[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 100 (Monday, July 22, 2002)]
[House]
[Pages H5017-H5019]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY MEMORIAL HONORING WORLD WAR II VETERANS WHO 
                     FOUGHT IN BATTLE OF THE BULGE

  Mr. MORAN of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
pass the bill (H.R. 5055) to authorize the placement in Arlington 
National Cemetery of a memorial honoring the World War II veterans who 
fought in the Battle of the Bulge.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                                H. 5055

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. AUTHORIZATION OF PLACEMENT OF MEMORIAL IN 
                   ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY HONORING WORLD WAR 
                   II VETERANS WHO FOUGHT IN THE BATTLE OF THE 
                   BULGE.

       (a) In General.--The Secretary of the Army is authorized to 
     place in Arlington National Cemetery a memorial marker 
     honoring veterans who fought in the battle in the European 
     theater of operations during World War II known as the Battle 
     of the Bulge.
       (b) Approval of Design and Site.--The Secretary of the Army 
     shall have exclusive authority to approve an appropriate 
     design and site within Arlington National Cemetery for the 
     memorial authorized under subsection (a).
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Kansas (Mr. Moran) and the gentleman from Mississippi (Mr. Shows) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Kansas (Mr. Moran).
  Mr. MORAN of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  (Mr. MORAN of Kansas asked and was given permission to revise and 
extend his remarks.)
  Mr. MORAN of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, several years ago, the House 
adopted a resolution honoring those valiant Americans who survived the 
last desperate battle in the European theater during World War II, the 
Battle of the Bulge. Many of the members of our committee and Members 
of Congress have relatives who fought in this epic struggle. A group of 
survivors of this most heroic battle have asked Congress to enact 
legislation to enable them to replace the modest plaque at Arlington 
National Cemetery commemorating this battle with a more appropriate 
memorial. The cost of the memorial will be borne by that organization.
  Mr. Speaker, over 600,000 American troops participated in this action 
and more than 81,000 were wounded or killed. In scope and number of 
participants, no American engagement in our storied history was more 
costly or massive.
  The historic significance of the Battle of the Bulge cannot be 
overstated. If the American and Allied lines had broken, if our frost-
bitten GIs fighting and dying in the cold December and January of 1944 
and 1945 failed to rally from the ferocity of the initial German 
assault, or if the weather had not improved enough for our air 
superiority to turn the tide of battle, World War II could have been 
prolonged for months or even years. The shape of Europe could have been 
dramatically different and countless additional Jews, Catholics, Slavs, 
Gypsies and other political prisoners would surely have died in Nazi 
death camps.
  To put the sheer number of troops involved in the Battle of the Bulge 
into perspective, remember that there were three armies and six corps, 
the equivalent of 31 divisions, on the U.S. side alone. Compare these 
World War II figures to the fact that today, the entire U.S. Army is 
comprised of 12 active duty divisions and 20 reserve divisions.

[[Page H5018]]

