The battle of Ettelbruck had to reach its highest point. The winter weather was very cold. At 7 o’clock in the morning, heavy battery fire started for half an hour.
TODAY, ETTELBRÜCK WILL BE TAKEN BY ASSAULT, declared the American units that had taken position on the heights of the Nuck.
The assault broke out again to the west of the city. The site of Gzrenzingen, one kilometer from the city, was nothing more than an armored fortress. About 27 of these monsters were in the farms. Pipes were coming out of all the openings of the building.
In turn, the heavy guns from Colmar, Bissen Vichten and Vom Rost hit the German-occupied heights around Ettelbruck.
By 10:00 a.m. the battle was in full swing, the weather was clearing, and on both sides of Ettelbruck fighter planes were attacking German-occupied positions in and around the city.
The American artillery fire gradually became unbearable for the rest of the inhabitants of Ettelbruck, who had to stay in the cellars.
The fighter-bombers supported the artillery and its squadrons and destroyed and burned down whole blocks of houses on Christmas night.
For the town of Ettelbruck, Christmas night was the worst night of all. Many German soldiers surrendered when American units arrived on that terrible, deadly night. Countless innocent soldiers lost their lives in this battle.
Submitted by Jos THOLL, Président of GENERAL PATTON MEMORIAL MEUSEUM
Identify photos from the Patton Museum! – link coming!
A History of West Michigan Chapter (23) 1992 – 2020 – link coming!
Remembering the Battle of the Bugle – link coming!
ARMDD SPOTLIGHT – 8th ARMDD Association “The Thundering Herd”
BOBA Member Ken Mar Receives Gold Medal for Chinese-American Veterans
My Father’s War: Piecing it Together (9 ARMDD 2 TK BN A)
Priceless Gifts (35 INFD)
Brothers In The War (2 INFD)
The 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion
Spotlight on the 106th INFD “Golden Lions”
Stopping the Germans and Saving the Bees – Vernon Brantley (75 INFD 289 REG AT CO)
Art Brodin (87 INFD, 549 AAA BN) RECEIVES HIS MEDALS 75 YEARS LATER
Bulge Memories from Lionel Adda (99 INFD 393 INF D), J. David Bailey (106 INFD 422 REG F), Harold Grant Stoops (80 INFD 317 REG C), Harold W. Kimmel (212 QM LAUNDRY PLATOON), Raymond Wenning (30 INFD 117 REG A). Douglas Harvey (84 INFD 334 REG 1 BN HQ) Thomas E. Hoke (87 INFD 312 MED BN C)
More Bulge Memories from 99 INFD, 83 INFD, 80 INFD and 9 AIR FORCE!
The following is content featured in the latest Bulge Bugle®.
The 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion
Spotlight on the 106th INFD “Golden Lions”
Stopping the Germans and Saving the Bees – Vernon Brantley (75 INFD 289 REG AT CO)
Art Brodin (87 INFD, 549 AAA BN)RECEIVES HIS MEDALS 75 YEARS LATER
Bulge Memories! – J. David Bailey (106 INFD 422 REG F), Harold Grant Stoops (80 INFD 317 REG C), Harold W. Kimmel (212 QM LAUNDRY PLATOON), Raymond Wenning (30 INFD 117 REG A). Douglas Harvey (84 INFD 334 REG 1 BN HQ) Thomas E. Hoke (87 INFD 312 MED BN C)
To read more stories below from our previous 2021 Bulge Bugle® editions, join our organization.
Arthur L Brodin was born February 22, 1923 and was raised on the family farm between the towns of Firestone and Longmont in Northern Colorado. Arthur was finishing a day of skiing on Berthoud Pass when he heard the news of Pearl Harbor. Arthur had a job delivering anesthesia products that delayed his entrance to the military, but it set him up to become a Surgical Technician in the European Theater.
On December 7, 1941, Japan staged a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, decimating the US Pacific Fleet. When Germany and Italy declared war on the United States days later, America found itself in a global war.
PFC Brodin enlisted in the Army at Fort Logan, CO on April 22, 1943. After completing a year of training, PFC Brodin was shipped out of NY on October, 1944, and arrived in England a few weeks later. Then came the preparations for D-Day. He found himself in a plywood glider in the dark of night and braced for a crash landing. He was the medic aboard the glider full of a company of engineers with orders to either guard or blast a bridge southwest of Normandy France, depending on whether friends or foes were coming at the bridge.
