o n tin u e d
in to th e la te n ig h t. T h e s a d part w a s th a t th is w a s C h r istm a s E ve, an d
their t h o u g h ts w e r e n o t o n J e s u s ’ birth, b u t o n w in e . I will m e n tio n ,
th o u g h , th at all th o u g h th e w ar w e h a d a s u p e r -b e h a v in g b u n c h of
b u d d ie s . T his w a s th e o n ly tim e I c o u ld r e m e m b e r a g r o u p of th e m
g e ttin g o u t o f c o n tr o l.
A rthur L a e h n
6 5 EVAC H O S P 6 4 7 M ED C LR N G
I HAD IT BET T E R TH AN MY B U D D IE S
I w a s in a h o s p ita l in P aris, F ra n ce o n D e c e m b e r 2 4 -2 5 , 1 9 4 4 . I h a d lo st
m y right lim b a b o v e th e k n e e a n d h a d n u m e r o u s w o u n d s in th e left le g
from a G er m a n T iger tan k 8 8 m m d ir ec t hit to our N E -37 TD. This
h a p p e n e d o n D e c e m b e r 1 9 (? ), 1 9 4 4 . T h e y w e r e trying to b u ild m e u p
e n o u g h to s ta n d th e trip b a c k to th e USA.
I w a s in s o m u c h p a in I d o n o t k n o w if th e h o s p ita l h a d a s p e c ia l m e a i
for C h ristm a s. W h at 1 d o r e m e m b e r is a p a tie n t c a m e b y m y b e d from
C o lu m b ia , M issouri (m y h o m e to w n ) n a m e d S a m u e l G rant. After
retu rn in g h o m e I le a r n e d h e h a d to g o b a c k u p o n th e front lin e an d
w a s killed.
R e a d in g in m y 6 1 0 T ank D e str o y er b o o k , w e w e r e a tta c k e d to th e
3 2 8 th Infantry, 8 0 th Infantry, Third Arm y. O n D e c e m b e r 2 5 , 1 9 4 4 , our
outfit w a s at B o e r a n z e (? ), L u x e m b o u r g , w h e r e tw o m e n w e r e killed a n d
e le v e n w e r e w o u n d e d in th e m id s t o f th e B attle o f th e B u lg e . I a m su re
1 h a d a b e tter C h r istm a s D ay th a n m y b u d d ie s . I will a lw a y s b e gratefu l
th a t I c a m e h o m e aliv e. T hat is o n e C h r istm a s I r e c e iv e d n o g ifts.
W illia m D. P o w e ll, Jr.
6 1 0 TD BN
A D E S P E R A T E G A M BLE
An in c id e n t at M a rte la n q e is ty p ica l o f th e m a n y cru cial a s s ig n m e n t s
th e e n g in e e r u n its w e r e g iv e n .... T h is particu lar e v e n t w a s rec a lle d
rec en tly b y five m e m b e r s o f th e 2 9 9 th C o m b a t E n g in e e i B aU alion from
th e S ta te o f N e w York.
(Left to right: C larence Krausnick, Syracuse; Tonn Netti, Auburn;
Jim OHva, B ingham ton; Paul Pirro, Syracuse; a n d Frank Morabito,
Auburn)
A lth o u g h t h e s e m e n h a d su rv iv e d th e D -D ay la n d in g s a n d m o n th s of
c o n tin u o u s a c tio n in F ra n ce, th e y all a g r e e d th at their m is s io n at
M a rte la n g e w a s o n e o f their m o s t h a rrow in g a n d c h a lle n g in g
e x p e r ie n c e s .
T he 2 9 9 th r e c e iv e d w ord th a t a G er m a n s p e a r h e a d w a s a d v a n c in g
tow ard M a r te la n g e a n d w o u ld p r o b a b ly a tte m p t to c r o s s th e S u re River
th e r e . H e a d q u a r te r s o r d e r e d C o. A to r e s p o n d a n d th e y s e n t th e 1st
P la to o n 's 3rd S q u a d , w h ic h in c lu d e d th e fiv e N e w Y orkers, to th e s c e n e .
U p on their arrival th e S q u a d m a d e a q u ic k su r v e y o f th e a r ea a n d
th e n u n d e r to o k th e ta sk o f w irin g th e b r id g e for d e m o litio n . T h e y th e n
I
L_______________________________________________________
THE BULGE BUGLE
23
w ith d rew to a c o n c e a le d v a n ta g e p o in t a n d e v a lu a te d th e situ a tio n , it
w a s d e te r m in e d th at th e b r id g e c o u ld e a s ily a c c o m m o d a t e th r e e ta n k s
at o n e tim e , in e r e to r e , in th e e v e n t trie b iid y e ItaJ to b e blcv.r., ev er y
effort w o u ld b e m a d e to ta k e at le a s t th r e e ta n k s d o w n with it! It w a s
a d e s p e r a t e g a m b le ," O liva a d m itte d , "but w e alt a g r e e d it w a s a
c h a n c e w orth ta k in g . T h e w o r st part w a s w a itin g for th e G e r m a n s to
s h o w up!" Their w ait w a s s o o n ov er. T h e y h a d h ea rd th e a p p r o a c h in g
ta n k s for s o m e tim e a n d th e n s u d d e n ly th e le a d o n e b rok e o v er th e hill
in front o f th e m . It w a s a Mark IV a n d its d e a d ly 8 8 w a s p o in te d
d ir ec tly at th e b r id g e . F o llo w in g w e r e se v e r a l m o r e with fo o t so ld ie r s
a io n g s id e . "We k n ew w s d id n 't h a v e th e g u n s or e n o u g h m e n to ta k e
th e m on," N etti sta te d . "Our o n ly c h o ic e w a s to b lo w th e b r id g e a n d .
if luck w a s w ith u s, m a y b e g e t s o m e tanks." M orabito n o d d e d in
a g r e e m e n t a n d a d d e d , "To g e t th e ta n k s w o u ld b e g r e a t b u t, in an y
c a s e , w e w e r e d e te r m in e d to s lo w th e m dovi/ni"
A s th e first tank n e a r e d th e b r id g e it s to p p e d a n d its turret c o v er
sp r a n g o p e n . A fig u re e m e r g e d a n d lo o k e d in ten tly at th e b r id g e an d
th e n s ig n a le d th e o th e r s to fo llo w h im . H is tan k ru m b led o n to th e
b r id g e a n d slo w ly sta r ted a c r o s s . T h e o th e r s m o v e d in c lo s e b e h in d .
Their infantry d id n 't a c c o m p a n y th e m bu t fa n n e d o u t a lo n g th e river
b a n k s. T he 2 9 9 e r s w a tc h e d in silen t a m a z e m e n t a s th e ta n k s
p r o c e e d e d o v e r th e b r id g e . S h a k in g with e x c ite m e n t, Pirro c la s p e d th e
Hell B o x a n d g in g e r ly p la c e d h is h a n d o n th e p lu n g e r. "If w e w ere
g o in g to g e t th e ta n k s I h a d to tim e th e firing exactly," h e s a id . "I just
h o p e d th at our wiring w a s O.K.!" T h e m e n k e p t their e y e s g lu e d o n th e
le a d in g tan k a n d ju st a s it r e a c h e d th e e n d of th e b r id g e th e y y e lle d in
u n iso n , "NOW!!“ Pirro r a m m e d th e p iu n g e r d o w n . A th u n d e r o u s
e x p lo s io n r o ck ed th e a r ea , d e b r is flew e v er y w h e r e a n d h u g e c io u d s of
d u s t filled th e air. T he b r id g e w a s d e m o lis h e d a n d th r e e b a d ly
d a m a g e d ta n k s la y h o p e le s s ly s u b m e r g e d in th e river with their
o c c u p a n t s str u g g lin g a m id s t th e w r e c k a g e .
T h e G e r m a n s h ad d e fin itely b e e n su rp rised ! T aking a d v a n ta g e of th e
e n e m y ’s utter c o n fu s io n , th e ex h ila r a ted e n g in e e r s r a c e d for their
tru ck s. K rau snick r e m e m b e r s th at h e w a s th e la st o n e o n . "I ju st had
to g e t a n o th e r look at th o s e tanks," h e e x p la in e d . "Boy, h o w 1 w ish e d
; cj h a d a cam era:"
U n d er th e c o v e r o f d a r k n e s s th e tru ck s s p e d so u th w a r d to th e
B attalion C P at H ach y. T h e m e n w e re e la te d with th e r e s u lts th e y had
a c n ie v e d a n d w e re enuiu:»i«is>uv;cil!y u ls c u s s in g tn c m vvmCm G cm ccr.c
s u d d e n ly p r o c la im e d : "Do y o u g u y s kn ow that th is is C h ristm a s Eve"?
E ve.ryone im m e d ia te ly s t o p p e d talk in g a n d th ere w a s c o m p le t e s ile n c e
for th e rest o f th e trip. Ail w e r e in d e e p a n d private th o u g h t a n d th e
e x c ite m e n t th e y h a d ju st e x p r e s s e d w a s o v e r c o m e b y their m e m o r ie s
o f C h r istm a s E v e s p a s t. T h e y ferv en tly p r a y e d th at th e y m ig h t b e
p e r m itte d to s p e n d th e n e x t C h r istm a s E ve b a c k h o m e , s a f e with their
lo v e d o n e s .
C h a r le s H urlb ut
2 9 9 C M B T E N G R BN
...T H E C O L D NEVER QUIT
I w a s a driver for th e S -2 s e c tio n o f CCA. My v e h ic le w a s a half track,
w h ich b e c a m e m y h o m e for a b o u t e ig h t or n in e m o n th s. T here w a s a
je e p , a n d a c r e w o f e ig h t m e n .
Aftpr a whirl w in d ride a c r o s s F ra n ce w ith P a tto n 's 3rd Army, s o m e
6 0 0 m ile s in 21 d a y s (a s ! read later in b o o k s a n d m aterial I h ave
c o lle c te d ).
T h is c a m e to a s u d d e n halt n ea r th e M o se lle River. As 1 u n d e rsta n d ,
th e G e r m a n s w e re stiffe n in g r e s is ta n c e o n all fron ts. It w a s d e c id e d
th at w e w e r e n e e d e d to su p p o r t th e British A rm y to th e north. W e
c h a n g e d our d ir ec tio n a n d m o v e d north. W e d o k n ow th at w e w e re in
H o lla n d . After s o m e to u g h c a m p a ig n s in th is se c to r , th in g s s e e m e d to
q u ie t d o w n for a w h ile . From w h a t 1 h a v e read , It s e e m e d th e allied
a r m ie s w e r e p r e p a r in g for a p u sh into th e heart o f G er m a n y . But th e
G e r m a n s h a d o th e r id e a s a b o u t th e d e a l. W e w e r e a ler ted to b e
p r e p a r e d to m o v e a b o u t 8 :0 0 o ’c lo c k o n e n ig h t. W e d id n ’t k n ow w h ere,
b u t I c o u ld s e n s e th a t s o m e t h in g w a s g o in g o n . W e m o v e d m o s t of th e
n ig h t, it w a s s to p a n d g o all n ig h t. 1fo u n d o u t later th at w e h a d to fight
ou r w a y in to p la c e w h ic h w a s n o w b e c o m in g th e w ell k n ow n "Battle of
th e B ulge."
O n e th in g w e d id k n ow , th at th e w e a th e r w a s c h a n g in g . W inter w a s
o n u s. a n d I d o n 't think e v e r y o n e h a d e x p e c t e d a w inter c a m p a ig n . W e
h a d train in g in L o u isia n a , th e C aliforn ia d e se r t, a n d Ft. B an n in g,
G e o r g ia , b u t n o t w h a t w e w e r e a b o u t to f a c e . I think m y f e e t b e c a m e
November 1993
 cold th a t night an d sta y ed th a t w ay for the next two m onths. Being
fronn Texas, w e d o n ’t have too m uch snow , but I saw en o u g h to do m e
a life tinne.
We pulled into a sm all village th at night and with a lot of confusion,
we set up guard. A few hours later w e w ere on the m ove again. We
w ere traveling dow n a narrow road, with fir tree s on each side, an d we
co u ld n ’t se e m ore th a n 20 feet. This m ight have b ee n a pretty sight
with the snow , but this w as scary. S o m eo n e said they heard tanks, an d
th e m ajor said "What kind". Then he said have your b azo o k a ready.
We had se en lots of action ac ro ss France, blown ou t eq u ip m en t, cities,
d ea d anim als, an d all th a t g o e s with co m b at, but never anything
co m p ared to this su sp e n se .
The tim e, so m e tim e in D ecem ber an d it w as cold. I think C hristm as
w as probably the la st thing on our m ind at this tim e. A few d ay s
elap se d and 1 d o n ’t think anyone w as getting too m uch sle ep an d th e
cold never quit. I rem e m b er pulling into this sm all village early o n e
m orning, which w as D ecem ber 24th--C hristm as Eve. O ne of th e natives
totd us we could u se o n e of his buildings to w arm in. It had a stove,
and w as a w elcom ed sight. This w as not exactly th e ty p e of C hristm as
I w as dream ing of. But it w as snow ing, an d we knew it w ould be white.
A word ab o u t our half-track and crew. Before we left England we h ad
m odified the inside. We w ere e q u ip p ed with lots of radios, o n e 50
caliber, one 30 caliber m achine gun, bazooka, g re n a d e s an d ev ery o n e’s
personal w eapon. This w as for our own protection a s S-2 l^ad other
p u rp o ses such a s interrogating prisoners and obtaining inform ation.
We had installed our own box th a t w e called our ice box. We p u t all
our rations, g o o d ie s or anything w e had in this box. The radio o p erato r
w as the keeper of this box. We had a major, h ea d of this section, an d
he sh ared everything ju st a s sa m e a s his m en. I c a n ’t say en o u g h for
the officers an d m en of this outfit. They w ere the kind you w anted
around you in a situation like we w ere in.
About two hours later we m o u n ted up to m ove. It w as slow, but we
ca m e into an o th er sm all village-M anhay, Belgium , I think. We sp rea d
out, parked our vehicles, b a se d up, which alw ays c a m e first no m atter
what. Take care of your vehicle an d yourself later. This alw ays paid
off. Never h ea d in, alw ays back in. Never be w here you c a n ’t m ove
out. As night c a m e on 1 rem e m b er it being very bright an d visibility
w as good. The m oon had co m e through. I alw ays think ab o u t this
place--all th o se pretty dairy cow s. We had noticed th e m w hen we
ca m e in the b arn s w ere full.
We w aited for m ore orders, an d we noticed it w as deathly quiet--only
the distant so u n d of a G erm an m achine gun, b etter known a s
"Ripshaw.*' I later learned th at we w ere to attack th e next m orning.
There w as a ridge out th ere a ways, w here the en e m y w as, b u t until this
day I believe th ey w ere closer. We b eg a n looking aro u n d for a p lace
to bed down, and settled on a building close by.
No sooner th an we lay dow n all Hell broke loose. Big shells started
falling everyw here. S o m eo n e said, "What is that." We knew it w a sn ’t
us, b ec a u se it w as incom ing "mail." About this tim e we w ere alerted to
