Heather Cox Richardson: Sealing the Bulge Episode 9, The Battle of the Bulge

[erronis]

Ending with "The Fuhrer's days, and the fascist Third Reich's were numbered."

Let's hope those final days are short for the US nazi/christo-fascists also.

[bucolic_frolic]

1. I had an uncle who served in the Battle of the Bulge.

He made it through, but it was a great psychological toll, in an age when no one admitted those types of things. He was 18, and had been in the army a few months.

Because Army records were destroyed for about 80% of soldiers in 1972 in a warehouse fire, I only recently learned his unit. Something to go on. And another army record says he was eligible for re-enlistment when the Korean War broke out, I guess because his WWII stint was a little over a year.

[erronis]

2. I'm sorry to hear about your uncle. Unfortunately they're still trying to deny/cover-up the wounds of war.

Or now in trump's world, just ignore them - losers. Not many congress-people that have actually served to defend their country.

[bucolic_frolic]

3. Thanks, enjoyed your post, as usual. /nt

[MaryMagdaline]

4. My father served in the Battle of the Bulge

17th Airborne Division. They were a spinoff of the 507th Airborne Division. He fought with 507 at Normandy. They formed 17th Airborne after Normandy. The 17th fought in Operation Market Garden in Netherlands and fought as regular soldiers at the Battle of the Bulge.
That was a horribly brutal campaign. My father/17th Airborne were sort of clean up after the initial American troops finally held.
I’m not sure but I think that’s where he got frostbite, which was worse longterm than when he was shot.
I can’t tell you how Orban’s defeat today has warmed my heart. So much American blood was shed over there.

[erronis]

5. You were lucky (I think) to have those memories from your father.

So many people who came back from those battles didn't want to talk about them.

I had a wonderful time with a gentleman who had parachuted into northern France and had hours and hours of stories to tell to someone who would listen and knew enough of the background to listen intelligently.

[MaryMagdaline]

6. Thank you. I'm glad also that my father would talk about things.

Two of my brothers kept the memories (and the medals) to share with the rest of the family.

[yellowdogintexas]

9. my father did not talk much about the war, and I think he carried a major

depression for the rest of his life as a result of being there

[yellowdogintexas]

8. my father was there as well. I have no doubt that is where your father got frostbite

because mine nearly lost his feet to it. He had trouble his whole life with the skin on his feet; peeling, cracking and severe athlete's foot.

My dad hated winter for the rest of his life.

His records were lost in that warehouse fire also.

[MaryMagdaline]

10. That tracks so much with my father's experience

The frost bite affected the nerves in his fingers.
It’s awful that your father suffered for so many years. Even if he wanted to forget, the body would not let him.

[lefthandedskyhook]

7. Old Blood and Guts

Old Blood and Guts mentality is rarely appropriate