Soon he re-joined his outfit – the Medical Attachment of the 549th Anti-Aircraft Automatic Weapons Battalion, 87th Infantry Division (“Golden Acorn Division”) and their next destination was Metz, France. As part of Patton’s Third Army, the 87th progressed to the Saar Valley and then to Bastogne where he fought in the Battle of the Bulge. Then to Aachen, Koblenz, Mainz, across the Rhine to Falkenstein (near the Czech border). Just 3 weeks prior to Falkenstein, Art’s unit was one of the divisions that liberated Buchenwald on April 11 – something he will never forget.
The date was May 7, 1945. Art was in Falkenstein, Germany and his division had taken Falkenstein on May 6. He heard the news – Germany had finally surrendered! PFC Brodin was in Falkenstein when the Germans began retreating. There was lots of celebration in the unit and Art wondered, “What’s going to happen to us now?”
Art often thought of home – a place he missed dearly. He missed the family farm – he missed his dad, brother, and sister.So many times, he wondered if he’d ever see them again. So many close calls over a period of 11 months. On that day, May 7, he felt like he WOULD be seeing everyone again – but when? He would have to wait, but one thing he knew – no more fighting. Everyone could put down their arms.
After the war ended, Art was in Antwerp, Belgium to be a part of the Operation Forces. When he was finally on his way home, during the ship transit back to the states, PFC Brodin assisted the ship’s doctor in an emergency removal of a soldier’s appendix. He was honorably discharged on February 5, 1946.
When he arrived home, his thoughts were on resuming life as normally as possible. Like so many others, he wanted to put the war behind him as much as possible. The furthest thing from his mind were medals. He learned that he should have applied for his medals but by the time he learned about that, he thought it was too late. He resumed his life on the farm, married his wife, Luella of 68 years and raised a family of 3children- Phillip, Brenda and Bob.
About a year ago, his son and daughter-in-law learned that it would be possible for Art to get the medals that he deserved. His family followed up and contacted their local Congressman Ken Buck who contacted the Army to obtain the medals. PFC Arthur Brodin received his well-deserved medals on September 26, 2020 (over 75 years after the war ended). His family couldn’t have been more proud of their father, grandfather and great grandfather – their Hero.
George (818 MP CO VIII CORPS) keeps very BUSY and active with the Battle of the Bulge Association (BOBA). Last Fall, George participated in two Livestreams about Battle of the Bulge with BOBA historian Jim Triesler.
Click here to watch George Merzduring BOBA’s first-ever Livestream event in October 2020 (co-sponsored by Va War Memorial and Lifelong Learning Institute in Chesterfield).
Also, check out GEORGE MERZ’s follow-upinterview from December 16, 2020 – the 76th Anniversary of the beginning of the Battle of the Bulge.
Thank you, George, for all you do for B.O.B.A. to educate us on what happened during your service, especially in Bastogne! We hope you have a wonderful and Happy Birthday!
Pictured above: Last Fall, George (at right) took a flight on the Missouri “Show Me” B-25 Bomber in Bowman Field, Louisville, KY. (Photo Credit: Betty Doggendorf)
BOBA lost one of our long-time founding members of the VBOB Lehigh Valley Chapter this week, Lionel Adda (99 INFD 393 REG). Chapter president Steve Savage said, “He was one of the Mainstays in our education program almost from the very beginning and spoke to hundreds of students and adults over the years. We shall miss him, his wit, his guidance, and his friendship.”
Lionel Adda 99 INFD
On his birthday (January 17, 2021), Lionel sent us an article he wrote for our “Bulge Memories” column which is printed in the The Bulge Bugle® Winter magazine. We wish he could have seen it in print, but we are so glad he recorded his experiences so that we could share his memories. Lionel was 99 years old. Condolences to family and all his friends in Lehigh Valley VBOB.
REGISTER by Sept 30thto attend our Annual BOBA Reunion October 21-25, 2021 in Charleston, SC!
