BATTLE OF THE BULGE

DECEMBER 16 MARKS BEGINNING OF THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE. NOT THE BATTLE OF MY BULGE WAIST-HIGH AND WANTING FOR FLATNESS, BUT THE LARGEST LAND BATTLE IN HISTORY. IN THE ARDENNES FOREST OF BELGIUM IN 1944 DURING THE COLDEST WINTER ON RECORD, TANKS, MEN, MACHINERY AND WILLS CLASHED. IT WAS A TESTOSTERONE DREAM, EXCEPT THAT THE DREAM WAS A NIGHTMARE PAINTED ON A CANVAS OF CARNAGE. I AM FASCINATED WITH WAR, WITH HELL, THAT IS, WITH A CONTEST REQUIRING MUTUAL COURAGE FROM COMBATANTS. MILLIONS OF MEN FOUGHT THERE. WHO ELSE WOULD IT BE BUT REAL MEN? 600,000 GERMANS WERE PITTED AGAINST 500,000 AMERICANS (ALSO MANY BRITISH SOLDIERS ). ONE CAPSTONE WAS REACHED WHEN PATTON'S 3RD ARMY WITH TANKS RESCUED THE HEROIC HOLDOUTS AT BASTOGNE. SOLDIERS SUFFERED ENORMOUS CASUALTIES ON BOTH SIDES WITHIN A BRIEF 12 DAYS. THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE CLAIMED 18,000 AMERICAN LIVES. CONTRAST THIS TOTAL WITH A MERE 5000 FATALITIES ON D-DAY, DECEMBER 6TH DURING THE FEW HOURS OF THE LANDING ON THE NORMANDY BEACHEAD.

MY HUSBAND'S FATHER WAS THERE IN THE 4TH ARMORED DIVISION, 22ND ARMORED FIELD ARTILLERY, 1ST BATALLION, A BATTERY. THESE MILITARY DISTINCTIONS MEAN LITTLE TO ME. LITTLE TOO IS THE KNOWLEDGE OF MY FATHER WHO FOUGHT IN FRANCE IN WORLD WAR I. I AND MY HUSBAND, HOWEVER, HAVE BEEN TO THE THEATER OF WAR THROUGH BOOKS, FILMS AND BY DISCUSSIONS BETWEEN US. THE OEUVRE OF HUMANITY, PLAYING AT GOD, REVEALS ITSELF IN THE MICROCOSM OF THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE. THIS BATTLE IS AN ALCHEMY OF HISTORY, GEOGRAPHY, PHYSICS, CHEMISTRY, LOGISTICS, WEAPONRY, TECHNOLOGY, PHILOSOPHY, PSYCHOLOGY, SOCIOLOGY, BIOLOGY AND THEOLOGY. IT OFFERS THE OPPORTUNITY FOR ENDLESS STUDY AND CONTEMPLATION.

CHRISTMAS ARRIVED IN THE FOREST THAT DECEMBER, WAS NOTED AND PASSED. WHAT FOLLOWED FOR THE SURVIVORS WERE OTHER EPIC STRUGGLES WITH PAIN, IMPRISONMENT, TORTURE OR DEATH - EACH A ROUTINE ACCOMPANIMENT OF WAR. HOW CAN I RECOLLECT THE BIGGEST LOSS OF LIFE IN A BATTLE IN AMERICAN HISTORY WITH ENOUGH REVERENCE IN MY REFLECTION? WE AMERICANS ARE THE LUCKIEST STIFFS ON EARTH. OUR FREEDOM IN 2005 HAS BEEN PURCHASED IN PART BY THE SLAUGHTER AROUND THE RHINE RIVER IN 1944. TODAY THE PRESIDENT OF IRAN DENIES THE HOLOCAUST OF THE JEWS BY HITLER WHICH OCCURRED DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR AND HE CALLS FOR THE OBLITERATION OF ISRAEL. THE THOUGHT OF THIS EVIL DELUSIONIST AS AMERICA'S LEADER IS BEYOND COMPREHENSION. WE SHOULD THANK GOD - YES THE GOD OF CHRISTMAS - THAT OUR PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH ACKNOWLEDES REALITIES IN THIS NATION'S HISTORY - PAST AND PRESENT- AND IS TRYING TO PRESERVE OUR GREATNESS INTO THE FUTURE.