be ready to m ove a s quickly a s possible. We rushed to our half-track
which w as facing the road. By this tim e it se e m e d th e w hole tow n w as
on fire with bursting shells. Then we heard a terrible noise to our right,
an d knew it w as a big tank at full throttle. In the turmoil, vehicles w ere
gathering on the road a b o u t 50 y ards away. This w as our e s c a p e route.
There w as a big flash and collision and the largest tank I think I had
ever seen, and the gu n , I p resu m e an 88 m m a s long a s a teleg rap h
pole. A jeep had pulled up with two people, an d it v anished u n d er this
m onster. The collision an d flash w as the m o n ster crashing into a light
American tank. I d id n ’t know the se rg e a n t th at c a m e running out of
there. But he w as frantically saying Tiger Royal. On our drive a c ro ss
France I d o n ’t re m e m b e r ta n k s this large. I h ad h eard th ey w eighed
around 70 to n s - n o t all th a t fast, but a lot of crushing pow er. I had th e
opportunity to ex am in e one later on. The G erm an s w ere g o o d with th e
88 m m . They could b o u n ce it off the road into the b o tto m of a vehicle.
I did venture to tak e a look for th e m en in the jeep . Luckily th ey had
ju m p ed out. The order c a m e to m ove out on to this road. So we did
slowly. It w as sto p a n d go th e rest of th e night with a killer crew of
suicidal G erm ans out there. We se e m e d like sitting ducks. There w as
som ething burning a h e a d . It w as one of our je e p s th a t w as a victim of
that 88. There w as confusion on th at road th at night an d a g o o d m any
were killed or w o u n d ed . W e lost a m ajor from th e S-3 section, an d a
m an or two, th a t I never h eard of again. We pulled b ack to th e sa m e
THE BULGE BUGLE
a re a th at we w ere at th at m orning. We knew it w ould b e w arm , if it
w ere still em p ty . To our surprise, th e re w as so m e o n e in it. After
e x c h a n g e of p a ssw o rd s it tu rn ed o u t to b e an artillery unit. This w as
their kitchen crew, se t up, p rep arin g C h ristm as dinner. They m a d e us
feel at h o m e with hot coffee. To m e th is w as C hristm as--sm elling th a t
turkey a n d all th o se g o o d ie s cooking.
We g ra b b e d m a y b e an hour or so of s le e p a n d w aited to s e e w hat
C h ristm as Day w ould b e. It w as an exciting d ay. The artillery h ad se t
up an d th o se g u n s m u st have b e e n h u b to h u b , an d it w as a d eafen in g
roar for several hours. Our kitchen truck c a m e up, a n d ev eryone had
a turkey dinner. The air force did it’s thing in th e su icid e tan k s, 1
u n d ersta n d , a n d I h eard th ey leveled M anhay. I alw ays think a b o u t
th o se pretty cow s, b e c a u s e I know th ey h ad no p lace to go.
This w as m y C hristm as, 1944, b u t am thankful for surviving it. It is
hard to believe th e th in g s th at night. Men a long w ay from h o m e on
a cold night, co m b at, cooking turkey, a n d every o n e doing his little
part. I am proud to have b e e n a p art of it a n d a p art of th e unit I
served with.
M orris W. Pow ell
7 ARMDD HQ (CCA)
SUDDENLY, ...I WAS NO SPECTATOR
A bout 10:00 p.m ., C h ristm as Eve, w e w ere m arch in g ac ro ss a long
g en tle, tre e le ss hill in front of G randm anil. I will call it a slope. I w as
th e 60 m m m ortar a ssista n t g u n n e r in th e 4th Platoon. I think it w as
th e entire F C o m p a n y -m a rc h in g single file on a narrow road. We knew
we w ere gettin g clo se to c o m b a t a s during th e d ay w e h ad m et je e p s
with w o u n d ed an d h ad p a s s e d an a re a w here a n o th er 289th C o m p an y
had m et a colum n of G erm an tan k s. By th e looks of th in g s m an y m u st
have b ee n killed or w o u n d ed . T here w ere je e p s on th e road th a t had
b ee n cru sh e d to a flat m etal sc ra p pile from b ein g run over by the
tan k s, th ere w ere burning trucks in a clu m p of tre e s along sid e th e
road, an d m uch eq u ip m e n t laying aro u n d su ch a s helm ets, rifles,
c a n te e n s, an d w hat not.
Until now w e h ad not b e e n fired u p o n - l d id n 't think w e w ould b e this
tim e. The night w as beautiful. A bright m o o n g listen ed off th e white
clean snow . I w as very tired so ju st kind of shuffled along beh in d th e
g u y a h e a d of m e. Surprisingly, I w asn 't frig h ten ed by w hat I saw.
There w ere m an y burning buildings in th e sm all Village of G randm anil
a b o u t 1 /2 m ile a h e a d an d dow n th e slo p e. W h at’s m o re th ere w as
fighting going on dow n there! I h ea rd th e rapid fire of G erm an
m ach in e g u n s in th e village. Their trac er strea k s w ent o u t tow ard an
a re a on our sid e of th e village b u t further dow n th e slo p e. Slower firing
A m erican m ach in e g u n s w ere firing back. Their tracer strea k s w ent into
th e village. The w hole thing fasc in ated m e. I s e e m e d to b e a ringside
sp e cta to r. I learn ed later th e A m ericans w ere K C o m p an y , 289th, who
h ad tak en th e village a n d th en w ere driven o u t by a G erm an cou n ter
attack.
S uddenly, m y u nrealistic thinking th a t I w as a sp e c ta to r w as sh attered .
A m ach in e gu n of a G erm an tank fired at us! I h ard th e sh a rp crack of
th e gu n being fired directly a t m e a n d saw tra c e rs streak cro ss th e road
ju st a h e a d of m e. Instantly I aw oke from m y dull d rea m , world an d
looked for cover. T here w as no ditch or p rotection by th e road. I
sp o tte d a slight terrace like su rfa ce to m y right an d up th e s lo p e -
slightly a h e a d of m e. There w as a fen c e next to th e road b u t 1 w ent
th rough it a s th o u g h it d id n 't exist. I hit th e g ro u n d on to p of th e
terrace ju st a s th e G erm an s fired ag ain . They sw ep t th e a re a from right
to left with a long burst. They s e e m e d to know ap p ro x im ately w here
we w ere b u t I d o n o t think could m a k e o u t individuals. I w as very m uch
afraid. I h ad never b e e n so frig h ten ed b efo re or have never b e e n since.
I w as su re th ey could s e e m e - d r e s s e d in d ark c lo th es laying on th e
g leam in g w hite snow . The G erm an b u llets plow ed into th e gro u n d
a h e a d of m e sp atterin g p ie c e s of frozen dirt on m e. S o m e w ere very
close. I found a bullet hole in m y shovel carrier flap th e next day! O ne
of th e b u rst hit th e 60 m m m o rtar b a s e p late in front of Ralph L o g an ’s
h ea d (the m ortar g u n n er). W hen th e y hit th e b a s e plate th e bullets
m a d e a ringing so u n d , m a d e o ra n g e a n d red sp a rk s, w histled an d
m a d e tracer strea k s a s th e y flew over him . S o m e o n e sq u irm ed an d
m o a n e d to m y left indicating h e h ad b e e n hit. I froze in frig h t-d id n 't
m ove a m u scle. I d e c id e d to m ove th o u g h . I w as laying on to p of m y
am m unition p ack w hich p o sitio n ed m e ab o v e g ro u n d surface. If I had
24 November 1993
 m y sa y I w ould b e laying u n d er th e ground! W e laid th e re so m e tim e.
I I b e g a n feeling cold a s th e snow u n d er m e b e g a n to m eit an d co m e
through.
Finally, our plato o n se rg e a n t, Laverne Ives, said, "Men, we c a n ’t lay
here all night a n d w ait to g e t hit. Im m ediately after a b u rst sw e e p s by
you, start craw ling up th e slo p e tow ard th at clum p of trees." Boy! That
w as com forting to receive s o m e directions. Up to now, I ju st laid there
not know ing w hat to do. I w aited for th a t nex t m ach in e g u n sw eep .
They h a d n 't fired for a while. 1 h eard the tan k en g in e start, run a little
an d th e n sto p . S o m e o n e yelled so m e th in g in G erm an an d lau g h ed .
I d o n ’t u n d e rsta n d G erm an. I h o p e d th e y w ou ld n ’t d ec id e to drive up
th e slo p e an d crush us. I d e c id e d to start crawling up th e slope. I w as
afraid to m ake a b ro ad sid e ta rg e t a s I tu rn ed aro u n d to crawl up so
craw led backw ard. It w as pretty difficult. My b elt an d e q u ip m en t
w ould ca tc h on th e g ro u n d u n d er m e. My co a t w an ted to slide over m y
h ead . W hen far e n o u g h up th e slo p e I tu rn ed aro u n d an d craw led
faster h e a d first. Farther up th e slo p e 1 g o t up an d ran th e rest of the
way. W hen near th e tre e s I w as sto p p e d by o n e of us. He ask ed for
th e p a s s w ord. I w as so frightened I co u ld n ’t re m e m b e r it at first but
finally did a b o u t w hen 1 h eard him cock his rifle.
He told m e th e g u y s w ere in th e w oods. 1 w as su rp rised to se e so
m any. I th o u g h t I w as th e only o n e out. Only two m en in our platoon
had b e e n hit. Many of u s w ere to b e hit later.
I think of th a t night during every C hristm as Eve since.
H arold L ln d stro m
75 iNFD 2 8 9 INF F
W ELCOME TO THE WAR ZONE
On C h ristm as Eve, 1944, a b o u t 7,500 of u s IRTC arrived in Ginet,
F rance, on our w ay to th e Bulge a re a a s infantry rep la ce m en ts. A
G erm an p la n e g o t through th a t night an d d estro y e d th e kitchen in the
d ep o t. C h ristm as m orning we w ere aw ak en ed by a whistle with a
g reeting of Merry C hristm as for w hat th e H -- it is w orth. The S erg ea n t
tn en tcid u s th a t th e Gyiinai*: ta n k s a s c lc sc a s 15 miles
during th e night a n d h ad b e e n sto p p e d . "So fella’s you are now in a
w ar zone." We still h ad our M i's in C ozm oline. C h ristm as b re a k fa st-
not coffee: N o o n -h o t coffee cmci cold b read ; C o p p e r-th e b eet hot
coffee, cold break, turkey a n d cran b erry sa u c e . P robably n o t to o bad
considering th e situation.
C lifford E. Fluck
2 INFD 38 INF
FRENCH BREAD AND K RATIONS
...We knew w here w e w ere h e a d e d , it w ouldn't tak e ioriy. The Bulge
h ad started.
...Then w e b e g a n to s e e long trains pulling into th e c a m p bearing
w o u n d ed m en. It w as unsettling until we finally m a rc h ed to a long
string ot b o x ca rs a n d w ere ja m m e d inio iliein lOi a long jo u rn ey to
now here, or so w e th o u g h t. O ddly, m y car w as A m erican m a d e if no
m ore co m fortable th an th e others.
T hat w as a b o u t D ecem b er 20 an d th e train slowly cro sse d snow -
covered farm land, w ent th ro u g h tn e o u tsn in s of P aris in the night
h ours a s te m p e ra tu re s d ip p e d below zero an d th e snow kep t falling.
On the 24th w e still h ad not re a c h e d our destin atio n a n d it w as truly
bitterly cold. Ingenious GI’s h ad sc ro u n g e d old d isc a rd e d oil d ru m s
into w hich w hatever w ood th ey could find w as stuffed to provide so m e
h ea t while p e rc h e d in the o p e n doorw ays of th e [box]cars. It w as quite
a sight to w atch a s th e train ro u n d ed b e n d s an d 50 or m o re c a rs could
b e se e n , e a c h with black sm o k e belching from th e m ak esh ift stoves.
That lasted until early afternoon w hen b y -p a sse d resistan c e from th e
sp e c ta c u la r d a s h a c ro ss F rance b e g a n stitching h o les in th e cars from
m achine g u n s e m p la c e d along th e right of way. In no tim e th ere w ere
no stoves visible anyw here e x c e p t b e sid e the tracks. It s e e m e d right
at the tim e. Each of u s carried duffel b a g s lo a d ed with clothing, but
th ere w a sn ’t o n e rifle am o n g us.
The old French e n g in e c o u g h e d its w ay ea st, sto p p in g only for m ore
w ood a n d w ater. It b ac k ed up faster th an it m o v ed forw ard a n d all of
us w o n d ered w h at w as a h e a d . On C h ristm as Day th e train e a s e d its
w ay into a French tow n of World War I fam e, Bar le Due. Snow
contin u ed to fall a s It g ro a n e d to a sto p in town.
THE BULGE BUGLE
It w as m id d ay an d w om en in heavy clothing m aterialized along the
I train carrying long loaves of fresh French b read . They w ere offered for
sale provided they received Am erican m oney. W hoever n aa any
co n trib u ted it to a co m m o n pool an d th e b read ch a n g e d h a n d s quickly.
To u s it ta s te d like nothing w e'd ever ea te n before. It w as especially
g o o d sin ce w e knew our C h ristm as dinner w ould b e K rations again,
an d cold at that.
We had alm o st finished dipping o u r m e s s kits in d ro p s of boiling
w ater w hen a sh o u t c a m e from th e rear to tak e cover. There w ere no
d elay s in seek in g d itc h es or diving u n d er cars. Out of th e sky had
co m e a lone G erm an fighter p lane b en t on strafing us from stem to
stern. He m a d e two p a s s e s at us, leaving a trail of w o unded each tim e.
We h ad nothing with us to fire back. We d id n 't even have rocks.
Fortunately, th ere w ere m e d ics not far off an d th em c a m e in a hurry to
d o w hat th ey could. The train co n tin u ed with to o m any less than just
a few hours earlier.
It w as Nieuf C h ateau next d ay an d a full turkey dinner. Each m an