Meet Bulge veterans and hear their stories during a guided panel discussion. Attend our annual banquet and wreath-laying ceremony, and tour some of the area’s amazing sites including the Charleston Harbor, The Citadel, USS Yorktown and more! Come join us!
REGISTER for a FREE livestream“The Hurtgen Forest: Prelude to the Battle of the Bulge” on September 21 at 2:00 pm on ZOOM.
Offered by Virginia War Memorial and hosted by BOBA Historian and VWM Education Director Jim Triesler.
The following is content featured in the latest Bulge Bugle®.
The 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion
Spotlight on the 106th INFD “Golden Lions”
Stopping the Germans and Saving the Bees – Vernon Brantley (75 INFD 289 REG AT CO)
Art Brodin (87 INFD, 549 AAA BN)RECEIVES HIS MEDALS 75 YEARS LATER
Bulge Memories! – J. David Bailey (106 INFD 422 REG F), Harold Grant Stoops (80 INFD 317 REG C), Harold W. Kimmel (212 QM LAUNDRY PLATOON), Raymond Wenning (30 INFD 117 REG A). Douglas Harvey (84 INFD 334 REG 1 BN HQ) Thomas E. Hoke (87 INFD 312 MED BN C)
To read more stories below from our previous 2021 Bulge Bugle® editions, join our organization.
In the past few months, our tech-savy BOBA veterans have been busy on the internet! If you missed any of the following Livestreams, they are available for playback at the links. Also available is a documentary!
Watch our first-ever BOBA LIVESTREAM EVENT (co-sponsored by Va War Memorial and Lifelong Learning Institute in Chesterfield). Hear accounts from the following BOBA veterans:
WARREN FISHER (28 INFD 109 REG)details his experiences in another virtual Livestream event (hosted by Virginia War Memorial) with our BOBA Historian Jim Triesler.
IRVING LOCKER(116 AAA Gun Bn)shared his experience as a Staff Sergeant in charge of four 90mm guns and 65 soldiers who managed the guns. This event was hosted by BOBA President of CA Golden Gate Chapter Doris Davis.
Doris Davis, President of the Battle of the Bulge Association, Golden Gate Chapter, and Irving Locker, 116 AAA Gun Bn, 4th Div, VII Corp gave an excellent presentation about the Battle of the Bulge to the Northern California Chapter of the Belgian Club in January 2021.
Doris Davis
It was very well attended by Belgians who remember the stories they heard from their parents and grandparents as well as others who have an interest in the Bulge. James Treisler, Director of Education of the VA War Memorial, contributed maps of the Bulge.
Irving Locker
Irving Locker shared his experience as a Staff Sergeant in charge of four 90mm guns and 65 soldiers who managed the guns. It took that many men to operate the guns because they had to fire a shell every 2.5 minutes. Each shell was 3 feet tall and weighed 45 pounds.
When I received the call from John’s daughter Cheryl that her father had died, the tears began. John was feisty and fiercely independent – always a strong presence! I couldn’t conceive of his earthly fight being over.
It is with good reason that some years ago, John and his dear late wife, Mary Ann, were voted “Mr. & Mrs. VBOB.” They were passionate about upholding the legacy of all Battle of the Bulge veterans through the Battle of the Bulge Historical Society and the Veterans of the Battle of the Bulge (now Battle of the Bulge Association) – listening to stories, sharing stories and encouraging individual participation. John had assembled a vast collection of videos, books and maps, many of which he would haul by the crate load to our events – a conversation starter for attendees, always a learning experience for each of us. His presentations and the many articles he wrote provided unexpected insights, even for those quite knowledgeable. Over the years, John built an awesome network of international historians, curators, and other contacts. One of his favorite pursuits, time intensive but immensely rewarding, was assisting families to research their military history or help them find a good home for their items of historic interest.
For me, it was also deeply personal. My dad – a Battle of the Bulge veteran, historian, and an active VBOB member since its inception – often spoke of John’s extraordinary knowledge and of his kindness. In Dad’s later years, John picked him up for VBOB events. In fact, a few years ago when my driving was restricted, John picked me up for a chapter meeting!
