69 years and 1 day ago, General Anthony McAuliffe found himself ...

[11 Bravo]

and the 101st Airborne Division surrounded in the town of Bastogne by an overwhelming force, consisting of an entire German artillery corps and 6 heavy AA battalions. He was offered the opportunity to surrender, and was told that if he refused, he and every one of his men would be annihilated. His response lives on today. "NUTS", he said.
I served with the 101st 26 years later, in what was pretty much of a cluster-fuck, but I would have been proud to serve under Gen. McAuliffe in any conflict, at any time.

[MannyGoldstein]

1. You've earned the "Bravo" in your handle today

Thanks for reminding us of how tough Americans can be in pursuit of good.

We are in the sad place of having to take back our own country from those who've attacked from within; hopefully we can be as tough as Gen. McAuliffe!

[DaveHee]

2. My Dad was there.

My Father was there, and in his documents is a mimeographed copy of McAullife's message to the troops, advising them of what the situation was (relief was close at hand), describing how he said Nuts to the enemy. He preserved that all of his life, he died recently and I'm not sure where that copy will be stored. But I saw it and that was way cool.

We were stationed in Germany in 1958, and Dad would drive us around the region
to the various places where he had been pinned down, and or lost a lot of comrades.

Dave

[demosincebirth]

3. '56 - 59. (801st)

[11 Bravo]

4. HOOAH my brother. For all the Screaming Eagles, then and now.

[demosincebirth]

6. I wonder if they still use the ol' "straight leg" term?

[Aristus]

5. Acording to the story, the Germans were puzzled by the wording, so the American soldier who

delivered it explained: "It basically means 'go to hell'.

The German officer saluted and said: "We will kill many Americans. This is war."