w as allow ed u p to two p o u n d s an d it w as p ro b ab ly th e finest C hristm as
dinner I'd ever had before or since. Our final sto p w as Metz w here all
of u s received final a s sig n m e n ts an d w ent to our units in which we
serv ed until it w as all over, over th ere. T h ere’s m ore to this story.
G e o rg e M. Eiiig
80 INFD 317 INF B
A MIXED CHORUS
If this story is to b e co m p lete it should start with th e m orning of 16
D ecem b er 1944. That w as a S atu rd ay an d we (1st Battalion, 109th)
w ere sc h ed u le d for an aw ard s p ara d e/rev iew in th e Diekirch town
sq u a re . We w ere in L uxem bourg an d in th e reserve of a very thin line.
Of co u rse at co m p an y level we h ad no id ea of ju st how thin th at line
was!
We did know th at th ere h ad b ee n rum blings of en e m y artillery and
th a t our battalion m otor pool h ad b e e n hit so m e tim e in th e w ee hours
of th e m orning. N evertheless C o m p an y B feil o u t for th e p a ra d e about
0800. I w as in ch a rg e since th e c o m p an y co m m an d in g officer had
b ee n called to report to Battalion H ead q u arters. We soon g o t th e word
to fo rg et th e p a ra d e an d g e t read y for action with full c o m b a t gear. 1
w as lounging on th e ste p s of th e Hotel E u io p a (ouf billets) w hen a jeep
pulled up an d a 1st Lt., Medical A dm inistrative C orps, ju m p e d out. He
said to m e, "I am resp o n sib le for th e m edical evacuation hospital down
th e road h ere in E ttelbruch an d w ant to know w hether or n o t we should
p rep a re to ev acu ate in view of th e en e m y fire." I replied from the
d e p th s of m y ignorance, "Stand fast! We can h an d le anything they
throw at us." He said, "Thanks a lot! You are th e first p erso n I talked
io to d ay w ho said anything positive!"
Three d a y s or nights later m y c o m p a n y w ould b e withdraw ing through
E ttelbruch with th e G erm an s hot on our heals. Afterward 1 often
th o u g h t th at it th a t MAC L ieutenant had ever se e n m e ay ain he had a
perfect right to hit m e up sid e th e head!
Of co u rse we at th e lower levels h ad no id ea th at we w ere being hit
by all th at Hitler h ad left. Our im m ed iate action w as to fight back hard
an d th at is w hat we did. The 109th folded slowly to th e south. The
I iOih, in th e cen ter of the division w as p e n e trate d an d overrun. Their
rem n a n ts w ound up in B astogne. The 112th Infantry R egim ent was
p ee le d to th e north an d found th e m se lv es fighting with th e 424th
Infantry R egim ent, th e only unit of th e 106th Division to survive the
battle.
But w hat w as I doing on 24 an d 25 D ecem b er? The 109th under LTC
J. E. R udder (later Colonel an d finally Major G eneral) withdrew fighting
an d in g o o d order. We held th e so u th flank of th e m ain G erm an
p en etratio n until 23 D ecem b er w hen a unit of th e 80th Division (I think
th e 318th Infantry) relieved u s an d m ov ed thro u g h to attack Ettelbruch.
We g o t so m e m uch n e e d e d rest in th e castle at C olm ar-Berg, but were
called out alm o st im m ediately for a co u n terattack on 24 D ecem ber to
seize th e Town of Gilsdorf. The scratch outfit th at w as to d o this w as
called Task Force Rudder.
With th e a s sista n c e of a tank plato o n from th e 9th or 10th Armored we
cleared Gilsdorf. In th is particular action w e had a n um ber of
L uxem burgers with G erm an w e a p o n s an d Free French arm b an d s who
w an ted to g o in on th e ta n k s b u t w ould not d o so w ithout an American
leader. G u ess who! 1 rode th e lead tank an d h ad no trouble getting
25 November 1993
 th e L uxem burgers to follow. The Am erican soldiers w ere glad to let th e
L uxem burgers ride th e tanks!
By this tim e th e G erm an s m u st have b ee n getting a s big a bellyful a s
we had since th ey se e m e d to give up rather easily. With Gilsdorf
se cu red we found ourselves looking ac ro ss th e Sure River into Diekirch,
w here we had b ee n on 16 D ecem ber w hen it all started . We
estab lish ed a CP in th e b a s e m e n t of a h o u se an d sp e n t C hristm as Eve
an d m o st of C hristm as Day there. B esides our C o m p an y C P p ersonnel
we had a b o u t four G erm an p risoners w ho could not be se n t
im m ediately to the rear. They sp o k e no English, b u t I sp o k e en o u g h
G erm an to com m u n icate. That night w e g o t a hot m eal p ack ed in
Marmite cans. It w as turkey, gravy an d m a sh e d p o ta to e s an d alm o st
cold, but w e loved it. W e have the p risoners so m e K rations an d they
loved that to o !-e sp e cia lly the cigarettes.
After eating I re m e m b er very well everyone singing Silent Night with
th e G erm ans joining in with their own version of Stille Nacht. We w ere
relieved C hristm as night but I will never forget how 1 sp e n t C hristm as
Eve and C hristm as Day of 1944.
J a m e s V. C h risty
2 8 INFD 109 INF B
MY LUCKY FOUR LEAF CLOVER
I w as w ounded an d ca p tu red the evening of the 19th of D ecem ber,
1944. Several d ay s later, on th e 24th of D ecem ber, I found m yself in
a barn-like structure aw aiting m y turn to go into a little room w here a
G erm an m edic, or doctor, w as. I had a w ound ju st ab o v e m y ankle; m y
left hand w as hit with sh rapnel; I also had stinging in m y left rear. A
p iece of steel had g o n e through m y billfold, cutting m y four leaf clover
in two. I had been carrying it for "good luck"! This h a p p e n e d during
th e Battle of the Bulge.
There w ere both G erm an an d A merican w ou n d ed in this barn-like
structure. I a s su m e it w as m e an t to b e a field hospital. I w atched
G erm ans and A m ericans co m e an d go from a sm aller room . Many of
th em looked w orse after they c a m e out than w hen th ey w ent in. W hen
it ca m e my turn I did not m uch w ant to g o in, but th e G erm an guard
poked m e with his rifle, so I th o u g h t he m e an t busin ess; I w ent hopping
into the room . I saw two people next to a table. I d o n ’t know w hether
they w ere doctors, or ju st m edics, but they gav e m e an order to g et up
on the table. T houghts ran through m y m ind like, "Will I still have two
legs if I g e t out of this, or will I b e leaving th em here?" They ord ered
m e to lie dow n on the table; I did, but I sat up im m ediately to se e w hat
they w ere going to do. They p u sh e d m e back dow n again, an d I sa t
up again. I d ec id e d I w as going to kick th e m with m y g o o d leg if they
tried anything funny. O ne of th em hit m e ac ro ss th e n o se with a
m edical instrum ent. Thank God, it w as th e blunt sid e of the instrum ent
that hit m e. I d ec id e d I w as th e loser, so I laid back an d co ck ed m y
h ead so I could w atch. They im m ediately o p e n e d up m y w o u n d s with
a sh arp instrum ent to allow th em to bleed, an d th en w rap p ed my leg
an d hand with p ap e r b a n d a g e s . They did not put an y m edication on
m y w ounds. They th en ord ered m e out into the big g er room again. I
h o p p ed out on m y g o o d leg an d took m y place on th e floor.
In a few hours I w as o rd ered to hop o utside and w as then p u t in th e
back of a truck with several other w ounded. We did not know w here
we w ere going, but w e w ere h e a d e d som ew here. Several tim es th e
truck sto p p ed : the driver an d his partner w ould dive for th e ditch a s our
p lan es strafed us. We w ere not allow ed to tak e cover. This h ap p e n e d
a few tim es, but we lucked out. We th o u g h t we saw Red C ross trucks
h ea d ed tow ard the front with supplies. Our truck did not have a red
cro ss on it. We finally c a m e to a railroad yard; here we w ere placed in
a boxcar that had w o oden b unks in it. I su p p o se this w as a "hospital
train." At one end of th e car ab ove the d oor w as a big picture of Hitler.
Our guard, or m edic, w as older th an the average. He looked both w ays
before he pointed to th e picture an d said, "Him no g o o d , him no good."
There w ere G erm ans in th e car behind us, so th e g u ard w as careful
w hen he said this a b o u t Hitler.
1 rem em ber, even th o u g h we w ere all w o u n d ed , we sa n g C hristm as
so n g s since it w as C h ristm as Eve. I co u ld n ’t help w ondering w hat m y
family w as doing at hom e. I d o u b t th a t th e y w ere enjoying th e
C hristm as of 1944 anym ore th an 1 w as. I sp e n t C h ristm as Day in th e
boxcar and then we w ere at Stalag G for a few days.
After having our p a p e r b a n d a g e s ch a n g e d (no m edication) we w ere
THE BULGE BUGLE
26
lo ad ed into b o x cars for a six-day sto p -an d -g o tro p to S talag 2A, north
of Berlin. I co n sid er m yself d arn e d lucky to b e alive to d ay .
J a m e s W. G a rd n e r
106 INFD 4 2 2 INF 2 BN HQ
GRATEFUL FOR THE SMALL THINGS
A lthough m y C h ristm as Day, 1944, w as n o t u n u su al in either a g o o d or
a b ad se n se , t still re m e m b e r m o st of it vividly.
Our unit w as m o v ed a d a y or two earlier from o n e position on
E lsenborn Ridge to an o th er. I h ad sta rted to dig a new fighting an d
sleep in g hole, an d a s I aw oke I knew I w ould have a d a y of work a h e a d .
I re m e m b e r w atching, from th e h eig h ts of th e ridge, a p ale su n rising
over th e b attered ste e p le of th e ch urch in Krinkelt. In sp ite of th e
circ u m sta n ce s, th a t sig h t g av e m e a feeling of com fort a n d p e a c e . I
w as grateful also th a t th is m orning G erm an artillery w as silent an d th at
I h ad survived th e fighting of th e p a s t w eek.
It w as not very cold, th e d ark brow n earth fairly soft, a n d m y digging
w as p ro g ressin g well. S uddenly, a s I looked up, I saw two Gl's, te n s e
a n d with b lo o d -sh o t ey e s, carrying two c a n s. O ne of th e m th ru st a
sm all, alm ost-cold turkey leg into m y h an d , th e o th er h a n d e d m e two
slices of w hite b rea d a n d a co u p le of p ie c e s of h ard can d y . This w as
m y C h ristm as dinner. As I c ro u c h ed in m y still fairly shallow hole an d
sta rted to e a t th e turkey before it tu rn ed sto n e cold, 88-m m shells
b e g a n falling aro u n d us. Almost choking on th a t first bite, I realized
th a t th e G erm an s w ere w atching th o se two p o o r so ld iers an d h arassin g
th e m with artillery fire a s th ey delivered our m eals. The b arrag e w as
short.
W hen th e shelling sto p p e d I looked up an d th e m en w ere g o n e. A
few m in u tes later I h eard sh ells exploding p e rh a p s 50 y ard s away;
u n d o u b ted ly , th e G erm an g u n n e rs w ere zeroing in on th e two m en as
th ey m o v ed from position to position. It se e m e d a lm o st crim inal to m e
th a t th e lives of so ld iers could b e je o p ard ize d for su ch an alm o st
m e a n in g le ss g e stu re , p e rh a p s so th a t s o m e q u a rte rm a ste r officer could
report to his su p erio r th a t every m an in his se c to r h ad turkey on
C h ristm as Day. (I w ould have preferred o n e of m y K rations anyw ay.)
1 rem ain ed c o n c e rn e d a b o u t p ro tectin g m yself from artillery, so I
w orked on m y position all d ay. A few d a y s later, with th e help of a
se rg e an t, I w as ab le to sa lv ag e a d o o r from th e only n ea rb y building.
I co vered th e sleep in g portion of m y hole with it a n d th en piled dirt on
to p of it. Shortly th ereafter, a s I w as a sle e p , a shell struck a co rn er of
th e hole, th e explosion splitting th e d o o r an d partially collapsing th e
cover. My e a rs rang for a w eek, b u t th e cover p ro b ab ly sa v ed m e from
serio u s injury or w orse.
That night, a s I saw a n d h eard th e sig n s of b attle raging m iles to our
rear, I ag ain felt a s e n s e of g ratitu d e. At least on this day, C hristm as
Day, th e w ar h ad p a s s e d u s by.
Lionel P. A dda
99 INFD 39 3 INF D
OUR SITUATION WAS CRITICAL
[In B a sto g n e] O ur situation w as critical. In addition to being
su rro u n d e d a n d o u tn u m b e re d , th e re w ere 18,000 m o u th s to b e fed.
C arbine a n d Ml a m m o w a s in sh o rt su pply, a s w ere b az o o k a an d
artillery shells. The h arsh w eath er w as y et a n o th er en em y , ag a in st
w hom w e h ad little d e fe n se , a n d frostbitten feet w ere not alto g eth er
u n co m m o n .
On th e m orning of D ecem b er 23rd, all lookouts w ere o rd ered to w atch
for th e first aircraft. The w eath er, w hich h ad b e e n hazy, w as finally
clearing. At 0935 h o u rs an MP ru sh ed into 101st A irborne H ea d q u arters
to tell C olonel Kohls th a t several allied aircraft w ere circling th e sector.
By 1150 hours, 16 m o re aircraft a p p e a re d , a n d p a ra c h u te s w ere
d ro p p in g d e sp e ra te ly n e e d e d su p p lie s n o rth w est of B asto g n e at San-
Souci Lane a n d th e M arche R oad. We felt a ren ew ed s e n se of h o p e
th at en a b le d u s to co n tin u e o ur fight.
