‘I would do it again’: Battle of the Bulge veterans recount their actions in one of WWII’s bloodiest

[rangerrebew]

‘I would do it again’: Battle of the Bulge veterans recount their actions in one of WWII’s bloodiest fights

By LINDA F. HERSEY STARS AND STRIPES •
November 10, 2024


WASHINGTON — Harry Miller said he was always fascinated by the World War I veterans he watched marching at parades in his hometown of Columbus, Ohio. Orphaned as a child, he said the veterans offered a role model and a sense of purpose he lacked. “I grew up in the [Great] Depression. Life was very tough.

I remember my sisters and I eating a can of beans or whatever we could get,” Miller said. “But the military veterans had a certain respect and dignity. From early on, I wanted to join the Army.” Miller dropped out of elementary school to pick up odd jobs and help his family.

But his focus was on becoming a soldier. And as the Second World War raged on, the 15-year-old lied about his age to enlist in the Army and was sent immediately to basic training at Fort Knox, Ky.

Read more at: https://www.stripes.com/history/2024-11-10/battle-bulge-wwii-veterans-veterans-day-15800897.html
Source - Stars and Stripes

[rangerrebew]

 

[Free Vulcan]

Had a HS teacher who served in the Bulge. He actually talked about it some to us and the local newspaper that interviewed him.

In short, it was brutal, cold and the Germans fought like wild men.

[jafo2010]

I had relatives that were at the Battle of the Bulge, but one fellow I worked with was a captain in the Army during the Bulge battle.  I never served in the military, and he would often talk about his experiences during the war.  As long as I sat there and listened to his stories, I was fine.  But if I said anything resembling an opinion, etc, he would get belligerent and say, 'unless you have seen a bullet fired in anger in your direction, shut up.'

After the Germans started killing captured Allies, he told me that he ordered his men to NOT take any SS as prisoners.  He indicated they were all shot.  He himself was injured and had a metal plate in his head.  He had quite a few stories that were interesting.