Speaking of the Band of Brothers/65 years ago today

[Pat Carry]

65 years ago today, the Battle of the Bulge began. The costliest battle in American military history. Let us never forget the sacrifices made by all the soldiers involved in this 5 week long battle.

[Robbie Stuart]

US NAVY PHOTO
DESCRIPTION: Clervaux, Belgium (Dec. 15, 2004) - Soldiers, Sailors and World War II veterans remember those killed in action during the “Battle of the Bulge” at a wreath laying ceremony at the American GI Statue honoring the Liberation of Clervaux, Belgium. Events serve to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the German offensive action in the Ardennes region of eastern Belgium and northern Luxembourg, where American forces suffered some of its largest casualties during WWII. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer’s Mate 1st Class Ted Banks
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[Richard W.]

Nothing against the Navy, but it seems strange to see a USN honor guard with the soldiers at a Battle of the Bulge ceremony.

Where's the USAF?

[Mudge]

I'm surprised that all the services weren't represented at the memorial.

Mrs. Mudge and I are going to do a 3 day Battle of the Bulge tour next July. My uncle was with Patton and was killed during the battle. He's buried at the Luxemburg cemetery.

Mudge

[k5083]

It was not the costliest battle in American military history. Several Civil War battles, led by Gettysburg, were much costlier, by a factor 2 or 3 times.

I have also read that 26,000 Americans were killed in the Battle of Meuse-Argonne during World War I. That would be the USA's costliest battle of that war and costlier than any World War II action, although still small by the standards of other nations in that conflict. There were individual World War I battles in which both French and German casualties ran well into six figures. Thank goodness, America has never known the horrors of war on anything like that scale.

August

[Pat Carry]

The US suffered 90,000 casualties in the Bulge (KIA, wounded and MIA) No other US military engagement had more casualties.

Last edited by Pat Carry on Wed Dec 16, 2009 5:10 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[seabee1526]

Nothing against the Navy, but it seems strange to see a USN honor guard with the soldiers at a Battle of the Bulge ceremony.

Where's the USAF?

Probably could only find 2 guys that had a dress uniform. I wish the Army would stop wearing that ugly new camo uniform everywhere they go.

[k5083]

The US suffered 90,000 casualties in the Bulge (KIA, wounded and MIA) No other US engagement had more casualties.

I have seen 117,000 to 120,000 American casualties quoted for Meuse-Argonne. The consensus among historians is that it was the bloodiest American battle. It's likely that if accurate figures for wounded in Gettysburg and other Civil War battles were available, they would be even bloodier.

August

[Pat Carry]

K5083, I stand corrected. You are right on the money. According to Robert Ferrell's book "Americas Deadliest Battle" 26,000 were killed and some 95,000 were wounded. You learn something each and everyday. Thanks for pointing that out.