By aftern o o n of th e 23rd, th e sky filled with 241 D akotas an d P 47’s.
The air s u p p o rt offered by th e s e w a s a significant factor in turning th e
b attle in o u r favor during th e n ext few d ay s. They w ere d ro p p in g 75 lb.
b o m b s in an effort to re d u c e our e n e m y ’s n u m b e rs. However, battle
lines w ere still very ill d efin ed , a n d G erm an an d A m erican tro o p s w ere
in clo se proxim ity on th e g ro u n d below . C o n seq u en tly , our own tro o p s
November 1993
 h ad to hit th e g ro u n d whftn h ea rd th e roar of th e p lan e an d the
distinctive wh'Stlipg so u n d <:hA b o m b s. th o u g h it w as "friendly
fire."
The fighting co n tin u ed th e D ecem b er 24th an d 25th, an d th ro u g h o u t
th e rem aining d a y s of D ecem ber. T here w as no opportunity for
com m u n icatio n with th e o u tsid e world. No letters w ere com in g in or
o u t-w e w ere lucky to have received su p p lie s of food an d am m unition.
T hat d id n ’t sto p us, th o u g h , from being aw are th a t b ack h o m e it w as
C hristm as. I w o n d ered a b o u t m y fam ily an d w h eth er th ey w ere
c o n c e rn e d a b o u t m e This w as m y third C h ristm as aw ay from hom e,
a n d I h o p e d I w ould b e alive to b e th e re for th e nex t one.
J a m e s H errin g to n
101 ABND 32 7 REG
A MIGHTY W ELCOM E SIGHT
It w as C h ristm as Day in th e Battle of th e Bulge, 1944. Our p la n es h ad
b ee n fo g g ed in for days. All of a su d d e n th e fog cleared an d our
p la n e s c a m e over by th e th o u sa n d s. They b o m b e d th e G erm an s for
hours.
Everyone w as crying or shouting.
R o d n e y J. H e s te rm a n
5 INFO 50 FA BN A
...JU ST LIKE LAST CHRISTMAS
W e w ere d u g in aro u n d this sm all tow n. I ca n n o t re m e m b e r any town
nam es
It w as a nice, sunny, cold day. Snow covered th e g ro u n d . We h ad no
ru b b ers or overcoats. No blan k ets. We w ere to g e t th e m th at night--as
th ey w ere at the C-P.
Ail d a y it w as q u ie t-v e ry little m o v em en t. But co m e night, all Hell
broke loose. A G erm an tank c a m e into to w n -s e t every building on fire
with plenty of sm all arm s fire. [It] w as a bright tow n for so m e tim e.
O ur blankets, ru b b ers, o v erc o ats w ere in this fir^ Also th e c o m p an y
je ep . S u p p er w as also waiting until it g o t dark. [We] h ad so m e pork
h anging In th e barn. No hot m eal th a t night.
B SC k to K anH / 'n l H in r P . h r i s t m a s r l A v
It w as quite so m e tim e before w e g o t w arm clothing
R ich ard K ak e s
101 ABND
BACK TO K RATIONS
At 0730 on 23 D ecem ber, w e w ere o rd e re d to attack Wahl. At 1145 my
c o m p a n y e n te re d Wahl a n d m e etin g no e n e m y resistan c e we
c o n tin u ed the attack tow ard N eu h a u sen a n d insm ing. We m a d e
excellent p ro g re ss an d on 24 D ecem ber, in sp ite of sm all arm s
resistan c e a n d interm ittent artillery fire, by 2000. w e ad v a n c e d to the
high gro u n d ju st so u th of th e S ure River in the vicinity of D otzenberg
W ooas. Our B anaiion C P w as in H e u n h a u sen after we ca p tu red
Kuborn an d N euhausen.
On 25 D ecem ber, our battalion clea re d th e tow ns of Insenborn,
Bonnal an d L utsh au sen along th e Sure River. We a tte m p te d a crossing
b ut to no vail.
At 2200 on 26 D ecem ber, w e w ere relieved by e le m e n ts of th e 101st
Infantry, 26th Division, an d w en t into reserve after having estab lish ed
a CP at Brattert--and a hot m eal, th e first in a w eek. (Our C h ristm as
dinner co n siste d of K an d C Rations.)
H ugh F. F en zel
26 INFD 32 8 INF 3 BN K
A CHICKEN IS A CHICKEN
[Eschdorf, L uxem bourg] During C h ristm as Eve day . I d e c id e d th a t no
m atter w here w e w ould w ind up th a t night, w e w ere g o in g to have a
C hristm as tree! So so m e p la ce along th e road, ...I ju m p e d off th e b ack
[sq u ad truck] an d cu t a sm all ev erg reen tree. C o u ld n 't have b ee n m ore
th an two feet tall, if that. I stuck it on th e 57m m g u n th a t w e tow ed,
an d it rode with us th e rest of th e day.
That night our 3rd s q u a d w as fo rtunate e n o u g h to have a roof over
our h e a d s. We se t up th e g u n a c ro ss the stre e t from an a b a n d o n e d
w ay sid e in. It w as sm all, th e G erm a n s called it a G ast H aus. We
parked th e truck beh in d th e sm all building, th e only o n e on this road,
b u t ! ro cs!! th ere w ere K n i M m n c r ' I n c o K \/ a n H n p a r hv/ a r ih ir .k e n
THE BULGE BUGLE
h o u se. (I’m g e ttin g a h e a d of myself.)
We w ent Inside There w«r« k em sen e lights th at we lit after m aking
su re all th e w indow s w ere light tight. There w ere no civilians an d very
little food, b u t th e p lace h ad n o t b ee n hit by shell fire an d it w as dry!
We looked aro u n d a n d found th e ac co m m o d atio n s well su ited to our
ta ste s. Large tab le with plenty of chairs, cu p b o a rd s, sm alt kitchen,
b e d ro o m s an d all th e com forts of hom e.
The fellows b ro u g h t in their g e a r after p o sting a g u ard on th e gu n an d
o u tsid e th e door. I b ro u g h t in our little ev erg reen an d 1think it w as Jim
Treadw ay, w ho h ad th e reputation of finding anything, found a box of
C h ristm as tre e o r n a m e n ts -a box of sm all silver balls. He either found
a sta n d or h e fash io n ed o n e o u t of so m eth in g . So, we s e t u p our little
tree, d e c o ra te d with silver balls. Now, T readw ay w as a coal m iner from,
I believe, W est Virginia. He said h e w as also a farm er an d h e said that
th e re w ere ch ick en s a c ro ss th e road in th a t chicken coop. From so m e ­
w here h e p ro d u ce d an em p ty p o tato sack, volunteered m e a s his help­
er a n d th e two of u s h e a d e d o u t th e door in q u e s t of C h ristm as dinner.
Well, w e silently m a d e o ur w ay to th e chicken co o p , an d a s I stood
o u tsid e "holding th e bag" so to sp e ak , T readw ay d isa p p e a re d into the
h en h o u se . Nothing b u t silence for w hat s e e m e d to b e an hour.
...Visualize, if you will, m e stan d in g in th e snow on a cold, fo g g y night,
no w eap o n , holding an em p ty p o tato sack.
S u d d en ly , I h eard a racket th a t w ould have alerted an y o n e for miles!
A lot of squaw king an d flapping! T readw ay h ad m a d e contact!! Out
th e d o o r flew so m ething-1 quickly g ra b b e d it an d p u sh e d it in th e bag.
Then an o th er o n e l-in th e b ag with th at o n e too. And th en Treadw ay
m a d e his a p p e a ra n c e . "Let’s g e t o u t of here before w e w ake up
Hitler!", h e said. Back to th e G ast H aus with our dinner.
W hat h e h ad d o n e w as g ro p e aro u n d in th e dark an d w hen he found
w hat h e th o u g h t w as a chicken, g ra b b e d it by th e neck, give it a few
sh a rp sp in s to break it’s n eck an d fling it o u t th e d o o r to m y waiting
arm s an d p o tato sack. W hat he d id n ’t discover until we g o t b ack w as
th at he h ad ca p tu red w hat looked like two roosters!!
But we w ere hungry an d although so m e of th e g u y s h a d g o n e to
sleep , w e boiled th o se birds for hour? an d found so m e c a n n e d green
p e a s an d th a t w as our dinner.
Later th a t n ight a tank park ed along sid e th e building an d w e listened
to so m e C h ristm as m u sic on thA tank radio co u rtesv of th e G erm ans.
T hat w as o u r C hristm as Eve night a s I re m e m b er it.
R osw ell N. W ert
26 INFD 104 INF 1 BN HQ
W ELCOM E TO F COMPANY
I recall D ecem b er 25, 1944, a s a chilly, clear d ay a s I w as stan d in g with
m y se rg e a n t looking ac ro ss th e Rhine river at th e G erm an tro o p s on the
o th er side. ...We w ere bivouacked in a m an sio n along th e Rhine Rivet |
an d w ar se e m e d like a very far off p lace to this naive 18-year-old kid
from W orcester, M assach u setts.
...As w e w ere stan d in g an d w atching th e G erm ans, I ask ed the
s e rg e a n t w hy we did not sh o o t at th e m an d he said, “if w e sh o u i ai
th e m ...th ey w ould sh o o t at us"! So both sid e s left e a ch o th er alone!
The s e rg e a n t then told m e th at I w ould not b e ab le to look a t a G erm an
soldier a n d sh o o t to kill him . He said 1 w ould b e to o sc ared ! I think
b e c a u s e I w ore e y e g la ss e s th e s e rg e a n t w as tooled Dy m y looks but I
told him h e h ad nothing to worry ab o u t, w hen th e tim e c a m e , m y rifle
w ould b e fired, an d it w as.
In th e ev ening we w ere served th e cu sto m ary C h ristm as dinner of
ro ast turkey, cranberry sa u c e an d th e rest of th e trim m ings. It w as very
nice b e c a u s e there w as a fireplace lit up in th e m ansion a n d it w as all
very w arm a n d cozy. We then w ent off to b ed read y for th e unknown.
S o m e tim e after m idnight several of u s w ere aw ak en ed an d told to
g a th e r o u r th in g s an d m ove o u tsid e. We w ere then ad v ised th at we
w ere b ein g tran sferred to th e 90th Division up north a s rep lacem en ts.
(We fo u n d o u t later th at heavy lo sse s w ere incurred at th e S aar River.)
W e ro d e in th e dark a n d on into m orning an d I ca n still rem e m b er how
beautiful it w as a s w e rode th ro u g h Nancy, all th e tre e s lined up along
b oth sid e s of th e highw ay, a s w e h e a d e d for L uxem bourg riding in
b ack of th e truck. As w e rode further north it b e c a m e m u ch colder and
snow co v ered th e g ro u n d everyw here.
We arrived in late afternoon dusk an d w ere lined up alo n g th e road
waiting for instructions. As we w aited we th en h eard an enorm ous
ex p lo sio n an d hit th e g ro u n d a s fast a s we could w ondering w hat had
hit us. We looked u p an d saw our new s e rg e a n t stan d in g th ere an d he
27 November 1993
 told us that our own 240mm cannons across the street had fired a salvo
at the Germans! I'm sure we all had red faces as we were welcomed
to F Company of the 3 5 9 th Regiment of the 90th Division.
We would all see much worse in the coming days as combat
infantrymen, but to this young kid these two particular days stick in my
memory. In the com bat days ahead the occurrences are still vivid, but
the actual date is not even in my memory.
Harvey S. Meltzer
42 INFD
MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY BIRTHDAY
I was born three days after Christmas and most of my life my gifts
came "Merry Christmas and Happy Birthday**! Well, the “presents" in
1944 will forever color the Christmas season for me.
December 24, 1944, was my first day in combat and my first
experience in seeing comrades killed and wounded. My unit. Company
A, 290th Infantry, 75th Infantry Division, arrived in Hoeselt, Belgium,
about 1:30 a.m. on December 21 and shortly after midnight on Decem­
ber 22 were trucked about 60 miles to the bulge area and took up
defensive positions at Septon on the L’Ourthe River. The 1st Battalion,
290th Infantry, was attached to the 3rd Armored Division on December
23 and during that night marched to an assembly area east of Erezee.
Early on the morning of December 24 Company A was picked up by
3rd Armored Division half-tracks and taken east to Manhay, which was
being shelled (Christmas fireworks?) and then back west to Grandmenil
and then south to Oster. We mounted an attack to clear the high
ground east and south of Oster and encountered small groups of
panzer-grenadiers from the 2nd SS Panzer Division who managed to
disorganize our attack so that about two platoons were left with the
Company Commander who ordered us to dlg-in over the objections of
the two platoon sergeants. The captain then wanted two men to return
to Oster and I was volunteered-my one true "Christmas gift"--although
I was not too happy at the time. After we left, the Germans surprised
the group and killed three men including one digging in the hole 1had
started since it was deeper than his.
At this point, the CO pulled the company off of the hill and we started
to march out when the Battalion Commander (or Exec.) ordered us to
return to the hill. At this point the captain had to be evacuated and 1st
Lt. Giles Jenerette, the company exec., took command and we returned
to Oster where we spent the night in houses and barns taking turns on
watch and seeing fires burn to the north where the 2nd SS Panzers
were taking Manhay and Grandmenil.
Christmas Day dawned bright and clear and we saw the contrails of
bombers flying east. P-47’s were attacking south of us and one came
back over the ridge trailing smoke. When the pilot parachuted south
of us he came toward Oster with his .45 drawn and was quite relieved
to find that we were Americans.
We moved up to the tree line and dug in where we enjoyed our
Christmas dinner consisting of some stale bread and a C ration shared
with two other men. How I berated my stupidity in leaving a fruit cake
my mother had sent me in my duffel bag in Hoeselt for some rear
