70 Pleasant St. Cohasset, MA.02025 *781
383 0215 * Mail Call : Ben Barrett Ben517@aol.com
Hello,
I have in this Mail Call a "Merry Christmas" letter from General
McAullife to the troops under his command at Bastogne in December
1944.
Ben
Website www.517prct.org
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January 22-25, 2006
Bradenton, FL
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Palm Springs, Ca. April 2-7
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purchased for $22.50 from Bob Christie. 390 301 Blvd. W. Unit 10C,
Bradenton, Fl. 34205-7904
Lettre du Général McAuliffe datée du 24
decembre 1944 :
general Mcauliffe’s letter, dated December 24, 1944
" Merry Christmas "
Headquarters 101st Airborne Division
Office of the Division Commander - 24 December 1944
What's Merry about all this, you ask ? We are fighting - it's cold, we are not home. All true but what has the proud Eagle Division accomplished with its worthy comrades of the 10th Armored Division, the 705th Destroyer 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. We have identifications from four German Panzer Divisions, two German Infantry Divisions and one German Parachute Division. These units spearheading the last desperate German lunge, were headed straight West for key points when
the Eagle Division was hurriedly ordered to stem the advance. How effectively this was done will be written in History; not alone in our Division's glorious History but in World History. The Germans actually did surround us,
their radios blared our doom. Their Commander demanded our surrender in the following impudent arrogance.
December 22nd 1944
To the U.S.A. Commander of the encircled town of Bastogne,
The fortune of war is changing, This time the U.S.A. forces in and near Bastogne have been encircled by strong German armored units. More German armored units have crossed the river Ourthe near Ortheuville, have taken
Marche and reached St. Hubert by passing through Hompré-Sibret-Tillet. Libramont is in German hands. There is only one possibility to save the encircled U.S.A. Troops from total annihilation: that is honorable surrender of the encircled town. In order to think it over a term of two hours will be granted beginning with the presentation of this note. If this proposal should be rejected, one German Artillery Corps and six heavy A.A. Battalions are ready to annihilate the U.S.A. Troops in and near Bastogne. The order for firing will be given immediately after this two hour's term.
All the serious civilian losses caused by this Artillery fire would not correspond will the well known American humanity.
The German Commander
The German Commander received the following reply:
22 December 1944
"To the German Commander:
N U T S !
The American Commander
Allied Troops are counterattacking in 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 this gallant feat of arms are truly making for ourselves a Merry Christmas.
(signed)
McAuliffe,
Commanding.
general Mcauliffe’s letter, dated December 24, 1944
" Merry Christmas "
Headquarters 101st Airborne Division
Office of the Division Commander - 24 December 1944
What's Merry about all this, you ask ? We are fighting - it's cold, we are not home. All true but what has the proud Eagle Division accomplished with its worthy comrades of the 10th Armored Division, the 705th Destroyer 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. We have identifications from four German Panzer Divisions, two German Infantry Divisions and one German Parachute Division. These units spearheading the last desperate German lunge, were headed straight West for key points when
the Eagle Division was hurriedly ordered to stem the advance. How effectively this was done will be written in History; not alone in our Division's glorious History but in World History. The Germans actually did surround us,
their radios blared our doom. Their Commander demanded our surrender in the following impudent arrogance.
December 22nd 1944
To the U.S.A. Commander of the encircled town of Bastogne,
The fortune of war is changing, This time the U.S.A. forces in and near Bastogne have been encircled by strong German armored units. More German armored units have crossed the river Ourthe near Ortheuville, have taken
Marche and reached St. Hubert by passing through Hompré-Sibret-Tillet. Libramont is in German hands. There is only one possibility to save the encircled U.S.A. Troops from total annihilation: that is honorable surrender of the encircled town. In order to think it over a term of two hours will be granted beginning with the presentation of this note. If this proposal should be rejected, one German Artillery Corps and six heavy A.A. Battalions are ready to annihilate the U.S.A. Troops in and near Bastogne. The order for firing will be given immediately after this two hour's term.
All the serious civilian losses caused by this Artillery fire would not correspond will the well known American humanity.
The German Commander
The German Commander received the following reply:
22 December 1944
"To the German Commander:
N U T S !
The American Commander
Allied Troops are counterattacking in 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 this gallant feat of arms are truly making for ourselves a Merry Christmas.
(signed)
McAuliffe,
Commanding.
Jim Lathers
CO. C.
Hi Ben,
Just been advised that another one our
warriors is facing the now, all too frequent, health battle. Tom Bodack of
Company C, an extraordinary mortar-man as I recall got us thru and out of some
tough situations with his uncanny " fire for effect" is now in an Allentown, PA.
hospital suffering from some degree of Alzheimer's. That's all I know at this
time other than his wife ( Evelyn ) and kids are on
hand.
There is a great picture linked as C
Company - 1987 reunion on your amazing web site .
I'm going to try to send a photo via this
infernal machine, if successful, the people standing left to right are: Tom
Bodack, Jeff Thomas, Jim Lathers, and "Deacon"
Jones.
Thanks & Regards Jim
Lathers
Gene Brissey
This is for Richard Hammel E company. I never see a note from
anyone from E Company so may I join you in wishing everyone a merry Christmas
and a Happy new Year. Reference last Mail Call.
Gene Brissey, E Company
Gene Brissey, E Company
Robert Jackson
R3402@aol.com has been
changed to robertnjackson@bellsouth.net
Thanks and we appreciate what you do
Bob Christie
Ben, here is list of attendees to Florida Snowbird, so
far.
Lou & Joyce Scaringi
Bob & Mildred Christie
Don Fraser & Vera Anderson
Darrell Egner
Bruce & Elizabeth Broudy
Gerald & Alice Stokes
Hal & Helen Beddow
Bill & Babbie Boyle
Joe Boyle
Herb & Marie Reichwald
Jesse & Lou Darden
Ben Barrett
Hunter & Emmie McDonald
Leo Dean
Bill & Leila Webb
John P. Anderson
Nila Gott
Hi Ben,
Maybe you can answer this email and hopefully we
can talk them into coming to a reunion.
Thanks,
Nila
----- Original Message -----
From: IRA
CRYTZER
To: nila gott
Sent: Monday, December 19, 2005 5:22 PM
Subject: Re:
Thanks for the e-mail. I just got off
the phone with my Dad, and he thinks he remembers him, but he is not
sure. Please realize, he does not remember too well about
anything. For many years he suppressed his memory about about the war, and
finally, he has just become willing to talk about it. Apparently, Manhay
had a great impact on him. I guess I am trying to find others who
remember him, and can tell me about him.
From what I have learned so far, the 517th
was an outfit to have been proud to belong to. I understand that there is
an auxiliary organization, and I would like to join it. Do you know
anything about this?
Please keep in
touch,
Fritz Crytzer
----- Original Message -----From: nila gottCc: Impact DesignSent: Friday, December 09, 2005 11:58 AMHello,My first husband, Nacho Vasquez was in the 517th 3rd, I, and I just wondered if your father might have known him or other Mexican troopers. One of Nacho's favorite officers was Lt Robert Reber, whose son Tom is active in the 517th organization.Nila Gott (Vasquez)I'm sending my son Rick a copy of this message as he is also very involved in the 517th.******************************
Nila Gott
http://myspot.neteze.com/~ngott
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