JL, when I saw the word "NUTS!" at the beginning of Heather's letter, I thought she was referring to the confirmation of Hegseth as Defense Secretary. His confirmation has NEGATED the efforts, the sacrifices, and the dedication of all those who have fought for, and those who were wounded and/or gave their lives for democracy.
JL, when I saw the word "NUTS!" at the beginning of Heather's letter, I thought she was referring to the confirmation of Hegseth as Defense Secretary. His confirmation has NEGATED the efforts, the sacrifices, and the dedication of all those who have fought for, and those who were wounded and/or gave their lives for democracy.
I knew a man who fought in the Battle of the Bulge. I could never understand how he or anyone could have survived. He came home an atheist- not understanding how killing another human being was right. Even so, he fought so that future generations could be assured that our freedoms would always be protected and defended. I'm glad he's not here to see what his and others' sacrifices have come to. People who are complacent with all that Trump is doing to imitate Hitler (let's call it as it is), are spitting in the faces of all those who put their lives on the line to combat fascism, cruelty, and to stop an insane man who somehow convinced so many people that HE knew what was best for HIS people.
Those Republican congress members who have been convinced that Donald Trump knows what's best for our country are as despicable as he is. They're ALL Nuts!!!
Ever watch this in the series Band of Brothers? Although only a tv series, you could feel the brutal impact of the German attack. I hate to say it, Pam, but many of the descendents of those American soldiers voted for Trump 1 and 2, the apocalypse version
Frank, I remember when the movie about the Battle of the Bulge came put in the 60s. Our family saw it at a drive-in theater. I can't tell you how a movie I watched 2 days ago ended, but images of Battle of the Bulge remain fixed in my mind.
No idea if I saw that, good chance, i like "war movies" as a kid and teenager, and still do if the story is good. Was it in black and white? eg like The Longest Day?bIf you enjoy quality war films, you might enjoy Band of Brothers , it sometimes seems to "drag" (they don't fight battles all the time right?), but it gives a lot of insight you might otherwise find in books.
Battle of the Bulge was in color, nearly certain. I've seen Band of Brothers and so many more. I particularly enjoy movies of the Resistance in WW2, as I've said elsewhere on substack. Many are based upon real events. Their stories of courage are so inspirational and yet so incomprehensible: that people so willingly risk not only their lives but also those of their families, friends, even towns. I've always always wondered what I would do if given the same situation, jopefully I would join, but it'seasier to say that in the hypothetical, when you might ne faced with a different reality. Now that I'm older (late 60s), I have little doubt. I’d join.
Frank, there's a good book written by Martin DuGard called 'Taking Paris', which I read 4 years ago and may have to re-read. One resistance agent in particular stood put yo.me: Jean Moulin, from Chartres, who was captured, tortured and killed by Klaud Barbie.
In 2022, I had the great fortune to visit France with my then-13 year-old grandson to see the town where our ancestors came from, as well as many other places. We stayed overnight in Chartres and saw Moulin's house. A small park in the town memorializes him, with a monument and tricolor lighting at night.
My father joined the Brits in 1939, and became an SOE operative in and out of France and Holland. They were the precursor to the CIA, BND, MI6. Here's some fascinating history.
Bruce, you must be so very proud of what your dad did. It's so mind-blowing to consider where we are today, given the work and sacrifice (sometimes supreme sacrifice) of agents during the war. It seems we need to de-nazify our government and people. Thanks for the link, I'll read it.
Well the REALLY sad thing is that it ISN'T that hard. It's not like he told us all a bunch of lies about how patriotic and committed to the rule of law he was.
He TOLD ALL OF US in absolutely clear language what he planned to do. "I will only be a dictator on Day One". His time frame was wrong but his actions are exactly as he stated.
Yeah.. I have to wonder what kind of dirt "they" have on Ms Joni Ernst, that she couldn't own up to? Something that was really nobodies business? Why did she "cave"..? We'll never know. Unless, Mr Hedgeseth has been unfairly maligned, that is. Anything is possible today.
I had started this thinking of ways to say NUTs to Trump but fear that would make him as stupid and as self-destructive as the Germans became, but damaging too many others with his vindictive responses. So I'll have to settle for some examples of relatives who put in the efforts and dedication, and in one case the ultimate sacrifice.
We often visit the grave of one of my wife's uncles (lost near Sainteny, Normandy on July 11th, 1944. That uncle was on her father's side. Another of her uncles (on her mother's side), was part of Patton's 3rd Army and was found unconscious by the side of the road with frost bitten feet during the Battle of the Bulge. He didn't regain consciousness until he found himself in a hospital in England.
I had always thought the uncle lost at Sainteny was in a unit of inexperienced new troops and might even have been killed (with 3 others) by our own artillery support when they were able to advance further than expected.
They had only been in combat a week when he was lost, but the 329th Infantry Regiment learned quickly and were not in desperate straights during the Battle of the Bulge like some units with many new troops. They had made the deepest penetration into Germany at one point that winter a bit further north.
JL, when I saw the word "NUTS!" at the beginning of Heather's letter, I thought she was referring to the confirmation of Hegseth as Defense Secretary. His confirmation has NEGATED the efforts, the sacrifices, and the dedication of all those who have fought for, and those who were wounded and/or gave their lives for democracy.