echelon commando to enjoy.
In late afternoon, Lt. Jenerette led a large patrol around the edge of
the woods to a crossroads where we observed the Germans walking up
and down the road in their long overcoats which I always envied since
they seemed so much more practical than our short ones.
About dark, the Lt. sent some of the patrol back and continued on
with the rest of us and eventually attacked Odeigne where more men
were killed, wounded or captured. Lt. Jenerette was among the
wounded suffering a severe chest wound. For this action he received
several decorations including a DSC.
When the patrol returned to Oster, we found that the rest of the
company had come down off the hill. Late on the 26th, we were issued
our first rations-our squad got a ten-in-one box but before we could eat
it we were ordered to move out. We moved by foot until after dark
when we were picked up by trucks and taken to Blier.
The next day, the 27th, we had our "Christmas Dinner"~turkey,
dressing and all the trimmings. Our enjoyment of the meal and our
relief of being out was colored by the realization that the company had
over 30 casualties-killed, wounded, captured, missing and sick. The
next day was my 22nd birthday.
C harles R. Miller
75 INFD 290 INF A
THE BULGE BUGLE
28
CHURCH BECKONS...
[Krefeld, Germany] We had been there for about two days when Col.
Merriam was called to Division Headquarters. When he returned, we
were told that due to the breakthrough in Belgium, the 82nd Reconnais­
sance would be used to direct the division column south to an
assembly area near Houffalize, Belgium. After spreading our men out
from Krefeld to Houffalize, we set up our Headquarters Command Post
in a store front in the center of Houffalize directly across the street from
a beautiful church. It was after midnight and it was Christmas.
The Sergeant Major and I were the only ones in the Command Post
and I think we were looking across the street at the church. We could
see the altar with its cross and candles burning through the door.
A little later we found time to go to the church. I believe there were
some silent prayers said. Maybe you can guess what we prayed for.
Tom Leonard
2 ARMDD 82 RECON BTRY HQ
AWARD OF SILVER STAR
"...the Silver Star is awarded to the following;
"Private Rrst Class Jam es F. Gregory, 39 561 748, Company 3. 290th
Infantry for gallantry in action in connection with military operations
against the enemy on 25 December 1944, in Belgium. Advancing alone
against heavy machine gun and sniper fire. Private First Class Gregory,
a messenger, was fired upon from an enemy occupied building near
by. In returning the fire this gallant soldier killed one of the snipers
then firing several more shots in front of the building he ran to the back
repeating this action preventing the entrapped Germans from escaping
and led them to believe they were surrounded. He killed two more
Germans as they attem pted to escape when they heard the burst of
their own mortars. Two other soldiers cam e to his aid and guarded the
exits of the building as he fearlessly entered the house alone to bring
out nine German prisoners. The cool courage and personal bravery
displayed by Private Rrst Class Gregory reflects great credit upon
himself and his unit......."
Ja m es F. Gregory
75 INFD 290 INF 1 BN E
THERE WAS FOOD IN THE INN
...We stayed in the house with the infantry and lived in the cellar
overlooking the valley below which was still occupied by the Germans.
We noticed that Germans kept entering and leaving a big Bavarian Inn
taking out food and wine. On Christmas Eve som e of the 30th Infantry
doughs said they were going to send a patrol down to the Inn and drive
the Germans out and bring back some cheese, bread, wine, etc., to our
position so we could celebrate Christmas. My Sherman’s 75mm and
my 30 cal. machine gun was set up to control the narrow pathway into
the valley below. The doughs and I m ade sure we were aware of the
correct password for the night so they could come safely back through
our check point. As I remember, it was about two hours before the
doughs came back from the valley. They not only came back with all
kinds of food and drinks, but also brought up the Inn Keeper and his
small daughter. The Inn Keeper had been shot in both feet to prevent
his escape and his small daughter had been shot in the hip. The
doughs took him to our medics for treatment and transport to a
hospital in Malmedy.
That is how I spend the cold but beautiful Christmas in Stavelot,
December 25, 1944. I looked up into the clear, cold sky and thought
that my wife and 7-year-old daughter were able to see the sam e sky in
Virginia. I said a Christmas prayer that I, too, would be allowed to live
through all of this and be able to return soon to Virginia to be with
them once more.
Raymond W. Locke
30 INFD 743 TK BN a
CHRISTMAS IN BASTOGNE
Reproduced with the perm ission of M. N. Heyman, ©1993
For several days after we entered Bastogne, the weather was overcast-
too "thick" to permit any air activity. The good news was that the
Germans couldn’t bomb and strafe us; the bad news was that our
supplies of food, fuel and ammo were dwindling. Our Recon platoon
N ovem ber 1993
 w as com fy, dry a n d w arm in th e hon^e of the m ayor, M. Jaco m in . We have you, am o n g th o se exceptionally appreciative han d s.
"suffered" frorr? th e elem ersts, su c h s s th ey w ere CDiy wh'^'^ v/® I’rr. curc y o u ’!! never cc c cuch em cticn on a w o m s^ 's fac e—and the
o u t on Our vario u s pairois an d g u ard m ounts. iitile tykes w ent wild! i w as sou n d ly an d sincerely kissed by a m ultitude
W hatever th o u g h ts or h o p e s we h ad for C h ristm as w ere su b o rd in ated of grim y little faces, while "Vive L’Amerique" rang from wall-to-wall with
to th e realities of our defen siv e routines; but C h ristm as spirits certainly a s m uch en th u sia sm an d vigor a s it h as at an y tim e in this war.
so a re d with th e b reak in th e clo u d s on D ecem ber 23rd. with th e sight I could ap p reciate, an d s y m p a th iz e -b u t I c o u ld n ’t possibly fathom the
of A m erican fighters w heeling over e n e m y positions, an d C-47’s feelings in th a t m o th e r’s heart. It w as on her face, such a m ingling of
d ro p p in g all m a n n e r of su p p lies. Although th a t also m e an t th at em otion th at is im possible to d escrib e. O ne of her kids w as sick, her
“G erm an air“ could have its w ay with us, w e allow ed o u rselv es to think h o m e w as d a m a g e d by a w eek of shelling, G od only know s how m uch
th a t C h ristm as m ight b e so m e h o w bright an d h a p p y after a!!, in so m e fe e d they h ad , and all th e d a rk n e ss of He!! w as held a sc an t milp aw ay
yet-to-be d isc o v ered way. 1h ad no inkling yet, of how sp ecial m ine w as from her door, by a thin line of d eterm in ed G1 an g els. And out of the
going to be. U nknown to m e, m y father an d sister h ad b e g u n my b le ak n e ss an d m isery c o m e s th e very spirit of St. Nick, personified, no
C h ristm as p re p a ra tio n s m o n th s before. less, by a soldler--the sort of being from which they had cringed for
He ca n se t th e sta g e , him self, from a retrospective he w rote in 1954: four long an d h id eo u s years,
If you can draw a line an d tak e a su m from that...
This C hristm as se a s o n will b e the tenth anniversary o f the sie g e
Little Louis, o n e of our "cellar kids," four years old an d ch ubby, got
o f B a sto g n e, a n d I’ve c o m e a c ro ss a p ertinent letter from m y son,
th e tank an d m ost of th e lollipops an d gum . He sh ad o w ed m e for the
w ho w as o n e o f the ‘Battling B astards" in that historic ep iso d e,
rem aining th ree an d a half d ay s, before we left, an d would have pulled
which s e e m s a t this particular tim e to have an a d d e d bit o f
m y g u ard with m e. if I’d w ak en ed him. (He actually did w ake up once
p o ig n a n t in te re st
while I w as putting on m y b o o ts, an d c a m e u p stairs to sta n d m y w atch
For the p u rp o se o f s c e n e setting, we can go b a ck to the fall o f at th e front d o o r ) Forty tim es an hour, h e'd shove his little biscuit hook
1944, w hen m y so n w as with the 10th A rm ored Division in W estern
In m ine, an d lean ag a in st m y leg. like a d ev oted pet. The w ooden tank
France. A long a b o u t m id-Septem ber, w hen we w ere b e s e t with
w ent with him , w herever he went.
u rges to 'ship early for C hristm as, ' w e b u sie d ourselves m aking up
I c a n ’t help but feel th at along with m any o th er stories, there will
yuletide p a c k a g e s for him. W ithout any real consideration o f
spring from th e S iege of B asto g n e a tale of international goodwill that
w here h e m ight b e three m o n th s h en c e, w e c o n c e iv e d w hat we
will live a long tim e.
thought w ould b e a pleasant, unusual gesture, an extra b o x o f
S o m ed ay , I'd like to g o back an d see.
in e xp e n sive toys that h e co u ld p a s s around to little French U nless I’m m istaken, th e venture w as m ore su ccessfu l than your
J a c q u e s a n d J e a n n e s w ho w ould enjoy a bit o f C hristm as ch e e r
fo n d est h o p e s could have Im agined. S leep well on it!
from O verseas. S o w e m a d e up a box o f 5 a n d 10 c e n t stoftf
M. N. H eym an
trifles-a w o o d en tank, s o m e sm all g a m es, bea d s, dolls, crayons
10 ARMDD 3 TK BN
a na a m iscella n y o f o ther o d d s a n d en d s, a n d s e n t it along.
D e c e m b e r c a m e a n d the d a ys p a s s e d , with no definite word
a bout his w hereabouts. O ver the breakfast table I ha d a war map,
a n d b y m e a n s o f p in s a n d n e w s reports, I tried to k e e p track o f
the 10th A rm ored's m o v e m e n ts. With C hristm as w eek, c a m e n ew s
that a d v a n c e d units o f the Division h a d en tere d G erm any at
Merzig. M y so n w as in r e c o n n a iss a n c e -a b o u t a s a d va n c ed as
o n e can g e t- s o , to m y sa d satisfaction, a pin p la c e d him at
Merzig. Then c a m e w ord o f the B ulge a n d the e n c irc lem e n t o f the
101st Airborne at B astogne. A n d a single iine in the d is p a tc h e s -
“A d va n c ed units o f P atton's 10th A rm ored Division have b ee n
diverted to B a sto g n e"~ co n vin ced m e that m y b o y w as o n e o f the
b eleaguered. Like m a n y a nother parent, I sw e a te d it out, hoping
with painful anxiety for a letter p o stm a rk ed after January 1. It
c a m e - b u t n o t until M arch-from a hospital in E ngland w here he
w as thaw ing o u t his frozen feet. Eventually, w hen c e n so rsh ip w as
relaxed, c a m e the story o f the C hristm as box:
Saw a 10th A rm ored p atch y esterd ay , a kid from our d o u g h fo o t
su p p o rt, an ex-POW . S e e m s he w as at the h e a d of our colum n, behind
w hich th e Krauts m a d e m iserab le m usic. I w ent to B asto g n e, he w ent
to D eutschland.
And th a t's w here I w as on D ecem ber 25 an d 26--B astogne, I m ean.
C h ristm as Eve we got our first b o m b in g , w hich kind of m e s s e d up our
m e a g e r p la n s for a celebration. The 24 civilians an d our platoon w ere
going to have a m idnight m a s s In the cellar. T here w as a little m a n g er
all se t up, with an Eveready Star of B ethlehem . The m ayor (It w as his
h o u se w e w ere using) w as g oing to break out th e wine, an d It would
have b ee n a m e m o rab le occasio n . Their stockings were hung on the branches to dry
Of course. It d e v e lo p e d into a m e m o rab le occasio n , anyw ay. At 0300, in the hopes that the Supply Sgt. soon would be by -
m y troop m a te s an d I w ere hauling 80 o c ta n e g aso lin e o u t of a burning
R eprinted from B U LG E B U ST E R S
building. 75th Division A ssn . N ew sletter
The 27th, you'll recall, w as th e d a te th e ring w as broken. Im m ediately Submitted by Emery D. AntonuccI • 75th Div
b eh in d th e ta n k s c a m e our "A“ trains, with fuel, food, a m m o an d mail.
And in th at mail w as th e box of trinkets! 1 ask ed th e m a y o r's sister to
h elp m e with the distribution, sharing our th o u g h ts a b o u t th e situation
in English, French, D eutsch, Flem ish an d g e stu re s. She took a toy tank WE NEED YOUR STORY!!
a n d a co u p le of knickknacks for th e kids in th e cellar, th e n led m e We are fast running out of stories for this
th ro ugh th e rubble to the h o m e of her s is te r -a h o u se well filled with
g ra d u a te d y o u n g ste rs. column and w e need your help. Won’t you
O ne of th e m lay in b ed , u n d er th e w atchful eye of a civilian nurse. send us your story? You’ve got a group of
The o th e rs w ere In th e kitchen, with m o m a n d po p . M ad am e Jaco m in
u sh e re d m e in. m a d e th e n e c e s sa ry ex p lan atio n s, a n d we p ro c e e d e d
guys just waiting to hear from YOU.
to d istribute th e m a rb les an d b ra c e le ts a n d k a le id o sc o p e s an d w hat