  One of the most decisive battles in the war in Europe, the Battle of 
the Bulge, began December 16, 1944 when the German Army, in an effort 
to trap the allied forces in Belgium and Luxembourg, launched an attack 
against what were perceived as a weak line of American and allied 
troops. Their goal was to split the allied forces in Belgium and 
Luxembourg and race to the coast toward Antwerp. Adolf Hitler and his 
generals knew that the German Air Force could not maintain regional air 
superiority, so they were banking on bad weather and relatively green 
and fatigued American troops who were greatly outnumbered.
  At the outset of the battle, the German troops forming three armies 
numbered approximately 200,000 versus 83,000 Americans. Their goal was 
to capture bridges over the Meuse River, and in the first 48 hours of 
the attack, and then press on to Antwerp. At the time of their initial 
attack, the Germans had more than 30 infantry and seven panzer 
divisions, with nearly 1,000 tanks and almost 2,000 guns deployed along 
a front of 60 miles. Five more divisions were soon to follow with at 
least 450 more tanks.
  Although the Americans were caught by surprise, they fought back in 
those first days of attack in December, holding the line in the north 
while the Germans pushed through the middle of the bulge toward the 
Meuse River. One incident, which particularly hardened the Americans 
and allied forces as to the intent of the German Army, was the Malmedy 
Massacre, in which 86 American POWs were murdered by the Germans as 
they moved forward to capture the Meuse River. The same German unit, 
which was responsible for this infamous massacre, eventually killed at 
least 300 American POWs and over 100 unarmed Belgian civilians. These 
incidents only solidified the realization in the minds of the American 
men on the ground that fighting the Germans down to their last round of 
ammunition was their only hope.
  As I mentioned, the American armies had more than 81,000 casualties, 
and of these, 19,000 men were killed in action. The British had 1,400 
casualties and 200 killed. Both sides lost as many as 800 tanks each, 
and the Germans lost 1,000 planes. All told, the battle was three times 
the size of Gettysburg when accounting for the number of American 
service men and women who participated.
  Let me take a moment to thank Stan Wojtusik, National Vice President 
of Military Affairs for the Veterans of the Battle of the Bulge; and 
Mrs. Edith Nowels, a constituent of the chairman of the committee, who 
lives in New Jersey, for all of their hard work in helping put this 
legislation together. Edith Nowels' brother, Bud Thorne, was killed in 
action during the battle. Bud, after his death, was awarded the Medal 
of Honor and was one of 17 recipients of the highest combat medal for 
this particular battle. Eighty-six servicemen were also awarded the 
Distinguished Service Cross for their valor during the battle.
  According to the citation presented to his family, Corporal Thorne 
single-handedly destroyed a German tank and, in the words of the 
citation, ``displayed heroic initiative and intrepid fighting 
qualities, inflicted costly casualties on the enemy and ensured the 
success of his patrol's mission by the sacrifice of his life.''
  For Bud Thorne and tens of thousands of other Americans killed and 
wounded, and the hundreds of thousands who fought alongside, I ask my 
colleagues to give their full support to this legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. SHOWS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 5055, a bill to authorize the 
placement in Arlington National Cemetery of a memorial honoring the 
World War II veterans who fought in the Battle of the Bulge.
  I am proud to be here as a member of the House Committee on Veterans' 
Affairs to share my continued support for H.R. 5055 with my colleagues 
in Congress.
  As a young man growing up in Mississippi, my life in public service, 
and advocacy for veterans was indisputably inspired by two great World 
War II veterans, and one reason I wanted to be on the Committee on 
Veterans' Affairs, my father, Clifford Shows and Sonny Montgomery. Both 
men, as many did, put their lives on the line to protect, defend, and 
advance ideals of democracy and our American way of life, by serving in 
the United States military. Both did so honorably and proudly, despite 
the mortal risks that faced them. Indeed, my father was taken as a POW 
at the Battle of the Bulge.
  The Battle of the Bulge, fought in the twilight months of World War 
II, was where Hitler launched his great offensive to defeat the allied 
forces. The surprise attack, launched through the Belgian Forest, 
Ardennes, on December 16, 1944, was the largest land battle of the 
entire war.
  My father was one of hundreds of thousands of men who fought for 
freedom and their own personal survival in this critical battle. He 
remembers well the conditions his company endured that December. Simple 
words describe their collective experiences. He said it was rough, 
hard, and cold. They had no food. They had no place to stay but on the 
ground where they fought, on the ground where their friends perished. 
Then, on December 19, my father's troop was captured in an open field 
surrounded by German troops and forced into Germany, the very Nation of 
Nazis which was their mission to destroy. For 10 days and 11 nights 
they were forced to alternate between marching on foot and being locked 
up in boxcars. For 3 straight days and nights, they were forced to 
remain in those cars. You cannot imagine the conditions or the 
hopelessness of being imprisoned by the Germans on Christmas Day.
  I cannot imagine the suffering my father endured during his 5 months 
as a POW.
  By the time the fighting ended on January 25, 1945, there were over 
100,000 Germans and 81,000 Americans captured, wounded or killed. The 
German objective had failed, and the best they had accomplished was 
temporarily achieving a ``bulge'' in the American line of defense. As 
Sir Winston Churchill noted, ``It was without any doubt the greatest 
American battle of the Second World War,'' and it will, I believe, 
always be considered as a great American victory.
  Today, we honor my father and thousands of other men that fought that 
bloody battle for our freedom. On the Committee on Veterans' Affairs 
alone, the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Snyder), the gentleman from 
Texas (Mr. Reyes) and the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Stump) all have 
family members who also fought so bravely during the severe conditions 
of that brutal battle. The valiant service rendered by those brave men 
was not done for any personal reward, just for knowing they had done 
their part to keep American democracy strong. Our Nation's veterans are 
our heroes.
  Our Nation's veterans are our heroes. They have shaped and sustained 
our Nation with courage, sacrifice, and faith. They have earned our 
respect and deserve our gratitude. Today, we honor the Battle of the 
Bulge heroes by creating a permanent new memorial at Arlington National 
Cemetery, our military's most hallowed ground.
  I am proud that the chairman and ranking member have introduced this 
legislation, and I am confident we will pass this legislation today. It 
is the right thing to do.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. MORAN of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman 
from Florida (Mr. Jeff Miller).
  Mr. JEFF MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for 
yielding me this time. I will not take 3 minutes today, but I do 
associate myself with the gentleman's comments and the gentleman's apt 
portrayal of the infamous Battle of the Bulge, the largest land battle 
of the Second World War. As has already been pointed out to this 
Chamber today, Winston Churchill called it ``the greatest American 
battle'' of that war.
  I strongly support the Battle of the Bulge survivors' request for a 
new memorial that recognizes the scope of this battle, and I urge all 
of my colleagues to support H.R. 5055. I appreciate the chairman and 
the ranking member for their leadership on this bill.
  Mr. SHOWS. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the 
gentlewoman from California (Ms. Pelosi).
  Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this

[[Page H5019]]

time, and I commend our colleagues for bringing this very important 
resolution to the floor. As I was listening to the debate on the 
suspensions upstairs, I was personally at first pleased, saddened, a 
whole mixture of emotions to hear that there was going to be a tribute 
to those who fought at the Battle of the Bulge, because I cannot 
remember a time in my whole childhood or growing up that that was not a 
source of sadness and pride to our family.

