Americans, Belgians Mark Bulge Anniversary

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP-Excite

BASTOGNE, Belgium (AP) — Braving snowy weather, Americans and Belgians are gathering in the Ardennes region of Belgium to mark the 70 anniversary of one of the biggest U.S. battles of World War II_the Battle of the Bulge.

Jean-Claude Klepper, 62, of Belgium, and his 15-year-old daughter Aurelie dressed up like World War II GIs Saturday to mark the occasion.

"We must never forget what happened in 1944," the elder Klepper told AP. "Many American soldiers came here to defend Europe. We must honor them for what they did."

Stephen Sams, 41, a U.S. soldier based in Germany, says that for him the battle represents the unwillingness of American forces to give up in the face of adversity.



A US WWII-era vehicle drives towards the Mardasson Memorial, on the 70th anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge or the Ardennes Offensive, in Bastogne, southeastern Belgium, Saturday, Dec. 13, 2014. The Battle of the Bulge was fought in dense forests and narrow valleys of the Belgian and Luxembourg Ardennes and was one of the bloodiest battles of World War II. (AP Photo/Yves Logghe)

Read more: http://apnews.excite.com/article/20141213/belgium-battle-of-the-bulge-70th-c5f42052c5.html

[Cooley Hurd]

1. My Dad was there...

He served as an AAA Gun Captain (40mm Bofors) in the 551st AAA AW Bn. Here he is immediately after the end of the war in Regensburg, Germany (the corporal closest to the camera in profile):

[appalachiablue]

13. Interesting to hear your dad's story and others relatives. This photo must mean a lot.

My father was also in an AAA unit, 838th according to his papers or 883rd as mom said, she was usually right. He also trained on Swedish Bofor guns she told us. He was 24, a 1st Lieut. in the Rhineland campaign. While crossing a border, France or Switzerland they were spotted by German 88s, and in the commotion the officer in charge flipped out or was wounded and my dad took over for which he received the bronze star. I have the star, his 7th Army patch my older brother gave me, and lapel insignia and SS patches Dad handed me while visiting from college.
He mentioned Polish prisoners newly free who died from mistakenly drinking ethol alcohol, and an ex-German soldier who was his jeep driver. Dad didn't day much more and I didn't know to ask unfortunately. Our contact with him was good but limited because he left when I was 9, remarried and his 2nd wife got upset if he mentioned anything about times before her.
I have many photos of him in Bavaria now, where I've also been, that I'd never seen until my step sister sent them to me six years ago. I want to research his record and unit more through the National Archives where I worked a couple years. He was at the Dachau Liberation, in the Army of Occupation and was treated for shell shock mom said. He was a very good fighter, runs in the family.

[hlthe2b]

2. Band of Brothers...

really drove home for me how horrendous that part of the war was. I remain amazed and in awe of the sacrifices.

[WinkyDink]

3. My father, in the 80th Infantry Division, won a Silver Star in this battle.

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Sergeant XXXXXX, United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with the 80th Infantry Division in connection with military operations against an enemy of the United States on 5 January 1945 in Luxembourg. During an enemy artillery barrage which was falling about the Division Artillery Command Post on 5 January 1945, Sergeant XXXXXX, with utter disregard for his own personal safety, voluntarily exposed himself to this fire by proceeding to examine the area into which the rounds were falling to assist in obtaining shell reports. This information was responsible for neutralization of the enemy battery and the act occurred when any interruption in the operation of the Division Artillery Command Post would have seriously hampered artillery support of the Division effort. The courage, initiative, and constant devotion to duty displayed by Sergeant XXXXXX was in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflects great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I deleted his name.

The Battle of the Bulge (16 December 1944 – 25 January 1945)

[Auggie]

6. Brave soldiers, all of them

[WinkyDink]

9. Indeed. Respect.

[steve2470]

12. yes very much so nt

[LiberalElite]

4. My uncle was there-

after the war, he briefly joined the FDNY, got married and then... dropped out. Became an alcoholic short order cook and dishwasher who we saw very rarely. I blame the war.

[Thor_MN]

5. My grandfather was in the Army and in Europe at that time.

My mother said he was "in the Battle of the Bulge", but I don't know if that means he was actually in the Ardennes. He was not wounded, but given a honorable (disability) discharge, which as far as I know was not uncommon after the the Battle of the Bulge. I have his discharge and separation records, but they do not have his unit recorded as far as I can tell.

[MrScorpio]

7. That's around the corner from my old hanging grounds

I was stationed there 20 years ago

[ColesCountyDem]

8. My uncle was a USAAF P-51 pilot who was shot down the day the weather cleared.

He's buried at the Ardennes American Cemetery and Memorial, outside Liege, Belgium.

[steve2470]

11. much respect to your uncle! nt

[steve2470]

10. My dad was there in the artillery with Patton

He would ONLY say "it was COLD". I could never get him to talk about WW2 much at all. Common thing it seems. I'm quite confident my dad had some PTSD.

Much respect to the veterans who died, were injured and who had to just survive that god awful battle!

Much respect to ALL veterans!

[appalachiablue]

15. Did your father say anything about Patton? or what artillery area he was in?

Not long ago I noticed a poster who'd just mentioned the war, nothing heavy, how his uncle would dive for the floor at movie theater noise. A replier wrote back that's PTSD. Guess so. Dad wasn't like that, but maybe he had some stuff after returning, on top of a very physical, rather pugnacious temperament when young. I have a sister like that which is good and bad...in the blood I reckon. Our mother was very discreet and kind about him. She was wise and loving.

[steve2470]

16. Never said a word about Patton

54th Artillery. If he had any ptsd, it wasn't severe. He just would NOT talk about the war. I asked him a few times about it, and nope, he said very little.

[appalachiablue]

18. Good you asked your father at least, too bad he couldn't open up. Dad never showed extreme

symptoms that I know of. The temper runs in the family, like feuding, except us gentler souls. An uncle said dad hit him 3 times many years ago. Made me uncomfortable till I learned why. He deserved it. Heh, heh. Dad mentioned a few things, more to my older brother. Several kids in college I knew had war dads - but we never discussed it. Young, stupid and selfish. One was a guy whose parents survived Auchwitz, another's father was in the German army, one's dad m. a Greek woman he met during the war. Hindsight's great. There must be networks for WWII kids, that would be cool!

[appalachiablue]

14. Thank you for remembering, we have to honor those who fought and sacrificed.

My best friend from Pgh now Seattle had an uncle in the Bulge. My Dad went over in late '44, was in the Rhineland Campaign and Occupation as I mentioned above. After the war he finished college in engineering at VPI (Va Tech). He was proud of that degree I have his class ring now. In a way I'm glad he's not here to know of the 2007 school massacre which he wouldn't believe, and others, and what a mess this country is in now after all they did. I have much respect for them and FDR. Seeing the American Cemetery at Normandy in summer 2004 was incredibly moving. The WWII Memorial in WDC is magnificent, unfortunately took forever. Dad came to DC when I was a grad student, I would have enjoyed showing that to him if it had been built as it should have for the vets especially.

[GGJohn]

17. The Greatest Generation.

My dad was a fighter pilot escorting bombers on runs over Germany, he never really talked about the war, though he did mention he flew a P-51 Mustang on ground support during the Battle of the Bulge.

RIP Dad, love you.

[Cooley Hurd]

19. That is VERY interesting! The Mustangs changed the whole concept of daylight precision bombing...