THE BULGE BUGLE 29 November 1993

 SOLDIER OF THE YEAR-1993
16TH INFANTRY REGIMENT
FORT RILEY, KANSAS
Earlier this year
Carl F. “ Frenchy”
LeMier was named
“ Soldier of The Year’
by the 16th Infantry
Regiment at Fort
Riley, Kansas
"Frenchy" LeMier, left, pictured with a gentleman who
was a veteran of the infantry in World War I and a
paratrooper in World War II.
"Frenchy” was inducted in the army in March, 1942, went
through basic training in Spartenburg, South Carolina, and
on to the 1st Division in Indiantown Gap. From there he
went to England to be shipped to the North African invasion
of Oran. He received his first Purple Heart there when he
was blinded for three weeks by gasoline. He thought he
would get to go back home but the Division had other plans.
From there he went to Rome (Arno) where he was trained
by the airborne. As a paratrooper (82ND AIRBORNE,
325TH GLIDER INFANTRY, COMPANY 15) he was a part
of the Battle of the Bulge. The number of times he was
wounded and the number of awards he received are too
numerous to mention. He has some real stories to tell.
[Send them to us, "Frenchy." We'll try to use them.]
106th Infantry
Division
By C. W. “ Pete” Laumann
GOLDEN LIONS
I have read many articles about units that were active in the
Battle of the Bulge, but not many about the division that
bore the brunt of the German attack, the 106th Infantry
Division.
We were, as Drew Pearson wrote, a very green unit that
left the States in November of 1944 and moved into the front
lines on December 10th around St. Vith. This unit replaced
the 2nd Division, in some instances by signing over gun
emplacement rather than pull them out.
The division was overrun by the German offensive
December 16th through 19th. Two regiments, the 422nd
Infantry and the 423 Infantry were surrounded and captured,
THE BULGE BUGLE
only after they used all available ammunition.
Approximately 8,500 men were killed, wounded or captured.
Today the division has reunions every year and, naturally,
most of the members were Prisoners of War.
On December 15, 1944, the division pilots flew into St.
Vith, only to leave on the 17th because of the German
offensive. As we all know, the weather was terrible, with
only a 500-600 foot ceiling.
The 592nd Field Artillery Battalion, a 155 MM unit was in
division support and lost only one gun when a German 88
landed in one gun section on the 16th, killing the officer and
entire gun crew. Their haison pilots, along with the other
assigned pilots, flew over 45 missions along the front lines.
When the German offense was halted, an air section
consisting of 10 planes and pilots, operated as a unit with
scheduled flights of two hours along the front lines every day
from sunrise to sunset.
Very little is mentioned about liaison pilots and sections
because we very seldom came into contact with the enemy.
However, we were available to adjust fire on the enemy
when called upon to do so. We didn’t see the enemy
personally but were sitting ducks with no ditch, no hill, no
tree or building to hide behind. We were all shot at and
luckily not in a vulnerable spot. However, not all made it.
The 106th did lose four or five planes, but no pilots, because
of the weather between the 15th and 19th of December,
1944. I am sure that every liaison pilot was proud of the job
they were assigned to do.
Picture o f 106th Division Pilots and Observers, taken at Namur, Belgium
around December 20, 1944. Pictured are: Front row-Lts. Gray (P),
McKensie (P) and Scon (P). Middle Row-Lts. Neese (O), Stafford (P),
Lang(P), Cranford (O), Elliott (P). Back Row-Maj. (unidentified) (P), Us.
McClure (P), Lauman (P), Cefaretti (P), and Cassibry (O). Should any
reader know the whereabouts of any o f these men, please contact: C. W.
"Pete" Lauman, 6399 Smiley Avenue, St. Louis, Missouri 63139.
30 November 1993
 \T T E R A N S O F T H E BATTLE OF TH E BULGE
DECEASED
N otitlcation Received
O ctober 2, 1992 through Septem ber 7, 1993
A. Z. ADKINS, JR., Gainesville, FL, 80 INFD 317 INF H
ROBERT ANDERSON, Wakefield, MI, 94 INFD 301 INF 1 BN
w a d e ARNOLD, Wausau, WI, 9 A R M D D 2 TK BN B
EDWARD E. ASHLE i', Lynn, PwA, 26 iNTD MF
JON G. BABYAK, j r ., McKccsport, PA, 1 INFD 26 INF C
CHARLES F. BAKER, Baton Rouge, LA, 28 INTO 229 FA BN HQ
EDWARD L- BEATTY, Prescott Valley, AZ, 743 RWY OP BN C
ALVIN P. BECKER, RidgcwiXKl, NJ, 9 INTD 39 INF B
CLYDE BEERS, Springfield, PA, 179 FA GP
WALTER J. BERTEL, San Lorenzo, CA, 87 INFD 345 INF A
LEO G. BISSONNETTE, Fort Wayne, IN, 28 INFD 28 QM CO
STANLEY D. BIACKHURST, Salt Lake City, UT, 17 A BN D 513 PIR 1
BN
IRVING D. BLADEN, Homosassa, FL, 99 INTD 393 INT IIO
RAMON O. BOMGARDNER, Lcv.isport, KY. 101 A BN D 401 GIR C
JOHN R. BOTTGER, Philadelphia, PA, 427 COLLECTING CO
LEE BRAKE, Massillon, O il, 101 A BN D 907 FA BN
W ILLUM F. BR/VNDLE, Johnstown, PA, 603 ENGR CMFLG BN
NURINA STANO BROOKS, Houston, TX, 101 EVAC HOSP
HARGUS T. BROWN, Cocoa, FL. 5 INFD 10 INF II
JOHN H. BROWN, Gadsden, AL, 16TH FA BN
JOHN R- BRO'ATs’, Bronx, 44 INFD 191 MP BN
HAROLD BURNS. Hiawatha. KS, 26 INFI^ 715 TK BN
ARMONDO D. CARBONI, St. Petersburg, FL, 28 INI-D 110 INf B
EUGENE J. CARPENTER, Shakopee, MN, 90 INFD 358 INF HQ
BERNARD P. CARRIGAN, Rutland, VF, 106 INFD 422 INF 3 BN L
JOHN I- CASE, Madeira Beach, FL, 16 FA OBSN BN A BTRY
JOHN S. CASTAGNOZZI, Stratford, C l’, 150 ENGR CMBT BN H&S
C ii\R L E S CARLTON, Tucson, AZ, 663 i'A BN A
IVAN CARI'ENTER, Butler, PA, 771 FA BN
FR \N C IS P. CHURGAI, Royereford, PA, 28 INFD 107 FA BN C BTRY
BERNARD S. CLAPPER, Ivii. Pioiiy, N i, 509 MP uN B
EL! COLE, Fresno, CA, 101 A BN D 502 .HR HQ
WALTER L. CONNELL, JR., Trinity, TX, 825 TD BN
ALLEN L. CONRAD, Harrisburg, PA, 28 INFD 112 INF E
HARRY E. COOPER, Toledo, OH, 304 INFD 2 QM
FR\NKLIN H. COPP, Falls Church, VA, 5 ARM DD
EDWARD C. CORNELL, Savanah, GA, 28 INFD 630 TD BN B
WILLLVM B. COUNSELVUN, Houston, DE, 75 INFD 291 INF II
BEN N. CRISVVELL, M.dini. FL. 42 INFD 232 INF
N O R M \N CUNZENHEIM, Piatteville, WI, 3 A R M D D 67 FA BN
EVERETT M. DAUGHTERY, Beaver, OH, 101 A BN D 501 PIR I
JAMES E. DAVIDSON. Oidsmar, FL, 78 INFD 303 ENGR CMBT BN C
NORNUN II. DAVIES, Cleveland, OH, 28 INFD 103 ENGR CMBT BN
SVC
G E /A ANDREW DENNIS, Irving, TX, 26 INFD 104 INF A&T
JOHN S. DESIMONE, Salina, PA, 7 A R M D D 31 TK BN HQ
ALBERT D. DIAN. Orlando. H ,. 80 INFD 318 INF C
WARREN E. DIEFFENDERF'ER, Nisbet, PA, 4 INFD 8 INF 1 BN HQ
BEN C. ERICKSON, Modeslo, CA, 80 INFD 347 INF
DENNIS J. ERTEL, Wyomissing. PA, 87 INFD 346 INF 2 BN F
DONALD A. EWING, New Kensington, PA. 1303 ENGR GS REGT
MILTON FEIR, Santa Monica, CA, 2 A R M D D 48 MD BN HQ
CHARLES A. FOREMAN. M cU an. VA. 84 INFD 333 INF M
P. V. FURGASON, Littleton, CO, 87 INFD 347 INF 1 BN A
JAMES GENTILE, Auburn, NT, 28 INFD BAND
CHAR1.es s . GLISSON, j r . , Dccalur, GA, 67 EVAC HOSP
CiL\RI.ES P. G R \C E, Deltona, FL, 9 A R M D D 19 TK BN
BERNARD J. GRANT, JR., Indianapolis, IN, 2 A R M D D 92 FA BN
ARTHUR T. GREGORY. Brentwood, NY, 28 INFD 112 INF M
JAMES M. GRIFFIN, Mayhill, NM, 8 FA OBN BN XIX CO
ARTHUR W. HAMALAINEN, Rutland, MA, 35 INFD 134 INF I
HENRY T. lURALDSON. Greeley, CO, VII CORPS 981 FA BN C
JAMES lU R D Y , Dunbar. PA, 702 TK BN B
FRVNK P. HEBBLETHW'AITE, Cheverly, MD. 457 AAA AW BN
ROBERT HEISLENUN. Auburn, CA, 50 FA BN HQ
THE BULGE BUGLE
CL j u E G. HEITSMAN, Topeka, KS, 17 ABNT) 194 GIB 1 BN HQ
ROBERT M. HELMS, EiTinghani, SC, 45 CMBT ENGR DN 3 PLTTn C
W ILLUM HENRY, Huntington Beach, CA. 28 INFD 112 INF
GEORGE W. HLAD, Cambridge, OH, 331 CANNON CO
EDWARD P. HOLUB, Albertson, NY, 28 INFD 28 SIGNAL CO
HOBART F. HOPKINS, Carlisle, PA, 28 INFD
M. F- HUBACH, Collinsville, IL, 7 ARM DD 23 AIB A
ROBERT I. HUGHES, JR., Homosassa, FL, 99 INFD 393 INF C
THOMAS E. HUNNEMANN, Chicago, IL, 5 INTD 10 INF B
ROSS A. HUNTER, Buikc, N"*!', 99 INFD 394 INT HQ
DEWEY ADDISON ISOM, Cambridge City, IN, 28 INFD 714 TD
CLINTON C. JOHNSON, Lockport, NT, 28 INFD 112 INF H
CYRIL JOHNSON, Granite City, IL. 11 ARM DD 55 AIB A
NEIL O. JOHNSON, Aiken, SC, 740 FA BN
WILLL\M T. JOHNSON, Charlotte, NC, 26 INFD 102 FA BN C
F. JOE JOY, Batavia, NT, 8 INTD 28 FA BN B
JOHN M. KEHOE, Mountain Top. PA, 11 CAV GP 44 CAV RECON
SQN
CHARLES KOVACH, Central City. PA, 142 AAA BN
CHESTER KUCLVPINSKI, Forestville, NT, 35 INFD 320 INF II
PATRICK LaFORTE, Kcnmorc, NT, 18 INFD 1 INF B
EDWARD LAMB, Valley Stream. NT, 106 INFD 422 INF I
ALFRED J. LAMMON, Montgomery, AL, 159 ENGR CMBT BN
R. NOLAN LANGLE^^ Eugene, OR, 11 ARM DD 575 A ^\.\ AW BN C
FR.\Y LANN, Birmingham, AL, 159 ENGR CMBT BN
\t\R T IN LENNON, W. Rosbuiy, MA, 80 INFD 610 TD BN
ROY LEDIG, Little Silver, NJ, 275 AFA B
SE\1:RN O. LONGSTRICTII, Charleston, \W , 78 INTO 78 SIGNAL CO
RL^DY N. LORIN, Walterboro, SC, 28 INFD 103 ENGR CMBT BN B
GLENN H. LOITNER, St. Petersburg, FL, 76 INFD 385 INF H
RICHARD LUND, Plainfield, IL, 87 INFD 346 INF C
JAMES B. MAIDEN, Morehead City, NC, 78 INTO 309 INF 1 BN C
ANGELO M. MARCANTONIO, New Kensington, PA, 28 INFD 28 QM
NICHOLAS J. \U R T IN , Canton, OH, 6 ARM DD 9 AIB B
F R \N K M iSSENA, Phiiadeiphia, PA, 75 INFD 2S9 INF H
FRANK J. MAY, JR., Dunkirk, NT, 9 ARM DD 360 QM TRK CO
JAMES D. McARTHUR, Murrell s Iniet. SC, 75 INFD 289 INT 1 BN B
ROY D. ivicKILLOP, ivlaynard, FA, 654 ENGR TOPO BN
GEORGE S. McL\UGHL!N, Builer. PA, 3696 QM TK CO
JOHN .McL.\UGHLIN, Holden, MA, 294 ENGR CMBT BN A
WILLIAM McMASTER, Glendora, NJ, 9 ARM DD 27 AIB B
KENNETH W. MILLER, Alton, IL, 7 A R M D D 440 AFA BN SVC CO
RICIL\RD J. MILLER, North Olmsted, OH, 99 INFD 372 FA BN B
ALPHONSO MURPHY, Hanover, IN, 5 INFD 2 INF L
JUSl'ICE R. NEALE, Lawton, OK, 324 ENGR CMBT BN HQ
REGINALD G, NOLTE. San Aniomo. XX, 405 FG IIO
WILLL\M C. O ’DONNEL, Cincinnati, OH, 1278 ENGR CMBT BN A
JOSEPH E. PACZKOWSKI, Germantown, MD, 76 INFD 417 INF HQ
J.ACK E. PALSGROVE. Cape Girardeau, MO, 7 .A.R^MDD 814 TO BN
JOSEPH W. PAONESSA. Sanborn, NT, 135 ENGR CMBT BN
WORTH F. PARRISH. Maitland. FL. 60 ARM DD 60 AIB A
W ILLUM PARTRIDGE, Philadelphia, PA, 99 INFD 99 SIGL
LEONARD G. PEASE, Buchanan, MI, 7 ARM DD AR'FY
JOHN B. PERNICE. Columbia. MD. 1 ARMY 7 CORP 172 FA BN HO
EARL B. PETERS. Corona, SD, 2 INFD 23 INF H
PE'FER G. POLETS, JR., Bradford, PA. 2 INFD 23 INT C
GEORGE R. POWTLL, St. Mary’s, 80 INFD 318 INF HQ
RAUL G. PRIETO, El Paso. TX, 28 INFD HQ
LOREN W. PURDY, Sardis, B.C., Canada, 419 ENGR DT
ROSCOE S. PUTNAM. Antrim. NIL 80 INFD 318 INF G
CHARI.e s B. REDMOND, Kent, CT, 28 INFD 103 CMBT ENGR BN I IQ
CONKLIN M. REINHARDT, Syracuse, NT, 452 AAA AW BN
ROBERT RIDER, Chestertown, MD, 159 ENGR CMBT BN
BENJAMIN J. RIGAUD, East Berne, NT, 99 INFD 801 TD BN
WTIIGHT C. ROBINSON, Kill Devil Hills, NC, 1 INTD 18 INF A
HARRY ROSENBERGER, Brackenridge, PA, ASSOCIATE
IX)N R. ROSS, Okolona, MS, 5 INFD 11 INT II
ISAAC SALTZ, Pembroke Pines, FL, 87 INFD 364 INF L
ALLEN K. SAUNDERS. St. Louis, MO, 738 TK BN
ROBERT D. SCHEFTLER, Slatington, PA, 84 INFD 557 A A A AW BN
\U R K W. SCHMOYER, Allentown. PA. 26 INFD 328 INF D
(Continued on Page 32)
31 November 1993
 List of Deceased (Continued from Page 31)
EDWIN SCHWIEGER, Grand Island, NE. 99 INFD 393 INF D
DAVID E. SHERRARD, Des Moines, lA, 87 INFD 347 INF C
ROBERT N. SIMMONS, Millsboro, DE, 83 INFD 329 INF
ARNOLD M. SNTDER, Randallstown, MD, 740 TK BN
