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.
The 517th was not at Bastogne but Merle McMorrow,our past president, editor ofThe Thunderbolt  and savior of the 517th Assn. was there with the 463. Merle will have to explain why he was with the 463 artillery battalion.
Ben
__________________________________________________
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.
_______________________________________________________-Subj: Re: MAIL CALL NO. 400 517TH PRCT 
Date: 12/20/2002 7:50:23 PM Eastern Standard Time
From: Dalry596@webtv.net ( Bob Dalrymple )

Dear Ben: I copy very little off the net, but the message fromGen Heintz
is one to take home toGarnet. Thank you for it and your fine work for
Assn. And most of all, Seasons Greetings and have a fine Holiday with
your friends and family. Bob and Garnet.
________________________________________________________________________Subj: Christmas Card 
Date: 12/20/2002 8:57:53 PM Eastern Standard Time
From: newacct1088254 ( BoomBoom Alicki )
To: Ben517

You may remember this from last year, but it is one of those worth repeating....those people that are new to the computer world in the last year will love it :)
 Click here:
______________________________________________________________________
_-
Subj: Fwd: Fw: [Fwd: A Christmas Poem] 
Date: 12/21/2002 5:36:21 PM Eastern Standard Time
From: BBoyle3382 (Babbie Boyle)
To: Ben517

> > Christmas Poem

> > > Twas The Night Before Christmas,
> > > He Lived All Alone,
> > > In a One Bedroom House
> > > Made Of Plaster And Stone.
> > >
> > > I Had Come Down The Chimney
> > > With Presents To Give,
> > > And To See Just Who
> > > In This Home Did Live.
> > >
> > > I Looked All About,
> > > A Strange Sight I Did See,
> > > No Tinsel, No Presents,
> > > Not Even A Tree.
> > >
> > > No Stocking By Mantle,
> > > Just Boots Filled With Sand,
> > > On The Wall Hung Pictures
> > > Of Far Distant Lands.
> > >
> > > With Medals And Badges,
> > > Awards Of All Kinds,
> > > A Sober Thought
> > > Came Through My Mind.
> > >
> > > For This House Was Different,
> > > It Was Dark And Dreary,
> > > I Found The Home Of A Soldier,
> > > Once I Could See Clearly.
> > >
> > > The Soldier Lay Sleeping,
> > > Silent, Alone,
> > > Curled Up On The Floor
> > > In This One Bedroom Home.
> > >
> > > The Face Was So Gentle,
> > > The Room In Such Disorder,
> > > Not How I Pictured
> > > A United States Soldier.
> > >
> > > Was This The Hero
> > > Of Whom I'd Just Read?
> > > Curled Up On A Poncho,
> > > The Floor For A Bed?
> > >
> > > I Realized The Families
> > > That I Saw This Night,
> > > Owed Their Lives To These Soldiers
> > > Who Were Willing To Fight.
> > >
> > > Soon Round The World,
> > > The Children Would Play,
> > > And Grownups Would Celebrate
> > > A Bright Christmas Day.
> > >
> > > They All Enjoyed Freedom
> > > Each Month Of The Year,
> > > Because Of The Soldiers,
> > > Like The One Lying Here.
> > >
> > > I Couldn't Help Wonder
> > > How Many Lay Alone,
> > > On a Cold Christmas Eve
> > > In A Land Far From Home.
> > >
> > > The Very Thought
> > > Brought A Tear To My Eye,
> > > I Dropped To My Knees
> > > And Started To Cry.
> > >
> > > The Soldier Awakened
> > > And I Heard A Rough Voice,
> > > "Santa Don't Cry,
> > > This Life Is My Choice;
> > >
> > > I Fight For Freedom,
> > > I Don't Ask For More,
> > > My Life is My God
> > > My Country, My Corps."
> > >
> > > The Soldier Rolled Over
> > > And Drifted To Sleep,
> > > I Couldn't Control It,
> > > I Continued To Weep.
> > >
> > > I Kept Watch For Hours,
> > > So Silent And Still
> > > And We Both Shivered
> > >From The Cold Night's Chill.
> > >
> > > I Didn't Want To Leave On
> > > That Cold, Dark, Night,
> > > This Guardian Of Honor
> > > So Willing To Fight.
> > >
> > > Then The Soldier Rolled Over,
> > > With A Voice Soft And Pure,
> > > Whispered, "Carry On Santa,
> > > It's Christmas Day, All Is Secure."
> > >
> > > One Look At My Watch,
> > > And I Knew He Was Right.
> > > "Merry Christmas My Friend,
> >
> > > And To All A Good Night."
> > >
> > > This poem was written by a Marine stationed in Okinawa
> > > Japan. The following is his request. I think it is reasonable.....
> > >
> > > PLEASE. Would you do me the kind favor of sending this
> > > to as many people as you can? Christmas will be coming
> > > soon and some credit is due to our U.S. service men
> > > and women for our being able to celebrate these
> > > festivities. Let's try in this small way to pay a tiny
> > > bit of what we owe. Make people stop and think of our
> > > heroes, living and dead, who sacrificed themselves for
> > > us. Please, do your small part to plant this small seed.
> > >
> > >Remember God Loves You