I knew a man who fought in the Battle of the Bulge. I could never understand how he or anyone could have survived. He came home an atheist- not understanding how killing another human being was right. Even so, he fought so that future generations could be assured that our freedoms would always be protected and defended. I'm glad he's not here to see what his and others' sacrifices have come to. People who are complacent with all that Trump is doing to imitate Hitler (let's call it as it is), are spitting in the faces of all those who put their lives on the line to combat fascism, cruelty, and to stop an insane man who somehow convinced so many people that HE knew what was best for HIS people.
Those Republican congress members who have been convinced that Donald Trump knows what's best for our country are as despicable as he is. They're ALL Nuts!!!
Ever watch this in the series Band of Brothers? Although only a tv series, you could feel the brutal impact of the German attack. I hate to say it, Pam, but many of the descendents of those American soldiers voted for Trump 1 and 2, the apocalypse version
Frank, I remember when the movie about the Battle of the Bulge came put in the 60s. Our family saw it at a drive-in theater. I can't tell you how a movie I watched 2 days ago ended, but images of Battle of the Bulge remain fixed in my mind.
No idea if I saw that, good chance, i like "war movies" as a kid and teenager, and still do if the story is good. Was it in black and white? eg like The Longest Day?bIf you enjoy quality war films, you might enjoy Band of Brothers , it sometimes seems to "drag" (they don't fight battles all the time right?), but it gives a lot of insight you might otherwise find in books.
Battle of the Bulge was in color, nearly certain. I've seen Band of Brothers and so many more. I particularly enjoy movies of the Resistance in WW2, as I've said elsewhere on substack. Many are based upon real events. Their stories of courage are so inspirational and yet so incomprehensible: that people so willingly risk not only their lives but also those of their families, friends, even towns. I've always always wondered what I would do if given the same situation, jopefully I would join, but it'seasier to say that in the hypothetical, when you might ne faced with a different reality. Now that I'm older (late 60s), I have little doubt. I’d join.
When Paris was liberated, with the communist members of the resistance have a running gun battle with DeGaul's forces? https://www.wikiwand.com/en/articles/Denazification
Frank, there's a good book written by Martin DuGard called 'Taking Paris', which I read 4 years ago and may have to re-read. One resistance agent in particular stood put yo.me: Jean Moulin, from Chartres, who was captured, tortured and killed by Klaud Barbie.
In 2022, I had the great fortune to visit France with my then-13 year-old grandson to see the town where our ancestors came from, as well as many other places. We stayed overnight in Chartres and saw Moulin's house. A small park in the town memorializes him, with a monument and tricolor lighting at night.
My father joined the Brits in 1939, and became an SOE operative in and out of France and Holland. They were the precursor to the CIA, BND, MI6. Here's some fascinating history.
https://beta.nationalarchives.gov.uk/explore-the-collection/stories/virginia-hall/#:~:text=Virginia%20Hall%20(1906%E2%80%931982),of%20the%20Central%20Intelligence%20Agency.
He was charged with the de-nazification of Northwestern Germany, and helped build the BND
I think i read that by 1950 if not sooner the allies had by and large abandoned de-Nazification, just too many essential personnel.
Bruce, you must be so very proud of what your dad did. It's so mind-blowing to consider where we are today, given the work and sacrifice (sometimes supreme sacrifice) of agents during the war. It seems we need to de-nazify our government and people. Thanks for the link, I'll read it.
Hard to believe.
Well the REALLY sad thing is that it ISN'T that hard. It's not like he told us all a bunch of lies about how patriotic and committed to the rule of law he was.
He TOLD ALL OF US in absolutely clear language what he planned to do. "I will only be a dictator on Day One". His time frame was wrong but his actions are exactly as he stated.
Sadly, true
"Russian warship, go fuck yourself!"
Yeah.. I have to wonder what kind of dirt "they" have on Ms Joni Ernst, that she couldn't own up to? Something that was really nobodies business? Why did she "cave"..? We'll never know. Unless, Mr Hedgeseth has been unfairly maligned, that is. Anything is possible today.
I think Post-Naziism is fashionable now world wide, Pam. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Identitarian_movement
I had started this thinking of ways to say NUTs to Trump but fear that would make him as stupid and as self-destructive as the Germans became, but damaging too many others with his vindictive responses. So I'll have to settle for some examples of relatives who put in the efforts and dedication, and in one case the ultimate sacrifice.
We often visit the grave of one of my wife's uncles (lost near Sainteny, Normandy on July 11th, 1944. That uncle was on her father's side. Another of her uncles (on her mother's side), was part of Patton's 3rd Army and was found unconscious by the side of the road with frost bitten feet during the Battle of the Bulge. He didn't regain consciousness until he found himself in a hospital in England.
I had always thought the uncle lost at Sainteny was in a unit of inexperienced new troops and might even have been killed (with 3 others) by our own artillery support when they were able to advance further than expected.
They had only been in combat a week when he was lost, but the 329th Infantry Regiment learned quickly and were not in desperate straights during the Battle of the Bulge like some units with many new troops. They had made the deepest penetration into Germany at one point that winter a bit further north.