HOWARD L. SPADE, South Greensburg, PA, 82 ABND 348 ENGR BN
BENNIE SPAMPINATO, Lake Worth, FL, 1 INFD 18 INF 1 BN A
ROY STAHL, Tucson, AZ, 99 INFD 394 INF K
ROBERT STEGGERDA, Ft. Lauderdale. FL, 4TH ARM DD 10 AIB HQ
ARNE W. STOOLE, Baltimore, MD, 11 ARM DD H&HQ
VINCENT KEITH SUTTON, I lonesdale, PA, 10 ARM DD 798 AAA AW
BN D BTRY
EDWARD J. SVIRBELY, Bethlehem, PA, 289 ENGR CMBT BN
GERALD S, TEACHOUT, Orange, CA, 9 INTD 60 INF F
HOWARD F. THOMAS, Troy, OH, 789 AAA BN
LESLIE W. THOMAS, Lansing, IL, 7 ARM DD 557 ORD HM 86 ORD
BN
STEVE THOMPSON, Brooklyn, NY, 2 ARM DD 41 AIR F
LEE H. TIMMER, Mount Morris, IL, 26 INFD BAND HQ
ORRIN TOFTOY, Aurora, IL, 36 CAV RECON SQ, 11 CA V GP, TRC
H. A. TURNER, Blue Ridge Summit, PA, 926 SIGL BN (SEP) TAG
HOWARD TURNER, Magnolia, NJ, 106 INFD 423 INF K
WARDEN W. TURRILL, Belpre, OH, 784 AAA AW BN
GEORGE E. TUTWILER, Harrisonburg, VA, 29 INFD 116 INF C
RAYMOND VASCONCELLOS, Capitola, CA, 965 FA BN C
JULIUS MORRIS WADE, Dunn, NC, 101 ABND HQ
BERT JAMES WARNER, Tucson, AZ, 9 ARM DD MAINT BN C
JAMES M. WEBER, Streetsboro, OH, 396 ARM D FA BN
HARRY E. WELSH, Lake Elsinore, CA, 99 INFD 324 MED BN A
BOBBY L- WHEELER, Houston, TX, 17 A BN D 513 PIR d
HENRY W. WICE, Franklin, PA, 11 ARM DD 705 TD BN
THONUS E. WILLUMS, Jackson, TN, 11 ARM DD 21 AIB HQ «& B
ICARL WILLUM YATES, Battle Creek, MI, 87 INFD 346 INF C
OZRO I- YENNE, Sterling, CO, 10 ARM DD 132 ORD MNT BN
LUXEMBOURG REMEMBERS
In February of this year, MAYNARD H. COLMARK, 14TH
FIELD ARTILLERY OBSERVATION BATTALION, visited
Ettelbruck, Luxembourg. H e reports he and m em bers of his
family were warmly welcomed and entertained by the people
there. He wanted to share with you a portion of a letter he
received from Jean-Pierre Kremer:
"...Here in Luxembourg we are still rem em bering the
landing of the Allied Forces in Normandy on June 6,
1944. At that m om ent there was again a spark of hope
that the G erm an tyranny would soon come to an end.
Five years ago, my wife and I visited the landing site.
For me it was overhwleming and I guess it was the
biggest, vastest and riskiest (Americans, Canadians,
etc.). O ur country would now be incorporated in the
"Great G erm an Reich," Impossible to figure out the
consequences of a G erm an victory in 1945. Therefore,
Luxembourg can not stop bending our heads with
respect and dignity to our A m erican liberators and to
thank God that he protected so well our small
Luxembourg."
LETTER TO MEMBERS:
In the last issue of The Bulge Bugle we included a letter from William R.
Hemphill, VBOB President, regarding the Battle of the Bulge 50th
Anniversary Book to be published by Turner Publishing Company. Many,
many members have written to us concerning the omission of their unit.
We had hoped that the article would suffice as our apology and, in the
interest of saving some very scarce time, relieve us of answering individual
letters. If your unit was omitted, please refer to the August issue for an
explanation of the circumstances involved in this matter. We did not
compose nor did we see the list of units before it was printed in the flyer.
THE BULGE BUGLE
IN MEMORY AND RECOGNITION OF
LT. FRANCES SLANGER
AND THE NURSES OF WWII
[The following was sent to us by John B. Savardy 2nd Infantry Division,
3Sth Infantry, 2nd Battery, Company G. John sends us many articles
for The Bu 2 le. You may remember some o f his poetry. John tells us
this story was written in 1945 by Alton Smally, staff writer and war
correspondent for the St. Paul Dispatch. 1
Army Nurse
I received a note from an Army nurse Thursday. She complained that
nurses haven’t been given a fair share of publicity recognition.
"It’s largely our own fault," she admitted. T h e girls who have served
overseas have adopted a policy o f praising the fighting man and minimizing
their own activities. That is entirely laudable. But it is not very smart.
"I happen to be the daughter o f an advertising man. 1 have been taught
that modesty can be overdone. I believe in giving full credit to the men in
the front lines. But a bit of honor should be accorded the Nurses’ Corps
that helps keep them there."
Hospital Ship
Her point is well taken.
Not long ago I interviewed a nurse just back from the European theater.
I couldn’t get her to say anything about herself.
Then there’s the case o f Lt. Frances Slanger, the first American nurse
killed in action in Europe. Chances are you never heard of her—even
though her work was so outstanding the Army has named a new hospital
ship in her honor.
Even among the men she cared for in field hospitals just behind the front
she is known more for a letter she wrote to Stars and Stripes, the Army
paper, than for the fact she gave her life for the boys in uniform.
Hi Ya, Babe!”
Here’s what she wrote:
T h e GIs say we rough it. ...True, we are set up in tents, sleep on cots
and are subject to the weather. We wade ankle-deep in mud.
"But you soldiers have to LIE in it.
"Sure, we rough it. But in comparison to the way you men are taking it
we can’t complain nor do we feel bouquets are due us. It is to you -the
men behind the guns, the men driving our tanks, flying our planes, sailing
our ships, building our bridges—that we doff our helmets.
"...Your wounded do not cry. Your buddies always come first. The
patience and determination you show, the courage and fortitude you have,
all this is something awesome to behold! It is we who are proud to be
here. Rough it? No, it is a privilege to see you open your eyes and with
that swell American grin say: ‘Hi ya, Babe!’"
Shell-Fire
So Lt. Frances Slanger became the nurse who wrote "that" letter!
And not very many people know her real story. They don’t know she
waded ashore to a Normandy beach almost in the shadow of the troops.
Shells were bursting on all sides. After that she pushed forward, carrying
her own bedroll and helping pack the field equipment. During the
Bastogne offensive steady rains turned the pasture land into a sea of
yellow-sticky mud. Four-buckle arctics donned over combat boots never
came off until bedtime.
Tliere were thousands o f wounded. She worked to the point of
exhaustion.
Finally a chief surgeon ordered her to take a rest. And on the first day
in weeks she hadn’t had to labor eighteen hours a day an 88-millimeter
shell burst above her tent....
Eternal Guard
They buried her in her green fatigues because that was the uniform in
which she had toiled since Invasion Day. In the military cemetery she is
flanked by rows of white crosses that mark the graves of her loved fighting
men. I'he GIs like to say these soldiers surround her as an eternal guard
of honor....
So I’m glad to agree with the girl who wrote me that nurses aren’t
sufficiently recognized. I’m happy to give them publicity. Their own
modesty is responsible for the fact they’re not mentioned oftener.
[As Frances was killed in Bastogne, John wonders if anyone might
remember her and he offers salute to all the nurses who served in
World War II, especially those wonderful girls we wounded GI's first
saw after being evacuated from the lines. *7
32 November 1993
ST. LOUIS GATEWAY CHAPTER
CONDUCTS FLOOD RELIEF FUND
During the month of September, the St. Louis Gateway
Chapter kicked off a fund to help VBOB members who are
flood victims in the Midwest.
A letter was written to all members in the states affected.
The letter asked those who needed help to contact the
Gateway Cuaptei and those who could contribute to the
fund to assist those in need, please send donations. This
letter served as a "stop-gap" to get the ball rolling on this
project until the announcement could be made in this issue
of 77ie Bulge Bugle.
It was felt that losing all worldly possessions at the age of
65+ would be particularly devastating and anything that
could be done to assist those with whom we fought side-by-
side would be well worth the efforts expended.
The ^.4D/DC and Delaware Valley Chapters were quick to
help with each making a sizeable contribution. Members
who received the September letter were also quick to
respond.
If you need assistance as a result of the llood:
Please send your name, address and telephone number,
indicating your needs to Kent Stephens at the address
below. Please make your request as brief as possible.
Also bear in mind that funds may be very limited-but
our hearts are big.
If you would like to help:
Please send your donation to:
Gateway Chapter-Fiood Fund
c /o W. Kent Stephens
* aw
Collinsville, Illinois 62?34
Tins picture shows the officers o f the M D /D C Chapter as
Neil B. Thompson, Treasurer, writes checks for donations
to the Gateway Chapter o f Missouri for flood relief;
Charlotte Hall Veterans Home; Fort Howard VA Medical
Center; Perry Point VA Medical Center; Baltimore VA
Medical Center; and the Delaware Valley Chapter of
VBOB for the monument at Valley Forge Military
Academy. Officers are left to right: Neil Thompson,
Henry Rehn, Ed Tooma, Ed Radzwich (President) John
B o w en a n d B en L a y to n
THE BULGE BUGLE
EDUCATION KIT NOW AVAILABLE
' VCOB has prepared an "Education Kit" for year use in
telling the story of the Battle of the Bulge to your local
schools. It contains: (1) list of the units involved; (2) map
of the area affected; (3) fact sheet on the battle and VBOB;
(4) brief history of the battle; (5) sample stories from VBOB
meiiibers; (6) list of videos and books that may be of
interest.
This is an opportunity for you to help ensure that the Battle
of the Bulge is never forgotten. If you would like a copy,
please write and ask for the "Education Kit."
FROM SIX TO 200
IN LESS THAN A YEAR
On December 17, 1992, six WWII veterans from the 26th
Infantry Division met for lunch in St. Louis. Kent Stephens
had received a hst of St. Louis area VBOB veterans from
the National Office. These men had been invited to the
luncheon to discuss the possibility and steps needed to form
a VBOB chapter.
After much newspaper and radio pubhcity, 102 WWll
veterans attended and the St. Louis Chapter was off and
running. They now have nearly 200 members and over 500
names on their active mailing list.
LOUIS G A fm r'i
Officers o f the Gateway Chapter, left to right: Steward
Piper, Vice President; Harold Mueller, Treasurer; Bob
Ward, Secretary; Dick Cotter, Sergeant-at-Arms; and
President Kent Stephens after a parade in St. Louis on
September 18, 1993.
Now, they happily announce the formation of a Ladies
Auxiliary. Millie Knize is president of "The St. Louis
Gateway Chapter of the VBOB Auxiliary." The ladies of this
organization stand ready to see that the Battle of the Bulge
is never forgotten.
CBS NEWS REQUEST
ASSISTANCE WITH DOCUMENTARY
CBS news is in the midst of preparing a documentary for the 50th Anniversary of
the D-Day landings and the subsequent drive to the Rhine. The two-hour
special will be hosted by General H. Norman Schwarzkopf and Charles Kuralt
and will air sometime in early June. They are looking for veterans of D-Day
who may also have taken part in the Battle of the Bulge as possible interview
subjects. Please write to: Deirdre Naphin; CBS Reports; 555 West 57th Street,
8th Hoor; New York, New York 10019.
I
33 November 1993
 Official VBOB Items For Sale ☆