My own involvement began in December 2003, after my dad died. I decided to attend the VBOB chapter Holiday Party at Ft. Meade – just to thank for how much that group had meant to Dad. I figured that would be the end of it – but John made sure it was really only the beginning of my now lifetime commitment to the VBOB/BOBA organization. He introduced me to Mike Levin, John & Lil Schaffner, Al & Dot Darago, J. David Bailey and many others who made me feel so welcome, like family. Soon, I was involved with chapter meetings and then suddenly I was on the national board, thanks to John nominating me. I began meeting wonderful veterans and their families at annual national reunions and commemorations. I made several memorable, eye-opening trips to Europe with VBOB. I owe John & Mary Ann a great deal for their support and encouragement in these, for me, life changing experiences.
My most recent memory of John is his participation on our cold 75th commemoration trip to Europe, December 2019, just before “the world shut down.” It was a physically exacting trip for him, but evenings in our hotel, he was in his element. He was teaching history, sharing stories, suggesting resources – all off-the-cuff and with a sense of humor.
Rest in peace, dear friend. You did more than anyone else I’ve met to keep alive the legacy of our service men and women who fought so valiantly in the Battle of the Bulge for the liberties and freedoms we hold dear today. Your own legacy lives on, John. And we are grateful!
John was editor of The Marcher, the official publication of the MD/DC Chapter of the Veterans of the Battle of the Bulge. Check out the archive here.
The Washington Post article about John – subscriberscan click here to read it.
John touring the shipyard at BOBA’s reunion in Norfolk (Oct 2019)
PVT James Hampton Coates – 285 FAOB BTRY B, US Army POW/KIA Malmédy Massacre 12/17/44
James was one of 86 servicemen who was killed in the Malmédy Massacre in Belgium during the Battle of the Bulge. He served in the 13 FAOB HQ from 1942-44. During that time he landed on Utah Beach D-Day+1 and was injured in July by a mine or dud, but stayed with the battalion under field medical care. In October 1944, he joined 285 FAOB BTRY B, and two months later he was killed in the massacre.
James left behind a wife and two children: a 2-year-old daughter and 7-month-old son. He was buried in Henri Chapelle Cemetery, Belgium and later reinterred in his hometown of Kilmarnock, Virginia.
Submitted by his daughter, Mary Ann Smith, Virginia Crater BOBA Chapter President
BOBA veteran member George Schneider passed last year, and his daughter Barbara-Ann shared his book, SURVIVOR: Memoirs of a WWII Vet, 30th Infantry “The Old Hickory.” The following is an excerpt regarding his unit’s involvement in the Battle of the Bulge and what they discovered in Malmédy:
By now, the weather was horrible even though the sky was clear. Snow was ankle to knee deep, and temperatures were well below freezing. We were now getting many casualties from frozen feet. We were poorly equipped with only our leather combat boots and thin socks. One of our generals rounded up all of the GI blankets he could find and sent them back to the Netherlands or Belgium where he had local women make booties from the blankets. We wore them inside a pair of overshoes and managed to keep our feet from freezing as we plodded on to the south.
Sometime around December 19th or 20th, we began to hear rumors of a massacre of Americans near Malmédy. Information was sketchy, but the word was spreading that the number of those slaughtered was significant, and most alarmingly, the Germans were not taking prisoners.
On the outskirts of Malmédy, we reached a small community called Géromont. There were only a few houses along the main road, and in these houses, our company established our headquarters for a couple of days.
One more mile south of Géromont, a distance of approximately 2 miles from Malmédy, we came to the intersection of five country roads which we named Five Points. Not more than two or three houses were in this area. There were no signs to indicate that the community had a name, and our maps didn’t identify the village, but today it is called Baugnez, and this small piece of geography is now well known to military historians as the site of the Malmédy Massacre.
The frigid winter air shrouded this site. We were now witnessing the site of the worst massacre of American troops by the Germans in WWII. In the snow-covered field adjacent to Five Points lay 86 frozen bodies, the only evidence of the atrocity manifested by humps in the snow and occasional exposed body parts and clothing. Each mound was a soldier. A man. Although I knew none of these men from the 285th, I felt a bonding with these fallen comrades, and we all felt a renewed hatred for the SS and elevated our resolve to pay back the perpetrators. The massacre had taken place during the initial German attack on December 16, 1944 when elements of the 285th Field Artillery Observation Battalion were captured on December 17th. More than one hundred men were herded into the open field near the intersection of five points and machine gunned in cold blood. It was not until our drive south of Malmédy on this day, January 14, 1945, that the massacre was confirmed when units of my 120th Regiment discovered the frozen, snow-shrouded bodies. Some survivors of the massacre had reported the tragic encounter with the advancing SS troops, but the reality was confirmed by us twenty-eight days after the massacre.
