CLAY NATIONAL GUARD CENTER, Marietta, Ga., Dec. 1, 2011 – War is never pretty.  It never stops for very long to allow for celebration because there are objectives to take and movements to make.  If you’re an American Christian, Christmas is Christmas, whether you are in Baghdad, Belgium or Boston.  Soldiers will take the time to celebrate the season, even if it entails nothing more than a simple acknowledgement of the day with a cup of coffee in the field.  Conditions may be harsh and time to celebrate short, but the effort is made nonetheless. 

The Christmas of 1944 was no different.  As the Allies marched across Europe to tighten the noose and ultimately deal the death blow to Nazi Germany, speed was essential.  Hitler, however, had other plans.  He revealed a plan to his staff for the German Army to break out of the developing Allied noose by counterattacking through the Ardennes forest in Belgium, on to Antwerp, then encircle the Allies and try to destroy them piecemeal by counterattacking.  This famous last-ditch effort to change the tide and momentum of the war was known as the “Battle of the Bulge.” 

It began during a particularly bitter and severe winter in the Ardennes Forest.  The Allied Forces were taken by surprise despite many signs of impending attack, and the 101st Airborne Division found itself surrounded by the 15th Panzer Grenadier Division and the 26th VolksGrenadier Division, among others.

General Anthony C.  McAuliffe, Acting Commander of the 101st Airborne Division wrote the following to the Soldiers on December 24, 1944:

“Merry Christmas! What’s merry about all this, you ask?  We’re fighting—it’s cold—we aren’t home.  All true, but what has the proud Eagle Division accomplished with its worthy comrades of the 10^th Armored Division, the 705^th Destroyer Tank Battalion and all the rest?  Just this: We have stopped cold everything that has been thrown at us from the north, east, south, and west… Allied Troops are counterattacking the force.  We continue to hold Bastogne.  By holding Bastogne, we assure the success of the Allied Armies.  We know that our Division Commander, General Taylor, will say: ‘Well done!’ We are giving our Country and our loved ones at home a worthy Christmas present and being privileged to take part in the gallant feat of arms and are truly making for ourselves a merry Christmas.” [1]

Earlier in the day, Soldiers received a promise from General George S. Patton of the Third Army:

“X-mas Eve present coming up, hold on!”

McAuliffe, now dubbed the Commanding General of the Battered Bastards of the Bastion of Bastogne, said on the phone to Maj. G Troy Middleton:

“The finest Christmas present the 101st could get would be a relief tomorrow.” [2]

Well, relief did arrive in the form of Patton’s Third Army on December 26.  Incidentally, a Georgia National Guard unit was instrumental in their relief.  Christmas Eve 1944 found the 179th Field Artillery Battalion supporting the Third Army’s dash from Alsace to Belgium and the relief of the beleaguered men at the Battle of the Bulge. 

Although they were contending with the most severe cold and snow, the batteries were firing more than 100 rounds a day.  The unit was again attached to and supporting the Fourth Armored Division, known as “Patton’s Vanguard” in its drive to relieve Bastogne.

Soldiers exhibited varying attitudes regarding the situation relative to the time of year.  For example, Sgt. John Hummer said:

 “Big deal!  Christmas! The Battle of the Bulge was on.  First Army was taking a beating.  I recorded that they had lost some thirty by thirty miles.  There was a Christmas dinner however, and I met a hometown friend by the name of Kenny Hossler whom I hadn’t seen since we were together in sixth grade!” [3]

Still others found comfort in the ability to practice longstanding Christmas traditions, even if they were missing home for the holidays. First Sgt. Harold L. Howerter, who joined the Georgia Guard’s 118th Field Artillery, 30th Division, sent a Christmas card home to his wife: 

“Lu, this is the card that the Chaplain gave out at Church this morning.  It’s a T.S. Christmas card.  I think you know what this means?  If not let me know and I’ll tell you in your next letter.  If a person has a gripe or something, he goes to the Chaplain. Well the Chaplain beat us to it this time, a T.S. card for Christmas because we can’t be home.”

One thing remains certain, now and in the future:  Christmas is a treasured occasion, and Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines will always take advantage of any opportunity to celebrate its anniversary, regardless of the circumstances, terrain or difficulty.  And while the Soldiers who fought in the Battle of the Bulge went on to experience some of the most difficult days of the war, there was at least a moment – if not an entire day – of warm-hearted Christmas celebration.