Veterans of the
Battle of the Bulge
Notipe: Normandy Invasion SOthiAitniversary Pin now
Dixon Poole, National Quartermaster available. Limited supply.............$4,50 (3 for $12.00),
Veterans of the Battle of the Bulge

1. Official VBOB Patch 10. Regulation Full Size Medals to

2 3 /4"..................................................$4.50 ea. replace those lost or not issued
2 3/4" w /clutch..................................$5.00 ea. (call for q u o te )...................................$20.00 & up
4 3 /4 "..................................................$6.00 ea.
4 3/4" w /clutch..................................$8.00 ea. 11. Regulation Miniature Medals (including
POW medal) mounted & ready to wear.
2. Decals - VBOB Logo No charge for mounting.....................$8.50 & up
4“ .......................................................$1.25 ea.
4" w indshield.................................. $1.25 ea. 12. Regulation cam paign and service ribbons
1 1/8" s tic k e r.................................. 8/$1.00 w/campaign stars & oak leaf clusters:
Mounted and ready to w e a r ............$1.25 & up
3. 8" X 10" VBOB Color Logo
for fram ing..............................................$4.00 ea. 13. T apes (VHS) ‘T h e Damned Engineers”
Only 20 left s o o rd er now! . . . $24.50 ea.
4. Hats: Baseball style - one size fits
all w/VBOB p a tc h ..............................$10.0 0 ea. 14. Regulation Division p a tc h e s .............. $4.50 ea.
...................................We h av e all p atch es!
5. VBOB Lapel Pin/Tie Tac w/clutch . . . $7.00 ea.
15. Cloissanet Pins of Division patches
6. VBOB Neck Medallion w/30" ribbon $32.00 ea. for wearing on cap s or la p e ls .............. 3.50 ea.
S pecial . . . $25.00 ea. 3 for $10.00
7. VBOB T-Shirts: M, L, XL, XXL . . . . $13.00 ea. 16. W indbreaker w/official
VBOB 4" p a tc h ...................................$28.50 ea.
8. VBOB Belt Buckle: Gold o n ly ......... $14.00 ea.
S, M, L, XL (add $3.00 for XXL & XXXL)
9. VBOB Bola Tie: Gold only................$14.00 ea. Special
........................................................................................
M ake check payable to: The VBOB Quartermaster A rizona R esidents please add
7% State Sales Tax.
M ail order to: The Military Shop
9635 W Peoria Ave, Peoria, AZ 85345 Note: Credit Card
(800) 544-9275 (credit card orders only) Orders - $25.00 Min.
or (602) 979-0535
Name
Address
City __ State ZIP _Telephone,
Qty Item Price Total

Credit Card # □ MC □ AMX □ V IS A Shipping & Handling $4.00

Total
Signature____

THE BULGE BUGLE 34 November 1993


I The American G.I.,
the Greatest Soldier
the World Has Ever Seen
By Joseph P. Barrett
There was a sense of joy at the Valley Forge Military
Academy when a group of men got together recently. One
would of thought it was a college or high school reunion.
They all wore army overseas camps, except that they jazzed
them up with all sorts of memorabilia. All earned by the
way. Earned the hard way.
On the hats they had sewed on the First, Third and Ninth
Army insignia. Most of the hats had the European Theater
of Operations ribbon with several battle stars, silver and
bronze stars as well as purple heart insignias were in
abundance as well as the Combat Infantry Badge. Many of
the men wore ties with the colors of the ETO or the silver
or bronze star crossing them.
They are members of the Veterans of the Battle of the
Bulge organization.
M em bers o f D elaw are V alley Chapter at Valley Forge
M ilitary A cadem y and C ollege, in W ayne, Pennsylvania,
Decem ber, 1992.
l isten to some of the stories:
There was a big discussion of Lugers and P-38’s, German
hand guns, when one guy spoke up. "I had a P-38 and the
guys said if you got captured with one, the Krauis would
execute you. Well I was inissing for five days and finally
when I caught up with my outfit, I thought they would have
missed me, instead, they said: ‘We thought by now they
would have shoved that P-38 up your a - .’"
Another fellow remembered back in Normandy he was
assigned to guard the CP of a general. It was about 2:00
a.m. when he heard a voice call out: "M.P., M.P., I want to
go to the latrine. Can I come out without getting shot?" So
out he comes, our guy remembers, and he is wearing
pajamas and on the shoulders he was wearing two gold stars.
"How do you catch spies?" This little old guy asked. Then
he answered his own question. "Check their underwear."
As fellow members of the Battle of the Bulge waited with
deep interest, he explained.
"Well, the Germans were dropping these spies, German
soldiers who spoke English like a guy from Brooklyn and
they were dressed like G.I.’s. So we figure, how can we
check these bastards? We didn’t hear about asking them ‘Is
Notre Dame in the American or League?’ So we figured,
let’s check their drawers, sure as shit, a G.I. wore G.I. issue
THE BULGE BUGLE
long Johns. A kraut wore kraut underwear made in
Hamburg or some where in Germany. Fruit of the Loom it
was not."
Then a veteran spoke up: "Remember that sign they used
to have, it said, ‘If you’re drippin’ you’re not shippin.’"
Then from another corner: "Remember that sign over the
latrines: ‘She may be beautiful—but is she clean?’" At that
point someone shouted out: "Short Arm Inspection."
all the old men laughed.
Jack Hyland and Stan Wojtusik were trying to get the men
posed around a mock-up of the Battle of the Bulge
Monument which will be built at the Valley Forge Military
Academy as soon as enough funds are collected. But with
everyone exchanging stories it was more difficult than going
through the manual of arms.
These are the most lovable fighting men the world has ever
seen. They marched across Europe liberating one country
after another, all the while tossing candy and chewing gum
to the kids.
When our minds to back to those days of World War II,
It’s not to relive the hard times, the cold, tiredness,
lonesoineness, fear, anger, hunger, despair, plain and simple
misery, it’s just to stand around and shoot the shit.
Remember a bad day. A long convoy. Or an armor
column after a long day’s march. And everyone was tired
and hungry and someone would call out in a perfect
imitation of President Roosevelt: "I hate waahr. My wife
Eleanor hates waahr. My dog Fala hates waahr."
And everyone would laugh. The tension was broken.
[Jnsc.pk P. Barrrt! wan a rrpnrtrr fnr the Philn.-irlnhi.'i
Evening Bulletin. He was a member o f the 474 AAA
which landed on D-Day and fought through five battles
o f the European Theater o f Operations.]
BULGE REENACTM ENT
JANUARY 1994
Mark your calendar now for the last weekend o f January 1994 lo attend the
Bulge Reenactment at Fort Indiantown Gap. Pennsylvania. The reenact­
ment gruup m ci wiih umciul:* ai ihc Gap io reserve ilic rcfuiuisiicu World
War II Barracks in Area 12 for the Friday and Saturday evenings o f the
28th and 29th o f January 1994, with checkout on Sunday morning and
religious services at the chapels for those who want to attend.
Approximately 1,000 rccnactors arc CApcctcd to participutc. A Sherman
and a Stuart Tank as well as a large contingent o f allied and German
vehicles will be used and also on display. A large contingent o f veterans is
also expected. Maybe some o f the chapters would want to arrange for a
Liua or tar pools lo tonic lo the Gap. T nose who have diienJcJ id past
years will attest to the truly delightful weekend to relive those days nearly
50 years ago. Within five minutes o f arriving it is like you have served with
all these guys before. The last issue o f The Bugle has a good description
of the immediate past reenactment. The reenactors really enjoy talking to
you and it is inspirational to see the positiveness o f these young reenactore.
Tliough the final price has not been worked out it is expected lo be in the
$25-$30 range for two nights lodging in the barracks on genuine G1 bunks,
brand new latrines and Saturday breakfast and dinner. Lunch on Saturday
and supper on Friday are on our own and generally are eaten at the
wonderful restaurant just outside the gate. The actual reenactment takes
place Saturday during the day. ”U SO ' show Saturday night is anticipated
but has not been finned up as we go to press. For those interested in this
fun weekend, please send John Bowen a stamped, self-addressed envelope
at 613 Chichester Lane, Silver Spring, Maryland 20904-3331 (Telephone;
301-384-6533) and he will provide you with the final details, costs and
registration form when they become available about mid-December. Bring
a pillow, sleeping bag, or blankets. Unfortunately the barracks do not lend
themselves to co-ed sleeping; however, there are motels in the area for
those wanting to bring spouses. Come enjoy a FU N W EEKEND.
35 November 1993
 NON-PROFIT ORG.
U. S. POSTAGE
PAID
ODENTON, MD
PERMIT NO. 228

VETERANS
of the
BATTLE YOUR DUES’R'DUE
of the r r

BULGE
P.O. Box 11129
Arlington, Virginia 22210-2129

ADDRESS CORRECTION REQUESTED

FORWARDING and RETURN
POSTAGE GUARANTEED

NOVEMBER, 1993

GET YOUR 1994 HOLIDAY SHOPPING DONE

EARLY, SO YOU WILL BE FREE TO ATTEND
THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY COMMEMORATION
CEREMONIES TO BE HELD IN ST. LOUIS,
MISSOURI, DECEMBER 15-18, 1994.
------------------- D e ta c h a n d M a i l --------------------------------------------------------------------------
OFFICIAL U S t ONLY
APPLICATION FOR MEMBERSHIP OFFICIAL USE ONLY

VETERANS OF THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE

P.O. Box 11129, Arlington, Virginia 22210-2129
Do n o t w r it e a b o v e t h i s lin e A nnual D ues $15 Do n o t w rite a b o v e th is line

I I New M ember Q R e n e w a l-M e m b e r# .

N am e B irthdate

A d d ress, . Phone (

C ity ____ . S ta t e . -Z ip _

All new members, please provide the following information:

C a m p a ig n s ____________________________________________________________________________________

Units(s) to w hich a s s ig n e d d u ring p eriod D e c e m b e r 1 6 , 1 9 4 4 -J a n u a ry 25, 1945 - D ivision________

R e g im e n t______________________________________________________ B a tta lio n _____________________

C o m p a n y _______________________________________________________ O t h e r ______________________

Miike check or money order payable to VBOB

ami mail with this applicalion to above address. A pplicants S ig n a tu re