Last weekend I was privileged to join several WW2 veterans of the 101st Airborne Division - Easy Company at the annual festival in Bastogne, Belgium commerating the Battle of the Bulge. These were the extraordinary men featured in the Stephen Ambrose book and the HBO series, "Band of Brothers". And this was the location where the 101st Division earned its place in the lore of military history by holding out for over a month during December of 1944 defending the strategically crucial city of Bastogne against the German onslaught. The 101st was surrounded by several Wehrmacht divisions, yet, periously low on ammunition, food and medical supplies, hunkered down in foxholes during Europe's coldest winter in a hundred years and defended the city until reinforcements made their way in. It marked the end of Germany's last major effort to win the war. On this weekend, 63 years later, I was honored to spend time with Ed Shames, Herb Suerth, Frank Sobeleski and other veterans of this storied unit. And among all the other exciting events of the weekend perhaps my most vivid memories are the displays of emotion and gratitude on the part of the hundreds of Belgian and Dutch people who were in Bastogne to pay tribute to these brave heroes of World War Two.
Sunday, December 23, 2007
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1 comment:
Douglas, I have just finsihed reading "Night of Flames". It has been along time since I've enjoyed a book so much. Thanks for the hours of entertainment! I hope there is another novel in the works.
bob
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