                              {time}  1630

  My father's brother, John D'Alesandro, died at the Battle of the 
Bulge; and it was a source of great sadness for our family, for his 
children. But then the good news was that he received the Purple Heart. 
Well, that was a scary notion to a child all those years growing up. 
The Purple Heart? What did that mean? But it meant a wonderful thing 
about his bravery. So to think that all these many years later when all 
of us thought that we had to keep the memory alive because of our 
personal relationship, that this Congress would come here today to 
recognize those many, many, many people who fought so bravely, who have 
protected our freedom, who made the supreme sacrifice and those who 
were willing to make that sacrifice.
  I greatly thank our colleagues for what they are doing today, and I 
can speak firsthand for what it means to so many families across 
America.
  Mr. SHOWS. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 5055 
to authorize a memorial in Arlington National Cemetery Honoring the 
World War II veterans who fought in the Battle of the Bulge. I urge my 
colleagues to join in supporting its passage.
  The Battle of the Bulge is one of the most famous battles in American 
military history. In the weeks leading up to the Christmas of 1944, it 
appeared to the Western Allies that victory over the German Army was 
near at hand. Since the Allied Landings of D-Day, the German forces 
were pushed back across the French countryside. By autumn, the Allies 
had liberated significant portions of Belgium and the Netherlands. It 
appeared that one final push was all that was needed to force a total 
collapse of German resistance on the western front and lead to the 
invasion of the German homeland.
  What the Allied commanders were not aware of was the fact that the 
German dictator was planning one final, desperate offensive. For weeks 
the German military had been building up its limited stocks of fuel and 
ammunition. By mid December 1944, they were prepared to launch one 
final offensive through the Ardennes Forest, in the hopes of splitting 
the Allied lines and driving to the English Channel.
  The German attack came as a near total surprise, and achieved initial 
success. Poor weather prevented Allied air superiority from being 
brought to bear, and the German panzers took full advantage of the 
respite. Yet, in the end, the offensive failed.
  The offensive failed because American soldiers shook off their 
initial shock and fought with a stubborn tenacity to prevent a German 
breakthrough. The Allied lines gave way, hence the ``Bulge'' 
description, but refused to break. After several days, the weather 
cleared, and the overwhelming Allied advantage in tactical air power 
could finally be brought to bear in a concentrated counterattack.
  This resolution permits the placement of a marker honoring those 
veterans who fought in the Battle of the Bulge in Arlington National 
Cemetery. These veterans put up a tenacious defense, in horrible 
conditions, against an enemy with superior armored forces. Their 
success in halting the German Ardennes offensive preserved the Allied 
lines, and helped to maintain the pressure on Germany's military. After 
the Battle of the Bulge, the German effort on the western front was 
finished. Within six months, Germany had surrendered.
  The efforts of our veterans in the Battle of the Bulge, like those of 
all Americans who fought against tyranny in World War II, deserve our 
recognition and respect. I urge my colleagues to join in supporting 
this measure, which honors the contributions of the veterans of the 
Bulge to the Ultimate victory of freedom over tyranny during the Second 
World War.
  Mr. REYES. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 5055. This 
measure authorizes the placement in Arlington National Cemetery of a 
memorial to honor our brave World War II veterans who fought in the 
Battle of the Bulge. In particular I thank Chairman Chris Smith and 
Ranking Member Lane Evans, as well as Mike Simpson, the Chairman of our 
Benefits Subcommittee for their strong support for this important bill.
  Mr. Speaker, my father-in-law, Victor Gaytan, fought at the Battle of 
the Bulge. I am very pleased this memorial will honor him and his 
comrades who fought bravely during that difficult battle.
  As Field Marshal Montgomery said, the Battle of the Bulge ``was 
definitely one of the most difficult in which I have been able to 
participate and the stakes were considerable.'' Arlington is a fitting 
place to honor these brave veterans, those that returned as my father-
in-law did, as well as those who made the ultimate sacrifice.
  I am pleased to support this measure. I urge all members to support 
the bill.
  Mr. MORAN of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support 
this measure.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Culberson). The question is on the 
motion offered by the gentleman from Kansas (Mr. Moran) that the House 
suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 5055.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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