Sixty-five years ago, December 16, 1944,was a Saturday. Christmas was nine days away. The Allies were in a relaxed mood. The Nazis seemed to be reeling backwards toward The Fatherland. The war in Europe seemed to be winding down.               

Field Marshall Montgomery headed for Eindhoven for a golf lesson.  General Omar Bradley was off to Brussels to be measured for a shotgun.  Several British and American staff officers were London or Paris bound.  Ike had just been promoted to General of the Army, a five star rating, and a friend had sent him a bushel of oysters. All was well in the Allied world.  Christmas was in the air.               

In the Ardennes area, tired American infantry divisions helped form an 80-mile front after the Huertgen Forest slugfest. One of those four divisions was the 106^th, the newest and most inexperienced on any front anywhere in the world. I mention this outfit particularly because it had our own Post 134 Colonel Joe Puett (RIP) and Newt Moseley (RIP) and, I think, Duke Ward (RIP) in its ranks. Joe’s stories of The Battle of the Bulge, by the way, were the stuff of real history.               

These four weary divisions fell into a sort of “9 to 5” mood.  The troops put in their daily patrols, manned their holes, and probably looked forward to a quiet night’s sleep and dreams of Christmas at home.                While the Allies were relaxing, the Nazis were completing their preparations which they had started in October, They had assembled armored divisions, an army of some 600,000 under the noses of the Allies.  They moved tanks and artillery and heavy vehicles at night on straw covered roads.  In some areas they were as close as 200 yards from the Allies. It was an amazing feat of troop movement.  Allied intelligence was clueless.               

The Nazis had another surprise for the Allies.  They put roughly 1000 men in American uniforms, driving American jeeps and trucks, and got them behind Allied lines. These daredevils created confusion and panic and rumors.  Add that feature to the sudden and vicious attack and one can now realize how helpless the disorganized units felt.  Communication lines had been cut.  Confusion and suspicion were rampant.                Those who suffered most because of the complacency of the top brass were the troops in the line fighting in the snow and bitter cold.  77,000 American casualties resulted: KIA, WIA, POW. Christmas was hardly more than a passing thought then.               

There was a sort of bright spot in all this darkness.  At the southern end of the line, the 101^st Airborne, rushed in to stem the tide, though surrounded, held the Nazis at Bastogne.  When called upon to surrender by the Nazis, General McAuliffe sent then-- Colonel Harper with his answer:”Nuts!”  Bud Harper (RIP), later a General, was a member of Post 134. I sat at his table at meetings and heard this unassuming man reveal that he added several earthy comments to “Nuts!”  He didn’t say Merry Christmas!               

The Battle of the Bulge has been examined in great detail. It is well known to aging Americans. I refer to it now only because on this 65^th anniversary, pseudo historians among us may need a reminder!                

As we exchange gifts with others this Christmas, wouldn’t it be a good move to send a silent gift of thanks heavenward for those in our armed forces who have made our Christmases safe and merry?

Joe and Newt and Duke and Bud would like that.