While I viewed this tragic scene, just a few yards away, a jeep load of media correspondents drove up and parked in the intersection of Five Points to document the massacre. We knew the Germans had an 88 zeroed in on the intersection, so we stayed clear of this target. I was close enough to observe a shoulder patch on one of the neatly dressed reporters that identified him as being from Brazil. Reporting of the massacre had apparently made news throughout the world. Shortly after the reporters dismounted the jeep, an 88 narrowly missed the jeep and exploded a few yards away. The artillery piece was probably along the road to Ligneville, our next objective. One round was all the reporters needed to hasten a retreat to Malmédy without any photographs for their archives.
I, along with my 30th Division, left the bodies as found, and the Graves Registration Battalion later identified the bodies and removed them from the field. Baugnez, a.k.a. Five Points, will always be remembered as the site of the infamous “Malmédy Massacre”.
Although it was initially reported that as many as 135 men had been executed, the final count now stands at 86. Most of the 86 were members of the 285th Field Artillery Observation Battalion. Many Americans living today claim to be survivors, but few truly are. I can vouch for two survivors, Robert “Sketch” Mearig and Harold Billow. Into the new millennium, both were still active members of our local chapter of the Veterans of the Battle of the Bulge, the South Central, PA Chapter. The following depicts the events of the massacre as told to me by my friends Harold and Sketch:
It is late afternoon and quickly getting dark. The Germans herd the Americans into an open field where an SS officer surveys his catch with pride. Suddenly he shoots the guy standing next to Harold in the head.
Then he shoots the guy on the other side. He shouts a command to the machine-gunners, and they open up. Sketch & Harold, although not yet hit, drop to the ground and play dead amongst the corpses of their buddies. After all the men have fallen, the officer calls a halt to the firing and inspects his trophies. Sketch & Harold stifle their breaths as they listen to the officer walking amidst the bodies, checking for signs of life. The SS officer, speaking perfect English, would ask if anyone was wounded, and if he gets a positive response, he has a target. He asks one soldier if he is wounded, and getting a moan in response, he shoots the soldier in the head. The officer continues his walk among the pile of bodies, and any movement or groan is terminated with a shot to the head. He kicks them in hopes of getting a reflexive response. When he comes across Harold, he kicks his boot. Harold doesn’t flinch. The officer moves on, arbitrarily choosing bodies to kick. A few flinch or moan. He shoots them. Now satisfied that they are all dead, he orders his men to move out. By this time, it is fairly dark, and with just a handful of Germans now still at the site, Sketch decides to make a break for it. He is near the far end of the field and believes he has a shot at it. He flees toward the woods and, while under fire, disappears. Harold and another guy decide to make their break. They dash towards a house on the corner and make their way inside. Realizing the Germans had probably seen them go in and would probably come after them, they race out the back door and high tail it toward Malmédy. Sketch spent three days wandering in the woods between Baugnez and Malmédy before finally being rescued by our regiment. Regimental Commander Col. Purdue took him back to his quarters and gave him his bed for the night.
In Summer 2020, the 30th Division was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation for their critical victory during the initial months of the Normandy invasion and extraordinary heroism at the Battle of Mortain, France, in 1944. George’s daughter wrote, “My dad passed having only one unresolved issue in his life—to see the Old Hickory finally awarded this citation. He contacted several people close to the president, but he did not live long enough to see it actually happen… I know this award means the world to all Old Hickory survivors.
If you’d like a copy of George’s book, his daughter Barbara-Ann is offering it “at cost” to BOBA members ($19 total with shipping for US only) which is less than the Amazon rate. To order, contact her at vbobgeorge@gmail.com.
Fort Eben-Emael, Belgium, captured by the 30 INFD. George Schneider is exiting the fort with a Nazi flag. 75 years later, the 30 INFD was awarded the Presidential Citation in 2020.
