Battle of the Bulge 75th

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Sunday, 15 December 2019 - The day began with a large-scale Battle of the Bulge re-enactment at Hardigny, featuring period vehicles, explosions, and live-action combat. Afterward, a parade of WWII tanks, jeeps, and motorcycles entertained spectators. The group then traveled to Luxembourg City to visit the Luxembourg American Cemetery, where they honored fallen soldiers, including General Patton, with a wreath and taps ceremony, concluding a long day with a bus ride back while watching the movie "Patton."

Today day we traveled by bus an hour or so out into the countryside where live re-enactments of the battle were conducted on a farm across several hundred acres. There were thousands of people on the hillside watching as blasts from explosives, canons and guns were fired. It was hard to see the action from such a distance but some of Cal's best photos came from this battle re-enactment.

belgium2019 — A re-enactment of the Battle of the Bulge at Hardigny - only a few miles from Bastogne.

belgium2019 — Vintage Piper Cub used during WWII for reconnaissance flies over the battlefield.

belgium2019 — A German tracked vehicle enters the battlefield. All the vehicles were from WWII!!

belgium2019 — A German halftrack rolls toward the American positions.

belgium2019 — The American tanks and troops return fire.

belgium2019 — The Americans continue to push forward.

belgium2019 — Very interesting six wheeled American vehicle on the field.

belgium2019 — Men begin dismounting.

belgium2019 — The Americans set up a defense.

belgium2019 — Covering fire from the tank.

belgium2019 — The Germans form an attack line and begin moving toward the Americans.

belgium2019 — Lots of firing from both sides - really was a battle.

belgium2019 — A German half track supports advancing Germans.

belgium2019 — The Americans pour on the fire but can't seem to slow then down.

belgium2019 — American reinforcements.

belgium2019 — German reinforcements.

belgium2019 — There was artillery fire often from both sides.

belgium2019 — A fiery explosion.

belgium2019 — Germans rushing forward.

belgium2019 — A dead American as the Germans advance.

belgium2019 — The German tank helps the soldiers move forward.

belgium2019 — The Germans push the Americans back.

belgium2019 — The Germans capture an American.

belgium2019 — Another German tank supports the soldiers.

belgium2019 — The Germans begin running back to their lines - we had to leave as we had been watching for more than 2 hours. Hopefully, the Americans fought back and won the day.

belgium2019 — Even leaving early there were hundreds of people leaving the re-enactment at the same time. Our group decided to walk to our bus instead of taking the overloaded shuttle bus. So we passed through the village of Rachamps.

Cemetery of Bastogne at Rachamps.

belgium2019 — Very ornate iron crosses in the cemetery.

belgium2019 — A sign said that the bike hit the tree and the tree won. No comment on the rider.

belgium2019 — As we were walking to the bus we had to make way for a military (re-enactment) convoy headed out of town.

belgium2019 — More reenactors in very authentic looking vehicles.

belgium2019 — We passed this lane while we were walking - it reminded me of the conditions during the battle with muddy roads and narrow lanes.

belgium2019 — Medical Corps Lieutenant reenactor leaving the re-enactment area.

belgium2019 — After lunch a parade began which was made up of all the period tanks, trucks, jeeps, and motorcycles. There must have been hundreds.

This is a Sherman tank leading the parade.

belgium2019 — A second Sherman tank.

belgium2019 — An odd little tank.

belgium2019 — Proud owner of a period truck.

belgium2019 — Re-enacting couple in an old half-ton truck.

belgium2019 — Colorful jeep driver.

belgium2019 — Jaunty tanker.

belgium2019 — Everyone is riding in the parade - it is a family affair.

belgium2019 — Jaunty 1940s motorcyclists.

belgium2019 — A blond lieutenant in a truck.

belgium2019 — We then packed up and headed to Luxembourg City - racing the sun to get there during daylight.

Luxembourg American Cemetery was established on 29 December 1944 by the 609th Quartermaster Company of the U.S. Third Army while Allied Forces were containing the Germans during the Battle of the Bulge.

belgium2019 — The new headstones were cemented onto concrete beams that run for more than six miles under the lawn of the grave plots. The 5,076 headstones are set in nine plots of fine grass, lettered A to I. Twenty-two sets of brothers rest side-by-side in adjacent graves.

During the 1950s, the original wooden grave markers were replaced with headstones made of white Lasa marble.

belgium2019 — So many graves.

belgium2019 — An American and Luxembourg flag next to every grave.

belgium2019 — Situated near the entrance between the two flagpoles lies the grave of General George S. Patton.

Originally he was buried per his wish with the rest of the men but tourists trampled the grounds so he was moved to better control the crowds and protect the grounds.

belgium2019 — Virginia Ann contemplates the names of the soldiers.

belgium2019 — He commanded a 9-man squad with the mission of holding a critical flank position. When overwhelming numbers of the enemy attacked under cover of withering artillery, mortar, and rocket fire, he withdrew his squad into a nearby house, determined to defend it to the last man. The enemy attacked again and again and were repulsed with heavy losses. Supported by direct tank fire, they finally gained entrance, but the intrepid sergeant refused to surrender although 5 of his men were wounded and 1 was killed. He boldly flung a can of flaming oil at the first wave of attackers, dispersing them, and fought doggedly from room to room, closing with the enemy in fierce hand-to-hand encounters. He hurled hand grenade for each incoming hand grenade, bayoneted 2 fanatical Germans who rushed a doorway he was defending and fought on with the enemy's weapons when his own ammunition was expended. The savage fight raged for 4 hours, and finally, when only 3 men of the defending squad were left unwounded, the enemy surrendered. Twenty-five prisoners were taken, 11 enemy dead and a great number of wounded were counted. Sgt. Turner's valiant stand will live on as a constant inspiration to his comrades. His heroic, inspiring leadership, his determination and courageous devotion to duty exemplify the highest tradition of the military service.

belgium2019 — Our tour group, Beyond Band of Brothers, worked with the cemetery to provide for a special ceremony for the veterans in the group. Many of us had served in the military with more than 120 combined years of service.

Besides the wreath there was a ceremony where we placed the wreath on a stand outside the chapel and we participated in the taps ceremony lowering the U.S. flag.

belgium2019 — One of the panels from the chapel door.

belgium2019 — Mosaic on the ceiling of the chapel.

belgium2019 — The entrance to the chapel.

belgium2019 — The chapel.

It was a long day - we had a 2-hour bus ride back and watched the movie Patton - or slept.

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