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Thursday, December 20, 2007

Battle of the Bulge Remembered at Easton Library

I stopped by Easton library yesterday, hoping to listen to WWII vets discuss their experience during the Battle of the Bulge. I expected a half empty room, but was astonished by the number of people who packed the place. I stood in a stairwell with about five or six folks and listened. The Express Times has a detailed account.

One of the fellows I heard is Ray Christman, an 84-year-old Nazareth resident. Like my dad, he was a POW. He described being loaded up in box cars and then being strafed by British aircraft on Christmas Eve. Yet that is the "best Christmas I ever had because I was alive." He spoke of sleeping next to a cow when being moved to a work camp. "A cow is just like a heater." His weight dropped to 70 lbs. in captivity. Fellow POWs, being fed doughnuts after being released, actually died. Their bodies could not handle the rich food.

Vets provided a handout with these details about the Battle of the Bulge.
Where: The heavily-forested Ardennes region of eastern Belgium and Northern Luxembourg.
When: December 16, 1944 - January 25,1945
Who: More than one million men:
• 600,000 Americans (more than the combined Union/Confederate forces at Gettysburg)
• 3 American Armies and 6 corps (equivalent to 31 Divisions)
• 500,000 Germans
• 3 German Armies and 10 corps (equivalent of 29 divisions)
• 55,000 British
• 3 British divisions plus contingents of Belgian. Canadian and French troopa
Casualties:
German -100,000
American - 81,000 including 19,000 killed
British - 1,400 including 200 killed
Equipment:
800 tanks lost on each side, 1,000 German aircraft.
The Malmedy Massacre was the worst atrocity committed against American Troops in Europe during the war.

Tomorrow, I'll publish a letter my dad wrote to the War Department in 1947 about one of his fellow POWs, who was shot by firing squad after being found with a can of string beans.
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3 comments:

  1. Blue CoyoteDecember 20, 2007 at 9:32 PM

    In reverence to fellow veterans of Northampton County the following news release:

    Legislation sponsored by state Rep. Julie Harhart renaming a portion of State Route 145 in Northampton County in honor of a group of veterans has been signed into law by Gov. Ed Rendell.

    “A group of constituents who took part in the Battle of the Bulge in World War II and who live in the district of state Rep. Rich Grucella (D-Northampton) meet regularly at a restaurant in my district,” said Harhart (R-Lehigh/Northampton). “They made a request to rename a segment of the highway, and we were happy to oblige and honor them for their service.”

    The law mandates that the stretch of State Route 145 in Lehigh Township running from Long Lane Road north to Main Street in Walnutport be renamed “Battle of the Bulge Veterans Memorial Highway.”

    “The Battle of the Bulge is considered to be World War II’s bloodiest battle,” Harhart added. "Approximately 19,000 American soldiers fought and died in the conflict.”

    The Battle of the Bulge is believed to have played a key role in keeping Germany from achieving its objective in World War II.

    An official ceremony to erect a plaque along the roadway is being planned.

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousMay 20, 2008 at 3:39 PM

    Johnnie Kotroba, better known as Clickty, was more than a friend to our family, He was special, gave me Candy when I was a little boy. How deeply it hurt his family, and everyone on Fullerton Ave in Allentown, where he was from, when he did not return. Unfortunately Clickty died for his Country at Normandy to my knowledge, what a crushing blow to his family, friends, and a little guy like me who he was a hero to, and always will be. Thanks for the Candy Clickty, thanks for the memories. You were special. I write about him in my book,"Tears On Henry Ford`s Face". He is Precious Memories , as well as his good family. Thanks, Johnnie. Author, Paul Knecht

    ReplyDelete
  3. AnonymousJune 6, 2008 at 6:36 AM

    It brought tears to my eyes to see your comments about my uncle who I heard so mush about but never met. Uncle John (Clickty)who I only met in pictures and stories from my father Frank Kotroba, who was not only affected from the "Great War" by the loss of his only brother but who himself was a disabled Vet from the same action. I have pictures of Clickty and stories in my mind and I'd love to hear more. Frank Jr. frank@orlandojobs.com

    ReplyDelete

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