They became fast friends and were chosen to lay the wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier together (pictured below). The next month, Francis, who lived in Mahanoy City, PA, travelled to New Jersey to attend Lester’s 95th birthday party. They and their families kept in touch and looked forward to the next reunion.
Sadly, we lost them both within a few days of each other. Francis passed on November 24, 2020 at the age of 96 and Lester at the age of 95 on December 5, 2020.
Francis and Lester, two amazing men, who sacrificed their youth to preserve our freedom and our liberties. Their BOBA family is privileged to have known them and sends condolences to their families. We miss them so much!
December has always been a special time of year. And, like most other events in this unforgettable year of 2020, our observances may be unique. No doubt, we each have unusually long lists of losses and heart aches. Some people may even prefer holidays to pass unnoticed.
But celebrate we shall, we must!
In a time when darkness, real and metaphorical, settles heavily on us, we can find joy in celebrations of light, indeed of miracles: Hanukkah and Christmas. Light those candles for Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa – creatively honor your faith/family tradition(s).
The image of our soldiers doing their best to celebrate in the midst of battle always touches my heart. Gain strength from them. Whatever their internal dialog at the moment, no matter how far from loved ones, despite the danger, they touched each other’s lives as best able with warmth, caring, and faith – and they endured.
We celebrate them, even as we mourn those so dear to us who have recently died. Take a moment to reflect on their lives and their impact on us. Although we cannot gather formally this December 16 to commemorate the 76th anniversary of the beginning of the Battle of the Bulge, please pay tribute in your heart to these brave service men and women who fought to preserve our freedom and our liberties. Honor their families, too – and all who supported them.
And now in this blessed season, permit yourself a little perspective shift. Don’t focus on what you’re missing! Focus, with joy and gratitude, on what you have – “hold fast what is good.” Invite the peace of the Lord to reside in your heart. Joyfully, believe that God has a plan far greater than anything of which we can conceive. Humbly, acknowledge that God uses difficult times to strengthen, to teach, to guide. Continue your faith journey, even when you stumble. “Do not quench the Spirit” (in yourself or in anyone else)! Let your light shine – you will feel better and so will those around you.
Prayer: Lord, keep us mindful of how blessed we are – and joyfully share those blessings. Open us, especially in challenging times, to an awareness of, and gratitude for, the many silver linings. Grant us contentment. Give us strength to live out our faith, to constantly reach out to you and rejoice in you, knowing you are always with us and you keep your promises. AMEN.
A blessing for today and for the coming year:
“May the Lord bless you and protect you. May the Lord smile on you and be gracious to you. May the Lord show you His favor and give you His peace.” (Numbers 6:24-25)
Dale Cooksey (28th Division, 110th Inf Rgt, Co A) turned 100 on December 3rd and the local police and fire department helped him celebrate! He is a proud American – he raises his American flag on his flagpole every morning and retires it in the evening – rain or shine.
Dale was born in Trenton, MO in 1920 and lived in the midwest all his life. His first job (at age 16) was to sell shoes and he became store manager at age 18. He was drafted into the US Army at the age of 23. He trained at Camp Roberts, CA. When he left for Europe on the Queen Mary, he left behind his young bride who was carrying their first child. Dale recalls his experiences as well as some of the places he fought in – St. Vith, Clervaux, Wiltz and Cologne.
He was lucky to return home in January 1946 without injuries and he met his daughter for the first time. He worked in Chicago as a manufacturing representative selling brushes (for artists, hair stylists and painters) and eventually became a sales manager at a Sherwin Williams store for over 20 years.
After retiring, he worked as a volunteer at a Thrift Shop. He loves to tinker with clocks and he can fix anything that is broken. He has always been a generous man who believes in working hard and living honestly. He lives close to family and still manages his household – including doing his own housecleaning, laundry and even mowing his lawn!
He’s never met a stranger – he loves people. He was married to his sweetheart for 74 years and has 3 daughters, 4 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren who adore him. I’m one of them – his grandson – who is extremely proud of him. He taught me more than he’ll ever know.
Submitted by BOBA member Jason Ryan, grandson of Dale Cooksey
