Post by 2ndbat2 on Dec 16, 2021 21:18:18 GMT -5
Dec 16th 1944 My Dad was officially accompanying an inspection group from SHAEF to a quiet sector in the European Theater. His group flew into the town of SPA in the Ardennes near the French Belgiun border. My dad said part of his unofficial itinerary was to see Marlene Dietrich a singer actress who was performing a USO show in SPA. The weather socked in on the 15th shortly after they arrived and they were informed that a return to SHAEF headquarter back in France would probably be delayed. That night they heard a massive artillery bombardment a dozen miles away that didnt seem to stop. The Lt. Colonel he was Assigned to joked "Jesus, I hope that's ours?". It wasn't! It was the opening salvo from what would become known as the Battle of the Bulge. Within 24 hours a massive German offensive had penetrated, encircled or decimated the US forward regiments on the front lines creating panic, confusion and lots of rumors. My father a rear eschelon courier was ordered to draw a weapon other than his issued .45 pistol. He had his choice of a carbine, Garand or Springfield 1903. He chose the bolt action only because that is what he had trained on. He received 60 rounds of ammunition. He asked for more and the Colonel said " Fritz if you run out ammo we're too screwed for it to matter.". Thankfully he never had to fire a round but he also never got to See the USO show. They droge rather than flew back to SHAEF headquarters and saw huge cattlecar trucks convoying the 82nd Airborne to the front. The 82nd and the 101st badly bloodied in Market Garden were the only reserves inbthe ETO. The 101st famously went to Bastogne and the 82nd raced to St Vith. Dad was present for the famous emergency conference for all the Army Commenders. It was both Eisenhower and Pattons finest hour. Bradley was in near panic as were most of the corp commander. Patton arrived with an almost fully prepared counter attack plan and Eisenhower with a big smile on his face said I want to see nothing but cheerful faces at this conference. "This is an opportunity not a crisis.". Patton announced " The hun has stuck his dick in a meatgrinder and I have the handle. Everyone was shocked when Patton said he could break off his pending offensive, make a 90 degree change of direction and counter attack with 4 divisions in 3 days. An almost impossible task even in perfect weather. They didnt know it at the time but the Germans had no chance. They didnt have the logistical capacity to achieve their objectives even without resistance. The battle was the largest and most violent and significant US battle in Europe on par in significance with DDay. Far more Americans were killed, captured and wounded in the Ardennes than any where else in Europe.